6 New Zealand Outfits I Wore On Repeat While Exploring

If you’re planning an adventurous trip to New Zealand full of hiking, cycling, and epic views, then this is the post for you! Our complete packing list includes my favorite New Zealand outfits to wear on adventure days, but there were honestly a few things I was surprised I needed after getting there. Here are some fun New Zealand outfit ideas for winter, summer, and everything between! 

Planning Your New Zealand Vacation

For those that have been following our travels for awhile now, you probably already know that New Zealand is one of our favorite countries in the world! We actually almost an entire year exploring both the north and south islands.

Are you thinking one week in New Zealand? How about a month or maybe longer? As part of our last trip, we even did three months living out of a campervan. Check out some of our best articles if you’re still in the travel planning stages before we dive into exactly what to wear in New Zealand.

🏕 – 15 Tips to Know Before Freedom Camping in New Zealand

🇳🇿 – South Island New Zealand Itinerary: 4 Amazing One Week Routes / New Zealand North Island Itinerary: 4 Awesome One Week Routes

🦪 – 27 Delicious New Zealand Foods & Drinks You Need to Try

⛵️ – Start with Get Your Guide when searching for fun local activities! It has everything from touring the Hobbiton movie set to hiking Franz Josef glacier and paragliding in Queenstown. 

🚗  – We always check DiscoverCars for discounts on rental vehicles in New Zealand. It’s so helpful to sort through all the different companies and rates to find the best deals.

Picking the Right Bag For Your New Zealand Outfits

For an adventurous vacation where you’ll be moving around a lot, I highly recommend using a travel backpack. We have really enjoyed using this one over the years and even wrote a complete Osprey Daylite 45 review. 

With that said, you may not need a backpack over a traditional travel rolling suitcase for New Zealand. Really, this comes down to your accommodations and route. 

Are you taking public transport or renting your own car? The buses are obviously easier with backpack, while a car gives you the freedom to have as much luggage as you’d like. 

Planning any hut to hut or multi-day hikes? Are you living out of a camper, hotel, or airbnb? How often you move accommodations will make a huge difference with your luggage! These are just some important things to consider when putting together your own New Zealand packing list.

6 New Zealand Outfits I Wore On My Adventures

1. Hiking, Cycling, & Outdoors 

In all honesty, this was a large portion of my New Zealand outfits that I packed and wore. My days were all about hiking in the mountains, and my nights were spent relaxing with ocean views and cooking something on the grill. 

So what does that actually look like? Think about New Zealand outfit ideas that you can layer no matter what time of year you are visiting. You will definitely need:

• Hiking/cycling shorts. Getting a pair with built in under spandex shorts is smart!
• Longer athletic pants 
• Tank top, t-shirts, and long sleeve shirts 

2. Jackets and Active Thermal Pants

It may sound crazy, but trust us when we say to pack two jackets in your suitcase. First, you’ll want a proper rain and wind jacket. If you spend money on anything, it should be this in my opinion! Having a good outer shell that you can put on the top is essential, especially with the unpredictable New Zealand weather. 

The second would be a proper warm jacket. I didn’t have one that was good enough going into the fall and winter season. However, there are so many high quality sports stores all over the country.

I’m not necessarily telling you to wait to buy this part of your New Zealand outfit. Yet, if you arrive and realize that you might need something else, don’t worry!

Also, I mentioned having a pair of athletic spandex hiking pants. If you are visiting in the early spring, late fall, or winter and plan to spend most of your time outdoors, you’ll want something warmer. 

Having a thermal base layer makes a huge difference! Merino wool like this is always the best, but can get pretty expensive. You can go with a cheaper fleece lined hiking pants like these to stay extra toasty in cold weather.

3. What to Wear in New Zealand at the Beach

Many travelers visit the north and south islands for the stunning mountains and waterfalls. Nevertheless, we found that the New Zealand beaches are so underrated! Swimsuits should be a big part of your New Zealand summer outfits.

Now, this does come with a small word of warning. The first time I jumped into the chilly waters of Lake Taupo and Lake Tekapo I almost lost my breath from how freezing it was.

The ocean is cold, the lakes are colder, but know that there are also many thermal springs to enjoy. We loved hitting spots like Hanmer Springs during the winter months.

Be sure to pack swim wear, a cozy coverup, and thin towel with you for your travels. One unique place you absolutely can’t miss on the north island is the Hot Water Beach! If you’re heading here at low tide, you can even dig your own personal jacuzzi in the sand.

4. Cozy New Zealand Outfits For Relaxing

I always pack warm and cozy outfits for a trip, regardless of where I’m going. When thinking about what to wear in New Zealand, remember that it can get still chilly at night in the summer.

I specifically wanted to mention this because most of our days were non-stop from morning to night. When it was finally time to relax, I just wanted to melt into something comfortable, grab a cold craft beer, and lose myself in the incredible views.

This definitely comes down to your own personal style. Although, I prefer nice matching set like this or just classic sweats and a hoodie. 

5. Simple Dresses or Skirt & Top 

Between all the layers and activewear, I always had two dresses with me. They weren’t anything fancy, but more casual and relaxing summer dresses.

This New Zealand outfit was something loose that I could throw on after swimming at the beach or jump out of bed and toss on to head outside in the morning. I think of these more as a late spring/summer thing, yet I highly recommend packing them.

6. New Zealand Outfit Ideas For Casual Days

Yes, even with all the hiking, biking, and outdoor fun, there is going to be some chill time. Unless you’re having a night out in big cities like Auckland or Wellington, you don’t have to go to fancy with your New Zealand packing list.

While you won’t need super formal clothing, it is good to have a couple of basics to mix and match. I typically have tan shorts, light sweaters, and simple t-shirts that work for any occasion. 

Neutral colors like green, tan, blue, or oat are solid when considering what to wear in New Zealand for different seasons.

Shoes That Go With Your New Zealand Outfits

Aside from a solid rain jacket, footwear should be the #1 thing to invest in for your trip to New Zealand. You’ll definitely want a comfortable pair of hiking boots, as even the “easy” trails in New Zealand will put some strain on your feet!

Avid hikers may already have a nice pair of boots, but know they can be quite expensive if not. Two brands I like a lot are Merrell and Columbia, which are good place to start for beginners. Just be sure to break them in a bit in advance before you decide to take on advanced hikes like the Tongariro Crossing!

Could you get away with just sneakers? Maybe if you are going on a more tranquil New Zealand holiday. However, the great outdoors is one of our favorite parts about this country!

One item not to skip is a pair of flip flops. These can be a basic pair to toss in your bag that you’d wear anywhere else. They are perfect for getting in and out of a campervan, using the campground showers, and will go great with all your New Zealand summer outfits.

Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite New Zealand outfit ideas and tips? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

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