Have you got an upcoming trip to Australia in the fall? Got your tickets booked and itinerary all planned out? I suppose now you’re wondering what to pack….
If you’re visiting Australia in Autumn you might be happy to know you’ll still be able to experience warm temperatures and make the most of the stunning beaches that surround the continent.
Although this is technically a season when temperatures start to cool down, most of Australia does stay relatively warm during Autumn and it is important to remember this when you pack. However, keep in mind the further south you go the cooler it will get.
It is also important to consider what cities and activities are on your itinerary when you are packing. For instance, Sydney and Melbourne are very fashion conscience while northern NSW and the far north have a more relaxed hippy vibe.
Below you will find our guide to packing for Australia. First you’ll find the essential items list followed by advice on what type of clothing to bring. Of course you could pick up some of the items once you get there but you really don’t want to spend precious vacation time shopping when you could be sightseeing or relaxing.
You should also be aware that Australia is an expensive country by most western standards and is comparable in prices with places like London or New York. Therefore if you are looking to save money you really should pick up your essential items from your home country.
What To Pack For Australia In Autumn
Packing Guide: The Essentials
Sunscreen (Reef-friendly) – Nothing is more important to pack for an Australian holiday than sunscreen. Sunscreen is important for any time of the year in the land down under. This is because the sun is incredibly strong in Australia and you don’t want severe sunburn ruining your trip .
It’s also important to choose a reef-friendly sunscreen, especially if you have plans to visit the Great Barrier Reef. In some countries it is actually the law now to only wear reef-friendly sunscreen because the chemicals from old-school sunscreens damage coral. Even if you’re not visiting the Great Barrier Reef, do yourself a favor and invest in an eco-friendly product because not only will you stop contributing toxic chemical into our oceans but you’ll also stop these harmful chemicals from penetrating into your own body too.
Recommended: Sun Bum (Reef-Friendly) Moisturizing Sunscreen
Sun Hat – Australian’s are taught from a very young age to slip, slop slap. Slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat. Again, protecting yourself from the sun is important so bring a hat, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach.
Sunglasses – Sunglasses are also an essential item for Australia. In a country with so much sunshine, they are a necessity. Especially if you plan to spend time on the ocean, it will be extra important to protect your eyes from harmful glare.
Aloe Vera – In case you do get sunburnt, it will be handy to have a bottle of aloe vera to soothe your skin. Aloe also has many other uses such as moisturizing benefits and wound healing capabilities therefore it should be included in every packing list no matter where you are headed.
Lip Balm – If lip balm isn’t already an essential item in your daily routine, you might want to add it to your packing list. They might feel chapped after a long day under the Aussie sun.
Recommended: Burt’s Beeswax in Vanilla Bean, Coconut & Pear, plus Strawberry pack
Mosquito Repellent – The mosquito’s are crazy in Australia! I’m talking your whole body might be covered in big itchy welts after only twenty minutes outside once it gets dark. Fortunately for the environment in Australia, the government does not fog or spray these pesky insects with toxic pesticides unlike the USA.
This means you will have to protect yourself with some good mosquito repellent. Be sure to try and find a product that won’t be harmful to you.
Recommended: Plant-based (Deet Free) Lemon-Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
Flip Flops / Thongs – Just so you are aware, flip flops are known as thongs in Australia. And thongs are basically the countries uniform. Whether you bring your own or buy them once you arrive they are a must!
Beach Towel – Australian life revolves around the beach, even in Autumn. And no doubt you have plans to spend at least one day by the ocean so make sure you bring your favorite towel. Preferably a towel that is photogenic so that all your beach selfies look cute.
Underwater Camera – Okay, so this one isn’t entirely an essential item but they are pretty cool at capturing underwater moments. If you have plans to go snorkeling, surfing, or just want to capture moments from your fun day at the beach, get yourself an underwater camera.
We recommend investing in a GoPro because they are not only capable of taking good photo’s but they also film in really good quality too. Yes they are expensive but useful in so many situations and perfect for people who travel a lot.
Recommended: New Gopro Hero 9 Waterproof Camera 5K Ultra HD
Australian Power Adaptor – The Australian power outlet is one of the least used in the world so chances are you’ll be needing to pack an adaptor for your travels. Your best option is to pick up a universal power adaptor that way you can use it in other countries too. You can order them online here or more than likely be able to find a store that stocks them when you get to the airport.
Recommended: International Power Adaptor with 4 USB Ports
Umbrella – I’m not sure if many people know this but even though Australia is a mainly arid country, they do get torrential downpours! And not just in the Tropical North. Autumn in the southern parts of Australia can be quite rainy so pack an umbrella for your trip.
Water Bottle – Australia is hot! Even in Autumn. Be sure to bring a good water bottle because tap water is more than safe to drink here (even though it does contain fluoride) and will save you a ton of money!! Food and water bought outside of grocery stores are not cheap.
Packing Guide: Clothing & Style
Let’s talk about Aussie fashion staples. Firstly, flip flops are basically the national dress code of Australia and therefore an essential item. And no, I don’t mean the thick strappy sandal kind that Americans and Europeans like to wear. This is because the country is blessed with good weather almost all year-round and also because they love being barefoot. I guess wearing flip flops (*ahem, I mean thongs) is the next closest thing to being barefoot.
Another fashion staple is the bikini, particularly in coastal towns. It is perfectly acceptable to wear your bikini as a top in these beachy towns so don’t be modest. If you want to stay in your swimwear all day no one will judge you for it.
As far as the weather is concerned, Autumn in Australia will likely be warm and sunny especially in March and early April with winter slowly creeping in towards May. You should pack light with these warm temperatures in mind but bring a few light layers such as cardigans and hoodies for cool evenings or windy beach days.
Temperatures for the southern half of the country during fall range between 15 and 28 degrees on average (60-75 degrees Fahrenheit) although it is much warmer in the far north. See this article on Autumn in Australia for a guide to specific temperatures across the different cities.
Clothing Items You Should Bring
Flip Flops
As mentioned above, flip flops (or thongs) are a fashion staple in Australia. This is because Australian life revolves around the beach and even if you are not at the beach, the humble flip flop is worn basically everywhere. And yes, it is still warm enough to wear them in autumn.
If you get flip flops that are fashionable enough you can pretty much getaway with wearing them with almost any outfit. The flip flop brand most popular in Australia with both men and women are Haviannas. You can order them online or find them at surf shops once you get to Australia. Take a look at some of their designs below.
Dressy Sandals
To dress your outfit up, switch out your flip flops to a pair of dressy sandals. They won’t be as casual as flip flops but still not too over the top. They will be great for going out to lunch or having drinks at the pub.
Swimsuit
Obviously you need to pack a swimsuit for any trip to Australia. Even in the fall temperatures are quite warm in Australia, especially the further north you go. Many travelers from Northern Europe or the USA might even find that they consider winter weather in Australia warm enough to still be beach weather. So don’t forget your bikini! Swimwear lines you can’t go wrong with in Australia are Billabong and Rip Curl.
Sun Hat
As you probably know, you can expect a lot of sunshine in Australia. If you’re planning a lot of outdoor activities for your trip you will need a hat. A hat is a great accessory for any outfit. Find a stylish wide brim hat for those beach days or bring a baseball-style cap for sightseeing.
Denim Shorts
As mentioned previously, you will encounter warm weather in Autumn so pack shorts. Denim shorts are a popular fashion choice in Australia so you can’t go wrong with adding a pair or two to your outfit collection.
Singlets
Things can get hot and sweaty in Australia so be prepared and bring a few different singlets in a range of colors to mix up your outfits.
Summer Dress
A cute short summer dress is good to have on hand when you want to make a good impression while you’re out to lunch or having afternoon drinks.
Cardigan
Carry a cardigan with you for those cooler autumn nights when you might need to put one on over your summer dress or singlet.
Long-Sleeve Dress
A long-sleeve dress might be a better choice for Autumn weather in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Especially the closer to winter it gets.
Jeans
A fashion staple in just about every country. Bring a few pairs of jeans as they can be worn in a casual setting or dressed up with a nice top. Australian’s are particularly fond of skinny leg jeans, this goes for both women and men.
Tights
You’ll quickly get used to the active lifestyle in Australia and may find yourself wanting to join in. Sporty-style tights are great for morning walks or hiking when it might still be cool outside. Add a few basic black pairs to your suitcase too which can be combined with singlets, t-shirts, sweaters or even nice tops to suit just about any occasion. They’re also super-comfy!
Joggers
Australian’s pride themselves on being healthy and active spending a lot of time outdoors taking walks along the beach and such. Also, public transport is available in all cities and suburbs and is a common mode of transport here so you’ll more than likely do a lot of walking. Don’t forget to pack your favorite joggers to get around comfortably.
Sarong
A sarong might come in handy because they can be used in a variety of ways such as a skirt, dress, scarf, beach towel, or bed sheet. They are light and pack small so it can’t hurt to bring one.
Style Guide & Look Book
Do not underestimate style in Sydney (or just Australian cities in general). Australian’s are very fashionable and tend to dress up (especially the ladies) more than most other countries. You will more than likely need heels for an evening out so bring your hottest stiletto’s and a skimpy dress, yes even if it is cold out!
Guide To Weather In Australian Cities
SYDNEY
Sydney is mostly warm early Autumn but will cool down halfway through the season. Although it won’t be freezing you will probably need a light jacket or sweater during the day. Swap out shorts for jeans or leggings in autumn and pair with a nice long-sleeve top or singlet and cardigan.
MELBOURNE
Melbourne weather in Autumn can be a mixed bag with temperatures changing in a matter of hours. It may be warm in the morning and then quickly change when a cold front comes through. It’s best to be prepared by layering.
TASMANIA
Tasmania has similar weather to Melbourne although much cooler. Definitely bring extra layers if you are visiting Tassie in Autumn. I recommend thermals and a good down jacket.
DARWIN
Autumn is the transition between the wet and dry season in the Top End. It probably wont get cold or even cool in Darwin. Instead it will be hot and humid. Your best bet is to bring moisture-wicking items of clothing. You will get sweaty.
ALICE SPRINGS
Alice Springs has a typical desert climate and can be much cooler in Autumn with temperatures ranging from 60 – 70 degrees (F). You’ll need some light layers to stay warm in the early morning and at night but may need to strip down to a t-shirt and shorts for the middle of the day.
What Not To Pack For Your Aussie Getaway
This advice is geared towards international travelers arriving into the country.
DO NOT BRING WOOD ITEMS: You should avoid bringing items made from wood. This is because Australia is very protective of its native species and unique ecosystem which means they are strict with enforcing anything that might harbor foreign and invasive species.
Yes, they will want to inspect wooden picture frames you may have bought at that Bali market on your layover or even a canvas painting. If you are bringing in gifts for friends or family made out of wood or even souvenirs you bought prior to arriving in Australia, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to throw them out. Just that you will need to declare it and that you may be held up for a short while in customs while they conduct an inspection.
DO NOT BRING MUDDY SHOES OR CAMPING EQUIPMENT: Do not bring dirty shoes or dirty camping equipment either for the same reason you cannot bring wooden items. They may be carrying foreign insects, seeds, or plants. Make sure you clean these items before packing. Honestly, if you haven’t been to Australia before, you will be surprised at how strict they are in enforcing these rules.
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