Considering how that chapter of my life is over. I shall bestow you my kindness and share with you my experience! Took me months but finally, here is my version of an ultimate guide on WHAT TO PACK before beginning your temporary life in STRAYA. I also elaborated on explanations just so you guys could get a much clearer picture behind things.
#1 WARDROBE
Weather in Melbourne is bullocks. Before I begin, let me break it down for you roughly.
December - February: Summer
March - May: Spring
June - August: Autumn
September - November: Winter
Bear in mind the chances of you experiencing 4 seasons in 1 day is highly possible. Checking the weather app will become a very important routine before you step foot out of your house in Australia. [Here] is where I usually go to for more accurate predictions. Weather in Melbourne is unpredictable which is why, bringing the right clothes is very important.
- Lingerie
- You will be so glad that you brought more pants than you think you need.
- Socks
- I wear socks even when I am in the house, during winter especially. I hate having cold feet.
- Inner-wear
- Also the base layer, it serves as a "second-skin" and is suppose to provide extra warmth. It has to be either synthetic based or either wool based, NEVER use cotton as a base layer. You could easily find these online or go to your nearest Uniqlo store!
- Mid-layer
- This could be a blouse, top, tee or shirt. I personally just wear something long sleeved and thin. My tolerance for cold is pretty bad but if you think you are okay with it, skip this!
- Insulating-layer
- Wool would be best! Could be a jumper over a shirt. or a hoodie over a tee.
- Weatherproof shell/ Insulating outerwear
- I would strongly recommend to get something waterproof, padded and has a hood. Before I got there, I had 2 heavy duty coats with me, neither of them were waterproof, nor has a hood to shield my dumb head from the notorious Melbourne weather.
Get something practical, investing in a good jacket/coat is very important in my opinion. You do not need more than two in my opinion unless you are a fashionista, just because they take up so much space in the luggage. - Shoes
- Sneakers a must! For alternatives I would say boots for rainy days and flip-flops for the summer.
- Accessories
- Not everything you own, they will either get lost, broken or dirty. In my case a watch and 2 bracelets worked fine.
- A BIG THICK SCARF! I can not emphasize this enough. During those cold and miserable winter months, trust me, you will thank me for this. Get something woolie to keep your neck warm and cosy.
- Bags
- Backpack/sling bag/shoulder bags. Your preference but 2 should be sufficient for you to alternate according to occasions. For me backpack was a must due to the fact that I had to constantly carry my laptop to uni, I also bought a shoulder bag while I was there for usual outings.
I do not think I would need to guide you on how to dress up for summer time. Grab a plain tee, shorts, put on your thongs and you are ready to go. By thongs, I means slippers, flip-flops, Australians calls them that.
YOU WILL BUY MORE CLOTHES. It is inevitable. Malls are always on sales, especially when the season is transitioning. Summer clothes are cheap on winter and vice versa. Make wise shopping decisions and you will save tons! Also, it is always cheaper and easier online!
#2 Toiletries
I arrived Melbourne in the middle of the night. If your case will be any similar to mine, trust me, after a long flight and travelling from the airport to your home, all you want to do in the end of the day is to catch up with some sleep. To get a good rest you got to clean your dirty ass up; which is why I brought some travel pack toiletries with me! Please do not bring full sizes of everything. Be practical. Toiletries are not expensive in Australia you can easily get them in supermarkets and chemist stores. Check the prices [here] and [here]! Do not pack them before flying because it will overweight your luggage, and possibly cost you even more money.
- Toothbrush/ Toothpaste
- I actually hand carry these in my bag, because I have the habit of brushing my teeth before landing. Just can not deal with stinky mouth after long flights.
- Contact Lenses/ Solutions/ Glasses
- If you wear contact lenses regularly, and you are from an Asian country, I would advice you to stock up on your preferred brand. Get more than what you think you need. I have checked and compared the prices. Lens solution is another story, you can get them cheap and easy in any chemist stores. Assuming your lenses are prescribed, do not forget to bring your glasses along for them lazy stay in days, when you got nobody to impress.
- Towel
- First night of moving in your hostel/ rented house, no room service, surprise.
- Travel kit - Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash
- Travel kit because it is only meant for the first couple of days, get your ass out to the stores and grab them in full sizes once you have settled in.
- Deodorant
- Make up
- Drug store make up are generally cheap in Australia. If you use high end ones, do not worry, I think prices are pretty standard for big brands despite which part of the world you are in. Do check online if your usual must-haves are available in the country tho. In my case, they have discontinued some of the products that I have been religiously using throughout the years; which I was so thankful I packed a dozen of it before heading there. Just do your research! Not only make up, just everything in general! If there is something that you think you can not live without, do double check.
#3 Electronics
- Adapter
- Mains voltage in Australia is 230V 50Hz. The plugs in Australia have two flat metal pins shaped like a "V" and some may contain a third flat pin in the centre.
- Extension plugs
- So this here is my wonderful tip given by a really close friend of mine. Basically what you do, is you plug your extension into the adaptor, and you will not have to get an adapter for every fucking electronic appliances you own. Easily plug in your laptops, hairdryer, chargers etc.
- Phone
- Laptop
- Tablet/ Ipad
- All necessary chargers.
- Camera
These are pretty self explanatory and really varies on different people. For me having all the items listed above is very important because I was a graphic design student. I assume laptops are considered an essential especially if you are in Australia to study.
#4 Medication
I am not a doctor. What I am sharing with you are just medications that I need to have with me all the time. I think you people are smart enough to know that you should always consult a proper doctor and do not bring any dangerous or forbidden drugs with you yadah yadah yadah.
I suffer from Eczema once in a while, hence I brought a stack of allergy pills as well as medicinal spray for my skin, just to avoid flare ups. Although my skin got so much better after being in Australia (probably because of their wonderful clean air) and I barely needed any, I still think it was a great move for me to be prepared at the first place.
Unlike Malaysia, you are not allowed to buy most medications over the counter. You can not just go up to the pharmacist without a prescription and go 'CAN I HAVE A BUNCH OF BIRTH CONTROLS PLEASE'. Consult your gynaecologist before travelling over and stock up on your usual brand. You can get Plan B over the counter by filling in some forms, but girls, get that little shit to wrap his cock up and please do not treat it as a Plan A every time. Just putting this here because lets be real, PEOPLE HAVE SEX. HOW THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU WERE MADE?
Whenever you feel unwell, see a doctor. To be a student in Australia it is compulsory for you to obtain a medical insurance. Which means you are covered! Take your time and go through it, check out what you should do whenever you get sick, where are the nearest General Practitioner (GP). From my understanding (which I have only learned after being in Australia), how it usually work is whenever you are unwell, you could visit your nearest GP, and they will provide you with a prescription. Depending on which insurance company you are on, you would then inform them on the payments you have made for the consultation, and you will get full/certain amount of refund. On most cases you would have to pay for the medications yourself but their prices are usually reasonable.
#5 Miscellaneous
- On my case, my landlord happens to also be a good friend of mine. Even thou he was not there when I arrived, he sent me pictures of my room and I could clearly see what I needed. I cheekily went online to check on prices of bed sheets for double bed beforehand, and decided to purchase them before flying over as the prices were cheaper. they were not that thick so it did not added much weight onto my luggage.
- I also brought some of my favourite paint brushes in case I strive to be artsy during my free time. Brought a pencil case of basic stationary tools, important documents such as receipts for my school fees, CoE letter, visa approval print, offer letter and etc. Basically just be prepared and pack up what you deem as important before your school starts.
- Be sure to have a small amount of cash with you at the start. Here is a tip, most banks allow you to open up a bank account online before you even arrive. You can deposit money into it right away, but only allowed to do anything else after you have arrived and verify your identity by visiting the branch that you applied to. Commonwealth Bank is the bank I was with and I absolutely love their service and efficiency. Click [here] for more information on opening an account online!
- Average food prices range from $5 - $15, depending on where you dine.
- Cigarette prices are crazy compared to Asian country so if you are a smoker, bad news!
- If you live in the City of Melbourne, purchase a Myki card, and top it up with money. Click [here] for more information on public transports, and be sure to download the life saving train app [here]. Getting around is fairly simple but I will save that for another post someday.
Overall, you will be fine. Do not worry and think too much into it. Melbourne is a wonderful city and the locals are friendly. Go out and explore the city when you have time and make friends! Pick up a new hobby (my case, skateboarding), sit on grasses during the summer with your multicultural friends, explore the museums by yourself and be sure to enjoy a good coffee (Melbournians take their coffee very seriously)!
Good luck!
x
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