LUGGAGE: What to put it all in….
Our domestic and international flights come with specific rules on maximum number of bags AND maximum total weight and dimensions that you are allowed to have per individual. To avoid costly overcharges, be sure to follow these rules carefully (also keep in mind that additional purchases in Australia will likely increase your luggage weight while on the trip).
Baggage Allowances for 2024 –NOW UPDATED
Remember, you will be travelling extensively during the course of this program, so be warned that whatever you bring YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY! Students are notorious for bringing far too much luggage – remember you are sure to accumulate items during your stay as well.
The following applies only to you if you are flying in and out of the US on the group ticket purchased through Student Universe. If you have arranged your own flights in/out and within Australia, your baggage allowances might be very different – check your tickets!
Our baggage allowances is ONE checked piece of baggage up to 70lbs and one carry on piece of baggage at maximum 15lbs. There are also overall size limitations – you add up height+width+depth of your pieces. For carry on the total must not accede 45 inches baggage. For checked baggage the total is 62 inches. Since you are on the group ticket, your baggage allowances are set by the international flight. So even though you have domestic connections, which usually have lower baggage allowances, the international baggage allowance counts. For more details, see the Qantas site.
IMPORTANT: We are NOT going backpacking, merely camping in Kakadu. We will be traveling by large 4-wheel drive “busses”. The campsite is fully set up for us so we will not need to hike into it. The mini busses have limited luggage carrying capacity. That is why we are asking you to bring a small duffle bag that will hold 2 days worth of your gear while we are in Kakadu. The rest of your luggage will be stored in the Youth Hostel back in Darwin. You do want to bring a small additional daypack (like a book bag-sized “backpack”) to carry your notebook, water bottle, etc while we are hiking (you will leave your duffle bag in camp during the day). I think the longest hike we do in Kakadu is around 5km. Tents and sleeping bags will be provided. You DO NOT need to bring any “camping equipment” and we are NOT “overnight backpacking” or hiking into camp sites – we literally park and there it is..
DANGEROUS GOODS: Checked vs. Carry-On Baggage
The Department of Homeland Security restricts items that can be carried on airplanes on checked or carry on bag. To avoid delays and complications on our trip, please be sure to follow THESE guidelines when packing your bags.
Clothing
We are going to experience a great range of temperatures on our journey, including sweltering summer days (sunburn!), brisk, windy days (very cold, very dry), and rainy days (see Weather and Climate) for more information). The trick is not to bring your entire winter and summer wardrobe. Instead, make use of layering. Jeans or slacks quickly become cold-weather proof with a nice pair of long thermal underwear. A thermal long-sleeve, fleece, and wind-breaking outer shell will keep out the cold without sacrificing the ability to lose layers if the day warms up. A nice stretchy material (wool, cotton, etc.) hat and one-size-fits-all gloves round out the picture on a brisk day (and don’t take up much room in your luggage). We will be both by the ocean and on exposed mountain trails where it can be really windy – so make sure whatever hat you bring, it won’t easily blow away. I would bring TWO hats, one for warm sunny days (with wide rim to protect against the sun) and a warm one for cold, windy days). Bring enough to cover you for a week – laundry facilities will be available at all of the accommodations.
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- T-shirts, shorts, jeans
- Sweatshirts/sweaters
- Swimwear
- Underwear, socks
- Long underwear and long-sleeved shirts (see above suggestions)
- Warm jacket or fleece (temperatures in Katoomba could be near freezing and it is windy!)
- gloves, scarf (when temperatures are low)
- One of two nice outfits (for warm weather and cold weather), e.g. for a night out at Sydney Opera House and/or a nice dinner in town, also think “dressier shoes”!
- Sandals/Flip Flops (however NO flip-flops in pubs and clubs!)
- Pair of comfortable walking shoes (for non-off-road city walks, etc.)
- Ankle-covering Hiking Boots (absolutely required). We will be doing a lot of hiking and walking, if you are purchasing a new pair, be sure to wear-it-in before going to Australia!). HERE is a MUST-SEE guide on what your hiking boots should be like.
- Detergent Pods (for laundry…), you can buy this in Australia but they cost more…
Personal Items
- Beach/bath towel
- Photocopy or digital copy of your passport stored separately in your luggage or on your computer.
- A wide-rimmed hat for warm, sunny days (absolutely required!)
- A hat for cool, windy days
- Sunscreen (see note below)
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
- A day pack
- Rainwear/umbrella (just in case…)
- Medication (see important information on the Health Insurance and Prescription Medicine page)
Equipment
DO NOT bring electrical appliances such as hairdryers, hair straighteners, electric shavers, curling irons, as many of these bathroom appliances pose a serious fire hazards! The standard voltage in Australia is 240V, increasing this risk. Most electronic devices now automatically come with built-in power converters. Check the information on your power cords and plugs – it should say INPUT: 120-240V, otherwise the device will fry itself, potentially shock you, AND could start a fire.
- Laptop computer or tablet or equivalent – you will be asked to view online media, read pdfs of papers, and take online assessments throughout the trip. Your smart phone is NOT adequate for this.
- Power converter for 110V to 220V (check your power adapter – the little black box attached to your power cable, it should say what it can take) – IF your electronic cannot take incoming 220V you should leave it at home. Power converters are expensive, heavy, and cumbersome. What’s the difference between a converter and an adapter?
- American outlet to Australian outlet adapter.
- Camera (phone camera is fine, but you will regret not having the means to take high resolution images of all the amazing scenery)
- Head-lamp, flashlight is fine but can be cumbersome (for camping, night hikes, and outdoor evening discussions)
- A small padlock to lock your bag via its zipper
- Colored Pencils (at least 10 different colors)
- Field Notebook (should be something like this). Shop around, these can vary dramatically in price. You will be taking A LOT of notes on this trip – so get one with plenty of pages.
- Hand Lens (recommend at least x10 magnification, like this). Shop around, these can vary dramatically in price. Also get a lanyard (required) so you can hang it around your neck. DO NOT get a magnifying glass, hand lupe, or triple lens such as this, this, or this. These are NOT true naturalist’s hand lenses.
- UPDATED Mask and Snorkel. When it comes to mask and snorkel, you are faced with two options: the traditional mask and snorkel or the full-face snorkel mask. What you wear is ultimately up to you BUT we strongly encourage you to try out EACH before you commit. Despite claims of “one size fits all”, that is simply not true for this type of gear (any SCUBA diver will agree). A well-fitting mask and functional snorkel can make the difference between a wonderful, life-changing snorkel experience and “saltwater-in-my-mouth-and-constantly-fiddle-with-my-mask” frustration. Unfortunately, unless you go to a store that specializes in diving equipment (and inevitably pay the cost of a professional mask and snorkel, >$80 or more), you are usually limited to buying sets online that you first have to open to try on. So proceed with caution and check return policies on the equipment. HERE is a guide on how you can determine that your mask (most important!) fits properly. Last but not least, your snorkel might be “open” or “self-closing/dry”. The former means that water can freely enter the top (like splash and waves) and you have to purge it manually (by sharply blowing into it). The latter has a “float” mechanism that closes the top when the snorkel dips below a certain water level (like an incoming wave). Most people prefer the latter, although it can be disconcerting to new users to have your air suddenly cut off temporarily without warning. Its either that or water in your snorkel. The “dry” snorkel significantly cuts down on “coughing and choking on saltwater” moments. If you opt for the full-face snorkel mask, please spend some time perusing THIS excellent review – it lists important pros and cons of this “new” technology. Again, we cannot stress this enough – TRY OUT YOUR SNORKEL (in your local pool, if necessary) TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE USING IT AND THAT IT FITS WELL. We will use this gear not just on the reef but in freshwater lakes and rivers in the Northern Territory and Queensland (aka fish survey!).
Optional Equipment (but highly recommended)
- Sleeping Bags WILL BE PROVIDED in Kakadu by our camping outfitter. However, be aware that these sleeping bags are rated for around 50°F, yet night-time temperatures can fall into 30s on rare occasions (this has happened 1 out of 7 times so far). So if you know yourself to be a cold sleeper, better bring your own warm sleeping bag
- Binoculars (for wildlife watching)
- Underwater camera (you will miss having one on our swims and reef dive. These days, perfectly sufficient underwater cameras can be bought for ~$70)
Sunscreen Use
More and more scientific research supports the fact that some chemical compounds, widely used in sunscreen and sun tan lotions, have detrimental effects on both fresh and saltwater organisms, even in highly dilute concentrations (parts per billion or trillion). Although the magnitude of the biological impact (especially compared to other stressors) of these compounds is the subject of ongoing research and scientific debate, several scientific organizations are advocating for preventive cautionary measures to reduce the amount of sunscreen chemicals released into the environment. Hawaii has already banned the use of some of these compounds (a hotly debated and controversial decision), and the US National Park Service has begun to educate the public about alternatives to sunscreen use.
We urge you to strongly consider limiting the use of sunscreen on days that we will be swimming in freshwater rivers, lakes, and the open ocean reef environment. Within the constricted, low-energy confines of many of the watering holes in Kakadu National Park, concentrations of sunscreen can rise rapidly, as is evident by visible films of white oily residue on the surface of the water. To reduce the impact, tour guides and park officials strongly urge visitors to wear light, long-sleeve shirts when entering the water, instead of using sunscreen. When sunscreen is used, visitors are asked to apply it well before entering the water (e.g. at least an hour before) to limit the amount that is immediately washed off. There are also various brands of sunscreen that do not contain the compounds currently suspected of contributing to ecotoxicity.
We will not ask you NOT to wear sunscreen (after all, the dangers of UV radiation are very real and well known), however, we do wanted to make you aware of the potential problem and some possible alternatives.
Although, popularly portrayed as a noxious substance, DEET, the active ingredient found in most insect repellents has been found to be of only slight toxicity to aquatic organisms, and then ONLY when present in concentrations that are significant magnitudes higher than have been measured in the environment. So the application of bug spray is of little environmental concern as far as the current science goes.
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The Aboriginal Peoples of Australia did very well for themselves for more than 65,000 years using the fine toolkit below – so don’t overpack (ugh, better pack this into your checked luggage, NOT carry-on!)
