How to Pack for Melbourne – Get your Family Ready!

Melbourne is just one of those destinations where you’ll have to expect just about anything in terms of the weather. It can be sunny one moment, drizzling the next, and windy a while later. Therefore, it's essential to make sure that you get every member of your family prepared to pack sensibly for this trip. And if you’ll be heading to Melbourne with infants or babies, then you’ll need to be extra prepared. Read on to learn about some useful things to throw into your suitcase or take with you.

Img via Pxfuel

Step One – Protection from the Sun

No matter what the forecast says, in Melbourne, it’s always best to be prepared. Make sure to pack some type of sunblock to protect your face when the sun comes out. Also, consider taking sunhats and the like as well as sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare while you’re out and about sightseeing and so on.

Step Two – Protection from the Rain

Even if it’s sunny outside, in Melbourne, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a chance of rain further along in the day. So when you’re stepping out, be mindful of that and carry an umbrella for yourself and others in your travelling party. Or else make sure that everyone carries a raincoat. It can also be useful to place your electronics and other important personal belongings in a waterproof bag in case of inclement weather. Also, since the weather can be quite fickle, do remember to pack things like swimsuits and swim trunks anyway, even if you’re expecting rainy weather during your time in the city. If you’re staying at a Melbourne airport hotel the likes of PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport or any other in the city, which has a pool, it would be a shame to miss out on the fun in the event that the weather improves.

Step Three – Dress Suitably

Because the weather in Melbourne can be unpredictable, this means that temperatures can fluctuate quite a bit during 24 hours. What this means is that you need to be prepared to handle cooler temperatures as well as warmer ones when you head out for the day. The only real way to handle this without finding yourself in a real pickle in one situation or another is to layer your clothing and accessories. For example, make sure to wear a t-shirt or tank top inside that is made of a breathable material that will also absorb sweat well and keep you dry; but on top of that, layer it with a longer sleeved item of clothing and/or a jacket. This way, in hot weather, you can strip down to your last layer, while when the temperatures start dropping, you can add your layers back on and stay suitably warm. Just remember – when it comes to layering, the first rule is that once you have all your layers on, you shouldn’t feel unbearably hot even if it’s cold outside – the layers should be just enough to keep you comfortable in the cold. Or else, when you start moving around in the cold in all your layers, if they keep you toasty from the start, after a while you will start sweating profusely. This will make your inner layers get soaked in sweat, leaving you feeling wet and uncomfortable, and more susceptible to catching a cold.

Step Four – Essentials for Infants

If you’re planning on travelling to Melbourne with toddlers or babies, then there are a few extra things that you need to pack to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for both you as well as your little one. The most important of all is to invest in a baby stroller if you don’t already have one, and make the effort to pack it to take with you on your trip. In Melbourne, you’ll likely be hitting the pavements hard as you make your way around the city, and it can get tiring to carry your little one in your arms or using carriers that hang off your person. The best way to pace yourself is by using a baby stroller. The good news is that Melbourne is quite stroller-friendly, as it’s a city that has been built while keeping in mind accessibility needs. You’ll find that a lot of the pavements don’t come to an abrupt end but instead are sloped down to the level of the road at intersections and crossings. Therefore, you can expect an easy time navigating the streets as you push your baby stroller along.