What to Carry in your Daypack on a Walking Holiday.

One of the best features of an Auswalk walking holiday is luggage transfers — whilst you’re enjoying the walk, your main luggage is transported to the next accommodation, leaving you free to explore without a heavy pack. 

You will, however, need to carry some essential items with you on the track. This guide outlines everything you need to pack in your day pack for a smooth and safe adventure. 

At a minimum, you need to fit in your lunch, water bottle(s), wet weather gear, a warm jumper, and other personal items. Day pack essentials may vary from location to location, depending on weather conditions and personal preference, but this list is a good place to start!

Essential Items

– 1-2 litres of water: We recommend a minimum of 2 litres for each person when the weather is cool, and definitely carry more in hot weather. It’s a good idea to drink lots (but not coffee) before you start walking, to give you a flying start! Personally, we don’t see any need to purchase brand-name water bottles – it’s perfectly OK to re-use discarded soft drink bottles, which are lightweight, plentiful, durable, don’t leak, and are free!

– Mobile phone: Reception is dependent on location – it may drop out during the walk. Luckily, our navigation resources will keep you on track, even if you lose reception.

– Portable Phone Charger/Powerbank: Depending on how long your phone battery typically lasts, we highly recommend bringing a portable charger. Using a navigation app and taking lots of photos can drain your battery quicker, so it’s best to come prepared with a backup!

– Walk notes, map, and map case: Self-guided walkers and some group-guided walkers (dependent on the trip) receive detailed walk notes, a map, and a map case. 

– A quality waterproof jacket with a hood, warm jumper, and beanie: There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!

– A basic first aid kit: Refer to your walk notes for first aid, prevention, and treatment information. 

– Sunscreen & sunhat: At least 30+SPF, and a wide-brimmed hat – even if the start of the day looks cloudy and overcast.

– Tissues & hand sanitiser: Some people get a runny nose when they walk, particularly in colder conditions. Access to toilets may be limited on the track, so having some backup tissues and hand sanitiser will also come in handy should you require them.

– Some cash in local currency.

– Picnic lunch in an insulated container: A picnic lunch and an insulated lunch bag are included on many of our walks, particularly in locations where there isn’t an opportunity to stop for food along the way. 

Optional but Useful

– Waterproof overtrousers: Because nobody likes walking in wet pants! Waterproof clothing protects from the wind and rain. 

– Personal insect/tick repellent: To keep those pesky bugs at bay. This will be more necessary in some regions compared to others. Refer to your walk notes for more information on insects.

– Gaiters: To keep rain, grass seeds, sand, mud, leeches, and other unwanted items out of the top of your boots. 

– Hiking poles: See our blog post for more information about choosing the right trekking poles. 

– Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the sun.

– A camera, binoculars, a notebook and pen, matches, and a small torch can also be useful to keep in your day pack!

Refer to your route notes for a detailed, trip-specific packing list.