What to bring / leave behind for Australia/New Zealand trip?

 

<p >I'm planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand in a month and am trying to figure out what to bring. The places we're hitting are: Cairns, Sydney, Christchurch, Queenstown and possibly the area between Roturoa and Auckland.</p>

<p>Any tips on where to go or what to do from a photography enthusiast perspective would also be appreciated.</p>

<p>What I have to choose from:</p>

<p>5D Mark II *<br />24-105 f4L IS *<br />70-200 f2.8L IS<br />16-35 f2.8L *<br />100mm f2.8 Macro<br />50mm f1.4 *<br />Sigma 24-70 EX Macro<br />550EX *<br />ST-E2<br />National Geo Tundra compact tripod</p>

<p>I marked with a * what I think I should bring. Since my impression is that there is a lot of wide, expansive scenery, wider lenses would be more of a priority. The 24-105 would be my general walk-around lens like usual. For scenic vista, use the 16-35. 50mm for low-light. That leaves a question for whether anybody thinks the 70-200 and the 100 macro would be useful. Any thoughts on my choices or whether any of the other stuff would be useful? Or stuff I don't have but should consider getting?</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thanks!</p>

 

<p>Hi Colin...... both countries are rich on awesome land/seascapes and you will find the scenery quite breathtaking. The east coast of Oz has far more prolific birdlife than the West coast (where I live), so if you are a "birder" maybe your 70-200 should have some consideration. Having said that, consider its weight (my Minolta version weighs a ton).<br>

Is this a photography trip, or family holiday? How serious a photographer are you? How much free time will you have to spend on collecting images? Your own answers to these questions may help you decide how much of your kit you want to lug around. Some photogs say "never leave home without a tripod".... they have been right on 2 occaisions for me.<br>

So have a great trip and I look forward to some of your postings when you get back.<br>

Regards</p>

<p>Collin, I should have mentioned about getting a plug adapter for your chargers. Oz sells the ones for Aussie plugs going overseas but foreign plugs into Oz are extremely hard to find. I don't know about NZ.<br>

regards</p>

<p>Be careful of total weight, particularly if you're traveling alone. Foreign airlines can be quite sticky about carryon weight. Qantas, as an example, limits you to eleven pounds plus a personal item. If you're taking a laptop along, it's likely all the gear you listed, plus batteries, charger, memory, and a laptop, will easily exceed eleven pounds. Just be aware if you run across a hardnosed gate agent, you could find yourself shuffling expensive gear around, even having to check it with luggage.</p>

<p>As for places to see, when in Cairns, the rain forests are interesting, with some viewpoints that give nice panoramic views out towards the Coral Sea. The so-called table lands west of Cairns and the rain forests, have some wonderful agricultural areas that will remind you of some areas of California.</p>

<p>When I went to Australia and New Zealand I did find the weight restrictions very limiting. So what I did was wear a photo vest and stuffed the pockets until I got past the gate. They never checked the weight I had in my pockets. I took the camera out of the bag and that was my personal item. This all worked great!</p>

<p>thanks for the places and tips. i haven't really thought about weight in terms of the airlines, just on what I had to carry. this is a family trip so i can't do much dedicated photography, but i definitely plan on taking the best photos I can at the places we go to. <br>

i'm on the fence most about the 70-200. i'm not really a birder and my impression so far from what i've heard is that most of the photography is the landscape variety so the use of a long tele like that would be limited. a friend went before with 28-70 and 70-200 and said he only used the tele in the zoo. still open to thoughts on this. </p>

 

<p>Colin,</p>

<p>It's sounds to me from your posts here that you are def. on a family vacation and will make the very best of the photographic opportunities that come your way - i.e. you are not chasing images.</p>

<p>Unless you want indoor shots I'd leave the flash at home and use the magnificent natural Autumnal light we have in the antipodes. From your itinerary I'd also suggest you will <em>not</em> be short of 1st class scenic subject matter - how short will your tri-pod fold down to and how much does it weigh? If you intend to take group / family photos I'd want it on the packing list right after the camera body.</p>

<p>Cabin / carry on board baggage limitations are typically around the 7kg mark flying in Aust and NZ and also and inbetween Aust / NZ. I've never had a problem carrying my Lowepro Mini-classic trekker back pack with 9kg+ of gear on board as I just wear it straight on my back and don't keep nagging at it like it weighs a ton. I can't say weather I've been lucky or not though doing this. I've carried on a 9kg+ back pack onto at least 10 flights in Aust and NZ in the past 5 years. I'm usually a pro-ponent of taking your best photo gear with you on a grand tour such as this. However, as a Nikon shooter with a similar 70-200mm lens I understand the genuine weight issue raised in the replies here. You always have the option of passing the 70-200mm lens for a family member to carry on board for you. 70-200mm lens either way<strong> take or leave</strong> there will be plenty of opportunities to use it on your scheduled route, you have to decide wether you can compromise and just take the wide zoom and the walk about zoom.</p>

<p>I have often packed a 300mm f/4 lens into my 'check in' luggage using a very tightly packed sturdy steel framed suitcase and have not have a problem with doing this over 6 or 7 flights but I know I'm taking an elevated risk. However, I am in a different position as I'm holidaying with the intent of chasing photographs so I take bigger risks and accept fewer compromises.</p>

<p>Enjoy your time downunder......!</p>

<p>Depending on where/what you will be seeing around Cairns, there are marsupials around... especially in the Atherton Tablelands on the other side of the mountains. But you would need to be staying at a good place to see/photograph them well. Nearer the coast (and generally all over) there will be kookabara opportunities and maybe some parrots and doves. Probably the same down by Sydney. So you're 70-200 will have its uses depending on the pace of your trip, and the priority of your subjects. Have fun... I love Cairns area (not the town) and the tablelands. -g-</p>

<p>Dunno about equip but NZ is reknown for wet seasons - 4 seasons a year. I say get a good quality rain jacket and if you are going into the S Island esp Fiordland 75% of the year is wet. If you drive out of there up north you can witness the chain in weather (!). Not just wet, but misty, but still temperate. </p>

<p>I am a New Zealander and find that for landscapes I use my 70-200 almost as much as my 24-70, especially with the autumn (fall) colours and light around Queenstown. Unless you are really in to natural history photography, and will have the time to put into it, I don't think you will have much use for the 100 macro here.<br>

Enjoy your visit.<br>

Cheers<br>

Wynston</p>