Fantastic news...I finally booked my trip to New Zealand to see my boyfriend and meet his family! I leave June 25th for a month, but one problem, ok two.

What the hell do I bring?????

I live in Florida, I wear a sweater if it is 75. I am going to NZ where it will be 45 and I am worried my blood may freeze over. Anyway, I just know that styles are very different over there and I don't want to hop of the plane looking like Captain America (as I said, I am meeting the parents here). Any suggestions? Anyone living there? Any help would be fantastic.

Next, from one of you who have flown for an entire DAY, what do you do on the plane to keep yourself entertained?

Flights to Europe I can handle, but a whole day on a plane, kill me. Any sleep
meds to recommend? I'm flying on Qantas so they better have some good movies.

But for the love of orange, some help please! :surrender:

I think you'll do fine with more "classic" fashion styles - as in, less on the Abercrombie, the Hollister, and the Wet Seal stuff...

That's at least just my suggestion.

Firstly where in NZ are you coming to?

The clothes u will need will depend if you are in the north or south island, if you are close to the mountains etc.

I, as a yank, recently met his antipodean parents and was worried about looking like some stupid american chick. among other things. Just wear something attractive and modest, probably without all sorts of brand names etc. Parents are the same all over really. And when I met the parents they were so warm and welcoming that it really didnt matter in the slightest what I was wearing anyway.

As for the plane trip, I suggest you buy some unisom or something and keep popping them on the plane til you fall asleep. Then you wake up before arrival, dont remember the empty hours on the plane, you're somewhat fresh. Brush teeth and change before you go through customs, and there you are. I'm really very secretly pleased that people cant meet you straight off the planes anymore.

Good luck, chicka. If all else fails, buy some crappy best-seller in the airport bookshop and devour it. I read books on planes I wouldnt be caught dead reading on land. hehe.

and I was satisfied with the qantas programming. For a few hours, before my packet of sleeping pills kicked in. I started with two and took them on the half hour until I fell asleep. Wonder it didnt kill me.

If you're taking Air New Zealand from the west coast, the newer planes have on-demand entertainment systems. Believe me, they have enough movies to keep you occupied the whole way.

Oh thank god!! You just made my day Omisan!

I'm flying ANZ from Seattle and I'd planned to sedate for most of the trip coz I can't read for that long and the flight attendants hate it when I get up and wander around. Of course that's provided there's anything worth watching around that time, I haven't been too impressed with Hollywood of late...

I am going to S. Island, Governor's Bay outside of Christchurch actually, and since they just got 10" of snow, it makes me a little nervous because i am a pansy ass with cold weather.

Omisan, Thank you for telling me they actually have entertainment!!!! Now if they have free booze I'm golden!

The friend I'm headed down to visit has been whining about the cold an snow of late too, she's further south in Dunedin. And being from Seattle and liking the mountains and snow shoeng i suggest the following attire, layers. Couple mid weight shirts and a coat or parka, hat definitely, gloves, (duck hunters are great for it), long johns. Ooo, hand warmers in the pockets.

I also see you are from Florida, won't be easy I expect.

And if you can tote them along with you, Sorrell's and liners, check the Campmor.com site for some good prices last i looked. Also, snow seal for the boots is a must. Get long john seperates while you're at it. i also wear wool military pants from the army/navy surplus store and the airforce sweaters are great too. Of course you can buy a lot of this stuff when you get there and leave it for the next yank that goes there in winter...

Yeah, they have free booze, including a somewhat decent selection of NZ wines. :)

Hopefully I wont need all the thermals, but definitly good advice! And the NZ wine selection sounds ideal. Thanks guys!