dirty laundry - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

thekid · 04-29-2008, 02:01 PM

hey guys, il be flying outa vancouver in 3 days for new zealand on a year long working holiday. i have almost everything figured out, packed or researched as i have done a similar working holiday in the UK a year ago.

only thing i cant figure out is what im gonna do with my dirty laundry so it doesnt stink up the rest of my bag. last time i traveled with a mesh bag, and it made the clean clothes in my bag smell not so clean. im thinkin either go with the mesh bag and some dryer sheets and put the really stinky stuff in a ziplock or something? other option is just a good old fashioned garbage bag.

any sugestions?

**The Sasquatch** · 04-29-2008, 03:06 PM

hmmm, i use a pillow case and my stuff doesn't seem to get stinky. Although only my dirty socks would be overly stinky i imagine. I can also use this as a pillow in worst case scenario and its easy to keep clean, just throw it in with your wash.

as for new zealand, how are you getting around? i had a working holiday visa there last year, but could only stay 4 months, so didn't get much work in.

**jengt** · 04-29-2008, 03:21 PM

I used ziplock bags. They make them larger now. (XL & Super size) It's easy to squeeze out all of the extra air so that it doesn't take up any extra room. Also good for wet items.

thekid · 05-02-2008, 11:00 AM

i got a few pretty big ziplock bags to throw most of it in, and i found another mesh bag so im set. my bag is so huge tho! it wieghts 60lbs and has skis and everything in it. i was able to fit in all my camping gear in there to. besides that i got my regular backpack about half full. gonna be a bit tricky gettin that ski bag around but at least everything is in one bag.

leaving in 4 hours!

plan is to find a cheapish car when i get there and go hit the surf for a few weeks till the ski hills open in june. been using trademe.co.nz and the notices section of backpackerboard.co.nz to scout cars.

im not sure at this point if it would be best for me to get a phone when i get there? i have no idea what would be the cheapest way of doing it. i have like 3 phones but none are unlocked.

also any info on where to get cheap surfboards and wetsuits would be helpful. id probably aim to pay about $300 on a board that would last me quite a while.

i will probably be reading any replys from new zealand cause i got lots o people to visit before i go.

**The Sasquatch** · 05-02-2008, 04:18 PM

ah shit, shoulda talked to you earlier. I got a cheap phone that i bought there with the sim card still that i don't use. could have just got there and added some money to it and been set. but if you just need a phone, vodaphone should be able to set you up with a shitty one with a sim card for like $100.

should be a good time of year to buy a car also, people will be leaving after the summer, but the winter crowd isn't arriving yet, so cars will be going for cheap. theres a backpacker car mart in auckland and also should be lots of postings on the hostel notice boards.

**c0urt** · 05-03-2008, 10:14 AM

i use compression sacks
here is a review for the brand i use
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/revi...0Dalen%20Rice/
i love them i have been using them for years
but they are a bitch at airports because i have to unconpress them at almost every stop to prove it really is just underwear and socks. in that tiny bag

**Diorama** · 05-04-2008, 04:06 PM

ha too funny i just came home to vancouver from my nz working visa. Have fun

I worked in wellington I love NZ and plan to go back at the end of the year. 60lbs back pack. Yikes.

**mooloo** · 05-04-2008, 05:25 PM

hey, where in NZ are you planning on being?

As for the phone, either vodafone or telecom can give you something for around $100.

I hope you have warm clothes as it has been freezing over here! Snow on the desert road already - i dont know if they will open the mountain any earlier because of this or not...?

Have an awesome time!!

thekid · 05-04-2008, 10:03 PM

well im here now, and pretty well set up. got a bank account and a car on the first day! i split a 93 civic hatchback for $1400 with a guy i met at the airport. i think were heading north tomorrow for a few days, then makeing our way down to raglan to start looking for work.

got a massive hangover from last night, and i almost got in a fight with a english guy twice my size. ah the pleasures of backpacking!

**The Sasquatch** · 05-04-2008, 11:53 PM

I liked the north alot. We weren't too sure if we wanted to bother going up there, but had alot of fun. Weren't too impressed with the bay of islands, but mostly just cuz it was crap weather and we couldn't wait around for nice stuff to roll in. Cape Reinga was nice. Went down to the lighthouse when we arrived at night and was cool. Went sandboarding around there, can't remember the name of the dunes, Te Paka maybe?, then we drove 90 mile beach which was really cool. Have fun and stay away from the big, drunk poms.

**mooloo** · 05-06-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sasquatch

Went sandboarding around there, can't remember the name of the dunes, Te Paka maybe?,

Ohh definately do the dunes if you are anywhere near them, I was quite young when I did them but they were great fun! Especially when you end up in the water! :D I think there may be a couple of places where you can do it up there - we went on some dunes across from Omapere & Opononi in the Hokianga Harbour if that helps....

**worldwidemike** · 05-06-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diorama

ha too funny i just came home to vancouver from my nz working visa.

You're home, Jill? Nothing bad happened, I hope...? Guess I'd better head over to "Where's Jilly?" and get updated. I had no idea.

worldwidemike

thekid · 05-16-2008, 09:04 PM

whew, managed to put 2000km on that car already

bay of islands was pretty average, but we didnt go over to russle where its supposed to be nicer. i guess im just spoiled comeing from vancouver island. kaitia and the north was awsome. just what i was looking for. picked up a surfboard for 275$ and have been useing it almost every day. we did 150km down 90 mile beach, an experince i will never forget. awsome haveing the waves crashing right beside you like that.

now im down in raglan really getting some real use outa that surfboard. another really beautiful place, but the breaks are pretty crowded. theres also a pretty cool bridge to jump off here, and the hostel is cheap and really good. il probably be hanging out down here for a few months. i got my skis with me, but im enjoying the surf to much to go use them. i really dont want it to get cold.

shoulda hit up mooloo for a drink on the way through wanganui, but before i got out here i really had no idea where people and places were.

well now its off to find work (gonna be hard, this is a pretty small town).

ah well, lifes just awsome right now, definatly worth all those days of workin hard and staying sober.

**mooloo** · 05-17-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekid

shoulda hit up mooloo for a drink on the way through wanganui, but before i got out here i really had no idea where people and places were.

For sure, if you end up back down this way at any time give me a PM, let me know if you need any help with anything