What to pack for Sydney in December

UV index hits 10.4, strong enough to burn in minutes.

Glare off water and pavement intensifies at this UV level.

Summer brings insects that bite, and 10 rain days create breeding pools.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Stinger season peaks in December along the coast here.

This country runs on Type I. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Flights to Australia run 20 hours, and airport layovers have unreliable outlets.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast on international flights to Sydney.

National parks near the city warrant day trips beyond the airport.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Heat and humidity at 72% mean sweat clings to skin all day.

UV hits 10.4 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

The coast is steps away and the water reaches 79°F.

Fourteen hours of daylight means long exposure to direct sun.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Busy urban areas and airports mean bags get lost.

Ten rain days mean wet clothes need separation from dry ones.

Rain falls on 10 days, and the coast means salt spray.

Humidity at 72% speeds sweat buildup, so laundry happens twice a week.

Salt spray from the coast corrodes earbuds, so a sealed design matters more than usual.

Highs stay above 79°F through the month.

Lips burn as fast as skin in a UV index of 10.4.

Tap water is safe, but hands touch high-traffic surfaces constantly.

Bites itch worse when sunburned skin is already inflamed.

Devices charge slowly in heat, so short cables matter.

International travel requires proof of identity at every border.

International travel to Australia means checked bags go through screening.

Heat and humidity make toiletries sweat in luggage.

Long flights to Australia mean sleep on the plane.