Will be in Australia Gold Coast (residential area) for 5 weeks in December- What do I pack?

[Kittyberry]

I am visiting friends and family in Aus in December with DH for 5 weeks over Xmas and new year. I am packing for a few informal meals out, and we are renting an Air BnB fully equipped. We expect to do a lot of activity, as well as sitting round many tables, days out with very new DCG - visiting brother coming up to join us from southern Aus - for a week of the five - and we have not yet met new DIL/family, so possibly one/two more formal occasions in smarter food places and alot of beach and Bar-B-Q days

Im thinking lightweight joggers, and trackies, shorts, leggings, pair of smart-ish jeans, many T shirts and a warmer wrap/throw, with a blouse type top or two. I may put a shift type cotton dress in too...

Footwear - comfortable trainers, one pair of heavier walking boots, one pair of heels and obligatory thongs

Usual washing/shower stuff, hair care/hair styler, minimum makeup face serum, lip gloss and will get eyelash extensions a few days before we leave with a mani/pedi too. Simple jewellery/watch and hoop type earrings

What do I take and what am I missing? I don't do dresses very much, and keep it all quite sporty/athleisure vibe usually at home here and infrequent/rare dressier occasions.

Thinking Tea bags! and fave coffee might be good ( we know what we like) , and aside from that cant imagine what might be useful that I am not thinking of ATM.

Have a few gifts and pressies for new baby, and some fave scent for new DIL that DS has suggested...any idea of what I have missed?? I think I have it covered but I am usually wrong and ofter over/under pack ! We have a 30kgs luggage allowance and 2 carry on bags allowed....trying to get organised now as only 4 weeks to go and cant wait either as super excited - would love to know if an Aussies might put me right!

Not Aussie but have family there. Have you been before? Australia is typically very casual, and Queensland is likely to be hot in December. I'd be thinking more of cropped or wide leg trousers in linen or viscose rather than joggers or jeans - but you'll probably mostly wear your shorts. Yes to lightweight dresses and skirts. I'd pack more of a mix of lighter tops/blouses and t-shirts, plus a couple of long sleeved shirts if needed for sun or mosquito protection.

Having just returned(and it wasnt that hot at that point) lots of light easy washable stuff. The exchange rate is very favourable so id be tempted to buy stuff there(shit loads of linen everywhere) Pure australian cotton tee shirts were about £5 in Target. Get thongs and stuff there (there's a brand that don't pop out and have arch support) Sunscreen is pretty cheap as are toiletries. The Cancer council do a range of sunhats which are quite nice. Taking stuff-theres just been a thread where everyone said you can get most english stuff.(English breakfast tea is very popular) but ask, there might be something they miss.

Thanks - yes have been before but city ( Sydney) and in April/May. Am expecting it to be informal - but just don't know DIL/family style and a smart restaurant meet up has been mentioned. I do know its going to be hot! Oh and will buy a hat over there I think..

It is going to be stinking hot and humid in December. 28-32 degrees and sweaty. You'll want linen fabrics as much as possible. Wide leg Palazzo pants and sleeveless shirts in linen will be smart enough for nice restaurant meals. Active wear will be fine for daytime running around and family events, but you'd want light options. Trackies seem like a waste of packing space. Maybe a light hoodie for breezy afternoons/evenings, at most. It is peak summer, pack your swimming gear!

I wouldn’t bother with the teabags and coffee. They will be available there. I would say try to avoid polyester or non-natural fabrics as the heat and humidity will make them unbearable to wear. Hat of course and sunscreen but that can be bought there. Enjoy!!

What to pack for Gold Coast in December? Not a lot! Singlets, shorts, thongs, swimmers. 😆

Activewear and a bikini. Sandals or thongs. A cap. White fox hoodie for a cold breeze. Get a spray tan and you’ll fit right in on the Goldie!
Absolutely no need to bring coffee, Aussie coffee is the best in the world. They also sell teabags there, believe it or not.

Agree with other posters on ditch the joggers and jeans in favour of loose, light trousers and shorts with crisp lightweight cotton or linen tops if you’re not into dresses. I grew up on the GC and that time of year is hot and humid. I’d also pack a pair of sandals, which are considered smart for evening wear. Smart casual is the dress code in most restaurants, even fancy ones like Rick Shore’s in Burleigh, and I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone over the age of 25 in heels.
As for tea bags and coffee, Coles sells Yorkshire tea and Tetley. Have coffee out. The coffee shop industry is enormous and so competitive that there is no such thing as a badly made coffee. Gold Coasters are morning people, so they all open around 6:30am where you’ll see people already filling tables for breakfast, especially if you are anywhere near the beach. It is also half the price of a U.K. cup!
Don’t forget your swimmers and have a fabulous time. Which suburb will you be staying in?

Oh. Nearly forgot, It rains in December. Bring a raincoat. When I say rain, I mean thick heavy rain for about an hour or two a day at around 4pm.

Thanks, everyone is saying the same thing so will be rejigging a bit..linen all round and I wont bother with the heels!
Pleased to hear Yorkshire Tea is at Coles :) And yes, I will try some famous Aussie Coffee ( may make it hard to come back here!) We will be in Broadbeach so pretty close to Surfers Paradise! Counting the days...

Broadbeach is a perfect central location, close to Pacific Fair shopping centre which is enormous, and the Casino. I urge you to not get too excited about Surfers Paradise though. It is rather grim. Mainly tourist shops and night clubs I’m afraid. You will find much nicer shopping, beaches, dining and general mooching in Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby’s and Burleigh Heads which are all neighbouring suburbs just south of you. Have a wonderful time.

Echoing the chorus of it will be hot and humid. Natural fibres are your friend. Cotton and linen wide-legged trousers and shorts. Pack sandals or Birkenstocks, and swimwear. Forget the joggers and trackies.

Take one wrap/pashmina and cardigan or hoodie to take on the flight. You won’t need more. The wrap may come in handy if you go anywhere with cold airconditioning.

Don't bring tea or coffee, Australia is very strict on bringing in foodstuffs. It's not worth the risk, just buy it here.
Gold Coast is very casual and hot, so dress accordingly.

Tea bags and coffee in its original packaging will be fine, just declare it. It’s undeclared food that gets you into trouble, especially fresh plant matter, and any kind of meat. Any pork products are a hard no because of some disease that affects pigs.

Wouldn’t bother with heavy walking boots. Walking sandals would be enough, some smart tevas or similar that would be okay in nice places as well as for walking.

Would slip in some Christmas chocolates.

No jeans, no trackies. We've already had the hottest October on record and it's shaping up to be a savage summer. The Goldie is very casual.

Does the air bnb have air con?

This! ⬆️ ⛈️☔️💧🌂

spectacular storms presently and a delightful heatwave.

I would leave the jeans at home and the trackies, and the boots.
it will be HOT! And HUMID! Queensland gets heaps of humidity in December.
think linen, cotton…tshirts…dresses …shorts..
thongs are fine but maybe some more dressy sandals and open toe shoes to dress up a dress.
also bring a wide brimmed hat and plenty of sunglasses- decent ones - not cheap. Protect yourself from the sun as much as you can.
also pure cotton socks - after a day at the beach and want to put something on your feet in the evening - nothing worse than socks that are too thick and cheap and make you sweat.😥
swimming costumes ? I would buy that in Australia - rash shirts with long sleeves for sun coverage.
you should also just buy some clothes out here too.. when I was there last year I got a heap of good quality clothes.
i find the tshirts are lighter than the British brands - they would make me too hot!

Good quality sunglasses
Swimwear
Beach towel
Snorkel/mask
Sandals / flipflops
Hair grippers
Sand shoes

Why on earth would you want trakkies for GC in Dec? Very unlikely you could wear them. If there was some weird weather aberration and they were hit by an unseasonable cold snap (extremely unlikely) then just go buy one then, they have many shops🤣, but pretty sure you won’t be spending that money.

OP Ive lived between UK and Queensland for 30 years. It’s hard to believe when packing in the UK in Winter that you don’t need warm clothes but you just don’t. Jeans will feel really claustrophobic and gross. You want light clothes.
Gold Coast is very casual. Two things that could be useful are dressy flat/semi flat sandals and a very light cover up/ cardigan for overly air conditioned restaurants and shops/supermarkets. They don’t wear too much black/dark coloured clothing so that will be considered ‘dressy’.
as PP have said, light clothes and open shoes are readily available in a greater range than in the UK - Pacific Fair is an absolutely huge shopping mall and a good place to get anything else you need. I bet you are a dress wearer before the holiday is out 😉