The Light to Light packing list for this stunning 2 night 3 day coastal trek on the Far South Coast of NSW is here. But what does “light” really mean when you’re also carrying an 11-month-old baby? My recent adventure with a friend and my little one taught me that “light” is a relative term! This isn’t a post about the ultimate ultralight gear; it’s a realistic look at the gear we had on hand and used for our trip.
Our goal was to make this a manageable and enjoyable trip for everyone, including the baby. This meant a few luxuries and some baby-specific essentials. So, while you’ll find some standard hiking items, you’ll also see things you wouldn’t normally expect on a typical packing list. This was a winter hike, so our clothing choices reflect the need for warmth.
You can, of course, choose to do the Light to Light pack-free. Join us on our Light to Light Hiking and Kayaking Tour, which breaks the trip into three days of hiking with only a day pack, and includes comfortable accommodation at Greencape Lighthouse. We can also arrange private group transfers to break the walk into day hikes, so you don’t have to carry everything. I wanted the challenge. My family is planning a big hike this spring, so this was great practice for me.
This packing list was for a winter hike, so the extra warm clothing was essential. In the summer, I would have packed fewer layers and instead brought sunscreen, swimmers, and a travel towel (though a sunny winter day didn’t stop me from taking a quick dip!).
My friend and I prioritise good food, so we were happy to carry a bit more weight to eat well on the trail. You could definitely pack lighter, less bulky meals to reduce weight. For example, I could have left the separate bowl and container behind and used my cooking pot as a bowl instead.
Our packs weighed about 15 – 20 kg each, and I had an additional 10 kg with my 11-month-old, Kiah, in a front carrier. While I would have preferred to use an Osprey hiking baby backpack, I couldn’t fit all my gear inside, so the front carrier and a larger hiking pack were the solution.
I am a photographer, and taking photos is one of the joys I get from hiking and being in nature. However, I probably wouldn’t bring this much camera gear again. I did use the GoPro and iPhone, but I only used my mirrorless camera a few times and never used the selfie stick.
We opted not to bring a paper map, compass, and map case. I have done this walk many times and know it very well. For navigation, I use the MapOut app on my iphone.