You leave Melbourne in shorts and land in Delhi needing a jumper. Here is how to pack for the switch without carrying two wardrobes.
At a glance: what to pack for India in December from Australia
December is peak summer in Australia and the middle of winter in North India. Delhi, Punjab and the hill stations are cold in the mornings and evenings. Mumbai, Goa, Kerala and Chennai stay warm. Pack thin layers you can add and remove, one proper jacket for the north, and buy heavy woollens in India if you need them. Keep gifts, sweets and medicines within your baggage allowance, check your fare, and carry documents and chargers in hand luggage.
Why December packing from Australia is harder than it looks
Every year we get the same call in the second week of December. “We landed in Delhi at 5 am and the kids were freezing.” The family packed for the India they remember from a July visit.
Here is the switch. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are hot and bright in December. North India is in the middle of its coldest stretch. Delhi mornings can sit in single digits, with fog that hangs around until mid-morning. By the afternoon the sun is out and a T-shirt is fine again. Then the temperature drops the moment it sets.
The south is a different country. Kerala and Chennai are warm and humid. Mumbai and Goa are pleasant, the best weather of the year. So where you land matters more than the month.
Packing by region: where are you landing?
Use this table as a starting point. Temperatures are general guides, not forecasts.
Region | December feel | Pack this |
Delhi, Punjab, Amritsar, Chandigarh | Cold mornings and nights, often around 5 to 10 degrees before sunrise. Mild, sunny afternoons. Fog in late December and January. | Thermal top, two jumpers, a warm jacket, scarf, socks, closed shoes. Light layers for daytime. |
Mumbai, Goa, Gujarat coast | Warm days, pleasant evenings. The nicest time of year. | Summer clothes, one light cardigan for air-conditioned rooms and evenings, sandals. |
Kerala, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad | Warm and humid on the coast. Bengaluru and Hyderabad cooler in the evening. | Breathable cottons, a light layer for evenings, umbrella for the odd shower in Chennai. |
Hill stations: Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Darjeeling | Near freezing at night. Snow possible in late December. | Proper winter coat, thermals, beanie, gloves, waterproof shoes. Buy heavy woollens locally. |
8 packing tips that save space, money and stress
1. Layer, do not bulk
One thermal base layer, one fleece or jumper, one jacket that blocks wind. That handles a 5 degree Delhi morning and comes off in pieces as the day warms up. Skip the ski coat. It takes a quarter of the suitcase and you will wear it twice.
2. Buy the woollens in India
Shawls, sweaters, Kullu caps and quilted jackets are cheap and good in Delhi, Amritsar and Ludhiana. Many of our families carry one jacket for the airport and buy the rest on day one.
3. Pack gifts to the allowance, not to the trolley
Australian chocolate, nuts, vitamins and kids’ clothes are the classics. Weigh the bag at home. Allowances vary by airline and fare type, so check your fare before you shop. Overweight fees at the airport cost more than the gifts. Keep any sweets sealed in original packaging and declare food if asked.
4. Carry medicines in hand luggage with a prescription
Keep medicines in their original packaging with a letter or script from your doctor. Pack enough for the whole trip plus a week. Some medicines sold freely in Australia are controlled in India, so check the official advice at Smartraveller before you fly.
5. Documents in one pouch
Passport, Indian visa or OCI card, travel insurance details, flight confirmations, a photocopy of each, and the Mann Travel 24/7 number. One pouch, always in the cabin bag.
6. Adapters, not converters
Australia and India both run on 230 volts. You need a plug adapter for Indian sockets, but not a voltage converter. Pack two adapters and a small power board so the whole family can charge from one socket.
7. One warm set in the cabin bag
Flights into Delhi and Amritsar often land before dawn. Keep a jumper, socks and a scarf for each person in hand luggage so nobody is shivering at the baggage belt while the suitcases come out.
8. Leave room to come back
You will return with suits, saris, pickles and sweets. Pack the outbound bag two-thirds full or nest a soft bag inside a hard one.
Your printable December packing checklist
Category | Items |
Clothes for the north | Thermal top, 2 jumpers, warm jacket, scarf, socks, closed shoes, sleepwear that is actually warm |
Clothes for the south | Cotton shirts, light trousers, sandals, one cardigan, hat, sunscreen |
Documents | Passport, visa or OCI, insurance, flight confirmations, photocopies, emergency numbers |
Health | Prescriptions in original packs, doctor’s letter, basic first-aid kit, hand sanitiser, any kids’ medicines |
Tech | Plug adapters, power board, chargers, power bank, headphones for the flight |
Gifts | Sealed chocolate and nuts, vitamins, kids’ clothes, all weighed at home |
Kids | Change of clothes in cabin bag, snacks, a warm layer, something to do for 20 hours |
Grandparents | Medicines in cabin bag, warm shawl, comfortable shoes, wheelchair requested on the booking |
Packing for kids and grandparents
Most of our December bookings are three generations travelling together. A few extra thoughts.
- Kids feel the cold more than you expect after a Melbourne summer. A beanie and gloves take no space and stop the complaining at the Golden Temple at 6 am.
- Grandparents and fog. Delhi fog can delay flights by hours. Keep their medicines, a snack and a warm layer in the cabin bag, not in the hold. If they need wheelchair help, tell us at booking so it is waiting at every airport.
- Flying to Amritsar? Our Melbourne to Amritsar route guide compares one-stop flights with going via Delhi, including the fog question.
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped Australian families fly to India for weddings, festivals, visits home and holidays. Our Melbourne-based team specialises in Australia–India routes, speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, and is on call 24/7. We can book your flights to Delhi, add the domestic legs, and help you time the trip around the school holidays. Reach us through our contact page or give us a call.
Book early: the school holiday squeeze
Term 4 ends on 11 December in Queensland, 17 December in Western Australia, and 18 December in New South Wales and Victoria. Students are back around 27 and 28 January 2027. Almost every family wants to fly in that window, and so does everyone flying for Christmas. Fares climb as seats fill.
Two things help. PayLite lets you secure selected refundable fares now with a low deposit and spread the rest over up to 26 weekly instalments before you fly. Afterpay is accepted too. And if you are a verified Australian student or work in education, MannPass is free and takes an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India. It is valid 30 days, can be renewed, and cannot be combined with other promotions.
Why book your December trip with Mann Travel?
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped families from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide get home to India for the summer holidays. Our Melbourne team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, knows which flights land after the fog lifts, and is on call 24/7. We book big family groups every week, so three generations and 12 bags is a normal Tuesday.
Let’s take you home this December.
Search live fares at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our Melbourne team on 1300 754 002. Ask about PayLite to lock in school holiday fares now.
frequently asked questions
How cold is Delhi in December?
Cold enough for a jacket. Mornings and nights often sit around 5 to 10 degrees, with fog in late December. Afternoons are mild and sunny. Pack layers rather than one heavy coat.
Do I need winter clothes for Mumbai, Goa or Kerala in December?
No. The south and west coast are warm. Take summer clothes and one light layer for evenings and air-conditioned rooms.
Can I take chocolate and sweets from Australia to India?
Yes, sealed and in original packaging. Weigh them. Keep the total within your baggage allowance, which depends on your airline and fare type. Check your fare before you shop.
Do I need a power adapter for India?
Yes, a plug adapter. Australia and India both use 230 volts, so you do not need a voltage converter.
Can I carry my medicines into India?
Generally yes, in original packaging with a prescription or doctor’s letter. Some medicines are restricted, so check Smartraveller and ask your doctor before you fly.
Weather and temperatures are general guides, not forecasts. Baggage allowances, customs rules and medicine regulations change; always check your fare and the latest official advice before travelling.
