Handling the Sun Down Under: Five Tips for Dealing with the Brutal New Zealand Sun

Every year, unsuspecting tourists arrive here unaware and unprepared for New Zealand's surprisingly harsh sun. New Zealand has one of the highest per capita rates of skin cancer in the world, and nothing made that point more clear to us than when we saw sunscreen dispensed out of 1 liter jerry cans in peoples' homes. Even in cool weather, your skin can begin to burn in just a few minutes of sun exposure.


So to help you enjoy this beautiful country without getting a severe case of sunburn, we've put together a list of five tips on how to handle the sun Down Under:

1) Invest in a good hat that shades your entire face as well as your ears. If you're going to be outdoors for a while, try an Australian-style bush hat. A baseball cap simply won't be enough.
2) Whatever sunscreen you think you need for any remaining exposed skin, use something higher. Like double.
3) Pay attention to your extremities. A sunburn on your ears, hands or on sandaled feet can happen quickly and can be particularly painful.
4) Wear good, comfortable sunglasses. Not only is it better for your eyes, you'll spare yourself headaches from entire days of squinting.
5) Try to stay out of the sun entirely during the peak sun hours of 10am to 3pm. You can still get plenty of sun outside of those hours during the long days of New Zealand's summer.

And to drive the point home even more clearly, here's Laura's poor shoulder after an hour and a half hike one afternoon: