"Packing cubes have changed my life – one for tops, another for pants and skirts, one for underwear, one for belts and scarves and a small one for chargers. The cubes occupy the bottom compartment of my hard–shell suitcase and in the top go shoes, hair dryer, novels and notebooks. It's such an easy way to keep yourself from going overboard with your options, while also allowing you to keep the inside of your suitcase uber organised."

"I pack according to my itinerary. If I'm travelling for business, I will pack complete outfits for different meetings and events. If I'm packing for leisure, I will print out a copy of my itinerary and roughly map out the outfits I need according to the kind of restaurants I am going to eat at and the type of travel I am going to be doing. It sounds pedantic – and it is – but I always wear everything I take and nothing goes to waste."

"Enclosing your shoes in the one–use plastic shower caps that are complimentary in most hotel rooms prevents the often–dirty soles making contact with your garments. That leaves you with more flexibility as to where you'll pack your shoes – especially helpful when suitcase space is in short supply. They're also not as bulky or inflexible as shoe bags."

"I know some travellers are devoted to the idea that rolling requires less space than folding but I don't think that's necessarily true. In the case of belts, for example, I line the edges of my suitcase with my belts instead of rolling them into spirals. They take up less space, which means you can pack more."

"Is there anything worse than getting to your hotel only to find that half–empty tube of sunscreen has erupted in your bag? Squeeze any air out of your toiletries bottles before you travel to create a vacuum effect that sucks lids and caps on tight. You’ll thank yourself later."

"Shoes are my biggest space enemy when it comes to packing efficiently and I always try to apply the rule of three: one pair for going out, one pair of flats for day and one pair of running shoes for walking around and exercise (I'm usually wearing sneakers on the plane, which I can then wear day or night)."

"I save up all my skincare samples (online store Adore Beauty and Aesop are generous with theirs) so I have a full suite of products for any trip – it saves so much space and weight."

"I wear a lot of really delicate jewellery and keeping it tangle-free when I travel used to be a constant source of frustration. Then one day I was cruising Pinterest and saw someone suggest looping the chain of your necklaces through a straw – genius! I follow this method every time I travel and cut down the straws for pieces with smaller chains, like bracelets. Every piece then goes into its own plastic Ziploc bag."

"If I'm in a city for a couple of nights, I don't like to unpack. In my opinion, a hardshell suitcase is superior to a soft duffel style as things don't seem to move around so much and it doesn't mess up my careful organisation of clothing. So, I always travel with a hardshell suitcase with a zipped top half. Then when I get to the hotel, I just flick it open and end up with two large, super–organised shelves that contain everything I need. Packing an AirTag into your suitcase also makes it easy to keep track of your belongings while flying, too – just add the location of your AirTag to your delayed baggage report and the Qantas team will be able assist you with tracking down your bag."

"I always travel with a soft, collapsible tote bag that can be used as either a second carry–on or an additional checked bag if I go overboard on the souvenirs. This saves me from scrambling to repack an overweight suitcase at a crowded check–in counter."

"I love how easy it is to keep things organised with a backpack as opposed to a duffel or hardshell-style suitcase. A well-packed carry-on is crucial for comfort on flights, where I have a dedicated pocket for each item so I can grab it quickly without disturbing others or holding up people trying to get past me in the aisle. A backpack is far more comfortable to wear during airport stopovers."

"If you're opting for a duffle or weekender style carry-on (which does help to keep your bag under 10kg), it's a good idea to keep all the items you know you'll want for the flight – tablet, headphones, wrap, passport, pen – in a separate pouch or pouches inside your carry–on bag. It’s another easy way to ensure you're grabbing what you need before you stow your bigger bag in the overhead locke, letting you settle into your seat faster and stopping you having to get up and down to retrieve things you need at your fingertips during the flight."

"I always pack a pashmina or cotton wrap in my carry–on luggage. You can wrap it around your shoulders on a flight and depending on the weather at your destination, use it as a scarf, sarong or blanket."

"Save yourself the stress of guessing at whether you've overpacked (again). Invest in a portable luggage scale and take it with you on trips. That way, you won't be surprised at the airport with an oversized bag, trying to frantically re–pack or throw away things when you could be enjoying a leisurely stroll around the airport."

"You don’t have to be a mountaineer to appreciate carabiners. They’re super handy for when you buy more than you expected and need to make extra room in your bag or when something you need to carry back to your holiday house is wet or dirty. A water bottle, thongs, wet swimmers, hiking shoes… Just clip them onto any loop on the outside of your bag and away you go. You can pick them up for a few dollars at an outdoor supplies stores."