How cool for Meredith!

In the big ticket category - The Kindle looks very cool. Oprah had it on her show. It is an e-book reader but way better than anything that has ever been out there. You can pre-load books but it also has wireless capability and a long battery life. She is normally not a gadget person so I was impressed by how much she liked it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kindle

In the spendy department, how about one of those tiny laptops and wireless service she can use anywhere?

Comfortable light weight walking shoes, several pairs? Those good wicking socks? I dunno!

Does Meredith like to write in a journal? I once met a man at the end of a multi-month bicycle trip across the US and he'd kept a journal along the way. He drew little maps and doodles, taped in maps, fliers, postcards, pictures and stray leaves and carefully filed everything in his notebook. It was amazing to flip through and talk to him about it, it was like being on the journey with him. Each page had a story.

He used a moleskine notebook that held up remarkably well, considering it'd been in the saddlebags of his bike for months. If Meredith likes journaling at all, this could be a very cool souvenir to have. I tried to find one with a city guide to Sydney, but they don't have one released yet. Anyway, here's the link.

Now, on to more practical things. Power adapters, a small, concealable money belt or bag, maybe a small tripod for her camera for getting shots with friends?

Bri

Here is a link that might be useful: Moleskine Notebooks

Electric currency converter
passport wallet
money belt
lightweight jacket
travel pillow
digital camera or film for a regular camera
batteries
rail pass and/or bus pass
admission to attractions she wants to visit while there- (your travel agent should be able to assist with this)
language book-(altho it's English, there are lots of differences)
cards or stationary and stamps to write home
long distance phone card

Linda

Sharon, since she will probably be staying at hostels, why not a Hostel Pass? Or a Rail Pass.

YHA Membership

Hostels

Rail Passes

Ann

How about one of those digital picture frames for when she gets home with all the pixs?

I know this is going to sound crazy but back when I was a teenager & life was easier (and safer) I hitchhiked through the CA national parks one summer (that's when I learned how much I HATE camping!). Anyway, the one thing that was the most useful was my snazzy Swiss Army knife...had every tool imagineable. They have some really slick ones available today.

They've also got some kook travel stuff.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Swiss Army Knife

Ugh, that should have been "kool".

/t

Above are some terrific ideas! I like the Kendle idea. Check with the Magellan or Travel Smith website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Travel Stuff

Crumbs...so she can find her way home. :)

I've had my Kindle now for about 6 months and I love it. I've never had an electronic book reader.

The Kindle is easy-to-read - I've had a problem reading books for a couple years with my changing eyesight. It's hooked up to Amazon's site, so you can peruse, try sample chapters of books, then decide to buy, then download a whole book in seconds.

I also subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. Just turn the wireless connection on (no fee - it acts like a cell phone that way) and your subscriptions download automatically.

You can't check your email or cruise the web - that's still in beta and very bad. But as a book reader it's wonderful.
You can read it on airplanes if you don't turn on the wireless access.

You can store lots of books and you can have Amazon archive your previously-read books so you can free up room on the device.

You can read any and all of your books - the Kindle will take you back to the page you left off on any book. You can also bookmark pages, write notes, and look up words you don't understand in the built-in Oxford dictionary without leaving the page.

It's great for anytime you find yourself waiting - doctor's office, etc. Just stick it in your purse (I know most you ladies are like me and carry behemoth bags!) and go.

As a bookworm, I love it and I think it would make a nifty gift for any book-hound.

If she's staying in hostels she'll need a sleeping sheet or similar. It's like a sleeping bag liner. One of those U-shaped inflatable neck pillows for sleeping on the bus/train would also be good, and perhaps an inflatable bed pillow as well. A hat- the summer sun here can be vicious and Meredith doesn't want to go home with a case of skin cancer that will show up twenty years from now. Also sunscreen (which she can buy here, but it's really important to wear it).
As far as power adaptors goes, electricity here is 240V instead of your 110V. So if you just have a plug adaptor it will blow the circuitry once you plug it in. Some more recent electronics have an option to use either voltage but you have to make sure it is switched over to 240V. If it can't be switched over you will need a step-down transformer as well as a plug adaptor.
Uh, Meredith HAS got a visa to enter Australia hasn't she? We don't do visa on arrival here.

Assuming she has a digital camera an extra battery with a charger that will work inAustralia. See above. And a couple extra large memory cards. As a regular traveler nothing is worse than not having a back up charges battery or a full card. Unless she is traveling with laptop it's hard to delete many senic shots because you can't see the details well on the camera.

Rei has great instant dry underwear and quick dry socks. They are not cheap but wonderful for trips, especially if hosteling. The socks are NOT cheap, but worth it. You may have to get them in the men's dept. but they work unless she is very tiny footed.

A good booklight & extra batteries. Douples as flashlight.

International calling cards will be useful ; maybe you could gather small sizes of different toiletries that would fit in a small cosmetic bag.

I second the moleskin journals (they have them at Barnes and Noble), they're lightweight and nice quality.

Eagle Creek makes some nice packing cubes that she could use to separate out some of her gear in her backpack.

How about a homemade gift certificate saying you'll buy her a really nice pair of sunglasses? I know they'd come in handy while traveling and she would have them later too.

If she's going to be doing a lot of outdoor stuff then maybe a little pair of binoculars?

Since it will be summer there how about a new swimsuit to bring with her? You can buy them online even though it is off season here.

In her stocking, a thing of solid suncreen and some lipbalm. Maybe a solid perfume. A Zigg stainless water bottle.

I've never had a girl but I'd think that a pair of earrings, a bracelet or necklace would be welcome anytime!!

Grace

I'd get her a hand held GPS with a good map of Australia. That way at least she'd at least never be lost.

Oh WOW, great ideas!!!

Jim I think you hit the bullseye! Why didn't I think of that? I know we love ours.

Will also include several other ideas for her Stocking and under the tree.

I saw neat perfume sticks at the clinique counter; they are like a fat pencil.

Ten years ago I had to get a graduation gift for someone going to live on a Kibbutz for a year. I knew she was planning to travel light and I did not want to get her something for after, I wanted her to take my gift to Israel.

I asked my Israeli cousin-in-law what to give a eighteen year old going to live on a kibbutz for a year. He said condoms. So I was on my own for ideas.

So I got her a "Taxi" wallet. They are small and so are easy to fit in a pocket etc. Well I think it was a hit, because when something happened to the one I gave her (I think she lost it) she got another one. there are some really special ones out there as well. I went shopping with her when I was just in NYC and she pulled out a taxi wallet. It made me really happy.

-Robin

Here is a link that might be useful: Taxi Wallets