Flights to Tumut, New South Wales from NT$48,469

If you're not prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to panic. Follow these handy hints and enjoy a stress-free start to your getaway in Tumut. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a hassle-free flight experience is to pack in advance. Start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, bank cards and any vital medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you occupied, like some electronic devices or a good book. You'll also want to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. Last but not least, be sure to squeeze in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a pocket knife hiding in your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable substances, such as fuel and matches, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when choosing what to wear on board. Loose, breathable clothing is a smart option, as are flat, closed-toe shoes.
• Caused by lengthy periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clotting condition that can affect passengers on long-haul flights. Lower your risks by staying hydrated, keeping your ankles and legs moving and wearing compression socks to help improve your circulation.

The trick is to be well prepared before you reach airport security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Tumut before you know it. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a fantastic start:

• Security personnel first need to determine that you have a valid ID and travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Have them ready for inspection.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that might set the alarms off. Items such as your belt, coat and earphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll have to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic gadgets will also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Any gels or liquids, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a practical footwear choice as you're less likely to be asked to remove them when passing through security. Hiking boots and other heavy shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them safely in your checked baggage.