Flights to Tuakau, Waikato from NT$2,534

If you're not prepared, air travel can be daunting. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these useful tips for a pleasant start to your time in Tuakau. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a worry-free travel experience is to plan ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, travel docs, credit cards and daily medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you occupied, like some electronic gadgets or a thrilling book. You'll also want to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Finally, be sure to squeeze in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a pocket knife lurking in your carry-on luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive goods, such as fuel and fireworks, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane are no place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and choose shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clots forming due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The answer is simple — be prepared. We've put together some top tips for a stress-free trip through airport security. Watch out Tuakau, here you come:

• First things first. Your passport and travel documents will need to be shown to airport security. Keep them at hand so you don't hold up the queue.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Items such as your coat, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• Your electronic devices like laptops and phones will also have to go through the machine for inspection. Don't worry, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to take on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• There's a good chance you'll be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a wise idea.
• Knives and other sharp items are prohibited in the cabin. They'll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked baggage.