What I Pack: Jamie Fitzgerald

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Do you travel light or heavy?

When I'm under my own steam it's just the bare essentials. I also tend to lose weight when I travel. Walking to the South Pole (dragging 160kg in a sled) I lost 25kgs in 52 days.

Cattle or first class?

Depends on who's paying.

I can't travel without...

A picture of my gorgeous wee daughter, Charlotte.

What's always in your hand luggage?

iPhone, headphones, laptop and work I never end up doing.

Are you a planner or a last-minute packer?

I'm constantly travelling, so I'm just constantly in packing mode.

What's the best thing that you've brought back from a business trip?

More business.

Favourite or most exciting airport to land in?

On the ice in Antarctica. We landed sideways with Russian pilots, who'd never landed on ice before.

Best packing tip?

Always take a pair of shorts. On the transatlantic, I lost my only pair when the boat turned over, and had to cut down and wear a thermal top upside-down when we crossed the finish line.

Your most memorable trip?

Wairarapa to Wellington hospital. Picture this: 1am, 19 January 2009, driving my wife to the hospital while she's in labour (two months before the due date). As we drove over the Rimutaka hills, I thought I was about to become a doctor. We made it to the hospital just 25 minutes before Charlotte introduced herself to the world.

Jamie Fitzgerald is an adventurer.