Hiya
Was wondering if anyone knew what the weather is like in these countries at these times? I've heard Shanghai can be freezing but then Australia will be quite warm I'll be backpacking so I can't take bulky clothes but I do want to be warm/cool enough!!!
China (Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai) - all of November
Australia - December - April
NZ - May & June
South American - July and most of August
thanking you all in advance
Check lonelyplanet.com, they have tips on weather. I hear 0z is nice around that time, thats when I will probably be there.
I've got similar considerations to make. I'll be in China a bit earlier (September) so I'm taking a gamble on the weather not being too cold by then. By the time you go it will be pretty chilly in northern China (I was in Hong Kong in January and was surprised by how cool that was and Beijing is a long way north).
When you get to OZ it will be high summer, so ranging from hot to damn hot everywhere. By April you'll be well into Autumn, but the impact of that depends on where you are, Australia is a big place 
. If you're in the South it can get quite cool by April (in the evenings).
For New Zealand, you're heading right into winter, and in places it will be very cold (partic South Island) and wet.
South America, it depends where you're going, but I think Patagonia and the southern Andes are pretty grim that time of year, and of course the North is high summer, so hot and wet.
As for clothes, either buy them on the way or maybe pack a small package to be sent to you when you get to NZ? The problem is you're going cold-hot-cold again-maybe hot, which means a bit of a packing headache.
In April - we'll probably be in Cairns - that area.
I agree it's a packing headache!!! Thing is I think I'm solar powered! I hate being cold and get cold very easily so I think I'll pack my walking trousers which can convert to shorts and another pair of trousers and one skirt. I can always buy clothes to suit the climate while I'm out and about I guess.
Wow - it's all just so exciting!!!
Since you are starting in China it is probable easiest to bring cold weather clothes with you and buy some summer ones in china. That's where most of our clothes in Australia are made nowdays and you pay a fraction of the cost. I am in Melbourne so very south and our weather during Dec-Jan can go as high as 45C (very hot). North Queensland and NT tend to have a wet season then so it is very humid, so light loose clothes are the way to go.
Hello niknak,
I found ski thermals to be a really good item to pack. I wore them under normal clothes for sight seeing around Beijing and Xi'an (in November). They were a very useful extra layer for hikng in South America, and yes, I did use them for skiing too!
Another useful item (and equally as attractive!) was a waterproof jacket and a fleece.
I think it's a good idea to have enough with you for hot days and cooler days, because you can encounter both in a short space of time when you're travelling.
Have fun!