The Essential Camping List for Australia

Tips for the Essential Camping List for Australia

Australia is a fantastic country for camping, but it can be a disastrous experience without good preparation. It is essential to do good research beforehand about your camping destinations and be well organized. Many campsites in remote areas only offer basic facilities, so a camping checklist before hitting the road is essential to ensure you have packed everything with you!

On my recent trip to North Tropical Queensland, I went on a solo camping adventure and have learnt the camping basics. I travelled with a small campervan, and while they provided most things in the vehicle rental, I had my own personal camping checklist.

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Why you need a camping checklist

Whether campervan, camping in a tent or sleeping in a swag, there are many things to think about before hitting the road. Every camping checklist varies depending on the destination, the season, the weather conditions, and the length of the trip. I have put together this handy camping list to give you insight and help you shape your own camping adventure in Australia.

Camping sleeping gear

Choose a lightweight and waterproof tent (a pop-up tent can be a good option if you travel solo) along with a self-inflating mattress or a rubber mat. A good quality sleeping bag is essential when camping in a tent. Pick one that best match weather conditions.

A waterproof camping tarpaulin is another essential item that can be placed underneath the tent to keep moisture away or on top as extra protection from the rain. Likewise, it can be used as a wind or sun shelter.

Food & Cooking when Camping

• An esky fridge and ice packs are essential to keep your food cool and in Australia when outdoors. I’d suggest a large store of food and a small portable one for hiking or outdoor activities.

• A 10-litre tank with drinking water that you can refill with filtered water at camping sites.

• Cooking food when camping can be tricky as not all campsites offer kitchen facilities. So you may consider a reliable camp stove or grill. It is advisable to pack extra gas bottles for refill. Moreover, camping crockery and cutlery are also necessary.
• Consider buying a washing up tub, which is very handy on the road; you can purchase it for 10 dollars in supermarkets or camping gear shops.

Camping Clothes

Lightweight, functional wear is what I pack for my outdoor adventure. For camping, good quality functional wear is a must for comfort and excellent protection.

My preferred piece is a functional body map that you can use for sleeping and a layer for outdoor activities in cooler months.

Here you can read more about what to wear when travelling in Australia.

10 Essential Camping gear

Her below 10 essential camping gear that I find very useful for camping in Australia.

1. Lightweight fold-up table and chair.
2. Floor brush.
3. Torch and a headlamp to use at night when using the toilets and night outdoor activities.
4.  A water filter to always secure clean and fresh water.
5. Mozzie net as protection against flies and mosquitos.
6. A swiss-army knife.
7. First aid kit with medicine, vitamins, antihistaminic tablets to combat allergy to insects bites.
8. Good sunscreen.
9. Paper towels for multi-use.
10. Ziplock bags to store food.

You can find useful resources about caravan and camping accessories for getting started with your camping adventure in Australia on the internet.

I hope this essential camping list is helping you while planning your camping trip in Oz. If you find it useful, please share it with your friends.

If you plan to go camping alone in Australia, I’m sure this is an essential checklist for camping.

Related post: Australia Travel Tips

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First published in 2014, last updated in Jan 2021