Top camping tips for beginners

Planning your first camping trip with kids? Here are our top camping tips for beginners to help make your family camping holiday a breeze.

Have you always dreamed of spending a few nights sleeping under the stars? Or perhaps it’s the kids who are begging you to go camping. If you or your partner are reluctant campers, there are plenty of ways to prepare to make your camping holiday with kids an enjoyable one.  If you’re worried about being bored, getting away from the hectic pace of everyday life with very little to do but read, swim or chill out is the whole point. Here are our top tips to ensure your first outdoor adventure goes off without a hitch.

1. Choose where to go

The most important question to tackle when camping is ‘where?’. If you’re looking to unplug and unwind in nature, Australia has over 600 national parks just waiting to be explored, many of which boast fantastic campgrounds with basic facilities. For those seeking more amenities and activities, holiday parks offer space for camping and caravanning, plus a host of fun family extras like swimming pools, kids’ clubs, camp kitchens, mini-golf and even water parks.

Choose somewhere not too far away from home, and ideally not too far away from civilisation for your first trip. Chances are you might forget something, and it’s handy to be able to make a trip to nearby shops for an essential item. Many people pitch a tent in the back garden for a first night under the stars. Once you’ve camped a few times, start researching sites a few hours’ drive away and ask your friends and family who camp for their favourite spots. 

2. Get the right gear

Packing the right gear is an essential camping tip for beginners. Choose a tent that fits the whole family for a comfortable stay. For a family of four, we recommend buying a five- or six-person tent to leave space to spread out. It’s also worth practising pitching the tent in your backyard before you leave. Sleeping mats or air mattresses are a great way to ensure that the kids sleep soundly, and a sleeping bag that is built for the climate you’re camping in is an investment in making bedtime a breeze.

• Make sure your tent comfortably fits the whole family and is in good condition. We strongly suggest checking your gear before you go. 
• Airbeds and a foot pump go a long way in ensuring everyone gets a good night’s sleep.
• Inexpensive folding camping chairs, a folding table and a good strong lantern.
• Torches, head torches in particular are great for kids. 
• Check if where you’re going has cooking facilities (holiday parks are great for this) or you will need to take a camp stove.
• First aid kit that includes antiseptic wipes or cream, sticking plaster antihistamines and any medications.
• Come prepared for almost any weather. A big tarp and tall poles will mean that you’ve got undercover space to set up your stove, a table and chairs. Much more comfortable than huddling into a tent together.
• Plus don’t forget to bring bug spray, raincoats, sunscreen and an extra layer of clothing for everyone in case it’s cold.

More camping hacks with kids:

• Top tips for camping with kids as voted by YOU
• $8 IKEA camping hack every family needs
• Tips to stay warm while camping in winter
• 5 caravan packing hacks

3. Plan

Make a list of what you will need. Write your own packing list or use our camping checklist below. This will help ensure nothing is left behind in the last-minute mad rush to pack. It also helps to meal plan to make sure you have everything you’ll need for each meal, plus enough snacks. Being out in the fresh air sharpens appetites and everyone seems to eat more. Take your time to pack and start three days earlier if possible. There’s more to factor in when travelling with a family, so minimise stress by preparing in advance.

Bonus tip: if you can, camp with friends who camp a lot and have kids of a similar age. You’ll pick up plenty of handy tips from your more experienced friends, be able to share the camp chores and cooking and the kids will all have lots of fun together.

4. Check the weather

Check the forecast in advance and be prepared to reschedule if needed –  or be ready to embrace it. Familiarise yourself with the climate of your destination – in general, the best times to set up camp in northern Australia are winter and spring, and the best times to head south are autumn, spring and summer.

5. Getting set up

Plan to get to your campsite while it is still light. There’s nothing worse than trying to set up your tent by torchlight and kids can get nervous arriving somewhere strange in the dark. Set up your tent on as level ground as possible, and not on a natural waterway. Make sure the area is clear of ant nests and overhanging branches. Involve the kids with tasks such as clearing rocks and sticks, pegging the tent corners in, gathering firewood for the campfire, and setting up an activity corner. Bring a meal that requires very little preparation for the first night. Setting up always takes longer than you expect. We suggest making and freezing a dish ahead of time to be warmed up when you arrive. Try a bolognese sauce, a mild curry or casserole to have with rice or pasta.

6. Get the kids involved

Give kids jobs around the campsite, perhaps collecting firewood or helping with the washing up. Kids will want to join in with whatever’s going on around the site (well, perhaps not the washing up…) Arty children will love an opportunity to create with nature. A favourite job is collecting marshmallow sticks for the campfire. This will often keep children entertained for ages, but be sure to give them limits on how far they can wander in search of the perfect stick. While you set up, the kids can forage for gum leaves and rocks that they can draw or paint designs on, then tell them to hide them around the campground for other little campers to find..

7. Leave no trace

When it’s time to leave, check all of your rubbish has been disposed of and that fires are out.

If you have to pack away in the rain be sure to air out the tent and dry poles when you get home, so they don’t get mildew and rust for your next camping adventure.

8. Don’t forget the shovel when four-wheel driving

If accessing a 4WD-only property, don’t forget to take recovery tracks and a shovel. If you’re a beginner, park your vehicle in a safe spot and have a reccie on foot to check whether the property is in your capability to tackle it. I’ve done this many times, and proceeded on down. Slow and steady wins the race.

9. Try glamping

Not quite ready to head ‘out bush’? Glamping is a great way to get a taste of the great outdoors, without the hassle of setting up a tent. There are so many glamping sites scattered across the country, boasting pre-assembled tents, private bathrooms and cooking facilities and all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay.

10. Keep things cool

Invest in a good quality esky to keep things cool. Those who have been bitten by the camping bug should invest in a cooler that can plug into a dual battery in a 4WD. That’s when you know you’ve reached the camping elite.

11. Stay extra-hydrated

Know the situation with drinking water – is there plenty of potable water at the campsite? I always take my own extra 40 litres of water from home. You can never have too much water.

12. Fire safety

Brush up on your campfire skills and know local fire regulations. Most Hipcamps permit fires all year round (excluding fire ban periods), which is great. But it’s everyone’s responsibility to be fire safe and thoroughly extinguish campfires before you go to sleep at night and before you leave.

Read: 25 cool campsites to immerse your family in nature

Camping Gear

• Tent, pegs, poles and ropes
• Hammer
• Tarp, poles, pegs and ropes
• Airbeds or camping beds, foot pump
• Sleeping bags or doonas, sheets, pillows
• Dust pan and brush
• Table and chairs
• Torch and batteries – plus big torch/lantern
• First aid kit
• Water containers, bottles and clean drinking water, if necessary

For the kids

• Sensible clothes for relaxing and adventuring
• Wet weather gear (just in case)
• Walking shoes and hats

Other stuff

• Insect repellent
• Day packs
• Loo paper
• Sunscreen
• A dustpan and brush for sweeping out the tent
• Towels for swimming and washing
• Maps
• Soccer ball, games, toys, board games, frisbee, pack of cards, drawing materials
• A first-aid kit, complete with paracetamol/ibuprofen, something for upset tummies, antiseptic, aloe vera gel for sunburns, ointment for stings and bites and Band-Aids

Cooking Equipment

• Gas stove and gas bottle (test that it works and the bottle is full before you leave)
• BBQ plate/grill to put over open fire
• Saucepans with lids, frying pan, oven, billy
• Leather/heavy duty gloves (for handling hot pots)
• Shovel (for moving embers, etc)
• Eskies or portable fridge
• Biodegradable bin bags
• Foil and cling wrap
• A bucket, sponge, tea towels and eco-friendly detergent for washing up
• Plastic containers and ziplock bags
• Paper towels, tea towels, garbage bags
• Plastic tub, eco-friendly detergent and brush
• Long tongs
• Bottle and can opener
• Egg flip, serving spoons
• Non-breakable mugs, cups, cutlery and plates
• Strainer/colander
• Sharp knives, cutting boards
• Firelighters and matches if allowed
• Plenty of food and snacks!