Hi ozbargainers, I am taking my family for a camping for the first time. Other than the tent I haven’t bought other equipments required for camping. Can you pls tell me what do i need to get and where is the best brand/ places to get them from (with bargain in mind. Thanks
Tips for first Time Campers Camping
j2009 on 17/06/2018 - 11:08
Comments
Also how many people are going? What sort of tent have you bought?
For cooking, I'd suggest a gas stove. You can often grab them for $20 with 2 gas cylinders at Kmart or similar. https://www.kmart.com.au/product/campmaster-portable-gas-sto…
For the first time maybe don't buy heaps of super expensive stuff but if you enjoy it then investing in high-quality gear is essential.
I'd say as a minimum you need
Mat
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Battery pack
Torch + spare batteries
Cooking gear
Warm clothes
Wet weather gear
Camp chair
Folding table
Gazebo or tarp to cook /prep under
Buy an inflatable air mattress with an electric motor pump (via car 12v) or a stretcher with a mattress.
Sleeping on the ground isn’t very comfortable unless your fine with it.
Also a good quality sleeping bagIf the air mattress is on cold ground you can get very cold. You will need a blanket/sleeping bag etc under you as much as on top.
Yes agree put a blanket underneath the air mattress (btw tent mat and mattress)
Then another one underneath the sleeping bag (btw mattress and sleeping bag) and your good to go
have a look here https://www.snowys.com.au/Content/files/Checklist.pdf
the best advice i can give you is to make your own list on your phone and when you are away and you realise you forgot something, write it down. when you get home and you realised that you didn't use or need something, take it off. keep on updating that every trip and you'll find camping is pretty easy.
First let us know where U r going and for how long. Are you staying on a powered site in a caravan park or keeping it real in national or state Park location with limited facilities?
I have camped in many places around NSW … I've bought so much gear over the years, definitely know what is something I cant camp without and what are waste of space and money..
Hi Sofie, travelling with Wife and a puppy at Christmas time.
Syd to Goldcoast.
A week.
As we are first time, What would be the essentials? Thanks
Whatever else others recommend, bring your standard pillow from home - it will make sleeping an order of magnitude more comfortable.
In emergency situations, you can survive in the wilderness by shooting small game with a slingshot made from the elastic waistband of your underwear.
Thanks Bear.
get all your camping stuff from facebook marketplace/buy-sell groups and gumtree.
those sites are full of stuff that has been used once by people who thought it would be fun, and now a second camping trip would be grounds for a divorce.
Throw the tent in the bin and book a hotel.
Since when is sleeping in a hotel called camping?
I have found WikiCamps app the best for finding camping sites.
You can filter them by your needs and find up to date info in comments section regarding the availability, conditions and prices.Buy a caravan.
tent < camper trailer < caravanIf the ground is mostly flat or you are looking for the flatest piece of ground to put your tent on then you've probably put your tent on the lowest piece of ground and if it rains you'll have 5cm of water under yourself.
I've done it and seen it happen.I've camped in thunderstorms and snowstorms … Stop exaggerating.. lol..
typical tents have bucket floors that got up 5-10cm. And unless you plan to camp on a flood zone, water runoff or seepage, plus a we'll set up tent ensures you're Cozy and dry.
Camping is such a fun experience .. add a campfire under the stars .. gotta luv it
Camping is such a fun experience .. add a campfire under the stars .. gotta luv it
This - fire. IMO a camp without a fire is like a "dirty weekend" without sex. It is what it is, but it ain't what it could be. Ensure your campsite allows fires, preferably not necessarily contained within a ring or communal, and ensure a good supply of firewood.
Kmart - good cheap camping gear.
Especially if you need a cheap vacuum and marble topped bed side table in your tent
Shovel + toilet paper.
Will you be hiking in to the campsite or are you planning to set up next to your vehicle?
My top tip - Check the weather forecast. Any chance of rain or high wind then cancel.
Dont go and buy everything before you try camping. Get the minimum and upgrade if you find you enjoy it. There are lots of things available that you don’t need. The more you take the more you need to setup/pack up which is the worst bit of camping and you’ll take longer the first few times.
The best advice I can think of is go with someone else who is a seasoned camper. You can borrow-share equipment and learn on the spot what works and what doesn’t.
Buy nothing and go camping in the tent with your family. Then next time, u will know what u need.
How long is a piece of string
Twice as long as the half way point
What I always find about camping is that no matter how cold you think it might get, it will be much colder. So bring stuff to be as warm as you can!
Bad time to go camping if you're in southern Oz. Anyway, apart from the weather, I always find that the bedding is crucial to whether the overall experience is good or bad. To get a good night's sleep, you must be warm and comfortable (for me, that includes a thick mattress).
Ray's in Melbourne have been closing down their stores one by one over the past month or so. Some good bargains to be had there. If you don't mind second-hand, now is a good time to pick up bargains on Gumtree or eBay.
Put the tent up a couple of times in your backyard to get the hang of it, and if you are free camping dig a hole each time someone needs to poo and bury it, also burn the used toilet paper.
You better hope for good weather and dont FREEZE!
My tip is pack you clothes in plastic bags then put them in your pack that way if you do get rained out your clothes are dry.
I go light camping almost every month with 2x kids and wife.
Everything fits in the boot of the car.
My advice, travel light as you don't need everything that was suggested here. The more you pack/unpack the less you will feel like going next time. Make sure you are semi-comfi, that's all. Inside the tent, you will sleep for several hours, don't get hang up on it. Get a good (warm) sleeping bag and decent 7cm+ thick mattress and you are good to go.
The bigger the tent the harder is to pack/unpack and cooler during the night. Have a look here: https://www.snowys.com.au/camping-tents
For us, we can have the car ready within 10 - 15 minutes. Everything is prepacked in the garage and waiting to be put in the boot. Kids love outdoor and no gadgets. The cam fire does wonders!
Depends on a lot of things. How long do you want to camp for? Will it be cold? Will you be cooking on a camp fire, or do you need a stove?