A Beginner's Guide to Selecting the Right Camping Supplies for Your Next Adventure

If you’ve always wanted to go camping but haven’t known how to choose the right gear, it may have been enough to put you off the process altogether. Being away from the familiarity and comforts of home can be scary if you’ve never done it before, but with the right preparation and camping accessories in Australia, you can make your camping trip a success in every way.

Deciding on what you’ll take with you when you go camping requires asking yourself a few important questions–their answers will inform how much and what types of camping supplies you need to take with you. 

So, make sure to read through them carefully to discover how you’ll need to decide on what camping gear you’ll take with you for your next outdoor adventures.

How Will You Be Travelling?

 

The best place to start thinking is about how you’ll be getting to your destination. Your method of transportation plays a large part in how much storage you’ll have and what you can bring with you on your trip.

• Car: Driving to your destination means you’ll have your car’s boot and potentially the back seat to store your camping supplies. You can also attach a trailer to store larger things like bikes, surfboards and paddleboards. Of course, if you’re travelling with some sort of RV, you can use that to store most of your supplies.

If you are planning on driving to your destination, make sure your car can handle the trip. If you plan on driving through hilly, rugged terrain or are planning on towing anything, it’s best to take a 4WD that can handle the trip.

• Kayak: Love to kayak? You might be able to kayak to a secluded camping spot, but this will obviously restrict the amount of supplies you can take with you. Larger kayaks will have storage space but it isn’t huge, so you’ll need to pack frugally if you plan on travelling this way.

• Bike: Travelling by bike for camping and exploration is often called ‘bikepacking’ - a mixture of bike riding and backpacking. As you’d expect, you won’t have much storage space at all, so this is best used either for overnight trips or when travelling between hotels and lodges. Choose a lightweight backpack, strap a bag to your bike frame and have fun exploring!

• Hike: How much you can take with you while hiking depends on your strength, endurance and how far you intend to walk on your travels. Large hiking packs can fit quite a lot in them including sleeping and cooking supplies, but their size can make them tricky to get used to if you’re a new hiker.

As you can see, certain modes of travel allow you to take many more things with you than others! A day trip in your car is probably the best choice for first-time campers who want to travel to a great destination and still bring plenty of supplies with them.

What Will You Sleep In?

 

Your choice of shelter is one of, if not the most important, pieces of gear to bring along to your camping trip. Staying warm and protected from the elements is a vital part of a safe and successful camping trip, so it’s not something you can forget or plan at the last minute.

Of course, your shelter can either take up all of your room, like a large tent, or barely any at all, like a compact swag. Here are some of your options:

• RV: Recreational vehicles, often called RVs, are enclosed vehicles you tow behind your car, like a caravan. They come in many different sizes and forms, with some allowing you to cook, shower and rest without ever needing to leave the RV, and some with extensions that mean the kitchen and shower are outside the van.

The good thing about RVs is that you get to sleep on a regular mattress, with sheets and blankets like you would at home. They can be placed in the RV when you leave and you’ll never need to take them out. It won’t take up any extra space in your RV, as they’ll have a dedicated sleeping area for bedding. You can go as fancy or basic as you like with your mattress and bedding when you have an RV!

Of course, buying an RV is an expensive endeavour, and towing one can be difficult if you’re not used to it. If you just want the comfort of a mattress without the price of storing it in a caravan, then luckily, you have other options.

• Camper trailer: These are also towed behind your car, but camper trailers are smaller and more compact. They require a little more work to set up compared to a caravan, and won’t include some of the more extravagant amenities like showers or an HVAC system. However, they also have a raised, dedicated sleeping area where you can store a mattress and bedding.

Camper trailers go up and out to the side when they’re set up, with the main sleeping area sitting at the highest point above the trailer itself. You may like to use the lower area on the ground as a secondary sleeping area if you’re travelling in a group or as a family. Either way, both mattresses can be stored in the main sleeping area while you travel, making your bed the easiest part to set up when you choose to settle down for the day.

• Tent: A tent forgoes many of the comforts and protection of caravans and trailers, but is also a much more affordable option and doesn’t require any towing to be done on your part. Tents come in a wide range of sizes and styles–from complicated, multi-room extravaganzas to simple pop-up tents for two people.

Regular mattresses, like you’d find on a bed, aren’t usually seen in tents. This is because you’d need to store both the mattress and the tent in your car, which would take up quite a bit of valuable storage space! Instead, inflatable or roll-up mattresses are the norm.

Because you’re sleeping on the floor of a tent, there will potentially be dirt, dampness and even insects making contact with your bedding. That’s why it’s important to use water-resistant bedding when sleeping in a tent. Instead of sheets and a blanket, you may opt to use a sleeping bag on your mattress. Or you may like to pack a cot that will allow you to sleep off the ground! 

When sleeping in a tent, you have many options, including spending as much or as little on bedding as you like. Just make sure to put something between you and the ground, as it won’t be comfortable to sleep on without a barrier.

• Swag: Want to be as close to nature as possible while you sleep, but still have some protection from the night air? If you’ve never heard of a swag, picture something like an industrial sleeping bag or a tent but just for one person. A swag creates a long but low space for you to sleep in, and they are usually made from tough canvas that can roll up into a cylinder that you can then carry with you.

Swags zip up to fully enclose, protecting you from moisture, cold air and any outside critters, but some will have optional mesh windows that you can use to let a little airflow through if you’d like. Swags will come with a spongy bottom that functions like a mattress, and you can use either a sleeping bag, pillow or blankets inside to make yourself comfortable.

Swags take up the least amount of space out of all your sleeping options, and can also double as a chair or backrest while sitting down. Use swags when you don’t want to carry much with you, such as when you’re hiking!

Choosing the right sleeping gear means you’ll be able to rest well at night and be full of energy during the day while you explore around your beautiful campground! Whether you want a proper mattress and blankets or a simple swag and sleeping bag combo, make sure you can pack your sleeping gear safely for your travels.

What Will You Eat And Cook?

 

Of course, after shelter comes your food and water supplies. If you want to be living off more than tinned tuna and water, choosing the right camping cooking equipment in Australia can transform your camping experience into one that is much more pleasant and fulfilling. Trust us, a cooked meal after a day of hiking, swimming or biking is much better than opening a can of preserved spaghetti for your dinner!

If you want to have access to fresh, cold food, then some sort of camping fridge or esky is a must-have. A fridge will require a power supply (usually your car or perhaps some solar panels), while an esky will need to be topped up with ice to keep its contents cool. Both may take up a bit of room in your car, but they can also be used to house a lot of your food and drink, making them a storage tool at the same time.

A camp oven or gas stove will drastically expand the number of hot food recipes you can make while camping. Camp ovens need a camp fire to function, but can be used to make incredible roasts, bakes and stews, while portable gas stoves will function like your stove at home but will require a connection to a gas bottle.

Make sure to pack kitchen utensils like tongs, cutlery, a chef’s knife, cups, bowls and plates, a chopping board, kettle and a few pots and pans to cook with. You can find cooking and kitchen equipment designed for camping, meaning they’ll be light, quick to clean and easy to store when needed. Plan a few meals out that you’ll want to make so you can bring the right kitchen utensils along with you.

What Will You Clean With?

 

If you plan on camping for more than a few days then you’ll need to bring a few cleaning and bathroom supplies with you. This will help you keep yourself and all of your gear clean while you camp!

For bathing, you can go as simple as pouring a bucket or warm water over your head, sure. Or, purchase a shower tent combined with a hanging shower bucket for a private showering experience that rivals the ease you’ll have in your home shower! You can even find dual cube tents with separate areas for showering and using the toilet.

A portable sink will make cleaning your cookware and utensils much easier. Look for a camping sink that is portable, water-tight and can stay full of water without falling over. If you have a caravan or camper trailer, your setup will probably have some sort of built-in or pull-out kitchenette available which will include a sink and rack for washing and drying your dishes.

Make sure any soaps you choose to take with you are environmentally friendly, as you’ll be throwing away your wash water after use. Look for soaps that are biodegradable, free from sulphates and parabens and are ph neutral.

What Safety Gear Do You Need?

 

When you’re camping you’ll be far away from hospitals, doctors and your home stash of medications. That’s why it’s vital to have a good collection of safety gear to keep you and everyone around you safe while you travel and camp. 

Here’s a quick list of some of the safety gear you should consider taking with you:

• First aid kit: Whether it’s the dreaded stick bite or something that could actually become life-threatening, having a first aid kit on hand when camping is non-negotiable. If you don’t want to buy a complete first aid kit and would rather put one together yourself, make sure to include things like adhesive and non-adhesive bandages, antiseptic cream or spray, tweezers, alcohol wipes, surgical tape, scissors and an emergency accident blanket. 

• Communications devices: Keeping in contact while camping is essential for your safety, whether it’s with the others in your party, the people at home or with emergency services. Your phone should be on you at all times, but make sure to bring a charger you can plug into your car or RV or a portable power bank to keep it topped up. In places where your phone won’t work, an ultra high frequency radio (UHF) and spare batteries are a must-have. A whistle can be used to attract attention when needed, and a water-proof, high-power torch is perfect for safe nighttime exploration.

• Tow gear: If your camping trip involves driving around anywhere that’s not a bitumen road, then having tow gear packed may be just the thing that gets you out of trouble. Becoming bogged down in sand, mud or silt can stop you in your tracks, but tow gear can help you get out of trouble or even allow you to help someone else who is stuck. Make sure your car can safely use the tow gear you purchase!

• PFD: If you will be spending any time in the water, make sure you have a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) available for each member of your party. Not only are these invaluable for preventing drownings, but they’re a legal requirement to have on hand in Australia if you plan on heading out inside a kayak, canoe or boat over any body of water.

Smaller things, like painkillers, insect repellent and sun protection gear are also smart to pack if you have the room.

Where Can I Find All My Camping Supplies?

There’s quite a lot you need to buy before you head out camping for the first time! Luckily, you can find it all in one place at Camping Adventures, your premier destination for camping supplies in Melbourne. We are proud to offer our customers everything they need to explore the great outdoors, from quality camp cooking supplies to incredible Lifestyle Campers.

We are always available to answer any of your questions regarding our products and what you need for a successful camping trip. Call us on 03 9708 2946 or leave us a message with your query and we’ll do our best to recommend the best camping gear for your next outdoor adventures!