I fondly remember long, hot, steamy summers in Queensland camping on Stradbroke Island. It was a lethal combination of sand, sun, mosquitoes and 30 second hot showers (with a coin), but we loved it all the same. Especially wearing togs all day, lining up at the kiosk for lollies, and playing cards by the light of the Coleman lantern in our not-quite-mosquito-proof shade tent. Camping is the great Aussie pastime and entirely achievable with a little preparation.

Of the many different kinds of camping on offer in Australia, there are two very different types of camp grounds – National Parks and Camping resorts. National Park campgrounds have fairly basic facilities. A good campground, such as Cattai National Park just outside of Sydney in NSW, will have hot and cold showers and clean toilet facilities, flat grassy areas for setting up camp, lots of trees for shade, and possibly barbeques and undercover picnic benches. Cattai NP boasts all of these features and is also right on the Hawkesbury River, providing opportunities for water sports. Depending on the weather and the season, National Park camping can be quite serene.

In contrast, camping resorts are often purpose-built for family camping, and may have generous facilities, such as Del Rio resort, near Wiseman’s Ferry, NSW (see photo above). Del Rio’s facilities include camping, caravan, trailer and cabin accommodation as well as swimming pools, tennis courts, volley ball courts, jumping pillow, bistro, beer garden, kiosk, games room, boat slips and direct access to water sports on the Hawkesbury River. On a recent trip, there were even Saturday night fireworks. Needless to say, these features attract a lot of people, so camping is more crowded and noisy.

Preparation

Preparation for camping is key. The first time you go, it might take weeks to gather all the elements that you will need and put together your own camping checklist. Take this opportunity to get the kids involved and talk about the experiences beforehand to give them something to look forward to – sleeping in a tent! Making s’mores! Setting up camp! For the little ones, make sure you take something to remind them of home – a special fluffy toy, maybe a Portacot for a child still in a cot. Having their own mini camp chairs will make the kids feel very special and give them something to attach themselves to. The first night away might be a bit restless, but kids are usually great at adapting.

Camping Checklist

Here’s your Must-Take list for Camping:

• Tent
• Tarp ground cover (plus extra tarp, rope and tent poles for shade optional)
• Camping chairs and kids’ camping chairs
• Picnic set or collection of plastic reusable utensils (plates, bowls, knives, forks, mugs,)
• Chopping board and knife
• Blow up air bed or air mattress. For kids – a Portacot or a Thermarest mattress if the kids are old enough. We use a flip out sofa for our 4-year-old which doubles as seating during the day.
• Sleeping bags
• Pillows
• Lamp or lantern
• Torches/headlamps
• Mosquito repellant and/or coils
• Sunscreen
• Toilet paper (just in case)
• Spare batteries
• Cooler/eskie
• Folding table. We particularly like an  aluminium roll-top folding table.
• Picnic blanket
• Roof racks – if you can’t fit all your camping equipment in the car
• Multi-tool pocket knife – optional but can be useful
• Extra rope

Personal items:

• Clothes
• Toiletries (don’t forget hayfever medication if you have allergies)
• First aid kit (include pain killers and sting relief)
• Towels
• Hooded raincoats if the weather forecast is dodgy
• Suitable shoes – hiking boots are optional but are great for keeping feet dry and warm.

Food

Camping food ideas:

Breakfast – bacon and eggs on toast (nothing like the smell of bacon in the bush), instant porridge/oatmeal, toast and condiments

Lunch – sandwiches (we like tuna, mayonnaise, and celery)

Dinner – sausages in buns, burritos or soft tacos (wraps, mince beef, onion, avocado, tomato, cheese, spices), ready-roasted chicken with coleslaw and soft buns, pre-made curry and pre-cooked riced heated up in a pot.

Dessert – S’mores!

Toast marshmallows on a stick over an open fire, then squash between two chocolate-covered biscuits (traditionally graham crackers and chocolate but they are hard to find in Australia).

You’ll need in your camp kitchen:

• detergent, sponge
• oil
• paper towels
• condiments (tomato sauce, jam/vegemite/peanut butter)
• tea bags
• bread
• drinking water

You’ll need in your cooler:

• ice
• butter
• milk (or take UHT if you only need it for coffee)

If there is no BBQ you’ll need these implements for camp cooking:

• gas camping stove
• gas bottle
• lighter
• pot and frying pan
• tongs
• wooden spoon (we use a short sushi paddle)

Activities

You can take along games, sports equipment, balls and frisbees to play, but chances are your kids will be kept busy helping set up camp, going for a swim, gathering kindling for the fire, picking flowers, making s’mores, and exploring the camp ground. Torches are great for spotting Tawny Frogmouths  and possums in the trees. Arm your kids with a camera to take photos of wildlife and interesting finds. A pack of playing cards never goes astray (especially if the weather closes in). And we like to take the weekend paper to read at leisure, with no TV or computer to distract us.

Make sure you take the opportunity to enjoy our amazing national parks and camp grounds this year, and after you’ve invested in some camping basics, you will always have the ability to make an inexpensive get-away from the real world at any time. Camping creates memories and valuable lessons that the kids will have for a lifetime. And if you’re prepared, it’s fun!