Your ultimate camping checklist
What’s the difference between a stress-free camp and a stressful camp? A forgotten bottle of gas, a sleeping bag left on the kitchen counter or a tent without pegs. Eeeek.
To help camping be as stress-free as it should be - screenshot, save or bookmark this camping checklist!
Sleeping
Whether you opt for ten-man tent or a one-man swag - here’s some non-negotiables you’ll need each trip.
- Durable tent or swag (check it’s in working order by setting it up in the backyard before your trip)
- Tent pegs (thicker plastic pegs are better suited for sand camps than the standard metal pegs)
- Hammer
- Ground cloth or tarp
- Pillow
- Sleeping mat or mattress (and pump if the mattress isn’t self-inflatable!)
- Sleeping bag, sheets, blankets
- Headlight or torch to keep in your tent or swag
- Dust pan/brush (you’ll thank us later)
Cooking
Many of our campgrounds have communal BBQ’s or firepits with cooking plates, but it pays to have something for the places that don’t, or for just in case you can’t have a campfire.
TIP: Before you go check whether campfires are permitted at your campground. In some campgrounds, fires are not permitted at any time; at others, campfires are permitted with seasonal restrictions and in provided fire pits only.
- Cooker
- Gas bottle and hose/attachments
- Matches or lighter
- Pots and pans or Dutch oven for cooking on the fire
- Utensils such as spatula, wooden spoon, tongs, peeler
- Cutlery; knives (for eating and preparing food), forks, spoons
- Plates, bowls and cups
- Containers and zip lock bags (for leftovers!)
- For washing up: environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid, sponge, washing up container, tea towel
- Cooking oil
- Esky and ice or camping fridge
- Table (some campsites have a picnic table so you may not need to bring one, check your booking confirmation before you go)
- Chopping board
Food and water
We all know a BBQ is a staple camping meal but here are some things you may not have thought of.
TIP: Always keep your food safely secured in a container or esky.
- Water: enough to drink, for dishes and cleaning
- Meals: plan your meals ahead to limit ingredients and wasted food
- Snacks – if you can have a campfire, marshmallows are non-negotiable!
- Coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- Salt, pepper, condiments
- Extra non-perishables (two-minute noodles or canned goods for just in case!)
Clothing
Be prepared for weather conditions. There’s nothing worse than shivering through a cold night in a tent!
TIP: Before you go, check the Bureau of Meteorology for current weather conditions.
- Warm clothes: beanies, jackets, pants, pyjamas, long-sleeved shirts, socks, wet weather gear
- T-shirts, hats and shorts
- Sunglasses
- Underwear
- Thongs
- Hiking shoes
- Bathers
- Laundry bag
Essentials
Be kind to your camping buddies and don’t forget the deodorant!
- Personal hygiene: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, sanitary products, soap, shampoo/conditioner
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser
- Tissues
- Sunscreen
- Towels (always add an extra in case people or things get muddy!)
- Medication
- Toilet paper
- Hairbrush
- Water bottles
- Rubbish bags – take your rubbish home with you
- Lighting: headlights, lamps, lanterns (and batteries!)
- First aid kit
- Phone and camera chargers or power banks to keep your items topped up
- Camp chairs
- Tools (a basic kit or multi-tool in case things need fixing or tyres need changing)
- A valid Parks Pass and access to a copy of your campground booking confirmation
- Map
Entertainment
Don’t forget the fun stuff!
- Playing cards
- Football, basketball, beach cricket set etc.
- Books
- Board games
- Fishing gear
- Binoculars
- Kayak, SUP, canoe
- Bikes
And one non-essential item that isn’t important but is guaranteed to make your camping set up magical - a set of solar powered or battery operated fairy lights!
Discover more about camping in the Know before you go section.
If you see an item that we’ve forgotten, message us on Facebook and we will update the list.