First Time Camping Advice?

Unacceptable on 07/10/2019 - 13:26
Last edited 08/10/2019 - 12:19

Hello

I am travelling from Sydney to Melbourne by car and thinking of camping in a tent on the way to Melbourne. This is the first time to do camping and wonder what camping stuff do you think I need to bring with me? I’m travelling with wife an son and leaving in two weeks.

Edit) Thank you all for leaving valuable comments. +1 upvoted to all your comments :)

Itinerary

1st night in South Durras - BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park (tent)
2nd night in Wallagaraugh river retreat (cabin)
3rd night in Wilsons Promontory National Park (tent)
and 4th night in Philip island, Grantville (airbnb)

And staying in Melbourne CBD and drive back to Sydney via Albury.

This is the first time I do camping with family in AU so I don't have much equipment to carry along.

So what I have for the camping at the moment are;
Tent, tarp, sleeping bags, sleeping matts, Cusimax hot plate (remember this deal?) and gas camping stove, pots and cutleries, camping chairs, fishing rods and tackle box, esky and torches.

And what I learned from the feedback are;

Wombeyan Caves - I will visit later after gaining some camping experience from this trip.
Yackandandah - May stop by on the back to Sydney (we will stay one night in South Wodonga)
Shovel and toilet paper - must be a must for camping.
And extra layer of sleeping gear - it must be very cold at night out there.

Travel Camping

Comments

  • Taegukgi on 07/10/2019 - 13:27
    +5

    A tent is the first thing that comes to mind.

    • Skramit on 07/10/2019 - 13:32
      +4

      problem solved.

      /thread

      • Kangal on 07/10/2019 - 20:23
        +2

        Nah, gotta bring the Camping Stories

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2019 - 13:42
    +1

    An esky with ice for food. And a little cooker and pot to make tea and heat beans.

    Lots of torches and maybe candles and matches.
    Rollup matresses and bedding to stay real warm.

    A harmonica would be nice. Fishing lines?
    A 12v to 5v charger for cig lighter socket.

    • Almost Banned on 07/10/2019 - 14:28
      +3

      Get the wife a banjo to go with his harmonica and you'll never leave the campsite!

    • Ihhdle on 08/10/2019 - 10:26
      +1

      Don’t use candles in the tent - only outside!

  • cuteseal on 07/10/2019 - 14:00
    +5

    Are you going to be camping in a caravan park with access to power, water, toilets, amenities, etc. or in the bush with nothing but what you bring with you? How long are you staying for?

    Answers to these questions will dramatically change what you need to bring.

    • david clarke on 07/10/2019 - 14:22
      +1

      Yeah this, are you camping in a park or roughing it?

      Download this regardless - https://www.wikicamps.com.au/

    • Unacceptable on 07/10/2019 - 14:29

      Good question. Staying in a tent (4 ppl), hopefully in a powered site, 3 nights in a tent and the rest days (whatever days taking to get to Mel) in a cabin. Will bring two fishing rods, sleeping bags, tarp and esky.

  • blitz on 07/10/2019 - 14:22
    +2

    thinking of camping in a tent on the way to Melbourne.
    I’m travelling with wife an son

    If you have access to a back yard, why not try a dry run there first?

    Me, I think the benefits of sleeping in a proper bed (i.e. no fatigue for driver and family) outweigh the cost savings of camping by the side of the road.

    • Unacceptable on 07/10/2019 - 14:30
      +1

      Not really about saving costs but to experience camping for my son and memories. (Who does playing games a lot, needs to go out more and see the world)

      • blitz on 07/10/2019 - 14:37
        +5

        TBH I feel you would likely get better advice if you expanded on your post rather than letting us guess the parameters of the problem.

      • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2019 - 20:29
        +4

        You can't motivate a boy like that.

        Imma drop some mad wisdom so listen up…

        You need to find a friend with a cute daughter. Set up a planned "coincidence" so you and your lil man bumps into said friend and chiclette. Hang around long enough for there to be awkward silence between them fools.

        Now, tell that boy of yours you gonna do a fam and friends camping trip. Watch that casanova prep like he gon be da man of da house.

        Mind.

        Blown.

  • apsilon on 07/10/2019 - 14:34
    +3

    Do you already have all the gear? If not and it's likely to be a one off it's probably not worth buying when you could stay at a motel or caravan park for less. If you already have it then set up the tent and everything at home first. Make sure you know how it goes together, check if anything is missing, if air bed leaks etc etc.

    If you're planning on staying at a caravan park or something and are buying everything I'd suggest just buy the tent and sleeping gear and don't worry about cooking. Take cereal for breakfast and grab dinner out. Saves spending money on items you may never use again if it turns out you hate it.

    Alternatively it's an easy drive to do with only rest stops if you and your wife can take turns driving.

    More info and budget and I could give a lot more advice.

  • Third_Gear on 07/10/2019 - 14:49
    +2

    Drive the coastal route and pick a new spot each night. Go to Wombeyan Caves and camp with the Kangaroos and visit the cave complex. It’s amazing. You can do beach camping for free etc. all the way up the coast. Hit up Lakes Entrance area. Wiki Camps as stated above. Get it. Have fun!! We love our road trips with the kids.

  • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 07/10/2019 - 14:57
    +1

    One of the great things about camping is most people are pretty generous. The number of times I forgot 1 item and lent my own. Great way of meeting others as well:)

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2019 - 17:19
    +1

    Camping Sydney-Melbourne!! nothing to do or see except a dried up murrumbidgee river lol. Take him north or south coast.

  • redfox1200 on 07/10/2019 - 17:25
    +3

    why do you need to camp? you can drive there in a day.

    • paulinspace on 08/10/2019 - 11:26
      +2

      If travelling the Hum you don't need to stop. Its BOORRRIIINNGGG. But take the coast its a different story.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2019 - 14:25

      Agree, Hume = nine hour drive is pretty easy with a few short rest breaks.

  • Sinful on 07/10/2019 - 18:00
    +1

    Food + water.
    Toilet paper + digging tool.
    Hatchet.
    Tent + sleeping bag if not sleeping in car.
    Edit: Lighter/matches.

    Fire starters/newspaper might be helpful.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2019 - 20:25
      +2

      People remember sleeping bag but they normally forget sleeping mat.

      • Sinful on 08/10/2019 - 05:40
        +1

        That's a good point.

  • pformag on 07/10/2019 - 18:20
    +1

    Here is a pretty good checklist.

    Obviously, you don't need it all, but it's a good list to jog the memory.

    http://www.travel-australia-online.com/support-files/complet…

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2019 - 20:09
    +4

    Shovel and toilet paper.

    Can't count the number of times I see a constipated newbie working up the courage to ask for TP.

  • Dibbers on 08/10/2019 - 10:07
    +1

    Just remember if you make a fire it needs to be put out with water and not sand.sand will.not put a fire out properly.

  • davidg444 on 08/10/2019 - 11:25
    +2

    How much you fun you have will also turn on where you stay. I travel the Hume a bit, sometimes stopping overnight, and I find it better to get away from the highway to stop; not least because you won't hear trucks all night. There are some great towns away from the highway; notably in the foot of the alps just after the border. My best experiences stopping have been in Yackandandah and Beechworth. As well as having charm you're a good chance to find a decent breakfast in those towns. In a tent, and depending on when you go, bring an extra layer of sleeping gear because these and other points at altitude along the Hume can get fairly cool overnight which, in turn, is good for a sleep. Sleeping well is important when you are driving distance. Also worth mentioning is time your run so you can put up your tent before dusk.

    • Darron65 on 08/10/2019 - 13:41

      Good advice. It takes 3 or 4 times longer to put up a tent in the dark. Been there done that.

    • Unacceptable on 09/10/2019 - 09:29

      you're a good chance to find a decent breakfast in those towns -> which restaurant would you recommend?

      • davidg444 on 10/10/2019 - 09:46

        Restaurants don't usually appeal to the frugal camper so I would start with the bakeries. The Beechworth Bakery has a statewide reputation - check out their website. The bakery in the main street of Yackandandah has always been decent too and it looks like they are now operated by, and as an outlet of, the Beechworth Bakery. Sadly my favorite dining experience in the area, for something different for dinner, has closed - the Kinross Woolshed, a pub/shearing shed!

  • boomramada on 08/10/2019 - 15:51
    +1

    OP, you can camp in front of the parliament house in Canberra on the way to Melbourne?

  • TransportPosters on 09/10/2019 - 16:48
    +1

    Camping always seems a lot colder than you think it would be. Many times I wish I had brought an extra pair of socks to sleep in!

    Always bring duct tape to repair stuff. A few times I wish I had remembered it.

    • Unacceptable on 09/10/2019 - 17:15

      That’s an excellent advice!

  • Some Guy on 10/10/2019 - 00:07

    Wodonga is a fine base for exploring Albury.

  • Bargain4Days on 15/10/2019 - 17:42

    If your going to the woods, i recommend a cordless zaw zaw and a blower, starting fire is a breeze

    • Unacceptable on 15/10/2019 - 19:08

      Sounds good but being in bush fire season I better not. And I booked in camping site and will not allow me to fire.

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