Looking to go camping for the first time in years so am after a tent for my family of 4 + dog. What’s everyone’s recommendation?
Also while I’m here any recommendations for camping near Sydney? Live on the north shore so ideally not south.
Thanks !!
Best Tent for a Family of 4 and Camping Recs near Sydney
Luniqueusername17 on 04/09/2024 - 22:40
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As long as it says 6to8 person.
Yes, it's instant up 6P
Best Tent for a Family of 4
- Coleman Instant Up Gold Series 6P: Known for its quick setup and durability, this tent offers plenty of space and good ventilation.
- OZtrail Family 10 Dome Tent: This tent provides multiple rooms, which is great for privacy and organization.
- BlackWolf Turbo Lite Cabin 450: A bit on the pricier side, but it's sturdy and offers excellent weather protection.
- Darche Safari 2600: Ideal for those who want a bit more luxury, this tent is spacious and has great build quality.
Thanks JVGPT
any recommendations for camping near Sydney?
- The Basin, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park: Just an hour north of Sydney, this spot offers beautiful views, a sheltered beach, and an inland lagoon.
- Diamond Head Campground, Crowdy Bay National Park: About a 4-hour drive from Sydney, this site is known for its stunning ocean views and kangaroos hopping around.
- Bouddi National Park, Killcare: Located about 1 hour and 45 minutes northeast of Sydney, this park offers a mix of beach and bush camping.
- Bents Basin State Conservation Area: A great family-friendly spot with facilities for tents, trailers, and caravans.
- Cattai National Park: Located along the Hawkesbury River, this park offers a range of activities including walking, canoeing, and bike riding.
Great camping at Crosslands Reserve. 10min out of Hornsby, often plenty of day visitors but when you're there at night and the people clear it feels like the middle of nowhere.
Why not an extra tent for the kids and dog, so you can get some alone time with your life partner?
If your kids are slightly older, most people find that 2 smaller tents are better than one big tent for short trips (a few days). Cheaper, less size in the boot, kids aren’t waking you up every few hours. Get a 3-4 person tent for the adults and a 2-3 for the kids. However for longer trips you may prefer the extra space and height of a bigger tent.
if you are happy to pay for a bigger then then the instant up ones are worthwhile. A good option is a 6 person tent for the adults/main tent for the gear and then a small tent for the kids
While the weather can turn, if you only camp when the weather looks good then you don’t need a 4 season tent.
Coleman is a solid value brand
A lot of the quick set up ones are extremely heavy and bulky. Some of the turbo tents are huge and won't easily fit in the back of a LandCruiser or Patrol.
Camping
Means to an end or an end in itself? That is, are you using the tent to sleep during multi-day hikes or are you glamping (if you're bringing the dog)?
We're also in the North Shore and use two of these for a family of 4 to camp (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/775652). Places we've done include:
- The Basin - we hiked in. People who glamp catch the ferry as it's a steep hike out if you carry a lot of stuff. Even if you glamp, try to make the trek up to do some hikes around West Head - it's beautiful.
- Crosslands - access parts of the Great North Walk.
- Cathedral Reserve (Mount Wilson) - we just came back yesterday from a 2 night/3day camp. The tent easily withstood 0-1C mornings and 40-50km/h winds. As you gain more experience, I'd recommend camping here - it's free and near spectacular hikes.
Note 1: The Basin and Crosslands have booking charges.
Note 2: with global warming, you have to get your camping in around spring and autumn if you want to avoid the risk of closures due to fire danger. It took us three attempts to get to the Basin with closures to tracks (and we had to take detours and do day trips elsewhere) - less of an issue if you're taking the ferry. And if being in nature is important to you - many native flowers are blooming much earlier, that is, now (and non-natives in the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens).
Note 3: consider a practice run in the backyard first for a smoother experience, especially what to bring. E.g. our kids' local cub scouts have a camping night next to the hall (it's still in a lot of greenery) to help new campers easy into camping.
Whats your budget?
Do you want cheap adn use once and put it away? or regular campers?
There is no 'best'.
Do you want minumum set up time or maximum space? Do you need somewhere to hide from rain and a big awning, or is it just basically for sleeping? Do you want 'rooms'? Do you want something lightweight and easy to fit in your Camry? Or something more robust thatll need a landcruiser to fit it in?
The upcoming Aldi one ?