The Camping Thread

[Miss.September]

I've just checked out Big4's site. Sounds like a great idea, only prob is all sites close to me (as in a 2-3 hr drive) are booked out already! Next year, must remember for next year.

[aussienic]

Thats a shame.. Join up and you should get an email reminder. I not an actual Big 4 member but just a member of the site

[Miss.September]

Thanks for the heads up Nic

[Jaycee]

Might have to have a look at this family night!

[Babyluv]

Hi Ladies,

Just discovered this thread and I'm very excited
I love camping, although i'm a shower and toilet camper, we used to 'rough it' when I was a kid, hole for a toilet etc but i'm not really into that now.
I love Wilsons Prom, go there alot and have a caravan. Tidal River at the Prom is fantastic for little kids, lot's of young families go there and it's so so pretty!
Will be good to see more posts from campers with little ones as I plan on taking our little girl next christmas, she will be 1yr old by then.
Argh now I want to go camping!
Any other recommendations of good caravan/camping parks in Vic?

[Miss.September]

LOL Babyluv, I want to go right now too!! 51 days until our camping trip! I've never been to Wilsons Prom, probably shouldn't say that, being a Victorian and all...

Has anyone tried the Big4 in Anglesea? It looks really nice but curious to see if anyone has any stories from there.

[sconeonamission]

Another camping trip booked! Next weekend, at the bottom of the Toowomba range. My sister has organized it, so I don't know much about it. We're going Friday lunchtime, coming home Sunday! I haven't been camping with othe people since we were little, so I hope we enjoy it! We're going with my sister, her dh and 2 kids ( and probably 2 dogs ) and my sisters friend and her family. I have an exam Monday morning so I hope it relaxes me for it.

[Jaycee]

That sounds great, hope you have a great time!

[Asparagus and Lemons]

Have any of you camped with a really little one? (4mth old)
We have been asked to go in a few weeks, but Im unsure. Afraid it will be more of a hassle than a holiday!

[Miss.September]

Awww nice Sconeonamission! Enjoy!

Tali - someone will have camped with a little one as young as yours. I haven't yet camped with DD who is 19 months now, so no advice for you, I'm sorry.

Whoop! Three weeks until we go! We picked up our camp kitchen last weekend and its fantastic! So yep, now we have everything PLUS the kitchen sink We're also eyeing off a camper from a friend - his family has outgrown it but it would be perfect for us. Its not ready to go yet, but he wants only $1500 for it! We've told him we want it so now to save up for when he's ready to sell it! YAY!!

[Jaycee]

Tali, we went camping with DS when he was 8 months old, so a little older and it was ok. The only thing we found difficult was that we were camping on dirt with lots of *****les around so we couldn't put him down anywhere to have a crawl around, it was the tent, the back of the ute and us holding him! So make sure there's a nice grassed area around the place somewhere, I'm sure you'll be fine

[appletree]

We are camping at yamba right now, awesome caravan park with so many things for kids to do, but it is bucketing down! DS who is 6 months also screamed for 2 hours last night which is completely out of character for him and it was really hard trying to deal with it worrying about everyone else around us. In the end df ended up driving him round till he fell asleep soundly enough to put him in his cot. The other thing is that he has been up bright and early at 5am each day because of the light and the very noisy birds! Thankfully there is a tv room with a comfy chair so we head in there to avoid waking everyone up!

[Aligater]

We go camping every summer last year with a 2 year old and a 1 month old. My DHs whole family camps in one spot in tents its great fun

[Ella]

Hey girls.

So I'm 38+4 weeks pregnant and we are talking about going camping a couple of weeks after bub is born. I am thinking this is the only time we can do it cause DF has 4 weeks holiday and that will be there 3rd of his 4 weeks. I'm hoping some of the ladies in here will be able to help me out with some tips that will make things easier.

We are thinking of going down to Minnie Waters near Grafton as there is nice fishing and a beach there. I am thinking I would take the bassinet with us as we have two and one of them has a mozzie net.

Ok so any clues at all...

Thanks heaps!

[Fleur]

Have any of you camped with a really little one? (4mth old)
We have been asked to go in a few weeks, but Im unsure. Afraid it will be more of a hassle than a holiday!

Like Jaycee, my DS was around 7 or 8 months when we went camping, and it really was fine, no dramas at all. We were a Fraser Island & I was more worried about dingoes than anything else He played in the back of the ute, and we took a big rug as well, no hassles at all in fact probably easier than with a toddler cause even if they are mobile at that stage, they aren't as quick.

[Miss.September]

Well keep your fingers and toes crossed everyone, that financially things click into place, because we've offically said yes to buy the camper from our friend! Usually when we commit to something, the s$%t hits the fan and we can never do it, so please please...... We went to look at it today, it's great!

[Miss.September]

Just saw that tonights Undercover Boss is the CEO of Big 4! Might be interesting viewing!

[~Trish~]

Thought I'd pop in, we just did a 6 week, 10,000km caravaning trip over to WA and back. It was AWESOME!!! All three kids travelled fantastically and we seriously had the time of our lives .

Sorry if anything I suggest has already been said, I've only skim read this thread! One of the best books you can buy if you are doing a big trip is "Camps Australia Wide 5". It lists most campsites (and roadside rest-stops that you can camp at) in Australia that are either free or cost no more than $22. It is so comprehensive and we found it invaluable. Also the RACV tourist park guide listed most caravan parks in Australia, so we never had trouble finding places to camp. I'm sure each state has an equivalent to the RACV guide.

We got through the long drives over the Nullarbor with a DVD player for the car (a must have LOL) and lots of little activites and toys for the kids. I had a couple of small tubs with things like sticky tape, post it notes, paper, crayons, stickers, etc. It kept the older two busy for hours.

I blogged our 6 week trip and added heaps of photos so that we can always look back and remember all the little things. It was great for our friends and family too who were interested in knowing what we were up to. If anyone wants a look at the blog, just PM me and I'll forward you the link .

Lulu - In regards to a big bus, they are really cool! But just keep in mind that some camping places aren't suitable for such a big vehicle and the other downside is that at a lot of caravan parks you have to pay for two campsites, so it can get pretty expensive. But we saw some awesome ones along the way! Some people tow a car on the back of the bus so they can still do shopping/sight seeing without worrying about what to do with the bus.