The Camping Thread

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CM - How do you keep it frozen during your trip? Is an esky enough, or do you have a fridge/freezer of some sort? Also, how long does it keep once defrosted? TIA

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Sorry, I kept running out of time to reply to you! We do kinda have a fridge/freezer - it's a Waeco 40L. Basically the stuff on the bottom gets frozen and items on top are just refrigerated. I just asked DH about eskys. He said that as the ice melts you should replenish it with fresh ice but keep the water in it; then put a wet towel on top of the frozen stuff to keep the cool in. This will definitely help keep your food frozen. A fridge would be better but you can get quite good eskys that are almost as good as a fridge. In regards to the shelf life once defrosted - we'll keep the bags in the fridge for a few days before eating the food at home. I don't know what the actual recommendations are unfortunately but we've never had any issues doing this. You can also just keep the vac sealed food in the fridge and not freeze it. I think I read that food will keep for a couple of weeks like this. Sorry I'm not much help!

We just bought our vac sealer from Aldi. I was dead against it but it is just the best thing ever. I have a chest freezer FULL of cooked meals!

Thanks heaps CheezelMonster :hug: and thank you for the tips too to Jaycee and Poopie - re keeping cool :hug:

Hi everyone :)

We went to the leisurefest show and it was fantastic! I don't think I've seen so many caravans in all my life in one spot! Everyone was incredibly helpful and friendly which was good because there were so many people there. We've decided that in three or so years, we're going to invest in a Jayco camper trailer. It's a compromise between DH and I - he who loves to camp, me who thinks I need the relative comfort of something a little bigger. The show had a stack of stuff for sale for camping and fishing too, so if you ever get the chance to go, jump at it. We're counting down the days now until our trip at the end of November, yay!!

DP is wanting to go barra fishing/ camping soon...how do you think we would go with a baby? Im not as keen while she is so young but just thought id get some opinions :)

We just got back from a weekend away and the first time i had been away with our new camping trailer. It was great, the set up, the place and the company we had made it a really enjoyable weekend.

Anmaki, the youngest age we have attempted camping with was when DS2 was 10 months, it was great but hot and difficult to sleep in the tent during the day so DS spent a lot of time in the pram with me pushing him around. We also had the port-a-cot which we could put in shady spot that would amuse DS for a short amount of time. Even though it was still very enjoyable. I would reccommend going where there are facilities avalable to you, as long as i have running water, a bathroom and a kitchen set up of some kind i get by and i find it really enjoyable to be out with my family and show the boys some new worldly expereinces.

Our next camping trip is booked! Stradbroke Island for Friday 22nd til Monday 25th! DH is taking the Friday and Monday off (which he's in need of a break!) DS will be in daycare until about 230, so DH has all morning to make sure the car is packed!

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DP is wanting to go barra fishing/ camping soon...how do you think we would go with a baby? Im not as keen while she is so young but just thought id get some opinions :)

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we went camping when Dd2 was 7 days old.
and then again when she was 6 months old.
we had no issues, we took her portacot so she had all her creature comforts.
we kept thermoses full of warm water for bottles etc.

we really didnt find it that hard, she was in the sling when we went out fishing etc and slept most of the time anyway..

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Our next camping trip is booked! Stradbroke Island for Friday 22nd til Monday 25th! DH is taking the Friday and Monday off (which he's in need of a break!) DS will be in daycare until about 230, so DH has all morning to make sure the car is packed!

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Jealous much!!!!! Have a wonderful time!

ooo I LOVE camping!

We just bought a camper trailer!

Oh I just found this thread......another camping family here too.

We are off to the Flinder Rangers next month and I can't wait, it's first time with DD. Where we are staying there are toilets & showers but the agreement for me to go camping when I first met DH was I had to have a loo so he bought me a portaloo lol. We also have one of those Coleman gas hot water thingy's so lovely hot showers not matter where we are :)

We just got back from a camping trip to Robe (SA) - I can highly recommend the Big 4 caravan park down there, just beautiful and great 4wdriving for those who are interested in that side of things. Apart from getting bogged on the beach for 7 hours we had a ball!

Phoenix - we've also done the Flinders quite a few times! Where are you staying? I can recommend Rawnsley Park, it's really good there :)

LOL Jaycee, I can imagine worse things than getting bogged on a beach. Well, I'm hoping it was good weather for you :)

has anyone camped at the Buchan Caves?

and what do you guys find with noise at night time? Especially in caravan parks or highly populated camping areas? DD is not one to sleep through noise but doesn't extend her sleep the other side of the day!

MG

Does anyone do the Big 4 Family fun night?

It is November 5th this year.. A free night of Family fun :)

If anyone is near Airlie Beach I have heard the Big 4 there is awesome for the Family Fun night..

Anyways we aren't doing it this year :( Dh is working

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.

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 :)

Thanks for the heads up Nic :hug:

Might have to have a look at this family night!

Hi Ladies,

Just discovered this thread and I'm very excited :D
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?

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...:redface:

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

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. :)

That sounds great, hope you have a great time!

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!

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 :rofl: 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!!

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 :)

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!

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

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!

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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!

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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 :p 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.

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!

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

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 :D.

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.

Trish - I'd love to read the blog, if that's okay! That books sounds like an invaluable tool as well. Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Love your av!!!

Will PM you :)

Hey girls.

So as I mentioned last time, we're going to elope and go camping for a week very soon after our baby girl is born (which will hopefully be in the next few days). We were going to go to Minnie Waters but I've just spoken to someone who has been there recently and the addition of lots of goanna's and a couple of dingoes and snakes has ruled it out for us, also there was no running water which I will need as I will have just had a baby and therefore hygeine will be pretty important.

So I'm wondering if any of you can suggest somewhere South you've been or heard of that would be suitable? We are happy to go about 6-7 hours South of Brisbane and would like to be near a good fishing spot. I don't mind if there's not full on showers and toilets as long as there is a tap so we can have fresh water to wash with.

Thanks so much girls. Also if anyone can recommend any good sites to get info??

Ella - sorry, didn't get a notification for this, didn't realise anyone had posted. I think Big 4's are pretty popular, maybe one of the QLD girls will know of a great spot for you. Hope you've had your gorgeous newborn cuddles by now!

Trish - I keep taking sneek peaks at your blog, but I get so jealous! I want to go now!! :ROFL:

We're off next weekend, trying to rack my brains for anything we'll need for DD to make life easier...I know we'll forget something!

Well even with the torrential rain, the electrical storm and mud mud mud, we had a BLAST!!!!

We went to the Best Friend Holiday Retreat in Yarram. If you haven't been, seriously, go. The people that run it are lovely. The site is set up specifically for dogs, each site is fenced and there are large dog pens where you can let your dogs run around. It's the third time we've been and probably love it even more with each visit. Because of the pens, we didn't have to worry about DD wandering away, and she was so content and happy, she loved every minute of it. She played with our dogs, splashed in the mud, ran around the pens. Our beagle took a sprint down the hill at one point and bowled her over, and all she could do was laugh. If you need to go somewhere without dogs, you can board them in the onsite kennel until you get back (daytime only)

Friday was really steamy, we went for a walk which I really struggled with in the heat. We cooked up spag bol on our stoves and washed up in our camp kitchen much to the amusement of my stepfather. I don't think he believed we were actually doing it, but even he couldn't deny the food was great! Saturday we went hunting for a good fishing spot, found one at Port Albert, returned to the camp site where my brother, SIL and niece had arrived. We went back to the spot with all of us, and the boys went out on the pier and then the rain came down. I stayed in the car with mum, SIL and kids and all we could do was laugh. They were on the freaking pier in an electrical storm!! They gave up one by one, and were all back in the car within 10 minutes. Got back to the site, DH and brother decided to try their luck at the river opposite the camp ground (holds trout, eel and crayfish) as the rain had eased to a light shower, so off they went....and my brother fell into the river :ROFL: He snapped my fishing rod too!! Saturday night we had a bbq. The rain during the night was just so unbelievable! 50mm!! But thankfully, our tent didn't leak, but we did have a visit from a baby lobster!! Sunday was DH's actual birthday so we had lunch in the local pub and then said goodbye to my brother, SIL and niece. We did a chicken with fruit Morroccon style casserole (Tagine) with rice for dinner and then sat around our campfire eating marshmellows. Off to bed. I woke up at around 4am and realised the fire had reignited, so DH got up to hose that out. A few minutes later, just as he got comfy again, there was this grunting scratching noise. We were both like "Did you hear that?" "What the hell is that?" DH got back up, grabbed the lantern, and peered out the tent. He stands at the door for a minute and then says "Oh my god, its a freaking koala!" I bolted out of bed, DD slept through. We had a covered site, so sort of like a car port that went over, and climbing up the pole of that next to our tent was this beautiful fat koala. Took a few photos as it climbed back down the pole, walked behind the tent, around the car and then up and over the gate, back into the darkness.

So that was our trip! We had an absolute ball. If you get the chance to go down there, they have a website if you google them.

Oh wow PRMG! That sounds like a fantastic trip! Your camping food sounds amazing, the best we usually manage are some sausages on the bbq and some salad bits and pieces! Wow about the koala, how beautiful! Very lucky :) Our first trip with DD we had a possum break into our tent (ripped itself a nice hole) and stole our breadrolls i was saving to make egg and bacon rolls for breakfast. DD thought it was hilarious and still asks to play camping and someone has to be the possum and steal the breadrolls. Its a shame your DD slept through the Koala!

Where are you headed for your next trip??

Glad you had a great time despite the weather PRMG! I giggled at your visit from a baby lobster, can't say I've ever had that happen LOL! That place you went to sounds great, I'll have to check out the website :).

We're off camping at Wilson's Prom this weekend. It's one of our most favourite camping spots. It is so beautiful and the kids love it. The wombats come out when the sun starts to set, very exciting for the kids! The weather looks dicey this weekend, but we're going regardless!

Appletree - Yeah, I guess our food wasn't normal camping food, but we only used two pots and a frypan, so we stretched our imagination. Plus DH wanted the tagine-style dinner for his birthday, but we were thrilled at the way it came up. We did have the use of a fridge down there as my parents stayed in a cabin, but we cooked outside. That must've been a fair hole the possum ripped in your tent, they can be fat little things!! The next trip is still in the "unknown" zone. We want to go to Adelaide and we want to go to Tassie, but I'm not sure when or which one we'll do first.

Trish - Yarram isn't far from Wilson's Prom. Hope you have a wonderful time. The lobster freaked me out! We'd just come back to the tent, it was dark and I put my hand down to unzip the tent and felt it, I squealed and DH got the torch and we saw what it was. It was only the size of the palm of your hand, but we had a laugh once my heart finished pounding!!

We've retired our tent for now. We're picking up the camper either this week or next, I think. And we've decided to paint a phrase across the back saying "You're not camping right if you go home without a story". So if you see it in your travels, give us a wave!