I'm hoping to start a camping thread of some sort with tips and ideas of camping with little ones (and bigger ones!). Camping/caravan ground recommendations too. It's one thing to read a review from a mag or paper, but sometimes it's quite another to hear feedback from someone with a family actually experiencing it.
DH and I have been camping a couple of times, just the two of us, and we're about to embark on our first camping trip with DD, who will be 20 months when we go. I'm eager to hear your stories of great spots, clean facilities and friendly locals, so we can keep doing this, Australia wide.
The "Must Have" list
Camping equipment - Tent, Rubber interlock mats for tent floor, Air Mattresses & Pump, Camp Stretchers, Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Pillows, Esky, Fold-up chairs, Table, Rechargable Lantern, Extension Leads, Double Adaptors, Tarps, Dustpan and Broom, Storage Tub to convert to Bath, Duct Tape, Torch, Umbrella, Hammer/Hatchet, Batteries, UHF Radio/Walkie Talkies, Puncture Repair Kit, Firestarters, Fire Extinguisher.
Car Equipment - GPS, Jumper Leads, Jerry Can, Reserve Water/Coolant, Fan Belts, Roof Racks, Bike Rack, Headlight Globes
Food & Cooking Items - Gas Stove & Bottles, Camp Kitchen (with Sink), Pot, Frypan, Crockery, Cutlery, Cups, Tongs, Freezer Bags, Garbage Bags, Tea Towels, Dishwashing Liquid, Tin Foil, Glad Wrap, Matches, Hot Rocks, Sauce, Napkins, Hot chocolate, Marshmellows, Skewers, Vacuum Sealer, Oil, Ice, BBQ Tray, Scotch towels, Water container, Jex, Sponges, Tupperware food containers, Ant rid, Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Can Opener, Noodles, Canned Soup, Casseroles, Spag Bol
And... just today i was out shopping to get bits and pieces for our camping trailer, stuff that we can have packed like tea, coffee, sugar, bowls, plates all you can imagine so there's not so much involved when packing to go away. I still like to have most of what i'd use at home
We too go camping often/ish and we have a 3 1/2yr old (first went camping when he was 1) and an 18 month old (went for the first time at 10 months). At the 10 months of age it was great to get away but a bit tricky for sleeps as it was in the summer, he spent a lot of time in the pram or port-a-cot but it was great to be out in the open with them.
So far we pretty much go to one particular caravan park near Alexandra which we really like, DH can fish, there is a park for the kids and a pool. We have only just purchased our camping trailer last month so now that we have that we plan to explore a few more places. We like Alexandra as it's not too far to go even just for a weekend trip.
I too look forward to getting some tips, ideas of new places to explore to and giving some tips if i have any aswell.
Happy Camping to you and your family, it's a lot of fun getting our kids out there and seeing the country side
I was talking to a friend about this yesterday, I'd love to go camping this summer, last time we went was about 2 1/2 years ago at Kingscliffe. Not sure if our tent is still any good & I really don't want to be bothered putting it up to check it... well we can't put it up in our courtyard anyway
We used to go camping with Dad heaps when we were kids, I find a lot of people I know now won't go unless there is running water & a porcelain toilet. Part of me in the back of my heaad still thinks it ain't camping unless you have to take a shovel to go to the toilet Although I don't know how I'd go with my kids on that score.
Great idea for a thread! We used to camp alot but haven't been since having Moo - well we have stayed in units if that counts lol.
Wish we had a camper trailer though!
Alexandra is lovely. The Taggerty Caravan park is good too, it has the river right through it, pool, bbq facilities. I'm moreof a cabin camper though
Has anyone done a HUGE trip of Oz? I'm broadly planning one for 6-12 months, in about 2 years circumstances permitting.
I really like the converted buses (Partridge Family style!) but not sure how practical it would be.
just subscribing. We are another family that loves camping, haven't been able to go since DS was born, but definitely keen to find out how everyone else does it so we can too!
My fave spots are: Agnes Waters & 1770 (qld) Cania gorge (qld) Mataranka (nt) Litchfield National Park (nt)
We have only started caravan camping since we had DD but hope to get back into bush camping soon.. Got a little to used to all the amenities I think
We bought a camper trailer in 08 and just love it.
Our next big holiday is to Cape York in 2012. I so wish we were going next year but the people we are travelling with need more then a year to save the cash needed. But thats ok it gives us 2 years to save and save..
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!
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.
MadB & Mrs Bexie - Our first camping trip was when DD was 20 months, so I don't have any hands on advice. There have been a few posters earlier though that have talked about camping with newborns, maybe someone will pop in.
ZF - Your tent sounds cool! 20 minutes to set up is pretty good! Hope you get to go somewhere cool soon
And from me....
We have had an absolute blast, despite some very funny and almost disastrous setbacks! First was when we were driving to Adelaide. We'd just crossed the border, and I was driving, looked in the review mirror to see the camper had opened up and the roof was lifting up in one corner with the canvas coming out and flapping about. I was only doing 110kms! Quick pull over to the side, shoved the canvas back in and realised one of the latches to hold the roof down had weakened and had popped open. We used a key ring to keep it together and that worked really well. DH freaked, hoping it hadn't damaged the winch, but I couldn't stop laughing. Then we finally get to the caravan park, get the jockey wheel onto the trailer, get the trailer off the car - the jockey wheel collapses, the winder on it snaps and our camper is now resting on the ground. Again, much cursing from DH, much laughter from me, until I realised that we'd have to somehow lift the camper up. Oh dear. So with a few more choice words from DH and the aid of our car jack, we got it up and propped it up nicely on a cable stand (two metal triangles that has a metal rod run through it that drums of cable usually go on) and we were set!
We had an absolute ball. The beach and park were pristine and the beach was so so quiet. Even on Saturday, 31 degrees and we shared the beach with about four other families. It was awesome. We drove around the Barossa Valley, swam, ate (omg, ate so much!), visited the lovely MummyNaomi and her DH and DS and had them visit us too. I can't speak highly enough for the park, it is spotlessly clean, lush green lawns and wonderful facilities. We loved it so much that on our last day, we rebooked for March next year. DD travelled like a trooper. We left home at around 4.30am and arrived in Adelaide at around 3pm, only stopping twice, and again coming home (bit longer because of the Western Ring Road roadworks). We're just so proud of the way she travelled. So we've had an absolute blast, we love Adelaide and can't wait to go back!
Ummm....tips for camping with a baby. Ummmm....
Don't try to pack too much into your day, so that you can keep it flexible.
Take a sling - really good for when you first get in to camp, and for day sleeps if you need to.
Take well covering clothing to protect from mossies. We also used a coil.
Buy a camping chair that is good for feeding.
Don't forget to take a wetbag (we failed that one!)
Have something that will serve as playspace for baby - mat, rocker, whatever.
I got nothin, really. I just sort of did the same as home, only in a tent.
We slept on self-inflating mattresses, DH and I have one each, and DD had a half length one in the middle. She slept in long PJs, and her warmest wrap. That worked well for us, although she only fed from one side all night, so in the morning I was hand expressing into the mud! Quite the sight.
We are goinh camping!!!! Yay!
On the 30th we are goin to north stradbroke island to camp n 4wd.
Has anyone been 4wding witha baby? It wont be crazy stuff but i worry she will be bounced round too much? Also did you have them in bed with you? We dont have a portacot but thinking of getting one n it will fit in our tent.
What are the neccessities for camping with a baby? She is exclusive BF, in cloth but we will use sposies while camping.
Sent from my iPhone so sorry for the spelling and punctuation!!
MrsBexie- We went camping & 4wding when DS was a baby (& PG with DD!!) it was heaps of fun I just had to remind DH not to do too many crazy things but that was mostly for my sake! DS loved it, actually all our kids love a bit of bouncing around in the car and I'm sure it's fine... no worse than a baby bouncer or rocker.
as for bedding I use a carry bed when they are small and have not tried a portacot in tent only camper trailer which was fine. I know a few ppl that just use the pram as bed because you'd normally take that with you anyway.
Audax - are you back yet? Hope you've had a wonderful time.
MrsBexie - how did you 4wd trip go?
We've decided to give camping a go with our dogs. We've ummmed and ahhhhed for ages, but we're going to try. We take them to best friend retreat in Yarram no worries, but it's all enclosed sites, so taking them away to a different place will be a bit of a challenge. I'm going to buy a crate so the beagle can sleep in it and I don't have to stress about her vanishing during the night. Any other tips? We found a spot in Mildura for $22 per night so we're going to go in August.
It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! We camped on the beach at North Stradbroke Island... no amenities or anything, I am pretty proud! LOL...
C was fine! The last day she had a bit of a hysterical fit from being inher carseat but it was fixed by me jumping in the back with her!
The beach was AMAZING!!!!! I LOVED it and we are going back at least once more before we move. Now I am getting all excited and wanting to start investing in some really good camping gear like an Engel fridge, better camping chairs etc...
Oh and we took our border collie puppy and she did brilliantly!!! We just tied her to the towbar on the 4wd and she was fine. Our little guard dog! but she loved the beach and running around, she never went far from us.
The Camping Thread
Although I don't know how I'd go with my kids on that score.
We love camping. 
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