thread: Help first time camping with kids!

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Adelaide
    1,741

    Help first time camping with kids!

    This October long weekend we are taking all three kids 6 months, 3 years and 5 years camping for the first time ever! We ar going to a local Forrest with a group of friends with kids and using the IL'S campervan, there are no facilities. I'm new to camping DH is an old hand but has only ever camped as a single bloke

    So suggestions on what we need to take. We have camp bunks for the big girls which we have checked and they can manage fine, portacot for bub, bed in campervan for us. we have a gas cooker, borrowing IL's portapotty (DH will be cleaning it!) bedding, eskis, kids bikes and clothes/nappies/toiletries/wipes.

    Trying to think what will be easy to pack and prepare kid friendly food too.

    What else do you suggest? How much water do take with you when going camping with a family? We will only be an hour or so from shops etc but I'm hoping not to have to run off every five minuts to get something we have forgotten.

    Any other tips?

  2. #2

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    Pencils & coloring books, a ball & your camera, fishing rods.

    Honestly we take very little in the way of activities for the kids, we go on walks, we take them fishing, we setup a little table for them to color in.
    They enjoy helping collect fire wood, looking for bugs & lizards.

    Water wise we go for about a week so we take quite a few big tubs but DP's uncle also freezes some of the water big fridge water bottles you get in safeway for us and brings them down to camp.

    Good quality bin bags and if possible a plastic bin with tight lid, nothing worse than finding wildlife rumaging through your scraps.

    I'm sure there is morie i'm not thinking of.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2011
    SE Melbourne
    2,975

    Buckets/tubs for washing dishes/faces etc....
    Torches/lanterns
    bikes? If you've got space to carry them
    raincoat/boots (just in case it rains!!)
    .....
    Im sure I could think of more if my brain was turned in better

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    Marshmellows
    Take some books & indoor activities, in case it rains.
    Hand reels for the kids.
    Swimmers
    Buckets & sand toys

    We are heading off tomorrow on a camping trip. 4 women... 13 - 15 kids! Best stock up on those marshmellows!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Melbourne
    6,745

    Pots & pans, plastic plates & cutlery, waterproof lined rug to put on the ground as a play mat, chairs to sit on around the fire, newspaper to light a campfire with, torches, lots of warm clothes for night time.

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber & MPM

    Feb 2007
    Melbourne
    5,462

    You might find this thread helpful: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...Camping-Thread

  7. #7
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2006
    Winter is coming
    5,000

    The sealable container for dirty dishes/rubbish is a good idea. One time we went camping and a possum came into the veranda part of the tent during the night and crapped on our plates!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Adelaide
    1,741

    Thanks so much ladies, I forgot about torches. Sealed container is a great idea.

    This time we aren't going near a river/beach which might be a good thing! Don't need to worry about them near the water as well as everything else!

    Glad to know we don't need to take too much to entertain them as I wasn't planning on it and if the weather is bad we will probably go home. We're planning on taking bikes, colouring gear and buckets for collectinglus having friends their age helps

  9. #9
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736

    We take very little for the kids - they ramble off on their own, especially if there are other kids there.
    My first aid kit is extensive. We are often dealing with grazes, splinters etc.

    We use a lot of water because we use it to wash dishes, wash hands, and drink. Our jerry lasts a weekend roughly.

    Food - pancakes you can prepare the dry ingredients and add the wet. Even milk powder, so only water and egg. Mash a banana and you have banana pikelets!
    Milk powder tastes better than UHT milk IMHO, so i take that.
    We eat our normal breakfasts and lunches, and then usually BBQ type food over the fire for dinner.

    Put off going to the shops at all costs! You'd be surprised what you can do without, or make something else work.