First time going camping?
Then you’ll be in for a wonderful time!
What can be better than hiking through woodlands or canyons, fishing or kayaking along streams, creeks, lakes and rivers, or sitting by a roaring campfire under a star-filled sky at night?
Getting at one with nature is a fantastic experience, but it can seem a daunting one for the novice too. At least when it comes to organising all the things to take with you.
But don’t worry we’ve got you covered!
In the list below we outline 19 things you need for a fantastic camping trip. It is not an exhaustive or definitive list, but it covers many of the essentials for shelter, cooking and relaxation.
Take all of these things with you and your getaway should be a lot less stress-free!
Shelter
During your camping experience, you are going to need somewhere to set aside all your belongings, relax in comfort and of course sleep. To do this you will need the following:
Tent
If you are going camping, a tent is the first thing you should think about procuring.
The kind of tent you buy will depend on factors like how many people will be with you, the level of comfort you are after and of course how much you want to spend.
When it comes to tents you definitely get what you pay for, so it is worth investing a little more into one that will provide you with what you are looking for.
For a first time camper, we recommend buying a good quality pop up tent. These inflate in a matter of seconds and will save you a lot of time, and potentially the frustration, you would feel if you struggled to manually set one up.
The other thing to note when it comes to tents is that size matters! Be sure not to get one that is neither too small nor too big. Not enough space can be a real issue when you are camping, while too much space can represent a waste of money.
That said, it is probably better to err on the side of too much space, than not enough.
If you decide to get a manual set-up tent you will also need to bring with you a mallet to easily knock the pegs in as well as spare poles, rope and pegs.
Camping Chairs
Camping chairs are easy to overlook, but they are well worth the investment as you are going to need somewhere to sit during your time away. Especially at night when you won’t be venturing out and about as much.
A sturdy fold up chair is very important, as you will need somewhere comfortable to relax after a full day of adventure. However, unless you plan to go camping regularly it’s probably not worth getting an expensive top-of-the-range chair.
Instead, try to find a good quality one that is lightweight and can be easily carried around with you. That way you can take it with you to the beach, lake, a picnic spot or any other open space you go to.
Tables
A table is another ‘must bring’ item.
Not only will you need it for eating you can also use it for things like playing cards or board games, using your laptop, or putting your books or radio on it.
The dimensions of the table you choose are again dependent on how many people are in your group, the size of your tent and the cost. But try not to get something that will take up too much room in your camping set-up.
Irrespective of which table you get, bringing a table cloth for it might also be a good idea too.
Bedding
Unless you plan to sleep on the ground, you will definitely need somewhere to lay your head.
Whether that is an air mattress, or a sleeping bag is entirely up to you. But regardless of which one you choose we highly recommend you pay a little more for a good quality one.
If you decide on an air mattress you will need to also bring an air pump with you, as well of course as pillows, bed sheets and blankets.
Should the thought of pumping up an air mattress fill you with dread you could always try a self-inflating mattress. While these take the hard work away from you, it’s worth noting they do tend to take up more space.
Sleeping bags are a good alternative option as they don’t take up much space. They also have the added benefit – if you get one that completely unzips – of being able to be used as a blanket elsewhere as well.
Lighting
Lighting is something that is easy to forget about when planning for your first camping experience but is crucial to have.
At night it gets dark and without proper lighting, you will be fumbling blindly around your tent!
There are lots of lighting options available to you, but before you go out and purchase something it is worth checking if you will have power at your campsite, as this should have an impact on what you buy.
Even if you know you have an electric hook up, it is worth setting up sufficient lighting for a non-powered site just in case of a power cut.
If you can try and get a light that can be battery powered as well as run with electricity. It’s also worth having battery-operated torches and headlamps on hand too.
Kitchen and Cooking
Whilst many campgrounds have an excellent range of kitchen camps onsite it is worth bringing some of your own cooking facilities too.
There is nothing worse than having to queue for ages to get to the stove tops, or worse still finding they aren’t operational. Sometimes you are just too tired to lug all your stuff up to the central kitchen too.
With that in mind try to bring the following:
Portable Fridge/Esky
If you can, it is actually a pretty good idea to bring both. But certainly, a portable fridge is a very handy thing to have to keep all your food items.
You will need of course to power it with electricity, or solar panels, but if you are able to do this you will have the peace of mind that your food will be kept cold and fresh during the entire length of your stay.
An esky is handy to have if you don’t have a fridge and will do just as good a job if constantly packed with ice. If you do have a fridge, you can also take your esky with you for picnics during the course of your day.
Portable Stove/BBQ
Most campgrounds have BBQs and camp kitchens for you to use. But if you plan to visit a more primitive site, then the chances are there won’t be any cooking facilities available. For this reason, it’s worth carrying a portable stove and/or BBQ with you.
When searching for a portable stove try to find a two-burner stove as this will allow you to cook meals, or boil water for tea or coffee.
If you bring a portable stove or BBQ with you that is not powered by electricity, you will also need to bring a gas cylinder (check the levels before you go!) and safety matches to get it going.
Cookware & Utensils
If you are going to bring a stove top with you then you will need something to cook in. So be sure to remember to bring at least one frying pan and saucepan with you.
You can bring the cookware you have at home, but it’s probably a better idea to get a cheap set from a department store like K Mart or BCF.
Also be sure to bring utensils like tongs, cutting knives, flippers, spatulas, can openers and vegetable peelers with you to help with the food preparation and serving.
Plates, Bowls. Cutlery & Mugs
Having gone to the effort of cooking you will also need something to eat with and off.
Therefore be sure to bring enough plates, bowls, cutlery and mugs with you for everyone at your party. This will make it much easier to enjoy your meals!
It is actually probably a good idea to bring a spare set of each, just in case something breaks or gets lost.
Kettle
A kettle is very important, not just for being able to make tea or coffee, but also to prepare meals like soups and pot noodles.
In addition, you can sterilise water for drinking by boiling it first too.
Glad Wrap/Tin Foil/Reusable Containers
For leftover food, it is a very good idea to bring glad wrap, tin foil and reusable containers with you.
That way you can keep it in your esky or fridge and not have to throw it away.
If you can, to save yourself some space, try and get collapsible containers.
Miscellaneous
As well to the items covered in the shelter, and kitchen and cooking, sections there are a number of other items that are well worth taking with you on your first camping trip.
This includes the following:
Water Bottles
For every individual in your group, it is important they all have a large water bottle with them.
It is crucial to remain hydrated, especially during the heat of the day, when you are out exploring.
Just remember, when filled with water these bottles do become heavy. So try to strike the right balance between finding something easy to carry, that will also keep your thirst sufficiently quenched.
Toilet Paper
It’s always worth bringing toilet paper with you because you just never know when nature might call.
There is also nothing worse than finding a toilet that has run out of paper, or features paper so thin you end up ripping it with your touch.
In addition, toilet paper can double up as tissues, or paper towels as well.
First Aid Kit
Be sure to have a full first aid kit for you to prepare for every eventuality. This includes the likes of plasters, bandages, antiseptic creams, burn creams, pain relief tablets and tweezers.
You just never know when you might need to cover up that sore, sterilise a wound or remove a splinter.
If you don’t bring a kit with you, these items can be very difficult to find when you are in a remote area.
Toiletries
If you are planning on showering – and frankly we highly recommend you do if you are able to – then you will need to bring some toiletries with you.
Be sure to pack the shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste and brush and deodorant with you. Otherwise, you could really regret not doing so come your second or third day at camp.
Towels
As well as your toiletries you will also need to bring towels with you.
Be sure you have enough for everyone, and if you plan to go swimming or sunbathing it is also worth bringing separate towels for the beach or pool too.
Hand Sanitiser
Even before Covid, brought to the fore the importance of regularly cleaning your hands, campers always brought hand sanitiser with them.
Nature may be a lot of fun to be around, but it can also cause you real sickness if you don’t regularly sanitise your hands.
Entertainment
For all the fantastic opportunities you will have to enjoy nature, you will definitely need to have some downtime too during your camping experience – especially at night.
With this in mind don’t forget to bring something to entertain yourself. This could include everything from books and playing cards to a musical instrument or an electronic device.
Whatever you bring will help to pass the time, otherwise, you could find yourself staving off small bouts of boredom.
So there you have it, our list of 19 things you need for a fantastic camping trip.
Why not bookmark this page to make the planning of your forthcoming getaway a little less stressful?