First time camping? Here’s what you need to think about

So you’ve decided to go camping for the first time. Congrats! There’s a whole world of adventure out there waiting for you. Being comfortable with camping comes with experience and you’ll learn a lot as you go. But to get you started, here are the absolute basics you’ll need to consider for your very first camping adventure.

Location

The first thing you’ll want to do is find out any basic info about where you’re camping. Some things you might like to find out are: Where is the campground? Is it tent-only sites where you walk in, or can you drive onto your site? Is it a caravan park or a bush camping site? What amenities such as toilets, showers, BBQs, power or water do they have? Do you need to book in advance, or can you just turn up? Is there phone reception? Do you need to arrive by a certain time? What is the weather like in the area you’re visiting?

Knowing all these bits of information will help you get prepared and know what to bring with you. Even if your mates have booked it and assured you that they’ve got it under control, it’s good to be self-sufficient and know what you need. If you’re in the process of searching for a suitable campsite, some of the above questions might help you narrow down your search. Wiki Camps is an excellent resource for filtering and finding campsites to explore.

Shelter

Now that you know where you’re going, it’s time to sort out your shelter and what you’ll sleep in.  Some options here could be a tent, a swag, a car or van, an RV or a caravan. All of these have different pros and cons, from how expensive they are to how easy they are to set up to how much space they have. It’s up to you to decide what you need.

For your first time camping, I’d recommend borrowing or hiring this equipment because it’s usually quite expensive and you won’t know what gear you’ll like until you try it. You may not even like camping at all (although I have a hunch you will). Reach out to your friends to borrow a tent or perhaps throw a mattress in your car or bunk in with some mates in their caravan for your first go.

Shelter isn’t just for where you sleep either. If it’s forecast to rain, you might want to pack a tarp, see if there are undercover cooking areas or get someone to bring an awning so you have a communal space outside to hang out. You might also check if your campervan has an indoor table-style set-up for dinner and cards.

Water

At home, water comes from a tap, but that’s not necessarily the case with camping. Some places have drinking water on tap, some have non-drinking water available in a tank or creek that needs to be treated first, and other places have no water access at all. Check if drinking or non-drinking water is available and if not, you’ll need to bring enough to drink, cook and wash for your whole trip. I’d recommend at least 5 litres per person per day if there’s no water source at all.

Food

Cooking at camp is much like cooking at home. You don’t have to eat baked beans or dehydrated meals just because you’re camping (although you can if you really want). What you cook might depend on if you have access to a fridge or esky to keep things cold, but otherwise, you can make anything you want.

You’ll need to make sure you have something to cook on and with. This might be a gas cooker or an open fire along with suitable pots and pans and utensils. If you’re taking a gas cooker, make sure you pack the gas as well. You’ll need something for cleaning as well like dishwashing liquid, a bucket, a scrubber and maybe a tea towel. All those things we take for granted at home.

My go-to meals when camping are: wraps for lunch, oats, pancakes or bacon and eggs for breakfast, and I like pesto pasta with feta and tomato for an easy dinner, or one pot dishes filled with canned tomatoes, veg and maybe some chorizo if I’m feeling a little fancier.

Warmth

You’re fed and watered and safe in your shelter, now it’s time to make sure you stay warm. Even if you’re camping in summer, some places can cool right off at night so know the temperatures before you go.

A good rule for staying warm when it comes to clothing is to wear layers that can be added on or removed as the temperature changes. Something light underneath, thermals if it’s really cold, a fleece or wool layer, and a jacket and jumper just in case. Make sure you pack something warm for your feet too. In the depths of winter, I like to take my hot water bottle to keep the chill away.

It’s important your bedding is suited to the weather too. Aside from being uncomfortable, inflatable air mattresses can be really cold because you’re pressed right up against a pillow of cold air all night. Look for mattresses with insulation and make sure you have enough blankets or a warm enough rated sleeping bag to keep you toasty through the night. And don’t forget a pillow. Folding up your jumper to sleep on is never as comfortable as it seems.

Light

Don’t rely on your phone as a source of light. It’s okay in a pinch but for a few reasons, I always use a head torch. The batteries last longer, you can keep your hands free to do other things like cook or brush your teeth, and you’re less likely to drop and lose it in the dark. You might also consider some ambient camp lighting for common areas too if you can’t have a fire. There’s nothing worse than blinding everyone across the card game circle with your headtorch.

Waste

Not all campgrounds will have bins, so make sure you bring a bucket or bag and come prepared to take any and all waste with you. The same goes for toilet waste. Not every campground has toilet amenities, so you need to be prepared with your own chemical toilet or have a good understanding of what not to do when using the bush loo. 

Activities

All the (fun) chores around camp will likely keep you occupied, but it’s good to bring some things to entertain you just in case. I like taking books, card games, binoculars, swimmers, walking shoes and a camera. It’s always good to have the option to do outdoor and indoor activities just in case the weather turns.

First aid and safety

As you’re often away from main town centres when you camp, be prepared with any first-aid equipment you may need. Pack a basic first aid kit with a snake bandage, any medications you regularly take, insect repellant and sunscreen, and make sure you always let someone know where you’re going and when you’re due back. 

Just embrace it

My last piece of advice is to embrace being out of your comfort zone. You might get dirty, dusty, smell like fire, run out of gas, be cold at night, get sand in your food, hear weird animal noises and forget something important (hello pillow). But congratulations, this is camping! Amongst the chaos, take the time to stop and soak in how lucky you are and how beautiful the nature around you is. I have an inkling you’ll want to go again and again and again.