Campers' packing checklist

The Essentials

Camping is not about having the latest gear, but having what suits you and your own camping style. There is however, a minimum amount of equipment you need to pack to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping getaway.

It is a good idea to create your own camping checklist by adapting the information provided here to your individual needs.

The Basics

While quantities may vary according to the size of your tent, the length of your trip and the number of people in your group, your basic camping kit will comprise the following items:

  • Tent, fly, tarp and spares
  • Tent pegs, poles, ropes, spares and hammer
  • Portable lights or lantern
  • Fold-up table and Chairs
  • Large (for storage) and Small water container (for personal use)
  • Picnic rug or similar

All your camping gear should be checked before you leave. Clean it and check it again upon your return.Store all the equipment together, so when it's time to go again it is already packed and easily accounted for, saving you time and hassles.

Sleeping Gear

  • Sleeping bag, bed roll, stretcher, fold-up bed, air bed or mattress
  • Linen, Blankets or doona pillows and Bedclothes

Cooking Equipment

You don't need much cooking equipment. Most of your camp cooking and food preparation can be done using a simple kit:

  • Portable stove& standincluding grill or hotplate
  • Pots, Saucepans, Billy and Plates and bowls
  • Cutlery & Crockery
  • Utensils - long fork, large slotted spoon and tongs
  • Can and bottle opener
  • Toast holder
  • Waterproof matches

Fireplace for cooking

Firewood and Fire starters

Barbeque cleaning equipment

Campfire tripod

Axe and Extra matches

Note some areas don't permit fires, restrictions on the collection of firewood. Note total fire bans days

Cleaning up afterwards:

Bucket or Portable sink

Tea towel or Paper towels

Scourers and Disposable wipes

Detergent -biodegradable

Plastic bags or garbage bags.

Personal hygiene and toiletries

Your basics needs should be:

  • Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Toothbrush and Towels,
  • Thongs (for showering)
  • Toilet paper

In remote locations you may consider:

  • Portable shower andtoilet
  • Portable washing machine

Clothing

In addition to your normal clothes, you should consider taking:

  • Regular footwear and Boots for bushwalking
  • Rain gear, hat and spare clothing to kept dry
  • Light long-sleeved shirt - sun protection
  • Cold-weather clothing

Safety gear

Safety is paramount. On any camping trip, it is important to pack these essential safety items and have them at the ready:

  • Torch
  • Spare batteries for all appliances
  • Mobile phone
  • Mobile-phone car charger
  • Maps
  • Fire blanket
  • First aid kit
  • Compass

While you might think you don't need maps for navigation, it is important to have maps on hand. Road maps can help you explain where you have broken down. Bushwalking or topographic maps will help you if you get lost in the bush.

A fire-extinguisher is a vital part of your safety equipment, especially if you own a caravan.

For full details of what your first aid kit must contain, refer to Camping first aid

How to pack your 4WD

Trim the load to a bare minimum

Packing a 4WD for a big trip is quite an art and one that definitely improves with practice. However the vital thing to remember is to trim the load to a bare minimum before you begin packing. Don't fall into the trap of throwing more things in 'in case' you need them just because there's room left over.

The lighter the load, the less the strain on the vehicle. That means better fuel economy, less chance of breakdowns, less chance of flat tyres and tyre wear. Less load also means less time spent packing and unpacking every day.And if you intend travelling up beaches, across deserts or through forests, every kilogram you save reduces your chances of getting bogged. Remember, most vehicle recovery operations in the bush start by unpacking the vehicle to lighten the load!

Essential items

So sensible packing starts with the essential items like vehicle spares, tools and recovery equipment. After that, consider your navigational aids - good maps (packed in water proof bags or containers), a compass, GPS and EPIRB beacon if they are required. For any trip within Australia, water is an essential. However don't rely on one container or on-board water tank, it's too easy for a tank to be punctured or water contaminated. Each person should carry a good sized water bottle close at hand and be responsible for filling it every chance they get in addition to the containers you've packed in the back.

Spare fuel and LPG gas bottles should never be carried within the vehicle itself due to the risks of explosion and fire. They are best mounted on a purpose-built rack on the back of the vehicle.

Most people carry far more camping equipment than they really need.

Analyse your gear and take just one of everything. Essentials should include plenty of lighters and fire starters - a good fire can make any camp comfortable - a couple of decent sized tarps or plastic sheets and some spare lengths of rope. Something to sit on and shade or protection from the rain is invaluable when you're travelling.

Carry your sleeping bags and the few clothes you're taking, (remembering that laundromats are more popular than banks in the country these days) in soft bags. They can double as pillows and soft packing during the day and squeezed into awkward spaces.

Always carry some reserves of food and it's certainly worth packing essential condiments and basics like tea, coffee and sugar in plastic containers before you leave. However, while it might cost a little more to shop for your groceries locally in small country towns, it's definitely recommended. This is your chance to soak up the local atmosphere, ask questions about your intended route and take advantage of locally grown vegetables and fruit. Liquids should be packed inside containers that won't leak in the event of a breakage and care should be taken with anything in glass, wrapping jars in tea towels or wedging them between the toilet rolls.

When packing an off-road vehicle, it's essential to keep the centre of gravity as low and as close to the axles as possible. That means putting all the heavy stuff - recovery gear, tools and spares - in first, graduating to the lighter equipment on the top. If you're using a roof rack, use it for the lightest stuff and only sparingly. Cargo barriers in station wagon style vehicles are recommended. Off-road travel means plenty of bumps and odd angles so at the very least take advantage of the tie down hooks and use an elastic trailer net or some rope to secure your load.

The last thing you should pack is a comprehensive first aid kit, a fire-extinguisher, suntan lotion, a hat and some insect repellent. Know where those things are so you can find them quickly and easily.

Vehicle Packing checklist

Vehicle spares:

  • fan/alternator belts
  • radiator hoses
  • spark plugs (petrols)
  • fuel filter and engine oil and gear oil
  • brake/clutch fluid and power steering oil
  • two spare wheels (for outback/remote travel)

Handy spares:

  • tie wire, electrical (zip) ties and gaffer tape
  • variety of spare hose clamps
  • insulation tapespool of insulated electrical wire
  • strip of wiring connectors
  • some 12 gauge welding rods
  • tubeless tyre repair kit (if applicable) and tyre valves

Vehicle tools:

  • spanner and socket set to suit your vehicle
  • shifting spanners,vice grip pliers
  • screwdrivers and allen keys
  • 12 volt check lighttrouble light (or torch)
  • hammer and chisel
  • battery jumper leads,tyre gauge

Basic recovery equipment:

  • vehicle's jack and wheel spanner
  • long throw jack or air bag jack
  • 2 x snatch straps, 4 x shackles
  • hand winch,leather gloves
  • shovel,axe
  • 12 volt compressor or tyre pump
  • flat wooden plank or similar for jacking platform

Camping equipment:

  • tent, swag, groundsheet
  • plastic tarps and sleeping bags
  • gas stove and/or BBQ plate
  • cooking equipment (including a billy)
  • firelighting gear
  • tin/plastic mugs and plates
  • camp stools or seats
  • esky or car fridge
  • bucket and large plastic bowl
  • plastic clip lid containers
  • cutting board and BBQ tools
  • detergent and laundry powder

Personal Items:

  • clothes (including rain gear and a good coat)
  • soap
  • towels
  • toothpaste and brush
  • hair brush
  • any medications you might need
  • sun screen
  • hat and sun glasses
  • camera and film
  • identification, driver's licence, cash and bank cards

Other essentials:

  • water in several containers
  • emergency food rations
  • spare fuel
  • spare vehicle keysinsect repellent
  • comprehensive first aid kit
  • a sense of fun and adventure.

4WD recovery kit

Despite what the four-wheel drive advertisements would have you believe there are times when the going gets tough even for the best off-road wagons.

They can even get stuck occasionally - and if you’re out in the middle of nowhere, this can turn into a serious, and potentially dangerous, situation. Here’s a guide to the right gear and techniques to get you out of trouble.

Isn’t a 4WD supposed to be unstoppable?

  • No. A four-wheel drive usually gets stuck for exactly the same reason as a car - it loses the traction required to get the engine’s power to the ground. This can happen on sand, mud, clay, gravel or ice.
  • Despite a four-wheel drive’s high ground clearance, it can become stuck on a rock, or a ridge, if the suspension travel is inadequate to keep the wheels in contact with the track.
  • On steep climbs and descents, particularly if the track is wet or slippery, a surface such as clay can sometimes provide no grip at all. In this case, gravity takes over and the vehicle can simply slide down the hill.
  • A slope of 30 degrees is about the maximum that any four-wheel drive will climb on a non-bitumen, dry surface.
  • A deep creek crossing can see the engine’s air intake ingest water instead, instantly stopping the engine.

How do I avoid getting stranded in the first place?

  • This is an excellent question to ask yourself before you charge up or down that challenging hill. If you’re in any doubt about your ability to do it, look for an easier alternative. Humility is less inconvenient than overconfidence.
  • Travelling with another vehicle is recommended. If one gets stuck, the other can at least go and find some help, or get everyone back to civilisation.
  • Learn the limitations of your vehicle and how its 4WD system works. The best way to do this is on a four-wheel-driving course in a supervised, controlled environment. You will also learn the correct techniques for driving on different surfaces.
  • If you do get stuck, don’t try to get out by simply revving the engine harder and hoping. All you’ll do is dig the wheels deeper into the mire.

What basic equipment should I take to help me get out of trouble?

  • The good old shovel is the first item for any recovery kit. If you get bogged, a bit of spadework in front of each wheel to clear a ramp is often all that’s required to get you mobile.
  • In many off-road situations, the standard jack may be inadequate. You should at least have a metal or thick timber base plate, which the jack sits on so it is stable when changing a tyre on soft surfaces. This should ideally be 300-500 mm square.
  • A pair of tough, leather, rigger’s gloves, available for less than $20 from large hardware stores, will protect your hands when doing recovery work in the bush. They’re also good protection against burns when messing about with a campfire or cooking utensils.

What’s a snatchem strap?

  • This is an inexpensive, simple recovery tool, invented in the 1980s, which is great for quick, easy extraction when you’re stuck - as long as there’s another vehicle to pull you out. Prices start at about $50, from any 4WD accessory store.
  • It’s made of thick seat-belt-webbing type material, usually 10-15 metres long, with a reinforced loop at each end. Before using it, you need to make sure than both vehicles have proper anchor points (usually a hook on the front and/or rear of the chassis.) These need to be substantial and solid, because if the tension generated by a snatchem strap breaks a loose or flimsy anchor it turns into a missile.
  • When the strap is connected, you start your engine and engage second gear, in low range. As the towing vehicle drives forward, taking up the slack, you release the clutch and give the engine a moderate rev when the strap becomes taut. The strong elastic action of the strap as it recoils will, in most cases, pull you out.
  • Make sure all your passengers are out of the car and standing well away, preferably at 90 degrees to the line of recovery.

What about an Hi-Lift Off-road vehicle jack?

  • These can also be worthwhile, both for convenience and to extract yourself from some situations.
  • The exhaust jack is basically a heavy-duty inflatable bag, made of rubber or a similar synthetic compound. You slip the inflator tube over the exhaust, start the engine and the bag lifts the car.
  • The high-lift jack uses a mechanical ratchet action, working a lug up a long steel bar, to raise the vehicle higher than a normal jack does.
  • Both types of jack need care. In both cases, you must ensure that you don’t raise the vehicle beyond the point of stability. As with any jack, never get underneath the vehicle when it is raised.
  • You can use these jacks for several purposes, including raising the vehicle to fill deep holes dug by the wheels, basic wheel replacement and, with a long handled shovel, clearing rocks or other debris from underneath.

Do I need a winch?

  • That depends, but the most important thing to realise is that winching can be extremely dangerous if done incorrectly. Having two and a half tonnes hanging from a tensioned wire cable requires expertise to be done safely. Again, a four-wheel drive course is the place to learn.
  • A winch can get you out of trouble if you have no other vehicle to help. There are three types: hand operated, power take-off (driven mechanically or hydraulically by the engine) and electric. The latter two are usually mounted on the front of the chassis, or the bullbar. A simple hand winch will cost a few hundred dollars; a heavy-duty power winch can cost several thousand.
  • Winches come in various load capacities. You also need several accessories. A sling, usually made of snatchem strap type webbing, wraps around a tree as an anchor point. Shackles are D shaped metal connectors, which join the various winching apparatus. Snatch blocks are pulleys, through which you can run the winch cable to increase the pulling capacity of the winch.
  • Of course, if you have nowhere to anchor the winch, it’s useless. You can make an anchor out of star pickets, logs or a spare wheel sunk into the ground, but this is pretty extreme stuff and, like the whole subject of winching techniques, is best learned from a professional.

Guide to driving in the outback

Before the trip

The outback is a remote wilderness, where travellers tend to feel more like adventurers and explorers. But there are certain hazards you need to be aware of when travelling through the outback and various precautions should be taken before setting out. We've answered your most frequent questions to help you get the most out of your outback trip.

When should I travel?

It's important to plan ahead to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Weather is an important factor when planning outback travel. From central Australia , north to Katherine, there is no 'wet' season. But in summer, daytime temperatures can rise to more than 40°C. During winter, days are warm and there are sharp drops in temperature at night. Light rainfall can occur any time.

Further north you'll find distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season usually lasts from April to November, with very little rain. During the wet season - December to March - many of the roads become channels of mud and the days are unbearably hot and humid, with thunderstorms and downpours. You need to be well-prepared to tackle the remote far north of Australia in the wet season.

What should I pack?