What to Pack for Camping: The Australian Camping Checklist
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Everyone has a story about the thing they forgot. The tent poles. The can opener. The gas bottle that was empty. A good checklist doesn’t make you a better camper, but it stops small mistakes from ruining a weekend.
This list is built around Aussie conditions: heat, flies, sudden storms, cold desert nights and long gaps between shops. It suits a normal car or 4WD camping trip. Going properly remote? Read our first outback trip checklist as well, because water, fuel and comms planning get more serious out there.
Tip: copy this list into your phone notes and tick it off each trip. After a few trips you’ll cross off what you never use and add what you missed.
Shelter
- Tent, swag or rooftop tent, with poles, pegs and guy ropes. Check everything is in the bag.
- Spare pegs, including sand pegs for beach trips
- Mallet or peg hammer
- Groundsheet or footprint
- Tarp and extra rope for shade or rain
- Gazebo or awning, if you have one
- Small dustpan and brush for the tent floor
Never set up a new tent for the first time at camp. Practise in the backyard. Our tent setup for beginners guide walks you through it.
Sleeping
- Sleeping bag rated for the conditions. Desert and highland nights get cold, even in summer.
- Mattress, self-inflating mat or stretcher
- Pump if you use an air mattress, plus a puncture repair kit
- Pillow
- Beanie and thermals for cold nights
- Earplugs and an eye mask
Cold is the most common reason first-timers have a bad night. Our sleeping warm guide explains ratings and mats.
Camp kitchen
- Stove and a full gas bottle, plus a spare cartridge or a checked bottle level
- Lighter and matches, kept in a zip bag
- Pots, frypan and a kettle or billy
- Plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery
- Sharp knife, chopping board, tongs, spatula and can opener
- Fridge or esky, with ice or ice bricks
- Dry food tubs that seal, to keep out ants and wildlife
- Washing-up tub, biodegradable detergent, sponge and tea towels
- Rubbish and recycling bags
- Paper towel and wet wipes
- Coffee setup. Don’t forget it.
See our camp kitchen and food storage guide for layout tips and the esky vs fridge question.
Water
- Drinking water. A common rule of thumb is at least 5 litres per person per day for drinking and cooking, more in heat. Carry extra on remote trips.
- Water jerry cans or a tank
- Collapsible bucket for washing up
- Water filter or treatment tablets if you might use creek or tank water
Our camping water guide covers storage and treatment.
Furniture and comfort
- Camp chairs
- Table
- Shade: awning, gazebo or tarp
- Doormat for the tent entrance
- Clothesline and pegs
- Fly net and insect repellent. The flies are no joke in a lot of Australia.
Lighting and power
- Headtorch for each person, plus spare batteries or a charging plan
- Lantern or strip lights for camp
- Power bank, cables and a car charger
- Portable power station, dual battery or solar if you’re running a fridge
- Extension leads if you’re on a powered site
Clothing
Pack in layers, because Australian days can swing from hot to cold fast.
- Wide-brim hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Long-sleeve shirt for sun and bugs
- Warm jacket or fleece, even in summer
- Rain jacket
- Thongs or camp shoes, plus enclosed shoes or boots for walking
- Swimmers and a quick-dry towel
- Spare socks, which are always more than you think
First aid and safety
- First aid kit, checked and topped up
- Personal medications and a few days’ extra
- Snake bandages. Pressure immobilisation is the standard first aid for snake bites in Australia, so learn how to use them.
- Sunburn gel and antihistamines
- Fire extinguisher and fire blanket
- UHF radio, plus a PLB or satellite messenger for remote trips
- Offline maps downloaded
Learn first aid properly, not just from a kit. See our remote first aid guide.
Vehicle and recovery
For 4WD and outback trips:
- Tyre gauge, deflator and compressor
- Recovery boards, snatch strap and rated soft shackles
- Long-handled shovel
- Basic tools, cable ties and duct tape
- Spare tyre, checked
- Jack and base plate
Toiletries and hygiene
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap
- Toilet paper, plus a trowel or a portable toilet if there are no facilities
- Hand sanitiser
- Personal hygiene products
- Microfibre towel
Bury toilet waste properly or carry it out where required. See our Leave No Trace guide.
The things people forget
This is the list of things that ruin trips:
- Tent poles and pegs
- Gas, or a lighter that works
- Can opener and bottle opener
- Head torches
- Phone charger cables
- Toilet paper
- Rubbish bags
- Sunscreen
- Your camping booking details or permit
- A plan for the dog, if it’s coming. Check whether pets are allowed, as national parks often don’t allow them.
Before you leave home
- Check the weather and fire danger rating for where you’re going
- Check park alerts and road closures
- Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
- Freeze water bottles to use as ice and drinking water
- Pack the car with heavy items low and forward. See our 4WD packing guide.
Extras by trip type
Beach trips: sand pegs, a shade shelter rated for wind, a sand-free mat, a rinse bottle for feet and salty gear, and a plan for tides if you’re driving on sand.
Winter trips: a warmer sleeping bag, an insulated mat, a hot water bottle, gloves, extra gas (gas performs worse in the cold) and dry firewood if fires are allowed.
Summer trips: more water than you think, plenty of shade, a good fly net, electrolytes, and a plan for total fire ban days, which means a stove that’s allowed under the local rules.
Trips with kids: a few favourite toys, glow sticks for night, a kids’ headtorch, spare clothes (lots), and familiar snacks. Our camping with kids checklist has the full list.
Trips with a dog: lead, water bowl, food, poo bags, bedding and tick prevention, plus a check that dogs are allowed where you’re going.
Final word
You don’t need the fanciest gear to have a good trip. You need the basics, a plan and a checklist you actually use. Start with this one, then make it your own.
