Do you ever dream about camping or a recreational vehicle but don't know where to start?

"I have so many memories of exploring Australia and travelling with many friends. At the time I thought it was normal and that's what everyone did. I reflect back now feeling that I had a very blessed childhood. Thank you for nurturing the passion for exploring, adventure, the love of nature and travelling".

The above quote is from our daughter Krystol who was infected by our enthusiasm and now shares a passion for adventure with her own family of five. I think this quote really captures the essence of what camping is all about and why it has a magnetism for adventurers that keeps taking them back.

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.

Camping offers such an amazing connection with nature including feelings of awe and wonder. Camping in the great outdoors is a formative experience for kids.

So, you've got the curiosity and now want to get started.

OK, let’s break it down into bite sized chunks.

Firstly, this post only attempts to provide an overview of camping. Section 12 of this post, Tips & Insights, provides links to other Australia Through & Through resources which have lots of detail. Other posts in this blog under 'Expedition Trip Notes' provide lots of options on destinations. Overall, you get the whole kit and caboodle.

In this overview of camping we will look at:

1. Categories of camping;

2. General Tips to prepare for your first camping trip;

3. Try before you buy;

4. The most important issues;

5. Camping with a tent;

6. Camping with a Camper Trailer;

7. Camping with a Caravan;

8. Camping with a Slide On Camper;

9. Camping with a Camper Van or Motorhome;

10. Camping on touring trips with just you car (incl roof top tents);

11. Advanced camping - remote destinations;

12. Camping Tips & Insights.

1. Categories of camping:

This post is written in the context of family camping trips with a vehicle. In that context, there are the following categories of camping:

Categories of camping by Campground Type:

• Camping in commercial camp grounds or caravan parks: caravan parks may include lots of facilities for kids such as water park, jumping pillow, TV room, playground and could be next to a beach. They are usually in a stunning location and near civilisation. They typically have a communal camp kitchen with powered & unpowered sites. Tents can also use the powered sites;

• Semi remote camping: such as National Park campgrounds with a back to nature experience in a stunning location with lots of wildlife. These sites may have high standard toilets & showers or just a pit toilet. This type of camping has much more space between you and the next campsite and such sites often allow camp fires;

• Remote camping: (aka Bush camping or off grid camping) where the camp site is remote, there are no facilities and you are entirely self sufficient. These sites will also be in a stunning location with lots of wildlife.

Categories of camping by Mode (tent or recreational vehicle):

• Camping with a tent;

• Camping with a roof top tent;

• Camping with a camper trailer;

• Camping with a caravan;

• Camping with a slide on camper;

• Camping with a camper van or motorhome;

Categories of camping by Destination:

• Base camp camping: this is where you are based at the one site for the duration of the trip. Adventuring is done by day trips or you may just stay at the base camp most of the time;

• Touring camping: a touring adventure is where you are on the move and may camp at multiple sites, possibly even a different site every night. If you get really adventurous you may even consider a 4WD which will expand your horizons. If you buying a 4WD see our YouTube video on 10 things you need to know about buying a 4WD

2. General Tips to prepare for your first camping trip:

• Plan and research: research where you want to go and what you want to do. There is a plethora of options throughout this great country. Other posts in this blog under 'Expedition Trip Notes' provide lots of options on destinations which cover the very best of Australia. There would also be plenty of destinations close to your home and you could start with Government tourism websites. Planning a trip can be one of the most exciting parts of the holiday. After all, your adventure begins the moment you decide to go;

• Go with an experienced camper: If possible, go with an experienced camper for your first time. If not, you will find other campers are very happy to discuss camping tips, where they have been and where they are going;

• Camping with others: most of the posts in this blog are from trips camping with family groups or groups or friends or both. This can be some of the richest camping experiences;

• Starting with a recreational vehicle: if you start your camping adventures with an RV, there are lots to choose from and very different types. This post provides an overview of the pros & cons of each;

• Buy quality gear: good reliable gear will give you a better experience and save you money in the long run;

• Start off at a commercial campground: ideally near a town where you may feel more comfortable with the surrounding infrastructure including access to a camping store plus you can always eat out;

• Camping with kids: make the first trip a positive experience such as a campground with lots of facilities for kids such as water park, jumping pillow, playground and maybe located next to a beach;

• Different gear for different trips: The gear you have for a family holiday, where you are camped in one spot for the whole time, is different gear than if you were on a touring adventure camping at a different site every night;

• Test all your equipment: Try everything out in your backyard first. You don’t want to be trying to put up a new tent for the first time when you arrive at your campsite. Maybe even camp overnight in your back yard;

• Use checklists: checklists will help you get all your gear together for each trip and allow you to leave home with peace of mind. We learnt the hard way when I left all the sleeping bags at home. I have been using checklists ever since;

• Book ahead: camping is now more popular than ever. In school holidays and long weekends campgrounds will usually fill up months ahead of time. Using apps like Wiki Camps allows you to read reviews on each park to help you choose;

• Stay close to home: Don’t travel too far from home on your first trip which will also allow you to arrive early with plenty of time for your first set up;

• Continuous improvement: it will take several trips to get things just right. In fact, you probably never stop incrementally improving your set up. Don't worry about making mistakes, it's the best way to learn;

• Pack light. Buy the minimum amount of gear, just the essentials that allow you to be comfortable;

• Dog friendly: many campgrounds allow you to bring your dog but not in National Parks;

• Remote camping: is more advanced and requires the most amount of gear and provisions and may be something for later;

• Caravan & camping shows: are a great place to check out all the options;

• Start basic: you can evolve as your passion dictates. When you start buying equipment, bear in mind your gear is likely to have lots of upgrades over time.

A typical progression is starting basic with a tent, gradually improve gear and comfort. Then maybe progress to a camper trailer which also allows ease of touring adventures and then maybe progress to a caravan. On the other hand, you might just start with a recreational vehicle.

As you progress, camping gear is quite easy to buy or sell second hand.

In our case, we have used all types of camping gear over the years with a family of seven and often camped with our babies only weeks old. We have owned most options of tents, camper trailers and caravans and we now share our experience.

3. Try before you buy:

Many of the camping modes covered in this post can be rented first if you are more comfortable to try before you buy. These include:

• Tents can be rented at campgrounds that offer Glamping where you just step into a fully set up luxury camp. You can also rent tents as part of a vehicle hire that comes fully equipped with all your camping gear. This option can be combined with a fly in fly out scenario;

• Camper trailers and caravans can be rented although there is limited supply and options. You will also need an electric brake controller fitted to your car if you are towing something greater than 750kg;

• Camper vans and motor homes are most commonly rented. This can be combined with a fly in fly out scenario. You can also pick up in one location and drop off in another. For example you could pick up in Adelaide and drop off in Darwin.

Photo above shows our daughter Amanda with a Glamping experience at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. There are now many sites that offer these permanently set up campsites.

The photo above shows a 4WD from Britz in Darwin being a vehicle fully equipped with camping gear. The fridge in the back of the car pulls out and down, with a drop down fridge slide, to about waist height making it very accessible. Sue & Robert hired a Britz camper like this for our two week group trip through the Kimberley on Operation Kimberley Moon. They flew in & out of Darwin from Sydney. This camp site is at Windjana Gorge National Park in The Kimberley.

Another option to get started, is to stay in a cabin at a caravan park where you can have a good look around at everyone else's camping set up.

4. The most important issues:

In this post, I focus on the most important things to get right. The most important issues are those that have the biggest influence on your experience including the biggest impact on the ease of set up / pack up. These most important issues include:

• Shelter;

• Inclement weather & shade;

• Kitchen;

• Bedding;

• Packing the gear into your vehicle;

5. Camping in tents:

5.1 The tent:

There are some great inexpensive tent options on the market these days. Bear in mind, the family tent you choose for camping in the one spot for a week is a different tent than if you were touring with one or two days at each campsite. Also note, that a tent described as a two man tent does not mean its big enough for 2 people plus gear.

The above photo shows our family camp site at Camp Blackman, Warrumbungle National Park. We regularly camp with three generations of our family which is always a unique bonding experience. In this photo, we are camped close by with our caravan.

We still camp in tents when we explore wilderness destinations. On our trip to Cape York, Operation Pajinka, for example, we left our caravan at a Cairns caravan park and camped with our tent during our two weeks exploration of Cape York. The photo below is at our Cooktown campsite.

The photo above shows the tent we use for the two of us, being a lightweight 3 man tent that you can stand up in. This has enough room for our clothes and other overnight gear.

Modern tents have fly’s which provide a separate layer to keep the inside of your tent dry. Tents have a 'waterhead rating' which is a measure of the waterproofness of a tent. A good quality tent fly will have sealed seams and a waterhead rating from 1500 - 3000mm.

There are a lot of tents on the market to choose from. Whatever tent you choose, a priority is that it's easy to put up. Shop around and talk to several retailers about the options.

Your kids maybe of an age where they can sleep in their own two man tent and then have a small tent for the parents with an enclosure for kitchen and meals. Swags are also an option for older kids albeit a tad bulky to carry.

Carry shade cloth to put in your outdoor area floor in the event there is no grass. This will help keep your camp clean. These are sold as mats with eyelets around the edge for pegging down.

Roof top tents are covered below in section 10.

5.2 Inclement weather & shade:

Your shelter needs to allow for bad weather including a space to hunker down inside a protected enclosure. This could be a family tent with enough space for a kitchen and table inside which can be opened up in fine weather.

You could also use a gazebo next to your tent yet you will need all four attachable walls available to attach in bad weather.

Photo above show our family campsite and their solution for inclement weather and shade. These gazebos have attachable walls in the event of bad weather. This is at Camp Blackman, Warrumbungle National Park.

Your campsite needs to be protected from unexpected rain while you are out or overnight. For example, if you are using a gazebo for kitchen & dining, you may have one or two walls permanently in place as protection from any showers and wind. The other two walls can be added if the weather is particularly bad.

Even if you are camping where no rain is expected, such as northern Australia in the dry season, you will still need shade. Whatever you are using for rain protection will also provide shade.

Carry wet weather gear including footwear such as plastic garden shoes, Crocs or even small gum boots. These will make a massive difference in wet weather particularly if the campground gets a tad muddy and especially for kids.

5.3 Kitchen:

The photo above shows our daughter, Amandas's, camp kitchen at Arakoon National Park, South West Rocks NSW. This is a great example of a simple and well organised camp kitchen. Note the following:

• The shoe storage hanger she uses for kitchen wherewith-all;

• She has two walls of the gazebo attached permanently for rain & wind protection plus shade for her esky. She attaches the other two walls if the weather gets real bad;

• The bin on the back RH corner is a collapsible container with a bin liner;

• Under her stove table she has a zip up enclosure for cooking utensils;

• A 'Shoo Away' is on the table being a great solution to keep flies at bay when eating outdoors;

• Shade cloth on the ground to keep the space clean. Also note the shade cloth under the tent to keep the underside of the tent floor clean - helps with packing up. Shade cloth is best as a tarp will allow water to track under the tent and form a puddle;

• Her tent is kept small for ease of set up and uses the gazebo for the camp kitchen & dining;

• Water is stored in a cooler, with tap, sitting on small table on RH side;

• Top right she has a clothes hanger for small items of clothing & towels;

• Dining table with bench seats which takes up less space;

• Bikes can be secured at night with a small cable lock;

There is some fancy gear out there for kitchens but I find its better to keep it as simple as possible to make set up/pack up more manageable.

Start off simple with a lunch box style butane canister stove. Two burners are best which can be two singles or a double. However, don’t use an old lunch box style stove as many of these portable butane gas stoves were recalled by manufacturers in 2015, due to faulty gas shut off valves that had led to explosions. Newer lunch box style stoves are fine. The photo below is the Gasmate Travel-mate 2 which we use.

Carry the minimum cooking utensils but don't rough it too much as meals are an important social event and don't rely on a campfire for your cooking.

As an option, your butcher can vacuum pack your meat which will last longer and is better contained.

Communal Camp Kitchen option:

Most commercial campgrounds include a camp kitchen which is a weather proof area with BBQ's, sinks, refrigerator, toaster, microwave plus tables & chairs. It is an option to rely on this space for your cooking, washing up and dining.

The photo above shows the camp kitchen at Batemans Bay Beach Resort is one of the most flash camp kitchens I have seen

The photo above shows the camp kitchen at Lake Placid Caravan Park at Cairns where our group enjoyed this meal together before departing to Cape York on Operation Pajinka. This was the night before our departure into the final frontier. There was adrenaline and testosterone dripping from the roof.

Cooking on a campfire:

Whilst you cant rely on a camp fire as your only way to cook, it is one of the richest parts of the camping experience. Campfires are generally only possible in semi remote or remote camping.

A camp fire on a camping trip is a beautiful thing. The photo above is from our trip to the Simpson Desert. Operation Desert Sky. This setting is conducive to rich story telling.

Camp fire for cooking is an awesome part of the camping experience. Cooking a roast or damper in a camp oven is very memorable especially with a group all doing it together but don't feel you need to get into all this on your first trip. We were living high off the hog in this photo above, taken at Fry's Flat, the Victorian High Country on our group trip Operation Southern Cross. Marshmellows on a stick is always a favourite with kids.

See our YouTube video on Tips on camp cooking equipment:

5.4 Refrigeration and food storage:

Start off with an ice box and I suggest a performance type ice box such as the example in the photo below. These ice boxes maximise your ice life. We keep our ice in a dry bag so the melting ice does not go in the bottom of the esky. You can always progress to a 240v/12v fridge / freezer later and the ice box will still be useful for extra cooling space particularly in summer.

Non-refrigerated food needs to be kept in secure, clear, waterproof boxes to prevent animals or rain getting in.

See our YouTube video on Tips on how to use an ice box

5.5 Bedding:

We use 3.8cm thick self-inflating mats on a stretcher. We have found the best stretchers to be the ‘OZtrail Easy Fold Stretcher – Single’. These are very fast to put up, low to the ground and very comfortable. These stretchers also come in a king single and double.

If you want maximum luxury, you could consider an inflatable double bed.

The photo above shows our daughters (Tanya) family tent with this impressive inflatable double bed. The bed head is part of the inflatable. The campsite is at Dundubara, K'gari (Fraser Island). Tanya & Blake have since added an inflatable two seater lounge.

If you prefer the self-inflating mats straight on the ground, use 7.5cm thick mats and be aware you will need a wool blanket or sheepskin underneath in cold weather.

We have winter & summer sleeping bags. Get good advice on your sleeping bag selection as this is a critical piece of gear. On our northern Australia trips we often just use sheets. We use dark coloured sheet sets for camping as they hide the dirt.

5.6 Transporting your gear:

It’s a good idea to test fit your gear into your car ahead of time to see if it fits. For a family, it usually means you at least need a roof rack or alternatively you could hire a small trailer.

If using a roof rack, check your vehicle specs on max roof loads. You will be surprised how little weight you can put on the roof. The roof is really for light bulky items. A weather-sealed rack bag is also a good option which also helps if driving on unsealed roads. Remember, if travelling off road the load rating of the rack is reduced.

The above photo shows our daughter Krystol, husband Geoff and two of their three kids at the Big 4 at Emerald Beach Coffs Harbour. For some trips they load up their roof rack as seen in this photo. More recently, Geoff borrows a box trailer, with a mesh cage, which is considerably easier to pack. The trailer also allows them to carry extra gear such as all the kids bikes, BBQ etc. You can hire such trailers.

A cargo barrier, as seen in the above photo, is highly recommended for safety which separates your gear from your passengers and also allows you to store all the way up to the roof.

The photos above show another two options being a Roof Pod (example by Prorack) being a hard weatherproof box and a Pod Trailer (example is by Stockman).

Note: Section 12 includes links to our comprehensive camping tips and insights.

6. Camping in Camper trailers:

We soon progressed to a camper trailer with our young family as it made things much more comfortable, easier to set up / pack up, better in bad weather and allowed for a touring adventure which was our preference. Overall, it gave us a significantly better camping experience. You can also stow more toys on or in a camper trailer such as surfboards, kayaks etc.

There is now a plethora of camper trailers on the market, including hard core off road camper trailers, which essentially come in three types:

• Soft floor camper trailers;

• Hard floor camper trailers with forward, rear or double fold;

• Pop top camper trailers;

The photo above is our first camper trailer being a Jayco pop top type. Camper trailers have the option of a full annexe or you can just use the awning. This campsite is on the beach at K'gari (Fraser Island) 1990. Jayco made the first pop top type camper trailer in 1975. Note the 30 year old (at the time) table holding the water bottles which was part of a range of flat pack camp furniture built by my Grandfather before you could buy such things.

The photo above shows our last camper trailer, 2003, before moving to a caravan. This is the Jayco Swan Outback being a Pop Top type Camper Trailer being a very similar concept to the ones still made today. With this camper trailer we tended to just use the roll out awning and not an annexe. These awnings are the same as you see on caravans and very fast to put out. We are camped here at Port Douglas Qld.

You can also sleep up to six people in these pop top camper trailers.

The photo above shows a hard floor rear fold camper trailer that we tried. We are camped here at Lemon Tree Flat Hill End NSW. Note we were also using the single centre pole touring tent (on the left) for two of our kids. These canvas touring tents are fast to put up but a little too bulky.

One of the biggest advantages of a camper trailer over a caravan is that you can take them where you wouldn't take a caravan. For example, we camped on the beach on K'gari (Fraser Island) for many years in our camper trailer but we would never take a caravan onto K'gari with all that soft sand.

They are also easy to store. We always stored ours in our garage. Camper trailers are very popular and generally hold their value well. We had four different camper trailers over the years which are of course smaller than a caravan and hence easier to tow and manoeuvre. Many camper trailers are also the same width as the tow vehicle so they are ideal for taking down bush tracks and are more aerodynamic to tow than a caravan.

Bear in mind, many camper trailers have the kitchen and dining area outside which is fantastic in good weather. However, you need to be able to easily fully enclose this outdoor area in bad weather.

The hardest part about the setup of a camper trailer is the annexe. This can be particularly tedious for an overnight stop when you have to put it up only because your kitchen is outside and the weather is bad. Assess this issue carefully as you shop around.

Of our four camper trailers, we found the Jayco pop top camper trailer the best for ease of set up/ pack up. These camper trailers also have the kitchen and dining inside which is fantastic in bad weather. Of course, you can still cook and dine outside in good weather. Given you can escape inside in bad weather, you only need to put up an awning outside with often no need for annexe walls.

Remember, the biggest cost of ownership of any vehicle, by far, is depreciation. This cost is minimised on popular, sought after brands. Have a good look around and do your research including their reputation for reliability, after sales service and manufacturer longevity.

You will need an electric brake controller fitted to your car if you are towing something greater than 750kg.

For an extended touring trip, of many weeks, made up of short stays, even setting up a camper trailer can get a bit tedious which led us to a caravan.

7. Camping in Caravans:

The photo above shows our current caravan. We are camped here at the NRMA Breakwall Holiday Park, Port Macquarie

We traded our camper trailer in for a caravan when we did a three month trip around Australia when I took long service leave. We had four kids at the time with the youngest, Tanya, three months old. A camper trailer would not have been suitable for this trip.

There are a lot of caravan options in the market including on road, semi off road and full off road caravans.

We have now had three caravans and they say it takes about three to understand exactly what you want. Our travel is usually on a touring adventure for which a caravan is ideal. After all, Australia is the ultimate country for a road trip.

Modern caravans provide the ultimate in luxury, are great in bad weather, fast to set up/pack up and have everything that opens & shuts including air conditioning, instantaneous gas hot water heater, electric awning, TV with surround sound, filtered drinking water, Alexa etc etc. It has also been a game changer since they put bathrooms and washing machines in caravans.

This does all come with extra weight however, which now generally requires the tow vehicle to be a large 4WD.

Many vans now are also set up to stay off grid indefinitely with solar power, large water tanks, grey water tanks, gas hot water heaters and gas space heating. We have also found the latest Dometic three way fridges to be a game changer, in terms of summer performance.

Plenty of adventurers may start off with a caravan and don’t worry if you are bit nervous about towing a van. There are organisations that provide training in towing and reversing a caravan.

Of course, there are great caravan designs to accommodate a large family. The Jayco Expanda for example, can sleep up to nine.

Caravans are great for a road stop stop where you can just step in and put the kettle on. Whereas many camper trailers are not really feasible to open for a road side stop.

If you plan to take your van off road or on unsealed roads, you need a semi off road or off road caravan. You also need to be set up for the following:

• Front protection: the front of your van needs protection from being blasted by stones flicked up from your car. We protect the front our van with a stone screen and also the Stone Stomper;

• Protection underneath: pipes, water tanks and cables under the van need to be protected from stone damage. Rarely are they adequately protected by the manufacturer and usually need some additional protection;

• Dust sealing: Your van needs to be dust sealed. There are some after market solutions for this which create positive pressure inside the van;

• Things get shaken to pieces inside: the construction of your van needs to able to withstand severe vibration and bouncing. This will require suitable suspension and very strong cupboard construction;

• Outside getting very dirty: you need to be OK with a very dirty van on the outside;

Many people store their caravans at home however modern house sites are rarely big enough to fit a caravan. It is at least helpful if you can fit your caravan on your driveway for some days before and after a trip to clean and tinker on the van.

Modern vans typically have batteries which need a constant trickle charge when in storage. This can be achieved by either by solar panel or plugged into 240v power.

We store our van at a commercial storage facility under a roof and plugged into power as seen in the photo.

It’s not as convenient as storing at home yet we don’t have room at home and its very helpful to keep the sun off the plastic and sealants. A cover is another option to provide this protection however this will block solar panels for battery charging.

As with camper trailers, the biggest cost of ownership of any vehicle, by far, is depreciation. This cost is minimised on popular, sought after brands. Have a good look around and do your research including their reputation for reliability, after sales service and manufacturer longevity.

See also, our post on 200 Caravan & Camping tips which provides tips on all the issues covered above and more.

Hybrids:

Hybrids have recently appeared on the market and are a cross between a camper trailer and a caravan. The basic difference is where you can take them. They are typically the same width as the tow vehicle so they are ideal for taking down bush tracks and are more aerodynamic to tow than a caravan.

8. Camping with a slide on camper:

This example of a slide on camper is by Island Campers

We have a mate with one of these and they seem ideal for an off road touring adventure. They are mounted on a 4WD one tonne single cab, or extended, ute. In fact, for an off road touring adventure they probably provide the greatest amount of comfort without needing to tow something although you may be restricted from taking particularly rough tracks. Some issues to note include:

• If you are staying at the one camp site for a while you can take the camper off your ute;

• They are cheaper to buy than a caravan, there is no rego to pay, no running gear to service and insurance is cheaper;

• You do need to able to store them when not on a trip. However. they are smaller to store as they don't have a draw bar;

• They have a high centre of gravity so cornering may need to be a tad slower;

• You do need to access with a short ladder;

• They are quite compact inside and not nearly as spacious as a caravan;

• It is advisable to use the option of electrically operated drop jacks;

• The ute has to be a single cab or extended cab;

9. Camping with a camper van or Motorhome:

Photo above shows our mate Bob's Landcruiser Troopy camper conversion. This campsite is at Weipa Camp Ground, Cape York on our trip Operation Pajinka

Camper vans come in a variety of configurations, such as:

• 4WD campers such as the Landcruiser troop carrier with camper conversion;

• 2WD vans with camper conversion eg: Toyota Hi-Ace;

• Large motor homes.

For the smaller vehicles, people tend to use that vehicle around town when not on a trip or they might store that vehicle and only use it very occasionally.

They are very compact and suited to a touring adventure. Of course, the vehicle needs to be compatible with your intended destinations.

In the case of motor homes, they will cost a lot more than a caravan because they include a motor vehicle. However, they can be extremely luxurious and a home away from home. In fact, for some people, it is their home. They are only suited to 2WD destinations and can be a tad awkward for general commuting. It can also be a bit tedious to demobilise your camp each time you go out for a drive. Some owners solve this issue by towing a small 2WD car behind.

Camper vans & motorhomes are more commonly rented which may include a fly in fly out scenario. For a small fee you can also drop off at a different destination than where you picked up the vehicle.

10. Camping on touring trips just with your car:

We often do touring trips with our 4WD and store our van for a short time. For example, on our trip to Cape York we left our caravan at a Cairns caravan park and camped with our tent during our two weeks exploration of Cape York.

The above photo shows our group overnight campsite at Musgrave Roadhouse Cape York on Operation Pajinka with 12 fellow adventurers in six 4WD's. Note the small tents and roof top tents. Kitchen is in back of the car including fridge on 12V. Our 3 man tent is on the left which we can stand up in. Swags are another option. Note in background, Happy Hour is just concluding and now merging into dinner time.

The above photos show our mate Kel's car fit out for touring including two options for inclement weather. The last photo is our campsite at Dalhousie Springs in the Simpson Desert on our trip Operation Desert Sky. Kel's roof top tent is the fastest to put up that I have seen. In fact, it’s so fast that Kel could arrive at camp, set up the communal campfire then set up his own camp and still be the first one finished.

The above photo shows part of our mate Joes' fit out for touring. Photo is at Stockton Beach NSW.

These days there are a huge amount of options for fitting out the back of a 4WD. Options include roller drawers, shelves, fridge slides, floor and overhead consoles and lockers, as well as storage pockets.

If travelling to remote destinations, we aim to travel as light as possible with absolute minimal gear. This is largely because we need approx. 100kg of extra gear for remote bush camping. It’s a real struggle to carry all the gear and stay within the vehicle specs for max load particularly for wagons which have much lower payloads than utes.

In our case, we solved this issue with a GVM upgrade on our Landcruiser when new. This gave us an extra 300kg payload.

When touring, the back of our car is set up as a kitchen and is easily removable after a trip.

One item I consider essential is a cargo barrier. A cargo barrier separates your storage from your passengers and also allows you to store safely all the way up to the roof.

Most of our touring in this form is in northern Australia in the dry season so we don't need any protection for wet weather. However, for other destinations this is a key consideration. Some people use fold out awnings mounted on their roof racks. This solution however does need attachable walls available in the event of bad weather.

If using a roof rack, check your vehicle specs on max roof loads. You will be surprised how little weight you can put on the roof. The roof is really for light bulky items. A weather-sealed rack bag is also a good option particularly with the red dust of the Outback. Remember, the roof rack load limit is reduced when travelling off road.

Renting a 4WD fully equipped with camping gear is an option as noted above in Section 3 with photo. This also allows a fly in fly out scenario.

The above photo shows our simple DIY shade arrangement being used during a day trip on Fraser Island. A solution for shade, even on a day trip, is highly recommended given Australia is a really hot place. There are also many pull out awnings now on the market.

Camping with roof top tents:

Roof top tents have become very popular in recent years and are really intended for 4WD touring trips where you might be at a different camp site every night. They are quicker to put up than a tent, they are generally heavy duty canvas and they keep you off the ground.

This photo of roof top campers is taken at Musgrave Roadhouse Cape York on our group trip Operation Pajinka. Note Joe's 'Bat Wing' shade on the left which folds out at 270 degrees. Note also the kitchen set up in the back of each 4WD including slide out fridges.

If considering a roof top tent, consider the following issues:

• They are heavy and you need to ensure you don't exceed manufacturer specs for roof loads. Remember, when travelling off road the load rating of the rack is reduced;

• They take up a lot of space on your roof rack and you may not get anything else on your roof. This is a particular problem on remote trips where you need to carry a second spare wheel;

• Its a big job to remove the tent from your roof after a trip. Having somewhere to store such a big unit can also be an issue. Consequently, many users leave the tent on the roof all the time;

• If you are camped at the one spot for more than one night you need to pack up your entire camp for an outing then set up again when you get back. If going out for the day you also need to leave some camp furniture on your site to reserve your site;

• We have noticed some older people finding the ladder a bit of a struggle.

11. Advanced camping - remote destinations:

The above photo shows our campsite in the middle of the Simpson Desert on our group trip Operation Desert Sky Note Wayne's camp in foreground using swags, Kel's roof top, Johns touring tent on left and the others are lightweight 2 or 3 man tents. Communal fire in centre of camp. This campsite is 3 days drive from civilisation.

Some of our most memorable camping has been bush camping where we were entirely self sufficient. See our post on K'gari Fraser Island being our favourite bush camping destination.

The above photo shows one of our first group trips to K'gari (Fraser Island), Operation Rainbow, where we are camped on the beach and entirely self sufficient. Note we have picked a site behind a sand dune that offers some protection from strong winds and we are next to a creek for our water supply. We have now visited K'gari 30 times.

The photo above is our toilet tent & shower tent on Fraser Island with a stiff breeze. It took some practice to use the tent in these conditions.

Remote camping always has a camp fire. This photo was taken at Windjana Gorge National Park in the Kimberley on Operation Kimberley Moon. This setting is very conducive to rich story telling.

Key issues specific to remote bush camping:

• Go with others: if possible, travel to remote destinations with others for safety;

• Emergency Communication equipment: subject to how remote you are, carrying a Sat phone or EPIRB is necessary to enable contact with emergency services. Do not attempt to access remote areas without adequate communications equipment. Only 24% of the Australian land mass has mobile phone coverage. Where there is coverage, Telstra rules the bush. See photo below on emergency comms.

• UHF Radio: A UHF radio is an essential item especially if travelling with others. However, a radio can’t be relied on in an emergency as you may not get reception. Channel 5 & 35 are for Emergency use only and is monitored by Volunteers. Pressing the duplex button on your radio will find any available repeaters;

• Vehicle preparation: your vehicle needs to get you in and get you back. Preparing your vehicle is critical. Do not attempt to access remote areas in an ill-prepared vehicle. Refer to our YouTube video: Top 8 tips to prepare your 4WD for a wilderness adventure:

• First Aid: First Aid kit should be well stocked as medical help & pharmacies may not be readily accessible. Undertake first aid training. Ideally, Advanced / Wilderness / Remote Area First Aid if travelling to an area where you are more than 1 hour from medical help;

• Emergency Response: plan ahead of time, how you will respond in an emergency. Refer to our YouTube video: Tips on preparing for an emergency response on a 4WD trip:

• Showers: we take a shower tent and shower with a saucepan of warm water and a ladle. We learnt this from living in East Timor and travelling around the regional areas where this is how it is done. There are lots of fancy shower solutions in the camping stores, but honestly, the saucepan and ladle is the best and you don’t need much water for a shower;

• Toilet: the shower tent can also act as a pit toilet. We dig a hole with a long handled shovel and sit a milk crate over the hole which works much better than a four legged stool;

• Drinking water: where drinking water is not readily available, we either carry adequate stock of drinking water or collect safe water and add purification tablets. You will need at least 6L per person per day + emergency supply (based on dry season conditions & varies depending on location & conditions). Australia is a really hot place, even in the dry season, & dehydration a real danger;

• Refrigeration: if you are too far from civilisation to be buying ice you will need a fridge powered by an auxiliary battery fitted to your vehicle which is much better than living off tinned food. We only use ours as a fridge and not a freezer to maximise our battery power supply;

• Extra gear: you will carry approx. 100kg of extra gear when doing a remote trip so aim to travel with absolute minimal gear to avoid overloading your vehicle. Refer to our YouTube video: How To: not overload your 4WD & keep payload within manufacturers specs:

• Packing: roads to remote locations are often corrugated. If so, packing has to manage severe vibration & bouncing. Tie everything down and pack with padding. Refer to our YouTube video:10 things you need to know about packing your 4WD for a wilderness adventure:

• Rubbish: in most cases you need to bring your rubbish out with you;

• Don’t rough it too much: meals are still an important social event;

• Camp fires: remote destinations usually allow camp fires being one of the richest camping experiences.

• Plan well: There are 3 reasons to plan well for remote travel:

  1. Remote outback travel can be very hazardous including the possibility of encountering extremely harsh elements and conditions that can place you into an 'extreme risk' situation;

  2. Problems arising from poor preparation can spoil the expedition for you and your fellow adventurers. You may even have your trip cut short;

  3. Problems arising from poor preparation can be very expensive to remedy, such as broken down vehicle recovery from a remote location costing thousands.

Photo above shows our emergency comms equipment including Thuraya XT-LITE Satellite phone and Garmin inReach MINI EPIRB (this EPIRB can also send text messages). Our mobile phone carrier is Telstra which has the best coverage in the Outback.

See Section 12 below on our resources available for planning a remote adventure.

12. Camping Tips and Insights:

12.1 See our post on 200 Caravan & Camping tips which covers:

• Hitching & towing tips;

• Preparation for unsealed roads;

• Unhooking & setting up tips;

• Camping off grid tips;

• Electrical, water & sullage tips;

• Communication tips;

• Carrying bikes tips;

• Security tips;

• Cleaning, washing & ironing tips;

• Stowage solution tips

• Heating & cooling tips;

• Kitchen tips;

• General tips;

• Maintenance tips;

• Van storage tips

12.2 Checklists for purchase:

We will soon be offering comprehensive camping checklists, with camping tips, for purchase. You will be able to modify these to suit your own needs and never leave anything behind. These checklists will be:

• What to pack checklist and camping tips (10 pages);

• Vehicle preparation checklist & tips (9 pages).

Standby for these publications.

12.3 Keep an eye out for a post coming soon on - 'What is your state of readiness?':

This post is coming soon and will provide comprehensive tips and resources on how to plan a remote expedition.

Standby for these publications.

12.4 See our YouTube videos with Tips & Insights from our "Not Bad" series:

Section 1 - Camping & caravan tips:

• Tips on camp cooking equipment:

• Alternative caravan plumbing:

• How to make a hold open device for a caravan door:

• How to quickly set up a drop jack:

• How to store your hat on a road trip:

• Tips on how to use an ice box

• How to kill a fly

• The Shoo Away

• How to protect the interior of your vehicle:

• Tip on filling caravan water tanks when camping off grid:

Section 2 - Advanced camping - planning & equipping for a wilderness expedition:

• Tips on 4WD recovery equipment to carry on a wilderness adventure:

• How To: not overload your 4WD & keep payload within manufacturers specs:

• Tips on spare parts to carry on a 4WD wilderness adventure:

• 10 things you need to know about packing your 4WD for a wilderness adventure:

• Top 8 tips to prepare your 4WD for a wilderness adventure:

• 9 things you need to know about driving in remote Outback Australia:

• Tips on preparing for an emergency response on a 4WD trip:

• 6 dangerous things in North Queensland you may not know about:

• 10 things you need to know about buying a 4WD

• How to get a heavy 4WD tyre off your car

David & Rosemary Allan – the faces behind:

May adventure & discovery be your constant companions.

Reflection:

For me, a trip is memorable when I am enriched by a deeper sense of connection to a place which triggers an emotional or spiritual response. This comes from feelings of awe and wonder when I feel part of something bigger. Such as, seeing dramatic landscapes, being caught up in the history and sensing the passion of the human spirit.

A memorable experience will cause me to day dream about the next trip even more than the last trip.

Remember: Your adventure begins the moment you decide to go.