Growing up, my family were avid wild campers. ‘Free campers’ we call them in Australia. But how to survive camping in the wild takes some know how and preparation. Especially in bad weather. Camping is an amazing way to escape and reconnect with nature. But if you’ve never been before, it can be intimidating or scary. What to pack? How to stay safe and comfortable in all weather? In this article, we list 10 essential items for every camping trip checklist. We also share what to take and how to make the most of wet, cold and extreme heat camping conditions. After reading this post you’ll be ready to pack right and stay safe on your first free camping adventure.

Free camping: what exactly is it and why does it matter?

Free camping doesn’t just refer to the cost of setting up camp. It’s also about where you pitch your tent or roll out your swag.

These days a lot of camping is at paid campgrounds or campsites.

The sites are often cleared, mowed, and patrolled by parks services. They often provide water and ablution blocks. Some are even powered.

You pay a nightly fee for this type of camping. And more often than not you’re surrounded by other campsites full of campers.

This is not free camping.

Free camping is about camping in the wild. It’s setting up camp on public lands where there’s no managed campsites and no nightly fee.

You can also free camp on private land with the owner’s permission. These sites are easy to find with services like Hipcamp helping landowners cash in on the demand for free camping experiences.

So what, you say? Why does it matter what type of camping I do?

Because free camping is a more primitive camping experience. So it’s down to you, the camper, to bring everything you need. And to know how to use it.

But don’t worry. The lists, the tips, the dos and the don’ts in this article will tell you how to survive camping in most scenarios.

So lets get into it.

10 items to start your camping trip checklist

Before we tackle the ‘how’ to survive camping, lets talk about the ‘what’. What to take, to make it through your big outdoor adventure. Because this is where survival starts. At preparation.

Here are the top 10 items for any camping trip checklist:

1. A tent. The first item on your list should be a good quality tent. Choose a tent that’s large enough for your group and easy to pitch. Don’t pick a 2 person tent for 2 people. You won’t be able to fit your stuff in with you. Pick a tent that sleeps 3 or 4 people, for max comfort.
2. Sleeping bag. A warm and comfortable sleeping bag is a must for any camping trip. Choose one that’s rated for the temperatures you’ll be camping in and that fits your body size.
3. Portable stove and way to make fire. You’ll need a portable stove to cook your meals while camping. Especially if there are fire bans that restrict cooking on an open fire. Make sure you choose one that’s lightweight and easy to use.

4. Clean drinking water. Either bring your own water or bring a filter. A portable water filter can help you purify water from creeks and rivers, so you always have access to fresh drinking water.
5. First aid kit. Accidents can happen in the great outdoors, so make sure you pack a first aid kit with all the essentials: bandages, gauze, antiseptic, and pain relief medication.
6. Flashlight. When the sun goes down, a flashlight or headlamp will be your best friend. Choose one that’s bright enough to light up your path and that has a long battery life.
7. Insect repellent. Mosquitoes and other bugs can quickly ruin a camping trip and carry nasty diseases. Make sure you pack insect repellent to keep the bugs at bay.
8. Navigation tools. If anything goes haywire on your trip, you’ll need to be found. Bring a map, a GPS, and your mobile phone. If there’s no coverage in the area, bring a Personal Beacon Locator. PBLs are an investment, but you don’t have to worry about rescuers finding you if things go wrong.
9. Appropriate clothing. Temperatures can drop quickly at night, especially inland from the coast. Pack warm clothing, even if you’re camping in the summer.
10. Food, and an esky to store it.

6 insider tips to survive your first camping trip

Now that you have your essential items, it’s time to prepare for your camping trip. Here are 6 insider tips from my free camping childhood, to help you make the most of your outdoor adventure:

1. Research the area: Before you head out, research the area where you’ll be camping. Know the weather forecast, the wildlife you may encounter, the type of terrain, all routes in and out, and any potential hazards.
2. Practice setting up your tent: Set up your tent at home before you go camping. This will ensure that you know how to set it up properly and that all the pieces are included.
3. Pack with list. Having a list of what you need will stop you from overpacking items you just won’t use. Start with our essential camping trip checklist below. Use our wet weather camping and cold weather camping trip checklist to add items for these conditions
4. Arrive early. Setting up in the dark is a nightmare. Especially for first time campers. Avoid this by arriving at your campsite by no later than 3pm. You’ll need a good few hours to unpack, pitch your tent and set up your outdoor area.
5. Plan your meals: Plan your meals ahead of time and pack non-perishable foods that are easy to prepare. One pot dinners are awesome for camping. Like stews and curries. Food you can barbecue – sausages, steak, chops, corn cobs, chicken skewers, eggs – is also a great option.
6. Register your trip. Or tell friends and family where you will be. You can register your camping trip online with government Parks and Wildlife services. If anything goes wrong, search and rescue will have a good idea of where to start their search for you.

How to survive camping in the rain

I remember once waking up floating on an airbed in the middle of a tent. We were camping in Kakadu National Park, in Australia’s Northern Territory.

The skies had opened that night. There was so much rain it couldn’t get away and our campsite flooded. It happened so quickly, we’d left it too late to pack up. The mud the next morning was a real downer.

Camping the rain is wet, slippery, and sometimes muddy, which can make it harder to pitch your tent and move around the campsite. You may even get flash flooding or overland flows if the rain is torrential.

So if there’s wet weather in the forecast, what do you need to do differently, to survive camping in the rain?

Stay high.

The first thing to look out for is high, dry land. This is where you should pitch your tent. Avoid areas near running water, like creeks and rivers. These have a greater chance of flashing flooding.

Stay dry.

Packing the right wet weather gear is far and away the best tip we can give, to enjoy camping in the rain.

Here’s our wet weather camping trip checklist:

• For sleeping, make sure you pack a waterproof tent, a rainfly, and even an extra groundsheet to pitch your tent on.

• Pack several waterproof tarps with enough paracord or rope to tie each corner of each tarp. Use your tarp to make a shelter between trees for your outdoor cooking and seating area. Use another to tie down over your cooking equipment, esky and any recreational gear you have with you.

• A poncho or rain jacket will keep you dry while you’re out exploring, and waterproof boots will keep your feet warm and dry. If it’s warm, you don’t need boots. A pair of thongs might be enough, or some aqua shoes for both wet and dry weather.

• To dry store your food, clothes and electrical items use large ziplock bags and waterproof storage boxes.

• Don’t forget to pack extra towels to dry off and tea towels to create a dry area to cook your food.

• Games and books that you can play in your tent, if the weather sets in.

Know when to hold ’em.

Camping in the rain is still fun (if you’re prepared). It’s just a different type of fun. If its warm, you can still be outside in your swimmers, sarong or board shorts. Hanging out under the communal tarp, swimming, and even sitting around a covered camp fire.

But just also be prepared in case you end up stuck inside your tent for a bit if you’re camping in the driving rain. Have a good book, some playing cards, or board games for the kids, to help sit the weather out.

Know when to fold ’em.

Sometimes the forecast doesn’t play out as planned. And when this happens you need to know when to pack up and go home.

So stay across the weather bureau warnings and talk to other campers. If severe storms or localised flooding are predicted, make the call to pack up and do it early. There’s nothing worse than scrambling to pack your stuff as flood waters rise around you.

And pay attention not just to the area where you are camped, but also to the route you’ll take get home. Storms and flash flooding can cut off transport routes leaving you stranded until the roads are cleared.

How to survive camping in cold weather

There’s something magical about camping in cold weather – especially if there’s snow. The crisp cold air. Snuggling in your tent. Toasting marshmallows around the fire. A glass of whiskey to warm the cockles of your heart at end of the night.

But camping in cold also presents its own set of challenges.

Like dropping temperatures, icy conditions, wind and snow. If things go badly in extreme cold weather, you risk frostbite, stranding and even freezing to death.

So what cold weather gear are you going to need to pack? Here are the top 10 items on our cold weather camping trip checklist:

1. A high-quality tent designed for cold weather. You want a double walled tent or stove compatible tent, for extra warmth in freezing weather. A tent with a vestibule (separate front room) will provide mud room for snow boots and gear so you can keep your sleeping area dry and warm.
2. A cold weather rated sleeping bag.
3. A foam sleeping pad. Airbeds are way to cold for cold weather camping. Find a foam sleeping pad with a high ‘R-value’ rating. The higher the rating, the great the insulation from the cold. If nighttime temps are dropping to below zero (C), you’ll need an R-value of at least 2.
4. A fold up camp bed, to keep you up off the cold ground at night.
5. Thermal clothing, socks and a beanie as well as waterproof outer layers, to keep you warm.
6. Waterproof boots and jacket.
7. Wood. If you’re not certain your campsite will be stocked with firewood, make sure you bring your own supply.
8. A hacksaw or camp saw, to get firewood if you need to.
9. A reliable camping stove to cook your meals.
10. Cold weather food. High-energy, high protein snacks and hot drinks like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate to keep your body fueled and hydrated.

How to survive camping in the heat

Camping in extreme heat stinks and can even dangerous if you’re not prepared. But here are 4 tips to make camping in the heat more enjoyable:

1. Pick a shaded campsite. Work out where the sun travels and pick a campsite that will give you the maximum shade through the day.
2. Camp near a water body. Swimming is sometimes your only salvation when you’re camping and its hot and sticky. You can also store your drinks in hessian bags in a nearby creek to keep them cool.
3. Pack a swag as well as a tent. Tents are like big plastic bags. Which makes them as hot as hell in the summer and impossible to sleep in. A swag and some insect repellant can have you sleeping out under the stars and taking full advantage of the cooler night air.
4. Pack the extra gear on this extreme heat camping trip checklist, to beat the heat:
   • Extra water. In normal temps 2L of drinking water per person per day is enough. But in hot weather you need more.
   • Sun protection. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a full brimmed hat to protect your skin and eyes from the sun’s rays.
   • Ice. And lots of it. Extra eskies with solid blocks of ice to keep your food and drinks icy cold.
   • A large and durable sunshade or canopy, to provide a shaded area to relax and cool down.
   • Electrolyte-rich drinks, like sports drinks or coconut water to replace the salts and minerals you lose in sweat.
   • Cooling towels and misting fans can also provide some relief from the heat if you’re on a powered campsite.
   • Lightweight, light coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. You can even get UV protective clothing. Long-sleeved tops and long pants will help avoid sunstroke.

What NOT to do while camping

A lot can go wrong on a camping trip. There’s nature and wildlife, unfamiliar surroundings, and sometimes neighbours to deal with. Avoiding some of the ‘donts’ on this list can help you survive your first camping trip:

• Assume. Assume makes a ‘ass’ of ‘u’ and ‘me’. Ever heard that saying? It could have been written for camping. Don’t assume your campsite will the essentials you need like power, water and toilet facilities. BYO the basics.
• Hang out on the banks of, or swim in random creeks and lagoons, especially in Australia’s north. Unless you want a close encounter with crocodiles, goannas, water monitors, and whatever else is lurking in those murky deep waters.
• Sleep with your dogs in the tent with you in crocodile country. Crocs love dogs.
• Leave food out, uncovered. You’ll just end up attracting wildlife into your camp site. Maybe the wrong kind.
• Ignore campsite rules and etiquette. Like where to dump your rubbish or when to clean up after yourself. This won’t make you any friends and things might even get a little heated between you and your neighbours.
• Forget the creature comforts. These can make camping feel like home. Or like glamping even. Items like a hammock, fold up banana lounge, wifi speakers, outdoor rug and cushions, or a camp kitchen can bring some luxury to your adventure.

Conclusion

Free camping can be an incredible experience, but it’s important to be prepared. Get the basics you need for any camping adventure using our camping trip checklist. And remember to pack for the conditions with our cold weather, wet weather and extreme hit camping trip checklists. By following some basic tips before setting out, you’ll have a safe and enjoyable camping trip – in all conditions!