What People Don't Tell You About Camping Trips
I love camping. I grew up being a Girl Guide. Camps away sleeping in bell tents were one of the best things about the experience. My inner tight ass self also loves that while camping you can enjoy time away without spending much money.
I was fortunate to go on a two-month overland safari in Africa in 2012. It involved travelling in one of those huge trucks with twenty other people, moving on each day throughout eight countries in East and Southern Africa. I had a great tent buddy and we managed to hold the record for putting up and pulling down our tent each day for the 58 days we were away. We got in a rhythm and powered through. We had fun being part of the cooking crew and also the cleaning crew. It was the real deal fair dinkum true blue camping experience. I still can say those days were some of the happiest of my life.
Since then my sister and I have done a three-week road trip from Adelaide back to Sydney and then a two-week road trip up to Bundaberg and back home. All the while, camping and living out of my Subaru. It was fun but it can also be exhausting, I think that’s the part people forget to mention. Particularly when you are doing the driving, navigating, setting up and making the plans up as you go, together we were pooped.
So if you are planning a road trip that involves camping .i.e pitching a tent each day, you need to keep reading for some things you may need to consider
Energy levels - expect to feel tired from driving all day, or exploring, hiking, swimming, whatever it is you did. You can’t crash until the tent is up, car unpacked, the site is set up, dinner is cooked and then you must plan the next day. It never stops. For then in the morning, roll up the sleeping bag, take down the tent, pack the car, cook breakfast…. and so on
Highlights - if you are like us and plan to move on each day, expect to only see the highlights of each place. It means cramming in as much as you can see in a place before it is time to head for your next destination. It may mean not stopping at every lookout or every beach. It does pay to do some research before leaving home and have a basic outline of the main attractions you would like to see or things to do, which means less work on the road or missing out on something significant. Don’t underestimate the value of chatting to locals or other travellers on the road as they usually have great recommendations
Campsites - call ahead if you know where you are heading to book in for the night. You may be lucky and be about to just drive up and get a spot however it really depends on the season you are travelling. Book ahead if it is a holiday period to ensure you have someone to sleep that night other than in your car
Weather – in the rain you have to run from the toilet block after your shower, you have to set up the tent, its not much fun; pack your rain jacket. Make sure to put on the rain cover as you don’t want to wake to rain seeping through the tent. Fingers crossed you don’t get wild winds either. Tap your pegs in hard, tighten your guide ropes. You probably won’t get a great nights sleep. Camping in the boiling summer sun is not much fun either; its difficult to cool down, you are sweaty, it’s hard to get to sleep
Ground – you never know what you will get, it can be hard to put your tent pegs in, pack your hammer
Location – choose a flat spot, away from trees in case a branch may fall but out not in the glaring sun. Away from kids because they cry and you hear everything through a thin tent wasll. Away from toilet block because the lights stay on all night and it’s frequently used. Away from driveway because people pack up and leave early morning and disturb your sleep
Meals - if you are travelling like us, we had no fridge only an esky, which means you have to visit the shops each day to buy food. We did have ice bricks that we would put in the camp kitchen freezer each night so we could keep some things chilled. But again it is just another decision to make about what to cook for dinner that night. Try to keep it simple i.e. sausages, kebabs, salads. We rarely get takeaway and instead try to enjoy the process of cooking and preparing our own meals
Camp kitchen – share, take your turn, try to get in front of the dads who want to cook for several families and take forever. Don’t forget your lighter or matches, as well as the kitchen utensils you need. Plus your dishwashing liquid, scrubber, tea towel. Have a kit packed so it’s all there together. Make sure to clean up after yourself
Pricing - it is cheaper than getting paid accommodation, but you have to work for it. You get the real natural experience and can keep it quite simple and have the real back to basics trip
Wifi - don’t expect to get wifi in all places. Good chance to detox
If you are looking for a checklist for your camping essentials you will find one on my blog post here.
I hope I haven’t deterred you from camping. Not my aim at all. I just want to give you a heads up on aspects of camping you may not have considered. Planning for a camping trip can involve as much or as little as you like. That’s the benefit. You can go with the flow and see where you end up each day, stay longer at a place you like or keep driving through a town that isn’t speaking to you.
Are you a fan of camping? How do you keep your spirits high? We would love it if you joined the conversation left a comment below.
