Car Camping Prep

Backpack/Duffel to carry everything

You'll probably need something around 50-70L to carry everything you're bringing. You can use a large backpack if you have one, duffel bags or shopping bags. Avoid wheeled luggage as its wheels don't like to be outdoors. 

Tent

Any tent will do. The cheapest ones you can get are the ones from Kmart. Avoid pop-up tents you use for beaches as they're not very sturdy. 

Bush campers: if your tent is not freestanding (ie. relies on the tent being pegged out to stay upright), it may be very difficult to set up your tent. The ground is compacted by cars driving around and can be extremely firm, making it almost impossible to peg out your tent. 

Frequent car campers may benefit from having a swag (note: they're convenient but super heavy) or a rooftop tent.

Sleeping bag

One privilege of car camping is that you're not limited by weight and size. You can therefore take a very chunky synthetic sleeping bag from Kmart, or as many layers as you want. Look for the comfort rating and see if it matches the forecasted temperatures at night. Campsites are outside of the city and can get cold. 

In cold winter (5 degrees or lower), your synthetic sleeping bags may not work as advertised, especially when you get them from cheap sources (eg. Kmart). In this case, proper down sleeping bags you use for bush camping will keep you toasty. Refer to Bush Camping Prep/Sleeping Bag for details.

Note that if you plan to sleep in the car, cars have no insulation and don't replace the need for a sleeping bag. 

Sleeping mat

The cheapest option is Kmart's sleeping mat. They are your mattress in the outdoors and keep you comfortable. Unfortunately, they're not very durable and will only last roughly a week of sleep. They are also not insulating and can get cold on cold nights. 

In winter, foam pads (with R value=2) can be added to these sleeping mats for extra insulation. Getting a proper sleeping mat may also be a good idea. Refer to Bush Camping Prep/Sleeping mat for details.

Pillow

Don't forget your pillow! You can take the one you use at home.

Jacket

Bring a puffer jacket for the night when you're sitting around the tent. 

Stoves and pots

Any camping stoves will work well. Some people even bring a butane stove (the ones you use for hotpot) for cooking. Since we're not limited by weight, you can bring cooking pots you use at home- make sure they're reasonably sized. 

Note that fresh ingredients may not last and will need to be kept at cold temperatures. In car camping, you can bring an esky/cooler box and fill it with blocks of ice. That will keep your ingredients cold for 2-3 days. Some people even have a fridge installed in their vehicle. 

Food

Refer to Bush Camping Prep/Food for details.

Water

Use the bottled water you purchased in a supermarket, or fill up your bottle with a water tank in the car. Tap water is usually not drinkable, and will have to be treated.

Some campsites have creeks or river that flow through them. In those cases, you can bring a water filter or purification tabs to treat the water. Refer to Bush Camping Prep/Filtering water for details. If there isn't, all your drinking water will come from your car. Allow 3L per night for all your cooking, washing, and drinking needs.

Toileting

Most campsites have a toilet block- some even have showers. Bring towel, shampoo and body wash if you wish to shower. Bring toilet paper in case they run out in the toilet. Note that most campsites don't have bins, so don't litter. Take a few trash bags and bring all the trash home. If there isn't a toilet, you'll need to bring a trowel.

Bring toothbrush and toothpaste if there is a toilet block. If not, you might have to use toothpaste tabs. Refer to Bush Camping Prep/First Aid, Personal Care and Electronics for details.

Chair

Not essential, but worth bringing.

First Aid and Electronics

Take all medications you'll need. 

Bring a power bank to charge your devices. There won't be power outlets in your campsite. We also never use solar panels or power generators. You can get a big, 20,000 mAh power bank, which will last as long as a week. 

Bring head torches to be used at night. They can be purchased at Kmart, Decathlon or Bunnings.

Any entertainment you'll need for the night. There will not be mobile reception at the campsite. You can bring a book, kindle, ipad, or have music downloaded on your phone.

Tips for a fun, hassle-free car camping trip

• Carry all the food you need for the entire trip. Never assume there's a grocery stop unless confirmed by trip leader. Just that you're car camping does not eliminate the need to bring food. Most regional shops close early, and if you're poorly prepared, you might have to go home early or starve for the night. 

• Make sure your sleeping bag is warm enough for the night, and you have enough layers. If not you'll be cold the entire night and have no sleep.

• All the usual campsite etiquettes apply to car camping campsites. Some people throw etiquette away as soon as they realise they can drive into a campsite, which is not true. Details: Bush Camping Prep/On the walk

• Many car camping sites have campground animals that feed on food brought in by humans. Never leave your food unattended or feed animals. All the food must either be inside your tent or in the car before you go to bed. Respect wildlife and maintain boundaries, even if they approach you.

• If there is a kitchen block, always close doors behind you to keep animals out of the building. Clean the table and pick up all the trash before you leave.

• It's worthwhile to bring noise-cancelling headphones (eg. airpods), as some poorly behaving campers may be very noisy at night. This is particularly true if it's a caravan park, or free campsites next to a main highway. 

• Be courteous to other campers. If camping with a large group, be mindful of how much space you occupy and always make sure there's enough space for others. 

• Do not litter, even if other people do so.

• If you're going in a small car (eg. sedan), you'll need to limit what you bring so everything can be comfortably fit. This usually means 40-50L of pack space per person, ie. 1 big backpack, plus a personal item stored on your laps/near your legs. Don't bring too many changes of clothes like you're going on a vacation. Most of those changes of clothes will end up untouched. You may use merino clothing, which is odour-resistant and can be worn across multiple days.

• Some campsites may have coin-operated showers or laundry. Remember to bring enough coins for showers.

• The Leave No Trace principle applies, and does not vanish just because you drove into a car camping campsite.