How to prepare for camping

Like many New Zealanders, we love spending the weekend (or longer) camping, whether we go to the beachside campground or hit the beaten track and find a secluded spot.

Take a read on common rookie mistakes made along with some tips on keeping your trip fun and organised while keeping safe in unknown areas.

Water Filter Bottle

This means you can drink water from any water source. A river, lake, pond, etc even if it looks murky. Having a water supply is critical in a survival situation.

First Aid Kit

Make sure you check your first aid kit is topped up before leaving. (no brainer)

Food Preparation

Many first-time campers bring food that can spoil especially if they rely on a cooler to keep the meat cool for four-five days at a time, so instead take some time to research non-perishable foods or invest in a portable fridge/freezer freezing down your meat allows you to spend more time in the great outdoors especially when there are no shops near where you’re camping.

Counting on building a fire

Everyone loves a roaring campfire at the end of the day, but it’s not always possible at every campsite, make sure you check beforehand for permits and always bring a few logs of wood with you to get the fire started. Don’t make the rookie mistake of relying on your fire to cook your food, remember to pack a portable BBQ or check if the campsite has a communal BBQ.

Pack the right clothes

This should go without saying but you would be surprised how many times we’ve seen people camping all dressed up like they are hitting the runway. Leave your fancy shoes at home pack sneakers for hiking and jandles for the beach, wear layers of clothing and be prepared to get dirty remember your living in the great outdoors so day-to-day activities like cooking are not as clean and easy as being in a fully equipped kitchen, you don’t need too many clothes but packing the right type of clothing e.g. something that will keep you warm and dry. Pay attention to the weather.

Tents

Tents can vary in quality, ease of setting up, features and style, so finding the right tent that will suit your style of camping to stay comfortable at night. We love Overlanding so buying a big canvas 2-bedroom tent with poles would not work for us personally, but it could be perfect for you and your family if you plan on doing long stints at 1 campground.

Things to consider when picking your tent are.

Size: is an important factor if you’re camping with other people.

Weather: make sure your tent can stand harsh conditions.

Ease of setup: this really depends on your style of camping if you enjoy touring around the country, then finding something easy to put up and down daily maybe top of your priority when picking your tent.

Quality: again, this really depends on your style of camping and your budget if you plan on camping every other weekend then investing in a quality tent that is going to last would be beneficial but, if you only pull the tent our once a year when your grandparents come to town and you boot the kids outside to make more space then maybe a high quality tent isn’t necessary.