The Ultimate Camping Packing List for Families (That You'll Actually Use)

The Ultimate Camping Packing List for Families (That You'll Actually Use)

Camping packing lists are easy to find online. Camping packing lists that are actually useful for real families with real kids? That's a different story. Most are either so minimal they leave out the things you genuinely need, or so comprehensive you'd need a second vehicle just to carry everything on the list.

This is the camping packing list that the mums who caravan and camp most regularly across Australia actually use. It's been refined through missed items, over-packing disasters, and the hard-won wisdom of families who've been doing this for years. Nothing on here is optional fluff. Nothing critical has been left off.

How to Use This Packing List

Before you start: every family is different. A family with a camper trailer and a 12V fridge has different needs than one sleeping in a rooftop tent. A trip to a managed caravan park requires different preparation than free camping in remote bush. Use this list as your master reference and adapt it to your specific trip.

Pro tip: keep a permanent digital version of this list and check off items as you pack. After the trip, add anything you needed that wasn't on the list. Within three trips, you'll have your family's perfect custom packing list.

Sleeping Essentials

• Sleeping bags (temperature-rated for your destination)
• Sleeping mat or self-inflating pad (one per person)
• Pillow from home (especially for children — comfort matters for first-night sleep)
• Tent (if not caravanning) — check poles and pegs are all present before you leave
• Tent footprint/groundsheet
• Warm layers for sleeping (even in summer — Australian nights can be cold)
• White noise machine or app for light sleepers
• Eye masks if camping where there's ambient light

Camp Kitchen and Food

• Camp stove (two-burner if possible)
• Gas canisters (more than you think — cold weather uses more gas)
• Pots and pans with lids (lids speed up cooking)
• Kettle or billy
• Camp plates, bowls, mugs, and cutlery (one set per person)
• Chopping board and sharp knife
• Mixing bowl
• Can opener and bottle opener
• Washing-up basin, dish soap, and scrubber
• Tea towels and dish cloths
• Paper towels (the unsung hero of camp kitchens)
• Rubbish bags (bring more than you need)
• Zip-lock bags in multiple sizes
• Tinfoil and cling wrap
• Cooler box or 12V fridge
• Water containers (20L minimum, 40L+ recommended for self-sufficient camping)
• Camp pantry box (oils, salt, pepper, sauces, spices, coffee/tea)
• Complete meal plan (pre-written with shopping done before you leave)

Clothing (Per Person)

Camp clothing needs to be practical above all else. You need less than you think but more of the right things.

For adults (especially mums):

• 2–3 pairs of comfortable shorts or pants suitable for camp
• 2–3 UPF50+ long-sleeve shirts — essential for all-day outdoor protection. Many mums who caravan and camp have made UPF-rated fishing shirts their default camp top: lightweight, sun-protective, and practical.
• 1–2 UPF50+ fishing dresses — perfect for warmer camps and doubles as casual wear for trips into town. See our fishing dresses designed for exactly this lifestyle.
• Warm layer (fleece or lightweight jacket)
• Waterproof layer
• Comfortable camp shoes (closed-toe sandals or slip-on sneakers)
• Thongs for around the campsite
• Swimmers
• Wide-brim hat
• Underwear and socks (one extra pair beyond your day count — things get wet at camp)

For kids:

• 2–3 pairs of shorts/pants
• UPF rashies (at least 2)
• Long-sleeve UPF shirt for everyday wear
• Warm layer and rain jacket
• Closed-toe sandals (the most practical camp shoe for kids)
• Thongs
• Wide-brim or legionnaire hat
• Swimmers (2 pairs — one is always wet)
• Pyjamas (and a warmer pair in case temperatures drop)

Sun Protection

• SPF50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen (at least 500mL for a family — you'll use more than you expect)
• Lip balm with SPF
• UV-protective sunglasses for every family member
• After-sun lotion or aloe vera gel
• UPF50+ clothing as described above
• Wide-brim hats for everyone
• Shade structure for campsite (awning, shade sail, or pop-up shelter)

Lighting

• Headlamp for every person (non-negotiable — get one for each child)
• Spare batteries or USB charging cable for headlamps
• Camp lantern (one for the campsite, one for inside tent or van)
• Fairy lights (optional — but they make any campsite feel magical and are loved by kids)

Campsite Furniture and Comfort

• Camp chairs (one per person)
• Camp table
• Picnic blanket
• Camp mat or outdoor rug to define your living space
• Shade structure or awning
• Clothesline and pegs (wet things at camp proliferate rapidly)

Hygiene and Bathroom

• Portable camp shower or access to shower block
• Microfibre towels (one per person — they dry in an hour)
• Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Toilet paper (bring far more than you think you need)
• Portable toilet or cassette toilet (essential for free camping)
• Trowel and waste bags (for bush toileting where no facilities are available)
• Hand sanitiser (accessible near the camp kitchen and toilet area)
• Baby wipes (useful for everyone, not just babies)
• Sanitary products
• Face wash and moisturiser (skin gets dry in the outdoors)

Health and First Aid

• Comprehensive first aid kit including:
• Bandages and wound dressings
• Antiseptic cream and wipes
• Tweezers (for splinters — a camping constant with kids)
• Children's and adult pain relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
• Antihistamine (for insect bites and allergic reactions)
• Hydrocortisone cream (for insect bites and rashes)
• Blister treatment
• Eye wash
• Snake bite bandages (compression bandages) if camping in remote areas
• Any prescription medications (plus extra supply in case the trip extends)
• Thermometer
• Insect repellent (DEET-based for serious mosquito areas, natural options for everyday use)

Navigation and Power

• Maps of the area (don't rely solely on mobile navigation — reception is often unavailable)
• Offline maps downloaded on your phone (Maps.me or Google Maps offline)
• WikiCamps or CamperMate app (for finding campsites)
• Portable power bank for charging phones
• 12V power setup if running a fridge (dual battery and solar panel)
• Adaptor cables and multi-charger
• Emergency PLB (personal locator beacon) for remote camping — this saves lives

Kids' Specific Items

• Age-appropriate life jackets if spending time on or near water (mandatory by law in boats; strongly recommended near rivers and lakes)
• Travel journal and art supplies
• Ball, Frisbee, or other open-ended outdoor toys
• One comfort item per child (special toy, blanket) for settling into unfamiliar sleeping environments
• Fishing handlines and bait (kept in a small tackle box)
• Bug catcher and magnifying glass
• Reusable water bottle per child (insulated to keep water cool)

What to Leave Behind

Experienced camping families are as clear about what NOT to pack as what to bring:

• Too many clothing changes — aim for 3 days of clothing per person, not 7
• Expensive electronics that you'll worry about at camp
• Items you're bringing "just in case" that you can't genuinely imagine using
• Furniture or comfort items that take up significant space but rarely get used
• More food than you can realistically eat

Real Talk: The List Gets Shorter

Here's something every experienced camping family discovers: the more you camp, the shorter your packing list gets. You learn what you genuinely reach for every trip and what stays in the bag. You get better at improvising. You stop worrying about having everything and start trusting your ability to manage without.

Your first camping trip packing list will be longer than this one. By your fifth trip, it'll be shorter. That's progress.

Join Our Community

What's the one item on your packing list you'll never camp without? Share it with the Mums Who Caravan and Camp community — we love building on real-family wisdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you not forget when camping with kids?

The items most commonly forgotten by camping families include: headlamps (especially for children), sunscreen reapplication (not just bringing it but actually using it), a complete first aid kit, enough toilet paper, and warm layers for nighttime (even in summer). Sun protection items — hats, UPF clothing, sunscreen — are the most critical and most commonly underprepared category for Australian camping families.

What is the most important thing to bring camping?

For Australian camping families, sun protection is the most important category of packing. This includes SPF50+ sunscreen, wide-brim hats, UPF50+ clothing for adults and children, and shade structures. After sun safety, sleeping comfort (appropriate sleeping bags and mats) and a working camp kitchen setup are the next most critical categories.

How do I pack light for camping with kids?

Pack light by choosing multi-purpose items (one pair of closed-toe sandals instead of three pairs of shoes), limiting clothing to 3 days per person (things get dirty at camp — bring the laundry bag and embrace it), choosing compact camping gear, and packing activity materials rather than finished toys. Resist the urge to bring comfort items from home beyond one special item per child.