Summer camping with the family. It’s the dream, right?
Long days, warm nights, and finding that perfect secluded beach track where the only footprints are your own. But let’s be honest, it can turn into a nightmare pretty quick if you aren't prepared.
So we’ve put together the must-have gear list to keep the kids cool, the tent clean, and the stress levels low so you don't end up wanting to leave the car in the bush and walk home.
A Proper 12V Fridge
Forget the servo ice bags that turn into a lukewarm soup by day two. A decent 12V fridge is the absolute gamechanger for summer touring. It keeps the milk fresh, the steaks safe, and most importantly, the icy poles frozen for the kids. There’s also potentially room for a nice bottle of something for sundown drinks.
Pro Tip: Just make sure it’s running off a dual battery system or a portable power pack. Relying on your starter battery is a great way to get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
A 12V fridge on a pull-out slide in the boot of a car
The 270-Degree Awning
When the Aussie sun is beating down, shade isn't a luxury, it's a safety requirement. A standard pull-out awning is fine, but a 270-degree awning wraps right around the side and rear of your vehicle, giving you a massive footprint of instant shade. It’s the perfect spot for lunch stops, a reprieve from the UV glare, and a central hub for family cool downs.
an open awning on a 4wd
A Quality Camping Fan
There is nothing worse than a stifling tent on a hot, sticky night. You’re lying there, sweating, praying for a breeze that never comes. A 12V or rechargeable camping fan is the difference between tossing and turning all night and actually getting some rest. Ideally, get one that hangs from the roof of your tent or swag to keep the air moving.
a man camping and operating a small electric fan
A Real First Aid Kit
Do not rely on a $20 supermarket kit. When you're off-road, help isn't just around the corner. You need a kit that covers the real risks: serious wound care, burns, snake bites, allergies, and insect stings. Make sure it includes heavy-duty tweezers, shears, a thermal blanket, and a proper first aid manual. Throw in everyone’s personal meds and seal the whole lot in a waterproof container.
a first aid kit in a drawstring bag
The 12V Camp Shower
Salt, sweat, sunscreen, and sleeping bags are a horrible mix. After a big day on the tracks or the beach, a camp shower is the best morale booster you can pack. It doesn't have to be fancy, but being able to wash the grit off before dinner makes the whole evening more civilised.
a portable camp shower
Sand-Free Ground Mat
If you've ever camped on the coast, you know the sand gets everywhere. It’s in your food, your clothes, and your bed. A mesh "sand-free" ground mat is genius engineering. The mesh allows sand and dirt to fall through the mat but stops it from coming back up. It means less work for the camp broom and no more sleeping in a sandpaper bed.
a ground mat spread on a beach with 2 people sitting on it
Solar Blanket
When you’re parked up for a few days off-grid, that fridge is going to work hard fighting the ambient heat. A solar blanket is lightweight, easy to deploy on your windscreen or bonnet, and keeps your auxiliary battery topped up. It’s the best way to keep the beers cold without having to idle the engine and annoy the neighbours.
a solar blanket spread out in the sun
Serious Sun and Bug Protection
Nothing ruins a trip faster than a scorched neck or a swarm of march flies. This isn't the time to skimp. Pack the 50+ sunscreen, the heavy-duty bug spray (Tropical strength), broad-brimmed hats, and lightweight long-sleeve tops. If the flies are really bad, a head net might look stupid, but it’ll stop you from swallowing a fly with your morning coffee.
A woman puts sun cream on a child's face at the beach
The Dirty Gear Bag (Spare Wheel Bag)
You don’t want a bag of rubbish baking inside your wagon or ute in 35-degree heat. A dirty gear bag that hangs off your spare wheel is essential. It gives you a spot for stinky rubbish, wet wetsuits, or muddy recovery gear, keeping the smells outside the car where they belong.
A dirty gear bag hanging on a 4wd's spare tyre
Hands-Free Head Torches
Once the sun dips, campsites get dark—fast. Head torches let you go hands-free, which is vital for cooking dinner, washing up, or fixing that guy rope you tripped over. Plus, it makes the midnight dash to the long drop a lot less perilous. One for every family member is a must.
a man with a head torch camping at night
The Bottom Line
Summer camping is about making memories, not sweating the small stuff. If you get your setup right with these essentials, you’ll spend less time worrying about the heat and more time enjoying the best backyard in the world.
Prepare for adventure
Cover anywhere you can legally go in Australia
