Our Setup

Large Camping Storage Bag Big W

Stores cooking equipment, pantry items and electronics. Decent size for the price. Don't store heavy gear like cast iron in it, and be gentle with the zips — average construction.

Escape 50 Fridge/Freezer Kings

Well built, looks fantastic, well insulated. Deceptively spacious — easily stores 4–5 days of food for 2 adults + 2 kids. USB port on board. Pre-cool before you leave home.

Escape 50 Fridge Cover Kings

Fits perfectly, good tie-down straps, insulated liner helps with efficiency. Keep it zipped up when not in use to make the most of the insulation.

Portable Steel Fire Pit Kings

Small contained campfire for warmth and cooking. Disassembles easily. Very heavy when packed up — needs a heavy-duty bag to move it.

Camp Fire BBQ Plate Kings

Simple, extremely sturdy. Cooks meat, veg and breakfasts over the fire pit. Pre-season it with oil and half an onion — same technique works as a routine clean after each use.

Cast Iron Jaffle Iron — Jumbo Single Campfire

Makes great jaffles of any variety. Pre-butter the outside of the bread and add a pinch of salt. The latch doesn't really work but it's unnecessary in practice.

Hamburger Basket Campfire

Handles both burgers and toast over the fire. Make sure you open it with the correct side up. The small wire that holds it together breaks off quickly — but the basket still works fine without it.

Daintree 15L Keg Cooler Coleman

Perfect size for 2 adults + 2 kids — easily lasts 4 days with ice still in the cooler. Very easy to clean. Put ice and water in before you leave home — arrive with cold water ready.

12 Egg Carrier OZtrail

Protects eggs from bashes in transit. If mixing eggs from multiple packs, mark each with a whiteboard marker so you know expiry dates.

Weekender Camp Kitchen Spinifex

Folding camp kitchen with prep surface, side shelves, and washing basin. Keeps the eating table clear and gives you a proper outdoor kitchen station. The piece we should have bought earlier.

EvenTemp 3-Burner Stove with Griddle Coleman

3-burner gas stove with even heat distribution and a cast iron griddle. Works alongside the fire pit — covers fire bans, rain, and quick breakfasts. The griddle is the standout feature.

Cast Iron Camp Oven 4.5 Qt Campfire

Dutch oven for stews, curries, and damper over fire or gas. Season and dry thoroughly after every trip. We'd buy the 5-in-1 version if buying again.

Skillet Pan Kings

Cast iron skillet for the stove or open fire. Season properly before first use and dry before storing.

12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Kings

Main deep-cycle battery for camp. Charges reliably. Early days — hard to give a definitive long-term review yet, but no issues so far.

Battery Box Portable 12V Kings

Central power hub with Anderson plugs, 12V point, and 2 USB-A ports. Does the job. Not as heavy-duty as we'd like — don't bang it around. Replace the stock strap with a heavy-duty one.

200W Folding Solar Panel Kings

Large, heavy-duty. Running the fridge plus charging devices, the battery almost never drops below 90%. Can be cumbersome to move and position due to size.

Folding Solar Panel Bag Kings

Heavy-duty construction, great zipper, extra pocket for all accessories. Protects the panel from normal wear — just don't rely on it for hard bashes.

15A PWM Solar Controller Kings

Sits between panel and battery. Works fine through several trips. Pay close attention when plugging in — the solar and battery Anderson plugs are easy to mix up.

65W USB GaN Charger Kings

Charges devices fast — noticeably quicker than standard USB. Compact, runs cool. Match your cable to the charger's wattage or you're leaving speed on the table.

85W USB Car Charger Kings

Fast-charge a laptop and phone simultaneously on the drive. Use it as your charging window — plug in every device with a USB-C PD cable and arrive at 100%.

Lithium Rechargeable Turbo Fan Kings

Does three jobs well: pumps up sleeping mats, blows out hard-to-reach spots, and gets the fire going. No drawbacks — great product.

Megadome 500 Lantern Zempire

Best all-purpose family camp lantern we've tried. Glow-in-the-dark shell gives soft ambient light even when off — gentle enough for stars but enough to find your tent. Turn them off when not in use — battery drains fast.

Rechargeable Outdoor Mosquito Lamps Amazon

Cheap, genuinely effective — zapper and lamp in one. We've had ours for years and they still work every trip. USB rechargeable from the battery box. Turn on in the tent 1 hour before bed.

Mini Halo Tabletop Mosquito Repeller Thermacell

Compact and silent — no zap sound near sleeping kids. Hard to tell if it works though. It was a gift, we'll keep using it and update the score once we've got clearer evidence.

Geo Elite 4+2 ENV Dome Tent (6P) Wanderer

Spacious and well constructed. 2 adults + 2 kids camp comfortably. Plenty of built-in storage, double zip points for power cords. Not a blackout tent — harder to put kids to bed before sundown.

Rubicon II 200 Sleeping Bag (0°C) Blackwolf

Great design and build. Comfortable down to 0°C if you run hot. Zips together with an opposing-side bag for a 2-person setup. Hood pocket stitching tears easily — minor.

Rubicon II 300 Sleeping Bag (-10°C) Blackwolf

Same great build as the 200, just much warmer. Keeps cold sleepers genuinely warm. My wife's bag — if it keeps her warm, it works. Same hood pocket stitching issue. Bulkier given the extra fill.

QuickBed Double High Air Mattress — Queen Coleman

Blows up very thick and genuinely comfortable — proper bed feel. Put a blanket over the top to stop cold conducting up through the mattress. Bulky when packed.

Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner Mountain Designs

Compact, light, feels fantastic against the skin. Makes a real difference to warmth — turns one sleeping bag into a two-season bag. Loop the opening over the sleeping bag opening and shake it out before bed.

Collapsible Sink Kings

Collapses flat for packing, durable and sturdy when open. Drain plug makes emptying easy. Not super deep — minor issue. Don't waste water rinsing suds off, just dry with a tea towel.

Collapsible 10L Bucket Kings

Sides actually hold their shape — doesn't tip over easily like many collapsible buckets. Solid construction. We use ours as the water container for the shower pump.

22L Heavy Duty Water Can with Tap Bush Tracks

Main water storage at camp. Heavy-duty construction, no issues. Use a large flat-head screwdriver at home to remove the stopper and add the tap — much easier than doing it at camp.

Premium Single Shower Tent Spinifex

Multi-purpose — works for both shower and toilet. Plenty of internal storage keeps towel and clothes dry while showering. Sturdy, holds up well to wind, easy to put up and down.

Rechargeable Portable Shower Pump Spopal

Drops into a bucket and pumps water through a shower head. Rechargeable, compact, good water pressure for what it is. Sourced from China — no local warranty.

Portable Toilet 10L Spinifex

Sturdy, easy to use. Lasts 2 adults + 2 kids 3–4 days before needing to empty. Fill up the top half with water before you leave home. Can feel close to the ground — not really an issue.

Canvas Toilet Bag OZtrail

Spacious — the Spinifex 10L leaves room for a collapsible bucket and cleaning products. Heavy-duty material, good handles, zips up well. Always keep the chemical bags stored inside.

Instax Mini 12 (Blossom Pink) Fujifilm

Kids love it and real memories get made — the instant print is magic. Film is expensive (~$1.50/shot) and younger kids waste most of a pack. Worth it for the wonder factor on kids 6+.

Kids Colouring & Activity Books Big W

Cheap, infinitely replayable, the rainy-afternoon lifesaver when the kids are bouncing off the tent walls. Bring 2–3 per kid per trip and a pencil case with sharpeners.

Portable Alloy Camping Table Kings

Easy to set up, solid, lightweight, heat-tolerant — hot pots straight on it. Waist-height so extended food prep can cause back pain. Don't push the sliding arms fully together when assembling.

Ultra Compact Gazebo 2.4m Coleman

Goes up and down easily, packs away without issue. Solid middle-of-the-road option. Some metal push-button locks can falter. Always use the guy lines, even when it looks calm.

Gazebo Sunwall 2.4m Coleman

Blocks wind and low-angle sun on the weather side of the gazebo. Quick to attach via velcro. No issues, no breaks — does exactly what it needs to.

Getaway Camping Chair OZtrail

Simple and effective. As good as chairs at $120+. My top pick for anyone starting out if you've got the room. A little bulky — like all chairs in this price range.