Camping

26 John Muir Quotes to Ignite Your Adventurous Spirit

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

Read More

Source
Cool of the Wild

Campfire Safety 101:
How to Safely Build and Maintain a Campfire

Nothing beats the feeling of gathering around a campfire with a few friends or family under a clear sky. The concept of building a campfire sounds easy, right? You only need a pile of wood and a match. Anyone who has ever been out camping knows that starting a campfire is not as easy as you think, especially in wet conditions. Creating the perfect campfire is an art that requires patience, expertise, and suitable supplies.

Read Full Story

Top Tips for Finding the Right Wild Camping Spot

If you’re here, then chances are you’re aware that wild camping enables you to explore further and adventure more into your natural surroundings. Whether you’ve done it before or you’ve recently been inspired to take a walk on the wild side, choosing the right wild camping spot can really make or break a trip.

When fatigue kicks in it’s easy to just throw down your tent where you stand but that easy option can lead to a sticky situation later on. With a little know-how, simple recommendations and some planning, your wild night can be as smooth as your roll mat!

In this article you will find:

• What is wild camping?
• Why go wild camping?
• Basic principles of camping in the wild
• How to pick a wild camping spot

Read Full Story

Camping means different things to different people. Many see it as a chance to explore, to get out and about and go adventuring. Whilst others like to kick back, relax and get well acquainted with their camp chair and beer cooler. We like doing a bit of both. But our downtime at camp is filled playing camping board games for several hours at a time (with a beer and a comfy camp chair, no less!).

What better way to end a physically challenging day out in the wild than by giving your brain a good workout too? Camping board games offer entertainment for everyone and are also an exceptionally good rainy day camping activity for all the family.

CLICK to find a list of camping board games with information about each from Cool of the Wild.

A beginner’s guide to camping in Queensland national parks

Nature’s calling, and so is a camping adventure.

New to pitching a tent? There are 165 national parks with campgrounds in Queensland, and not all of them were designed for roughing it. In fact, there’s not much more than a few letters difference between camping and glamping, if you know what you’re doing.

So if you’re looking for a nature escape that isn’t too wild, here’s our beginners guide to camping in Queensland national parks – in comfort. Read on …

Source
Queensland.com

Best Free Campgrounds in Queensland

There’s only one thing better than camping, and that’s free camping. Here are some of the best free campgrounds around Queensland, from the beach to the outback and every camp spot in between.

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Source
We are Explorers

How to be less gross outdoors

The Sea to Summit guide to personal hygiene
It’s important to know how to take care of business out on the trail. While it’s no big deal to stink, it’s another thing to end up with a nasty stomach bug in the middle of nowhere because you didn’t know any better.

Contents

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimise campfire impacts (be careful with fire)
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of traditional landowners and other visitors

Learn More
Source: Sea to Summit Blog

Camping for Beginners: 44 Tips for a Successful Trip

If you’ve never been camping before then you are in for a treat! There are so many amazing benefits of camping, aside from it just being plain good old-fashioned fun, and there’s a load to learn to make sure you are comfortable and safe. But camping for beginners can be a fine line between survival and having the best time ever – if you don’t quite know what you are doing then things can easily turn pear-shaped and you might never want to go camping again. The worst possible outcome!

To get the full picture of everything you need to know before you go camping for the first time, you should read this article from top to bottom. We’ve also linked to some of our more in-depth articles if you want to do some extra reading. And if you want to skip to specific areas then you can go straight there by clicking on any of the following camping for beginners categories:

• Planning your first camping trip
• Clothing for camping
• Food for camping
• Cooking at camp
• What you need for a good night’s sleep
• Things to do at camp
• Stay safe when camping
• Other important tips

Source
Cool of the Wild

Tips for Camping in the Rain

Have you ever camped in the rain? And I don’t mean a sun shower. I mean rain, that doesn’t ease up. Good or bad experience?

Generally, most people will say its far from ideal, and many just pack up and head home early.     And if that is possible, then do it.  Because it is not fun.  Sometimes, ending a holiday is not possible, and you are going to have to just deal with it.

Important disclaimer before you read further:   I do like rain on the tent at night.   It’s a great sound to hear when you are warm and dry.  So a little rain, is not going to kill you, and doesn’t mean a ruined holiday.  Stay calm and keep camping.

So, here are some tips for camping in the rain  (ie. not sun shower)

Source: Go Camping Australia

Kayak Camping Gear & Packing Guide

Ways to make your next camping trip more sustainable

If you’re looking for an eco getaway, camping out in the bush or by a beach is surely a green way to go. Isn’t it?

As with everything us humans do, camping does have an impact on the environment — but if you put some thinking into it, you can minimise that.

Two camping enthusiasts share their tips on making your next camping expedition a greener one. Read More

Source
Carol Rääbus
ABC Life

8 Tips on Keeping Your Gear Safe when Camping

A new resource from Go Camping Australia.

Being outdoors and camping is typically a safe and happy time.    But occasionally, we hear of campers who have had the misfortune to be the victim of a person(s) who care for no-one but themselves, and are intent on ensuring that rather than work for their own belongings, it’s easier to steal someone else’s gear.

Here in Australia, most campers are there to help each other when needed, and don’t have intentions to steal, but it is better to follow the old adage “better safe than sorry”.

Campersway

Camping for Beginners

No matter who you are or how you grew up, many people get the urge to get away from it all for a little while. Disconnecting from everyday life and heading out into the wilderness can be a very relaxing and rewarding experience. However, without much experience in the outdoors, it can be daunting to take your first steps into the world of camping. There is so much equipment, so many campsites, and so many competing opinions. What is the first step?

Source: Go All Outdoors

Camping Tips

A collection of camping tips from US based 50 Campfires that makes interesting and useful reading.

Camping in a Hammock

A new article by Jeremy Lam from We Are Explorers called How to Camp in  Hammock. Lots of good useful information about what you need, how to set up your hammock and how to get a good nights sleep. It is well illustrated too with some great photos of hammock sites in the Blue Mountains

Should you carry a pocket knife?

An article that appeared on the 50 Campers website highlighting the many reasons why carrying a pocket knife is a good idea …

There are so many reasons to carry a pocket knife everyday – and not just the days when you’re camping or hanging out outside. Personally speaking, it’s on par with any other household tool like a scissors or screwdriver that we might use daily. We’d like to share a few of our favorite everyday uses for a pocket knife. This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, but rather a thought starter about how carrying a knife daily could make your life easier.

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Camping

Camping is a great way to experience the Australian bush and see native wildlife. Take your pick from around 470 camping areas in Queensland’s parks and forests. You can enjoy spectacular ocean views, listen to the peaceful sounds of the rainforest, gaze at the stars while toasting marshmallows over your camp fire, spot unique wildlife and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities from bushwalking to adventure sports.

Make a Queensland national park or forest your next destination for a bush or beach camping getaway. There are camping opportunities to suit everyone, from remote camp sites with few or no facilities to camping areas equipped with toilets, showers, picnic tables and sites for camper trailers, caravans, motorhomes and tents.

Source
Queensland Government

A Life Beneath Stars

We quit our jobs, sold the house, put the dogs in the truck and set off to explore Australia and live A LIFE BENEATH STARS!!!

Free camping videos

Camping out with the kids

Family camping ideas, tips and tricks and information to help make your camping trips easier to manage and more fun for all the family

Glamping: a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.

Glamping is where stunning nature meets modern luxury. It’s a way to experience the untamed and completely unique parts of the world—without having to sacrifice creature comforts.

31 Portable Camping Toilets for Every Camper

Did you know that if you live to 78.6 years old you will  spend a total of 92 days on the toilet (and men spend 4 more minutes on the toilet than women daily). No wonder some people really worry about going to the toilet when camping – it’s a big part of our daily lives as the fact above attests!

Source
Go Camping Australia

9 Tips to Finding the Perfect Campsite

What is a perfect campsite? This is a difficult question to answer since you can’t always just find a flat piece of ground and take that as your space. Use area restrictions, terrain, water sources, and crowds, just to name a few, play a big part in selecting THE spot. But to make that selection just a tad easier, here are some tips … (US article)

See also: Leave No Trace (Australia)

The All In One Definitive Guide To Camping

“The best part of camping is that there is no particular season in which this outdoor recreational activity can be enjoyed. Camping is an all season recreational activity and can be carried out in whatever season deemed fit by a camper. It provides a person a way to get attached to nature and fulfill the inner need of exploration.”

Source
Harshit Jain aka Jainty
Hobbiesphere (Camping)

Camping for Women

Camping for Women is a website and organisation created and contributed to by women campers for women campers.

The Camping for Women tagline is ‘The Global Resource for Women Campers’ which is the vision to continually build a comprehensive resource catering to the wants and needs of women campers irrespective of their location.

How to Pack Your Car for Camping

Packing the car for a camping trip. What could be difficult about that?

Well, if you have stumbled across this page, chances are you might be needing a little bit of help.    Or maybe a few ideas on what you should do;   or find out what you could be doing wrong.

Now the beginners among you, might be the sort of campers who want to start off the right way!  If so, this story is going to help you get that start in the right direction.

See more tips at: http://www.gocampingaustralia.com

Caution Advised when Carry Boats on your Camper

Renowned Aussie bush mechanic, adventurer and CTA columnist John ‘Roothy’ Rooth has urged campers to use caution when carrying or loading boats on their trailers.

When properly loaded and carried, a boat can add heaps of enjoyment to your RV lifestyle, however, it adds significant weight to your rig and should be carefully considered before hitting the road.

John ‘Roothy‘ Rooth, well-known 4WD identity and CW columnist, said a boat is one of the best things to add to your travelling rig, but great care needs to be taken

Like any endeavour, camping is more enjoyable with a little preparation, so assembling and packing the equipment you need is your first order of business. If you’re tent camping, it pays to heed certain rules — you don’t want to share your snacks with the wildlife, do you? And sometimes you can camp with a campfire. Knowing how to get a campfire started is a welcome skill to have.

Camping is a wonderful way to spend time in the great outdoors. But if you’re tent camping, you don’t want to welcome too much of the great outdoors into your tent.

Happy campers observe simple rules, such as those in the following list, to keep tenting tidy and safe:

• To keep the inside clean (or at least cleaner), park your boots and shoes outside the tent. You can herd those wet and dirty items into a big plastic bag to protect them from weather.
• Don’t bring food into the tent. Animals can smell it a mile away, and you don’t want a bear — or any smaller critter, for that matter — sharing your tent.
• Safety first: Don’t light matches or use any flame-powered device inside the tent. That includes flame-powered heaters of any kind. Tent fires are extremely serious, possibly deadly.
• Resist the impulse to use the tent as a springboard. Kids of all ages are tempted to fling themselves against the side of the tent for the bounce-back effect. Sometimes the tent breaks. That’s b-a-a-a-d!
• Walk, don’t run, close to tents. Stakes and guylines are easy to trip over, and no camper enjoys a face-plant.

Breaking Camp

When breaking camp, be sure to restore the site as close to its natural appearance as possible. Taking down camp should be done according to the following guidelines to ensure everything goes smoothly:

• Begin by stuffing your sleeping bag and stowing your sleeping gear. If you really want to speed things up, open the valve on your air mattress or self-inflating sleeping pad while you are still lying on it, just before you get up.
• Top off your water bottles for the day’s journey, if needed.
• Put items you will need quickly during the day in an accessible area of your backpack (if backpacking), front handlebar bag (if biking), or nearby small waterproof bag (if paddling). These include snacks, maps, compass, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses, and so on.
• If it is raining, take down your tent and the tarp last. If it’s not raining, take tent and tarp down first. Shake off any excess moisture by holding the rain fly vertically and then shaking it wildly from side to side. Stuff your tent into its stuff sack. Wipe off the poles and stakes and place them carefully inside their stuff sacks if they’re separate pieces, or inside the main stuff sack if not.
• If you cleared sticks and twigs from an area under your tent, return them.
• After your stove is cool to the touch, pack it away along with your pots and pans.
• Completely douse any fire with water and stir the mixture so that the coals become cold to the touch. If there was an established fire ring before you got to the campsite, leave it. If not, bury the coals, scatter the rocks, blackened side down, and smooth over the area.
• Walk through the camp with every member of the camping party to be sure that all signs of your presence are removed and all litter, yours or not, is carried out.

Have fun!!

Source: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/camping-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

Please note this list is indicative only – to get you started!

Shelter

• Tent, tarpaulin or swag
• Poles, pegs, guy ropes as required

Sleeping

• Groundsheet
• Sleeping mat, stretcher or airbed (pump)
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Pillow
• Torch

Cooking & Eating

• Portable stove, BBQ or fireplace (gas bottle)
• Matches
• Billies, pots or pans
• Jaffle iron
• Can opener, cooking utensils
• Cutting board, knife
• Bowls, plates, cups and utensils 

Food & Water Storage

• Water container
• Eski , icepacks
• Containers (think minimal rubbish)

Washing up

• Bowl, biodegradable dishwashing liquid
• Dish cloth, tea towel

Rubbish

• Food scraps container
• Rubbish bags

Lighting

• Gas light, lantern or torches

Other

• Insect Repellent
• Toilet paper
• Sunscreen
• Games and activities – Frisbee, koosh balls, football, playing cards, travel games
• Camera
• Musical instruments

Safety

• First Aid Kit
• Mobile phone (safety back up only)

Personal

• Toiletries, towel
• Rain jacket, warm clothes
• Sun hat

Don’t Forget

• Friends and family!
• Fire regulations
• Rubbish collection
• Leave your site better then you found it!
• Let someone know where you are going and when you are expected back!
• Special treats (for kids of all ages!)

and things to leave at home 

• TV, iPods and cellphones
• Care and woes!
• Hair dryer

Caring for the Outdoors: A Minimum Impact Code
The places we all choose to go outdoors to camp, to walk, to ride, to climb,
to paddle, to fly and to sail, are very special. The uniqueness of the place adds
to the outdoor activity experience. As more people discover the pleasures of recreating in the outdoors, it becomes more apparent that our bush, beaches and waterways need care and protection to ensure that they are around for many more generations to enjoy.

It is the responsibility of everyone participating in outdoor recreation, to follow a minimal impact code of practice. By observing a few simple rules, we can all make a difference and the special places we go will remain special.

Plan your trip

• Know the regulations that apply to the area you’ll visit
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use
• Repackage food to minimize waste

Group size

• Some areas have limits on the number of people that can visit or be accommodated there at any one time.
• Find out before you go and comply with the management protocols.
• Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into smaller groups. Recommended group sizes may be 8 or less.

Protect the wildlife

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not touch, follow or approach native animals
• Never feed wild animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviours, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and rubbish securely.
• Avoid disturbing wildlife during sensitive times such as mating, nesting, or when they are raising their
• young.

Protect habitat

• Prevent plant and trail destruction and erosion by walking, riding and driving single file and staying on formed tracks even if it’s muddy.
• Protect our past – examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artefacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species into the natural bush
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

Protect the waterways and lakes

• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 50 metres from lakes and streams.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of
• biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater over the grass well away from waterways.
• Toileting should be done at least 100 metres away from lakes and waterways.
• Avoid polluting waterways with any sort of chemicals such as soaps, detergents, petrol, oils, insect
• repellents and sunscreens.

Pets

• Domestic pets disturb and displace native animals.
• Before you travel to an area, check that pets are allowed and what rules apply.
• Control pets at all times.

Choosing a place to camp

• Check the camping regulations and conditions for the area you are visiting. You may need to book ahead and obtain a camping permit. Some areas have limits placed on group sizes. Some campsites may be closed at certain times of year or for regeneration.
• Plan to camp at an existing designated campsite, rather than having to create a new site. Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
• Choose a durable surface at an established campsite to pitch your tent. Avoid placing your tent on
• sensitive grasses or habitat that will take a long time to recover.

Disposing of waste

• Pack it in, pack it out
• Before you leave, inspect your campsite and activity areas for rubbish or spilled foods. Take out all
• rubbish, leftover food, and litter, even if it isn’t yours. Leave your site better than you found it.
• If toilets are not provided, bury human waste 15 centimetres deep and at least 100 metres away from
• lakes and waterways.
• Take out hygiene products.

Fires and fuel stoves

• Check the fire regulations and conditions for the area you are visiting before your trip.
• Use a lightweight fuel or gas stove for cooking as an alternative to using an open fire.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings or fire pits if provided. As campfires scar the earth, avoid creating a new scar.
• Keep fires small and clear of surrounding vegetation and tents.
• Avoid collecting dead wood around campsites as this removes vital habitat.
• Escaped campfires can become devastating bushfires. Put out campfires completely before you leave.
• Do not light fires in times of severe fire danger.

Be considerate to others

• Respect the rights of other visitors to enjoy the outdoors as much as you and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous to other users of the outdoors.
• Camp away from tracks and other visitors.
• Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

Finally
Travel discreetly and leave no trace of your passing. Stay as quiet as possible and enjoy the peace and beauty of the bush. Learn to enjoy the Australian bush for what it is, not what you bring into it. Treat the wilderness and nature with the utmost dignity and respect.

The Importance of Clean Camping

Trips to national parks, campgrounds and the outback are an enjoyable activity for many people. The clean air and beauty of nature are often an undeniable draw for people who want to escape the noise, traffic, and overall hectic environment that is associated with living and working in cities and towns. To keep this experience enjoyable for everyone who seeks it, people must understand the right and the wrong way to behave during their trip. Ethical camping ensures that the environment stays healthy for current and future generations.

(Big thanks to the girls at  Creative Girls Adventure Book Club for this link – working hard to keep Mother Earth clean and beautiful)

Camping with children is an outstanding way to share a love for the outdoors without breaking the budget. While family backpacking or camping does take a great deal of planning and loads of patience, it is a rewarding activity for both you and your children.

If you have gone camping before, you will quickly realize that to go camping with children requires added responsibility and alertness on a parent’s part. Common sense and good judgment are the rule. Not surprisingly, the crucial point to a successful camping trip with parents and children is often rooted in their first experiences outdoors together.

A question commonly posed is, “When is my child old enough to begin hiking and camping?” The answer depends on your child. No two personalities are the same; no two children the same. What may work for one family may not work for another.

The following guidelines can help you decide when and where to introduce your child to the great outdoors, but please remember that the only firm guide is each child’s particular personality and physical condition. Whatever the activity, you must let her pace herself.

• Infant: Paediatricians recommend that parents wait until the child is 5 months old before venturing into the wilderness. This is when a child can easily sit up and support his own weight and has fallen into a fairly regular sleep pattern. Use a sturdy child carrier that is safe and secure for the child and comfortable for you.
• Toddler: Between the ages of 2 and 4, children are still getting used to the idea of being on two points of balance and not four. Short hikes up to 3km are ideal as long as the terrain is flat and secure to walk on. Take regular walks in a neighbourhood park to get a feel for your child’s attention span. Expect a focused attention span of around 10 minutes for younger children and up to 30 minutes for older children.
• Ages 5-9: Longer hikes at an easy pace over easy terrain are now possible. Children are beginning to develop more physical and mental durability. This is an ideal age to begin allowing your child to become involved in most aspects of the trip, from planning and packing to helping lead. The older your child is in this age group, the more likely moderate goal setting will be effective. Just make sure that the goals are shared and not an unrealistic attempt on the parent’s part to “motivate” the child up an impossible hill or over a 15km endurance test.
• Ages 10-13: Children are becoming increasingly conditioned physically. Emotionally, they are more likely to be able to handle moderately challenging situations, but they are also more likely to question the worth of anything extremely difficult. Hikes up to 15km are possible as long as the terrain is not too hilly or mountainous. Children in this age group thrive on being the leader — diplomatic and judicious support from parents is key. Menu planning, route finding, cooking, and camp setup are reasonable tasks to assign to kids at this age, but be careful that they do not take on too much and begin to feel like all they are doing is working.
• Ages 14-18: Distances up to 19km become reasonable in this age group. Terrain choices and goal setting can become more challenging, but the axiom remains the same: Any choice must be a group choice, or the parent risks making the children feel dragged along.

Hot Tips

Children are encountering growth spurts during this period and are definitely vulnerable to stress and overuse injuries. Use caution and listen to your children — they may need to back off a hike
Be prepared to get down and dirty with your children. Experience the outdoors with them — don’t just watch them. Parents shouldn’t scold their children for getting up close and personal with a mud puddle, dirt, a bug, or more. Become childlike in your pursuit of the outdoors and your children will appreciate even more the time you spend together in the wilds.

Source: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/camping-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

25 Camping Hacks for Kids

A few of tips scoured from the internet

Camping Safety

Camping is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. But in the excitement of a trip, and because of the unfamiliar surroundings and ways of doing things, it can lead to life-changing accidents.

Life-changing injuries result most often from burns or fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Following some simple safety advice means your camping trip should be a memorable experience for all the right reasons.

On this page you will find advice for:

• Open fires and barbeques
• Cooking stoves
• Carbon monoxide (CO) risks
• Signs of CO poisoning
• Fire and learning about risk
• Resources for campsite managers, and school trip organisers

Outdoor Camping Safety Tips + Checklist

We could talk your ear off about camping safety tips, but there’s no bigger safety measure than preparing the right way first. Hopefully you have heard of the Five Ps:  proper preparation prevents poor performance. Let the Five Ps be your guide! A safe camping trip is one where you have checked off all of the boxes to ensure everyone is safe and happy

(Note: Although this is a US based article it has a lot of useful tips – just don’t woirry too much about the bear spray in QLD!)

Camp fires, fuel stoves and barbecues – important and useful information from National Parks, and watch this important Campfire Safety message

Take care around your campfire!

Go Camping Australia

Sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, we discussed that
we had visited this particular campsite without knowing much about it – there was very little information available online – and once there, we discovered that there was nowhere to get water, the toilets were disgusting and that shade and privacy was minimal!

Determined that other campers know this key information so they too could be more prepared, the website was started, and has grown and grown, to now include gear reviews (from an Australian perspective), handy tips and guides.

Blog

Before you leave home check the park alerts on the NPSR website for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Go to Park Alerts

Find a Park

• A detailed overview of national parks, state forests and recreation areas in Queensland. Browse parks for bushwalks, picnics, accessibility, camping and fishing. With links to permits and a regional map of Queensland.

• A detailed overview of national parks, state forests and recreation areas in Queensland. Browse parks for bushwalks, picnics, accessibility, camping and fishing. With links to permits and a regional map of Queensland.

Parks & Forests (Queensland Government)

Scouts Queensland Campsites

Scouts Queensland operates 37 campsites across the State.

By becoming a ‘Supporter of Scouting’, you and your family are able to camp at any one of them.

Find yourself outside.
Discover and book tent camping, caravan parks, cabins, and glamping—everywhere from national parks to blueberry farms.

Hipcamp | Outdoor Stays: Tent Camping, RV Parks, Cabins & Glamping

Camps Australia Wide

Camps Australia Wide is now in its twentieth year of operation and are Australia’s most recognised travel guides, through the production of the ever popular Camps series (Camps 10) and Caravan Parks Australia Wide (Parks 5). Whether you are heading away on the “big lap” or just a weekend away, let our Camps Australia Wide guide you – campsites, camping resources and more …

Campsites (Go See Oz)

Go See Oz contains a wealth of travelling information to encourage the mobile traveller to venture outdoors, more often & better prepared. It will allow you to plan a safe journey, with inspiration, confidence and enthusiasm.

Camp sites, rest areas, farm stays, parks, caravan parks, showgrounds …

Camping Coffee 9 Ways

In this article you’ll learn all the different camping coffee making methods and even a few camping coffee hacks. You’ll discover some new methods, how to adapt your current methods to the campground, and which methods are best for your preferred style of camping. Either way, one thing’s for sure: you’ll come away knowing how to make coffee while camping!  Read More

Source: Cool of the Wild

25 easy camping recipes that use 5 ingredients or less

When you are out camping, hiking, and backpacking you have a lot on your plate. Sadly, gourmet food is usually not one of them. It can be down right impossible to pack enough food and gear to make delicious and varied meals, right? Wrong! With the right know-how you can make amazing food without a lot of gear or ingredients. Check out these 25 easy camping recipes that use 5 ingredients or less and you’ll never cook (or eat) the same way again. Read More

Source: Eureka Camping

Basic Camp Fire Damper 

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
(alternative – use 1/2 cup of fresh or long life milk and only 1 cup of water adjusting as needed)

Preparation:
Add dry ingredients: flour, salt and milk powder into a bowl.
Add water gradually stirring as you go.

Now the fun part! Add a bit of flour to your hands, get those fingers working and ensure everything is mixed together. Once your dough is forming, place the mixture on a well-floured surface and knead lightly. Shape the mixture into a round and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes.

Cooking
Grease & Dust your camp oven with flour and place your Damper inside OR place your damper on some greased foil inside your camp oven
Place the lid on firmly and place camp oven on the hot coals
Cover the lid with coals also and allow to cook for around half an hour
NOTE: The damper will sound hollow when you tap it once it’s cooked.

Source: Little Aussie Travellers

35 Easy Dutch Oven Recipes for Camping

There is a great article on camp oven cooking (page 6) in the 2019 January edition of the 50 Campfires Magazine

6 Great Ways To Make Camping Coffee

For most of us, coffee is an essential starter in the morning on any camping adventure. Even those who don’t drink coffee usually love its smell wafting across a campsite. Combined with frying bacon and wood smoke, it’s an aroma that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

What’s the best way to make camping coffee? Well, that’s the source of prolonged debate among experienced campers. Everyone has a favorite recipe or technique, but if you have an open mind here are some you might want to try yourself.

Source: 50 Campfires

Scientifically, granolas or mueslis are often recommended as the breakfast of choice because their long, slow release of energy keeps you active and alert. In addition, I often use a small pack of granola enhanced with a few M&Ms as a snack or a treat along the way. The chocolate gives you a short burst of zing – just the thing when the hill in front starts to look a little steep.

Pre-cooked granola
I usually make my granola at home and take it with me as a cereal in small serving-sized sealed bags. The bag can be used as an alternative to a bowl by simply cutting off the top and adding either UHT milk, UHT yoghurt or pureed fruit (in the squeeze bag). Granola does have a long cooking time, but you don’t really need to do anything labour-intensive apart from a little mixing from time to time.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 90 minutes to 2 hours
You can mix and match the seeds and nuts in your granola to cater for different tastes and flavour combinations. Dried unsalted pumpkin seeds are a good alternative or an “as well as” to the seeds portion of your granola. I get my own out of pumpkins that I grow at home; sun-drying works well. To give a colourful boost (and some instant energy) to your granola or appeal to younger travellers (or even the not so young ones), try adding some Smarties, M&Ms or mini marshmallows. This is after baking and cooling of course. Or you could try adding dried fruit, chopped or whole, such as raisins, sultanas, apricots, mango or apple just before serving.

250gm rolled oats
100gm unsalted sunflower seeds
100gm unsalted cashews
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
100ml sunflower oil
4-5 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 140°C/275°F.
Mix together the rolled oats plus the seeds and nuts in a shallow roasting tin.
In a small saucepan, heat the sunflower oil and honey for a few minutes, stirring well. Add the vanilla to the saucepan and mix. Pour the honey mixture over the oat/seed/nut mixture and mix thoroughly. A clean pair of hands is a good tool for this.
Bake at 140°C, stirring occasionally, until the granola mix is golden and crunchy. Allow the granola to cool and then store in an airtight container.

Pumpkin seed muesli
As with the previous recipe, the dried fruit that you use in your muesli is your choice. I am a huge fan of dried mango and raisins, whereas my husband prefers apricots. I have added the dried apple in the ingredients list for this muesli as an addition to the other dried fruit. The dried apple adds a beautiful flavour and texture to the muesli.
Be aware that some store-bought dried fruit may include chemicals that can bring on medical conditions. Best to dehydrate your own.

50gm unsalted pumpkin seeds
50gm sunflower seeds
50gm slivered or flaked almonds
200gm rolled oats
2-3 tablespoons shredded fresh coconut
100gm bran
100gm dried fruit, roughly chopped
50gm dried apple, chopped

Pop the pumpkin and sunflower seeds in either a food mill or food processor and pulse until they are roughly chopped. You can keep pulsing until the nuts and coconut reach a consistency that you prefer. Now place the chopped seeds as well as the coconut in a dry frying pan over a low heat. Heat until the seeds and coconut are very lightly toasted.
Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Store your muesli in an airtight container or in airtight or vacuum-sealed bags until ready to use

Source
Lynn Bain
Great Walks

Camping Meals for Beginners

Food when camping can be a big part of your camping experience.  Your whole day may revolve around what the next meal will be.

Source
www.gocampingaustralia.com

Beginner Camping Tips & Guide to Planning Your Camping Food  

When you are new to camping, there are a lot of things you need to think about.  Food is no exception.

In fact, you will find that’s a big part of having a good camping trip.     Because being hungry is no fun.      Meals are also a time when everyone gets together,  either around a table or the campfire, so food becomes a very social part of camping as well.

Source
www.gocampingaustralia.com

The Picky Eaters Guide to Camp Grub

Amy Molloy knows a thing or two about camping and camp grub. Here she lets us in on some tips she’s learnt along the way.

Gluten free, sugar free, vegetarian, vegan or just plain picky. Outdoorsy types are meant to be easy going but that doesn’t always translate to our eating requirements.

In fact, my hiking crew are fast becoming more dietarily difficult than a group of Bondi hipsters and I’m no better. So, if you can’t serve up sausages in a can, what are the quick and easy alternatives that are still light to carry? No-one wants to go to their sleeping bag hungry, so trying adding these tasty tricks to your menu…

The Outdoor Ed Cookbook

by Laura Collins, Hannah Sanders & Enya Schaefer

The three of us got together to create an outdoor cookbook that can be used by both outdoor
professionals and outdoor education students alike. We wanted to make it an easy to use
resource for whenever inspiration or information is needed for both outdoor expeditions and base-camping trips. We also wanted to give options for people who have a variety of dietary requirements.

3 Favourite Camp Oven Recipes

Every Australian who goes bush ought to have a camp oven as part of their kit. They are simple and to use, and they produce some of the most mouth-watering meals you’ll ever eat, enhanced by the great environment in which you consume the results.

Source
Without a Hitch

How to Make a Solar Oven

There are numerous reasons why one should learn how to make a solar oven, whether they are going to be using one for camping/outdoor living, or conducting a science experiment, learning the dynamics of a solar oven are greatly beneficial.

Solar ovens afford many the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, minimize greenhouse gases, and learn about Newton’s Laws of Physics all in one creation.

15 Delicious Camping Breakfast Recipes

Having a leisurely breakfast when camping is a very civilised way to start the day.

If you have the time (and desire) to have something apart from Weet-Bix or bacon and eggs on the barbie,  then camping can be a great place to try something a little different.

See more at www.gocampingaustraliablog.com

Easy Camping Breakfasts

Downloadable ebook from Go Camping Australia

When camping, sometimes breakfast ideas are not always easy to come up with, apart from the classic bacon & eggs or pancakes. Both are delicious options, which will be included in this guide (but with a twist).

Subscribe for this great ebook and more great resources, tips and camping info