Summer Camping Checklist

Despite La Niña dampening the summer of 2022, better weather is on the horizon.

It’s the perfect time to gather your friends and family, get outside in nature and enjoy each other's company, rain or shine. We’ve put together a few tips to make sure your summer camping sesh goes off without a hitch.

Organisation is key to a smooth sailing camping trip so first things first. Choose a great campsite and book ahead to ensure they have space for you and your crew. There’s nothing worse than packing the car, getting halfway there and realising you forgot to pack the stove. So...with that in mind, we’ve created the ultimate Summer Camping Checklist along with a list of our favourite camping tips and tricks! 

1. CHECK YOUR GEAR BEFORE YOU GO 

We recommend doing a test run before you leave by setting up your tent in the garden. This will enable you to make sure it’s still in one piece and there are no urgent repairs needed (you know, the ones you forgot to do last time?!). It’s much better to get everything fixed up before you leave than when you’re at camp and losing light. Set up your “soon-to-be campsite” in the backyard to inspect it and run through a quick checklist; tent  – check, chairs – check, table – check, cookware check -…etc. One of the best packing tips we can give you is to use the Summer Camping Checklist to make sure you have everything covered. Nobody likes to start cooking dinner in the camp kitchen only to realise you forgot the cooking utensils (yes it has been done before, and it's not that easy to flip eggs with a couple of sticks!).

2. DON’T FORGET THE FUN STUFF!

Going exploring in the great outdoors doesn’t have to be stressful either. The right gear can save you time and sanity, and the camp envy will be obvious from those around you who haven’t planned and prepared. A few things that are essential to pack – THE FUN STUFF!!! Throw in the footy, a cricket set, Frisbee, bocce set, badminton, totem tennis, slackline and even your bike if there’s room!  This will keep everyone in your camp having fun and, if you're lucky, encourage your camping neighbours to come out of the woodwork for the world’s biggest game of touch footy.

3. PACK THE RIGHT TYPE OF GEAR 

Taking the right equipment for the location and season is a must and will allow you all to be completely present on your camping holiday, as opposed to worrying about being too cold or too hot. Bring extra layers so you can layer up or down depending on the temperature and a rain jacket just in case! Don’t forget your bug spray and Shoo Away to keep the flies at bay.

We've pulled together a collection of some of the things you're going to need for your long weekend away in our Summer Gear Guide. 

To check it out, CLICK HERE and, for the ultimate checklist of everything you need for your Summer Camping getaway, VIEW & PRINT YOUR SUMMER CAMPING CHECKLIST.

Not sure what gear you need for your Summer Camping adventure? Chat with our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia and #mywildearth in your next post.

About the contributor:

Lauren Clark is the social media manager for Wild Earth. An obsessive gram counter who's always on the hunt for the lightest and most compact gear for hiking and travel. You'll find her overseas in one country or another attempting digital nomad life. When she's not working she's taking in as much culture as she can, eating all of the foods, hiking all of the trails and trying to find people to belay for her. Follow her adventures on Instagram.