Category: Camping

Camping and Queensland go together like a pie and sauce; in fact most true Queenslanders are actually conceived while camping!! It’s a state institution and with good reason, cracking weather, awesome beaches and enough area to sort out the crowds. It’s one of our favourite states to unroll a swag and crack a cold. As such, here, in no particular order, are our favourite 5 campsites in the big state of Queensland.

Carnarvon Gorge

An oasis in outback QLD, situated between Roma and Emerald, Carnarvon Gorge offers epic cliffs lining the crystal clear Carnarvon Creek. Rainforests team with life and it is the perfect place to cool off and escape that Queensland heat. This place seriously looks like it was created for a movie and really doesn’t belong in the expanse of outback in which it exists.

Eurimbula National Park

Right near the town of 1770, the turn off for Eurimbula points you toward picture perfect camp grounds that are a stone’s throw from perhaps the very furthest northern surf break in Australia. That alone is reason to hit Eurimbula for a few days but couple this with the fact that you are also at the closest point to the Great Barrier Reef and you start to get idea. Bustard Beach camping area is a cracker but there are others to choose from.

Teewah Beach  

Roughly 14 kms of epic beach campsites with little in the way of amenities which is exactly why we like it; this is beach camping stripped down to what it should be. Walk out of your camp and catch a wave followed by catching a fish. Bring in everything you need for your stay and prepare to enjoy QLD beach camping at its pinnacle.

Fraser Island and Moreton Island

Yeah ok this is actually two very large bodies of land, both requiring a ferry ride to access and both having dozens of camping options however it’s the simple fact that both are just so unique in being massive sand islands that makes them utterly essential camping experiences that simply can’t be missed. Fraser offers a more remote camping experience, especially the further north you go while Moreton has a fraction of the crowds. Either way, you just have to experience one of the two island at least once; however so good are they that once will never be enough.

Eddies Camp, Hopevale

So many people power north in their rush to hit the tip of Cape York that the paradise of Eddies camp is a hidden secret. Half an hour east of Hopevale, Eddies is lined with paperbark trees on the edge of Elim Beach. This is true wilderness camping with crocs on the beach, campfires, the famous Coloured Sands and one of the most remote kiteboarding resorts just up the beach (well worth checking out regardless of your interest in the sport, trust us).

When it comes to rolling out canvas under the Milky Way, your options these days are many and varied. Do you go the tried and tested old swag, get a little bit fancy with a roof top tent or head back to the space of an old fashioned tent design? At the end of the day, each has pluses and minuses; let’s have a good look at each choice.

SWAG

It’s one of the easiest and most versatile choices, portable and comfortable at the same time. Today’s swags have come a long way from being just a pocket of canvas with a mattress; poles and supports mean your swag choices are extremely comfortable and roomy. Consider whether you want a swag that relies on ropes to hold it up or whether a free standing option suits you better. Once you’ve made your choice, be sure to “weather” your swag at home before its first use. Set the beast up and thoroughly wet it with the garden hose, allow it to dry and repeat as many times as possible. This lets the fibres swell, essentially making sure the fabric is totally weather proof. A great tip is keeping a wax stick handy to rub over stitching that may still slightly leak, even after weathering. Have a think about using a ground sheet to both protect the base of your swag and for comfort on hard or uneven ground.

ROOF TOP TENT

Perhaps the largest and most “committed” sleeping choice is the roof top tent. This design will often take up the majority of your useable roof space, can make your 4WD slightly top heavy and may add to fuel usage thanks to wind resistance. One big factor with a roof top tent is making sure that once you’ve decided on hitting camp, you’re not planning on moving again! Of course once you’ve set up your roof topper it’s a hassle to have to take it down to change camps or reposition. The up side however is an unparalleled sleep experience, up off the ground, in a large and comfortable environment. Roof top tents have excellent ventilation and catch the breeze in hot environments. Even on rocky, wet or uneven ground you can position your vehicle to make sure you always have a flat, comfortable sleep. When setting up your RTT in exposed conditions, try to avoid side-on winds as being elevated these may be accentuated; face your tent into the wind for best results.

TENT

Gone are the days of bulky awkward canvas and centre poles or even the old school A frame camping tents that leak and are no bigger than a swag. Today a tent can be set up in 30 seconds, offer plenty of head room and even have rooms for children or multiple bodies. The downside of course is the sheer bulk of packing such a structure away and then, unlike RTTs or swags, having to setup bedding inside as a separate package. Just like swags, canvas tents will benefit from weathering to make sure the material is as waterproof as possible. A real benefit of a large modern tent is the “vestibule”. This covered outside area will allow for gear storage as well as activities such as cooking and relaxing out of the weather, yet not inside the main body of the tent. This feature alone can make tent ownership very attractive. Tents also make excellent, quick and portable base stations for extended camps, where daily activities that see you leaving camp and returning at night, to a fully set-up camp with all the comforts of home, without having to tow. When packing your tent be sure to remove as much dirt or mud as possible and if the tent has to be packed away wet, unpack it once home and thoroughly dry it before storage to prevent mould and mildew growing on the canvas.

When it comes to camping we’ve found that anyone can be uncomfortable but it takes a few smart ideas and some skills to be totally comfortable in all conditions. Camping should be fun, don’t let anything make your time in the bush be anything but awesome. Staying comfortable makes a world of difference and we’ve got a few tips to keep you out there as long as possible.

WEATHER

A sunny day near a river or a star filled warm night around a campfire is always going to be the bee’s knees when it comes to camping; however what’s the go when the weather turns pear shaped? Perhaps the number one downer is rain. Being able to shelter comfortably from rain is paramount. Awnings off 4WD roof racks work a treat, camper trailer awnings and tent vestibules are also brilliant. Regardless of how waterproof your swag is, setting it up under an awning or better still, awning wall, means you can comfortably get in and out of bed even in torrential rain. Keep fire wood under your 4WD or awning as well so that dry wood can always be added to a campfire; it’s is surprising how well a campfire will burn even in poor conditions if the wood is dry.

LIGHTING

Nothing beats an old kero lantern for mood lighting but let’s be honest, they suck. Quality LED strip lights cannot be beaten for making a campsite at night far more user friendly. They pull very little power from a battery system and cast a solid white light a good distance. Given the flexibility of the strip, they can literally be mounted just about anywhere. Don’t forget the dorky old head torch either for more specific tasks or for toilet excursions away from camp.

SLEEPING

Who doesn’t love a good night’s sleep under the stars and doing so puts you in fine form for the next day’s activities? Regardless of your bedding choice, be sure to set-up on level ground with sleeping attire suitable for the conditions you are in. A fitted sheet and pillow make a huge difference as does a rated sleeping bag that will guarantee a warm night. There is nothing worse than a night spent trying to get warm because of poor sleeping arrangements.

FOOD

Sure, a few snags on a BBQ is a great lunch but let’s face it, camping and camp cooking go hand in hand. Master a few quality campfire meals so that the evening feed goes from bread and sausages to the kind of dish your mates talk about for ages. It need not be complex, the old camp oven roast and veggies is a simple example of camp food done right. Nothing beats a roast on a cold and wet night, especially under an awning, with the fire cranking! Check out our lamb shoulder recipe here.

Yep you can sit on the ski, or you can get a camp chair that rivals your lounge at home. Keep in mind how much space you have for storage then try as many as you can in camping shops. You will be blown away by the choice these days but needless to say, there are dozens to choose from. Having a comfortable camp chair to pull up to the fire is camping done right; just try not to fall asleep in it after last drinks are called!