π₯ Standing at the edge of your garage staring at a half-packed esky and a tangle of tent poles, you realise you’ve somehow accumulated three different camping stoves but can’t find a single working headtorch. After years of trial and error (and some truly dodgy setups), I’ve figured out exactly what camping gear in Australia is worth your hard-earned dosh – and what’s just gonna gather dust in the shed!
β Definitely Recommend – These Are Game Changers!
**Quality Swag or Tent** – Look, I swear by my Darche swag. Spent $400 odd dollars on it three years ago and it’s still going strong. The best camping gear Australia has to offer tends to come from brands like Darche, Oztent, or Roman – they actually understand our bloody harsh conditions.
**12V Fridge/Freezer** – Game changer, honestly. Being able to keep meat cold for a week-long trip? Priceless. Brass Monkey and EvaKool are ripper Australian options. Yeah, you’ll drop $500-800, but consider how many times you’ll use it.
**Portable Power Station** – Grab yourself a Jackery or EcoFlow. Keeps the phone charged, runs the camp lights, and means you’re not draining your car battery. Bloody essential if you’re camping off-grid.
**Quality LED Camp Lights** – Hard Korr makes some absolute crackers. Their strip lights are magnetic, waterproof, and bright enough to cook by.
**Australian-Made Sleeping Bag** – Roman and Black Wolf make bags that actually suit our climate. Don’t bother with overseas brands that are rated for European summers – you’ll cook!
β Skip These – Total Waste of Money!
**Cheap Kmart-Style Camping Sets** – I know they look tempting at $50 for a whole kit, but mate, they’ll fall apart by your second trip. The pots warp, the cutlery bends, and those plastic plates crack in the cold.
**Inflatable Mattresses** – Unless you enjoy waking up on the ground at 3am with a sore back and a deflated mattress. They always get a puncture, always. Get a proper self-inflating mat or stretcher bed instead.
**Gas Lanterns** – Bloody dangerous, burn through gas canisters like nothing, and throw out way too much heat for Australian summers. LED tech has made them totally obsolete.
**Massive 12-Person Tents** – Unless you’ve got a massive family or hate yourself, these monstrosities are a nightmare to set up solo and won’t fit in most campsite pitches.
**Camping Coffee Percolators** – They take forever, waste gas, and make average coffee. Just get some good instant or bring a stovetop espresso maker instead!
π€ Depends on Your Needs – Choose Wisely!
**Camp Oven vs Standard Gas Stove** – If you’re doing the whole traditional Aussie camping thing and wanna cook damper and roasts over the fire, a Bedourie camp oven is worth every cent. But if you just need to boil water for dehydrated meals, a $30 butane stove from BCF does the job perfectly.
**Solar Panels** – Essential if you’re free camping for weeks, but totally unnecessary for powered caravan park sites. Work out your power needs before dropping $300+ on panels.
**Camp Toilet** – Look, if you’re travelling with kids or plan to camp remotely often, a portable loo is worth it. But for weekend trips at serviced campgrounds? Save your money and your storage space.
**Roof Top Tent** – Deadset brilliant for quick setups and sleeping off the ground, but they’re a $2000+ investment and you can’t exactly pop into the shops with it on your roof.
π Best Places to Buy Camping Gear Online in Australia
**Anaconda** – The big green giant. Good range, regular sales, and their Adventure Club membership gets you decent discounts.
**BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing)** – Solid selection and price-matching policy. Their staff actually know their stuff too.
**Snowys Outdoors** – South Australian family business with an online store that’s bloody fantastic. Fast shipping and genuinely helpful customer service.
**Direct from Brands** – Darche, Oztent, and Roman all sell direct online. Sometimes you’ll find exclusive deals or bundle offers.
**Second-Hand Options** – Check Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Heaps of people buy fancy gear, use it once, then sell it cheap!
π Practical Info
π Various retailers Australia-wide
π Online shopping delivers Australia-wide in 3-7 business days
π° Basic setup: $300-500 | Quality setup: $1000-2000 | Premium setup: $3000+
π Shop online 24/7, retail stores typically 9am-5pm
β±οΈ Gear should last 5-10+ years with proper care
π‘ Tips & Warnings
β
Buy quality once rather than cheap gear twice – it actually saves you money long-term!
β
Test ALL your gear in the backyard before your first trip – nothing worse than discovering a missing pole at the campsite!
β Don’t buy everything at once – build your kit gradually based on what trips you actually do
β οΈ Watch out for fake reviews on cheap imported gear – stick to reputable Australian camping forums for real advice
π What would you add to either list? π Keen to hear what gear’s been a lifesaver (or a total dud) on your camping trips! Chuck your recommendations in the comments!
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