• An obvious one is to read sbout camping from the internet
• Read books and magazines purchased locally, on your travels or from the internet
• Use road maps, holiday guides, brouchures etc to get a better understanding of your region or interstate you want to travel to.
• DVDs are an excellent source of information. There have been many travel and adventure Australia DVDs been produced.
• Ask the staff at your local camping, boating, fishing, 4WD stores for appropriate information.
• Forums are a great source of information for camping, travelling,  camp cooking, fishing, 4wd and much more.
• Camping, 4WD, Caravan & RV Shows are an excellent source. Ask the sales people any questions you may have about products. Best of all you can compare many products quality, prices all in one place.
• My favourite would have to be when you are camping & travelling is walking around the campground, holiday park etc your staying at and seeing what other campers are using. Most campers and travellers love to tell you about their camper, RVetc.

There is many ways to learn about camping and travelling but usually after the intial planning and preparation the best way to learn is to experience it. Happy Camping and Travelling!

Guess what happened next , we had intermittent showers Saturday afternoon with a bit of thunder and lightning that went away and some went out fishing again.

That night we had a beautiful campfire going, cooked tea and sat around the campfire till late. Soon after we went to our tents it started to rain again and it rained on and off all night with rumbles of thunder between the rain.

What was suprising is a new tent we had recently purchased the Malamoo 3 second tent we bought from BCF  as shown on this You Tube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnAQp-IIPo

It did not let any water in under very wet conditions. It’s ideal for one person but is also excellent for a quick overnight stop for 2 people. It actually takes about 10 seconds then peg it down which is still very quick and convenient.

Where we camped has a long dirt road to get in and gets slippery with any rain on it, so we packed up and drove out before we got more rain. The photo shows us driving out through the mud.

So we will Breakfast for 3 mornings, lunch for 2 days and tea for 3 meals. Then decide what you are going to have for each meal. Here are some examples.

• Breakfast – toast, cereal, eggs and bacon etc
• Lunch – Hamburgers, eagg & bacon muffin, salad roll/sandwich/rollup, pasta, BBQ etc
• Tea – BBQ, camp oven casserole or stew, kebabs, pasta, fish if you can catch one etc

Then write a list of ingredients for every meal, then go through that list and underline or circle the ingredients you already have at home. Pack the items you have marked and purchase everything else on the list and pack them. Cross any items that you double up on when you make your indredients list.

Making this camping food shopping list will make organising a litlle easier and hopefully you will have everything you need for some great meals in the great outdoors. Happy Camping!

These suggestions and ideas will get you thinking about what type of holiday will suit your family. Kids of all ages will enjoy all these holidays you just need to choose what suits your family, depending on your interests, how long you have and where you would like to travel to.

Beach – The beach is always a great family holiday, splashing in the waves, surfing, making sandcastles, discovering rock pools, playing beach cricket and relaxing. Your accommodation can be anything from a tent in a campground nearby, a holiday house or an apartment overlooking the beach. Australia has a vast range of beaches there is sure to one to suit you.

Camping Trips – Camping makes for a great family holiday, camping includes everything from camping in a tent, staying in a cabin, campervan, caravan and an RV. The locations you camp at are amazing, most towns have some type of Holiday Park, there is also National Parks, State Forests and reserves.

Theme Parks, Zoos etc – We have all heard about Sea World, Deamworld, WetnWild and Movie World, there are many other fun parks, zoos and many other attractions that families can enjoy.

Road Trips – Road trips can be as long or short as you like, you can travel around your local region or you can travel through several states and have an exciting trip exploring Australia.

Farmstays – If you have never been to a farm this is a great way to introduce your kids to farm animals and the way of life even if it is only for a weekend.

Adventure – If you are looking for some adventure, you can try white water rafting, parachuting, drive a V8 supercar, ride in a jetboat, bungee jump and many more.

Houseboat – Houseboats are the most relaxing way to have a holiday, they are setup just like a house with everything you need. Enjoy BBQs, fishing, reading a book, move the houseboat occasionally for a different view and have a nature walk along the banks of the river.

Snow – Australia some terrific snow fields in Victoria and New South Wales, always a family favourite, try skiing, snowboarding, the old favourite tobogganing and you can always make a snowman and throw some snowballs.

Train – Train are certainly an old favourite for all ages, whether is a short trip or an adventure train ride like the Ghan across Australia.

International – Going overseas is a huge adventure, there is so many destinations available like Bali, Indonesia, Canada. US, Fiji and Malaysia just to name a few.

ALL the information you need for an unforgettable driving, camping and travel adventure in Australia! Click Here

These recipes for scones and damper are great family favourites to try next time you go camping, very easy for kids to try too!

Simple Camping Scones

You Need  4 cups SR flour, 1 can – 375 ml lemonade and 300ml bottle cream

Place all flour in a bowl, soft drink and cream, mix, add a little more flour if mixture is too sticky. Mix to a soft dough.

Place on floured surface, roll out or flatten till about 4cm thick, use a scone cutter or a glass or cup to cut the circles.

Place in pre heated and greased (or use baking paper) camp oven and cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Makes about 15-20.

Add jam or honey and cream or toppings of your choice. Then enjoy!

Bushman’s Damper

You need 2 cups SR flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 cups milk

In a bowl mix the flour, sugar and salt, cut up butter into small pieces and add rub in a little.

Add milk and mix to a soft dough, knead and roll out onto a floured area and shape into a round loaf, cut a cross on top.

Grease the camp oven and flour lightly, place damper dough in camp oven, cover and place on the campfire and bake for 30 minutes. The damper will sound hollow when tapped when it is ready. slice or break into pieces and serve with butter, jam, honey or anything of your choice.

Enjoy camp oven cooking next time you go camping, what you can cook with a camp oven is just about unlimited, try it when you get the chance.What do you like cooking in your camp oven, do you have any favourite recipes?

These online maps and travel planners will help you get visual look at your itinerary and a better perspective on where you are going.

Google Maps  and video showing  How to create a Map

Street-Directory   Street, Business & Accommodation Directory – Australia & New Zealand Road Map

Drive There   Trip Planner From The NRMA

Travel Planner  From the RACQ

Route Planner   From Tourism Vic – covers all of Oz

Swaggie Travel Planner

Travel Mate Map Maker

World Wide Planners

Planitonearth – Webjet’s free trip planning and budgeting tool

Round The World Trip Planner

Use these online maps and trip planning tools to plan and organise your next adventure holiday.

• How much can I afford?  Generally it is best to look for camping products in the mid price range – not cheap and nasty, not top range(unless you can afford it of course) Choosing a price range is a good start and will help you answer the following questions.
• How many will be using the tent? How many adults and kids, what ages are the kids and what type of beds and allow room for luggage for each person. Tents are marked as how many beds will fit in not allowing for any spare room eg. A 4 person tent is suitable for 2 -3 persons, a 6 person tent is suitable for 3-4 people. Some tents have straight sides and some are curved – a straight side gives you more room inside. Some tents are not full height – it is much easier to get dressed in a tent will standing height roof.
• How many rooms? Tents can be with 1, 2 or 3 rooms, this depends on the age of your kids. You will probably want younger kids close to you. Older kids will appreciate their own tent. So this depends on your needs, either buy a tent with several rooms or 2 single room tents. It maybe quicker to put up 2 single room tents if your kids are old enough to put it up themselves.
• What features? The tent should be ventilated, have windows, floor should go up the sides, check door zips are good quality and access is easy, colours are a personal choice – generally colours are in natural shades or darker colours (dark colours may retain heat) Bright coloured tents are recommended for hikers so they can be easily seen from above if they are being searched for.
• What type of tent? Tents generally come in to 2 types – Canvas or Dome. Canvas is the more traditional style and is made of cotton canvas. Dome tents are made of polyester. When wet the canvas swells and prevents leakage, polyester is waterproof and lightweight. Canvas tents when packed up are heavy and usually a large article to pack in. Dome tents usually pack up into a roll shape and are much smaller pack than the canvas tents and if you are short of car space they have an advantage.

When you are looking around in Camping shops or shows ask plenty of questions about choosing the right camping tent that will suit your family and situation.

• If you’re planning on taking a portable fridge on your camping trip, turn it on and run it for a day or two before leaving – this will help it be nice and cold when you arrive
• When setting up your tent ensure that you are not camped in an area where water will be directed in heavy rain like a natural waterway
• Check the camp ground rules in advance so you know what is allowed, when you can check in and out and whether pets are allowed etc.
• Check if ice is available nearby if you don’t have a portable fridge
• Check the expected weather conditions and day and night temperatures so you know what clothing to pack. This is especially important if you have young children
• Plan your meals in advance and choose meals which are easy to prepare and don’t require lots of cooking time or utensils. Use ingredients that can be easily stored and used.
• If you are on medication ensure you have enough for your trip or that there is a suitable place to buy more should it be required
• Insulated cups with lids are very useful.  Make sure you have one for everyone in your group. They keep your drink  hot or cold and insects out
• A road map is a great way to mark out your journey. However if you’d rather not get into an argument over directions, you may want to spend a little extra and use a GPS navigator also
• To keep the bugs out of your tent at night do not use a light while entering or exiting your tent and keep it closed unless you are getting in or out of it.
• For a good night’s sleep on a hot night unzip a window in your tent slightly. This will help remove unwanted moisture
• Keep some healthy snacks and water handy for the drive home if it is a long trip

Can you add any more camping tips?

Escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and going camping is refreshing and exciting to wake up to peace and tranquillity in a natural habitat. If you go camping in a Holiday Park it is still a change of scenery and there is always plenty to do within the park and local area.

Camping is a cheap adventurous holiday that all ages can enjoy. Preparing what you are taking a week or two beforehand will make you trip more successful and less likely to forget something important. Always use a checklist to help you get ready.

Sometimes you may find a campground that is just right and continue to go there for several years, quite often you will find other campers will do the same. Other times you will find that you like to try different places so you see different surroundings and explore a different part of Australia.

Your Guide To Travelling Australia is absolutely unique. You won’t find a more comprehensive travel Australia book anywhere else on the Internet or in a Bookshop.

When visiting Central Australia,  Uluru-Ayers Rock is always going to be main place to visit, so like everyone else we wanted to see it. We stayed at the Ayers Rock Resort Campground in tents. Which was very good, plenty of room and good amenities. We stayed 2 nights and visited Uluru which was about 10- 15 minutes drive from the campground, camping is not permitted close to Uluru like it used to be.

We drove out the the ‘rock’ which was sort of mesmirising as you could this huge rock for at least 10 minutes getting bigger as we got closer to it.

We climbed the rock, about 1 ½ hours up and about 1 hour to get down and then we walked around the base, about 8 kilometres and about 2 hours. We were excited and exhausted when we had finished. The view from the top was amazing and it was unbelievable that we were actually at the ‘rock’ that we had seen many times on TV and in photos.

While camping and travelling an added extra bonus it we get to meet many other people from Australia and overseas. When we camped at the Ayers Rock Resort we met a great family from Sydney. We camped beside them, the kids starting playing cricket between out tents and from then on we have kept in contact ever since and have been on many camping trips with them including going to ‘The Kimberley’.

We then travelled with this family for 10 days as we were going the same way to Kings Canyon, Palm Valley and Alice Springs. Kings Canyon is in Watarrka National Park. we camped at Kings Canyon Resort, which had plenty of room and good amenities. We stayed for 2 nights.

Kings Canyon is definitely worth seeing, this photo shows the start of Kings Canyon. You can choose to go up steep steps at the start and then the rest is a slow descent downhill or have a slow climb all the way around and finish going down the steep steps.

Either way allow about 2 hours to take in the amazing views.

Next we travelled to Palm Valley which is further along the Mereenie Loop on our way to Alice Springs. Palm Valley is in Finke National Park which is 46,000 hectares.

The campground was very good with basic amenities, like most National Parks. When we had set up camp we we for a short walk. This photo shows the view very close to camp.

The next day we went on the main walk down the creek bed which is usually fairly dry unless they have decent rain in the area. This photo shows the palm trees and dry creek bed, as usual plenty to see and explore.

After leaving Palm Valley we continued our adventure to Alice Springs, then headed north to the Top End. Several months could easily be spent in Central Australia, Uluru -Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley are just a few of the amazing sights in Central Australia.

Are you Preparing For An Aussie Holiday and Need More Information