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Camping & Hiking Checklist

Ben Collaton /

No two camping trips are the same, and no one needs to pack all of this at once. Think of it as a prompt, not a prescription — run through it before you head off and you won’t forget the things that matter.

Take it to camp → Download the printable checklist.

Camping Gear

Sleeping Gear

Eating

Washing Up

Car & Caravan

Hiking Basics

Camping Sundries

Cooking & Lighting

Food Basics

First Aid

  • Antiseptic cream
  • Bandages
  • Band-Aids
  • Blister kit
  • Calamine lotion
  • Car/sea sick medication
  • Cold relief tablets
  • Disinfectant
  • Emergency survival blanket
  • First Aid Kit
  • First Aid book
  • Insect repellent
  • Lip salve
  • Mylanta (or similar)
  • Needle
  • Panadol
  • Prescription medicine
  • Saline
  • Salvital (or similar)
  • Scissors
  • Snake bite kit
  • Soothers/throaties
  • Stingose
  • Sunburn cream
  • Sunscreen
  • Thermometer (compact)
  • Triangle bandage
  • Tweezers
  • Ventolin

Clothing & Footwear

12V Accessories

Hiking Food Items

Family with three kids relaxing around the campfire

Bringing kids or pets? Their needs are easy to overlook in the packing rush. This section helps make sure they’re just as well set up for the trip as you are.

Travelling With Kids

  • Bikes & helmets
  • Board games
  • Boogie Board
  • Bug/bird books
  • Bug catcher
  • Colouring books & pencils
  • Crayons & paper
  • Cricket set
  • Dvd player / Tablet
  • Fishing gear
  • Footy
  • Frisbee
  • Glow sticks
  • Hacky sac
  • IPod / Mp3 player
  • Magnifying glass
  • Packs of cards
  • Soft toys
  • Sparklers
  • Tennis gear
  • Treasure container

Travelling With Pets

  • Bones
  • Dog bed/mat/swag
  • Dog coat
  • Dog food
  • Dog friendly campsite book
  • Emergency ID tag
  • Emergency vet number
  • Food & water bowls
  • Glow sticks for collar at night
  • Heavy duty pegs for chain
  • Leash
  • Length of chain
  • Muzzle
  • Poo pick up bags
  • Spare collar
  • Toys/ball/Frisbee
  • Treats
  • Tweezers for ticks

Want a hard copy? Download the printable checklist here.

Keep your setup simple with a fire pit next to a caravan

Everything packed? Great — but hold off on starting the engine just yet. Run through this pre-departure checklist before hitting the road, both ways.

If you’re towing a caravan

  • Manual brake: off
  • Water pump: off (plug out)
  • Inside taps: down
  • All doors and drawers: secure
  • Windows and hatches: closed
  • Fridge setting: correct
  • Gas bottles: off and secure
  • All 240V power cables: disconnected
  • Awning: secure
  • Pop-top roof locks: down
  • Radio and TV antenna: down
  • Stabilisers and wheel braces: removed
  • Air conditioner covers: on/off
  • Safety chains and stabiliser: connected and secure
  • Lights: working
  • Water tank valves: shut
  • Wheel chocks and jockey wheel: stowed
  • Family: in the car (always worth checking)

Camping & Hiking

  • Pack: Can you shed any weight? Your back will thank you later
  • Shoes: Worn in and comfortable — blisters are nobody’s souvenir
  • Safety: First aid kit and emergency comms packed
  • Tent: Do a practice setup, check for damage or deterioration, and make sure all the components are actually there
  • Sleeping mat: Check it’s still airtight and pack a repair kit just in case
  • Sleeping bag: Check for damage and loft after storage — and make sure it’s warm enough for where you’re headed
  • Lighting: Charged up, with spare batteries if needed
  • Gas: Got enough? Can you top up en route?Discussion here
  • Cooking: Check for fire bans and confirm gas stoves are permitted at your destinationDiscussion here
  • Meals: A little planning ahead makes camp life a lot easier
  • Fridge: Pre-cool on 240V and freeze items ahead of time for longevity and efficiency. More tips here
  • Water: Consider the weather — can you fill up en route? Discussion here
  • Vehicle: Check the basics — oil, radiator, tyres — and pack a toolkit
  • Toiletries: Don’t forget the toilet paper. Seriously, don’t forget the toilet paper

Pack smart, not heavy. The best camping trips aren’t the ones with the most gear, they’re the ones where you’ve got exactly what you need – and if you realise you’re missing something, the Snowys range has you covered.

Write a camping checklist

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