Folding a tarpaulin is a simple skill that will help you fold several items in your camping kit down to a small size. This tarp folding technique can be used on all types of tarps including canvas, poly and shade mesh tarps, as well as for folding other camping equipment, such as tents and flys. I have used a small silver poly tarpaulin in the photos below for illustrative purposes. The same technique works for … more »
A quick-erect sun and rain awning is a very handy addition to any four wheel drive vehicle. Rather than purchasing an of-the-shelf awning, I have developed my own from some surplus gear in my camping kit. There are numerous different awnings available on the market that bolt semi-permanently to roof racks — examples include those available from ARB, TJM, Bushranger, and OZtrail. While I could have easily purchased an off-the-shelf awning, I have … more »
We recently spent a couple of very enjoyable nights at the Pottsville North Holiday Park. This is a great family spot to stay with a swimming pool and children’s play equipment, but look elsewhere if you want an absolute beach front camp site. We chose the Pottsville North Holiday Park over the Pottsville South Holiday Park because the park has children’s play equipment and a pool. The Pottsville South Holiday Park should still be considered if … more »
Cleaning a sleeping bag may not be as simple as stuffing it in a washing machine and then hanging it out to dry. In fact, you can permanently damage some sleeping bags by doing this. When it was time to purchase a new sleeping bag, I did some online research to find a sleeping bag that could be easily cleaned. When I purchased my first swag — a Burke & Wills Ironbark swag … more »
My recent purchase of a Coleman Powerhouse 414 dual fuel stove from Great Escape Camping completes the elimination of LPG cylinders from my camping kit. I love the stove, but it does have a couple of quirks. I started my transition to dual fuel gear by purchasing a Coleman Premium 285 dual fuel lantern — my review here. I was very happy with its performance, so decided to purchase the stove and a second lantern. I am … more »
Putting together your camping kit is an exercise in compromises. You want the most comfort and functionality, but only have limited cargo capacity to transport the gear to your camp site. There can be other practical considerations too, like how one piece of gear interacts with other gear, or how robust the gear is. This is certainly the case for camping cookware. I want to be able to cook the largest possible range of … more »
I have updated my camping gear checklist to reflect changes in my camping kit as a result of losing a lot of gear in the Queensland 2011 flood, but also changing my preference for gear based on our camping experience. The biggest changes are away from gas stoves/lanterns to Coleman dual fuel appliances, and away from a huge tarp that covers our tent, to a smaller tarp for eating under. I like to pack … more »