First camping trip gear checklist

The most common first-trip mistake is buying too much gear, then forgetting the three things that matter. A comfortable first night comes down to staying dry, staying warm, sleeping on something soft enough and being able to make a hot drink. Everything else is a bonus.

This list assumes car camping: you drive to a campground and the tent is a short walk from the car. For overnight hiking the list changes a lot, because weight matters. There is a printable version at the end.

Before you buy anything

Borrow or hire first. Most people know someone with a tent in the garage, and outdoor stores and some hire businesses rent tents, swags and stoves. One or two trips will tell you what kind of camper you are before you spend.

Do one practice night. Pitch the tent in the backyard or a park and sleep in it. You will find the missing pole, the leaking seam and the mat that is too thin while you are close to home.

Check the site first. Read the campground page for water, toilets, fire rules and access. “No water” changes your packing list more than anything else. Our campsite directory links to each land manager.

Shelter

• Tent rated for at least one more person than will sleep in it. A “three person” tent holds three people shoulder to shoulder with no room for bags.
• Fly and pegs. Count the pegs. Bring a few spares, and longer sand pegs for beach sites.
• Groundsheet or footprint to protect the floor.
• Mallet for hard ground.
• Tarp and cord. A tarp strung over the eating area makes rain or harsh sun much easier to live with.

Pitch with the door away from the wind and check overhead for dead limbs before you choose a spot.

Sleeping

This is where comfort is won or lost.

• Sleeping mat or stretcher. Insulation from the ground matters more than the sleeping bag. Cold ground draws heat out through a thin air mattress, even in a warm bag.
• Sleeping bag suited to the coldest likely night. Bag ratings are optimistic; choose one rated about 5 degrees colder than the forecast minimum. Inland deserts and alpine areas can fall below freezing even after hot days.
• Pillow, or a stuff sack filled with clothes.
• Liner or sheet for hot nights, when a bag is too much.

Kitchen

• Stove and fuel. A gas stove with a spare cartridge or a full bottle. Many campgrounds are fuel stove only, and on Total Fire Ban days a gas stove may be your only legal heat, subject to local conditions. Check before you rely on it.
• Lighter and matches in a waterproof bag.
• Pot, pan, kettle or billy.
• Plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery, one set each.
• Sharp knife, chopping board, tongs, spatula, can opener.
• Esky and ice. Freeze water bottles to use as ice and drink as they melt.
• Water. Plan on at least 5 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing, more in heat. If the site has untreated tank or creek water, boil it or treat it before drinking.
• Washing up kit: tub, biodegradable detergent, scourer, tea towel. Tip greywater well away from creeks.
• Rubbish bags. Most national park campgrounds have no bins. Everything goes home with you.

Clothing

Pack for the full temperature range, not the average.

• Warm layer such as fleece or a puffer jacket, plus a beanie. Nights are colder than people expect, even in summer at altitude.
• Rain jacket.
• Sun hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Sturdy closed shoes for walking, plus thongs or sandals for camp and showers.
• Thermal or tracksuit layer to sleep in.
• Swimmers and a towel.
• Spare socks. Wet feet ruin a trip.

Light, power and navigation

• Head torch for each person, with spare batteries. A head torch keeps both hands free.
• Lantern for the table.
• Power bank for phones.
• Offline maps. Download the area in your map app before you leave coverage, and carry a paper map for larger parks.

Safety and first aid

• First aid kit including at least two broad elastic compression bandages for snake bite. The current first aid is to call 000, keep the person still and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage.
• Personal medication, plus a written list.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Water for emergencies kept in the car, separate from camp water.
• Fire safety. If you plan a campfire where it is permitted, Parks Victoria’s conditions are a good standard: clear 3 metres around the fire, keep at least 10 litres of water ready and never leave it unattended.
• A way to call for help. Know where the nearest coverage is. For remote areas, carry a personal locator beacon.

Hygiene

• Toilet paper and hand sanitiser
• Trowel, for sites without toilets. Bury waste at least 15 cm deep and well away from water and camp
• Toiletries and a small towel
• Small rubbish bag for personal waste
• Portable toilet, if the site has none and you are staying more than a night

Camp comfort

• Camp chairs, one each
• Folding table, if the site has none
• Small dustpan and brush for the tent
• Cards, a book, or a frisbee

What can wait

You do not need these on a first trip: a dedicated camp kitchen unit, a solar setup, a 12-volt fridge, an awning, an inflatable tent, or a gazebo the size of a carport. Work out what you missed after two or three trips, then buy that.

Packing the car

Load in reverse order of need. The tent, tarp and mallet go in last so they come out first. Keep the first aid kit, torches and a jacket where you can reach them without unpacking. Pack dry food in a sealed tub so wildlife can’t get into it, and so you can find it.

Before you leave home, check three things on the day: the forecast, the fire danger rating and any Total Fire Ban for the district, and the park’s alerts page for closures.

Printable checklist

Print this checklist

Sources

Checked 31 October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the land manager before you go.

1. Queensland Parks, Camping bookings and fees (what to check before you go)
2. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, Leave No Trace
3. Leave No Trace Australia, 7 principles
4. NSW Rural Fire Service, Total Fire Ban rules
5. Bureau of Meteorology, Heatwave services
6. healthdirect, Snake bites
7. Parks Victoria, Leanganook Camping Area (campfire conditions)