camping ideas for families

Family camping isn’t SAS selection; keep it close—under three hours from home—and book a powered site near the loos and a playground.

Pack simple crowd-pleasers like pre-marinated snags, pancakes and wraps, plus a decent esky or 12V fridge, camp chairs and head torches for every small human.

Plan short adventures: 2–5 km bushwalks, easy bike paths, a beach day and a treasure hunt with a prize that isn’t sugar at 9 pm.

For sanity, bring a tarp, rainy-day games and a first-aid kit; set quiet hours and let screens happen if they buy you peace.

Test-pitch the tent in the backyard, and if you’re new, try one night before attempting the epic lap—heroics are for TV, not bedtime.