1. Baby Wipes.
Using baby wipes or wet ones is a fast and effective way to wipe away the crap, I mean dust. You need to pack these and here is why –
You get really dirty when you are camping. Dirtier than you would get staying a hotel or motel because there is no way to escape the dirt. Campgrounds are not always what you expect them be. Types of campgrounds include lush green grass, dirt, sand, sandy dirt, rock and ground so hard it may aswell be concrete and of course, concrete slabs. In peak season, the campgrounds and caravan parks that normally have grassy sites will most likely be get so trampled that it becomes, you guessed it, dirt. Baby wipes use no precious water and can be used as an emergency ‘shower’ when remote camping.
2. Thongs. (Otherwise known as flip flips.)
You can not travel without a trusty pair of thongs! Wear your thongs to the shops, the beach and on long bush walks in National Parks. Most importantly though, the showers at caravan parks and camping grounds. Unless you’re interested in getting a fungal infection on your feet, which will join you on your epic trip, wear thongs at all times in the bathrooms.
The only worry would be ‘busting a plugger’ which if you have ever experienced, is always so bloody inconvenient . (*Busting a plugger refers to the strap anchor popping out and being so broken you can’t pop it back in. There’s just no coming back from that.)
3. Understand the shift changeover.
This could be the most important camping essential ever. There is a time in the VERY late afternoon when the flys knock off day shift and the mosquitos have not yet arrived for the night shift. This is shift changeover. This is your time to prepare, cook and eat your dinner with less stress and in peace from the insects. Of course, not all places are blessed with the shift changeover. These places have flys doing overtime and the mozzies are on a 24 hour shift. However, there are many, many places around Australia where you will get relief for about one hour. Do yourself a favour and take note of it. You will really enjoy your meal more and in turn eat less undesirable protein!
4. Coloured Clothing.
We need to talk about the dirt again. If you pack anything white to wear to go camping around Australia, you will learn the hard way that you will NEVER get them white again. The dirt penetrates the fibres and adding more hardship on your whites is the bore water in regional areas. Charcoal or black towels will be your friend too. Refer to our first random essential – you get really dirty – sometimes a shower can’t rid you of all of it, the towel will get what you missed!
5. A Fridge.
The cost of ice for a 12 month trip could be roughly the same as a new fridge.  We have both a portable fridge and a fridge in the caravan. Our Waeco portable fridge is more than 10 years old now  and performing beautifully on its second big lap of Australia!
