What to Take

Rule 1

Never pile heavy items on a roof rack as you will affect the vehicle's centre of gravity, increasing the likelihood of a roll over (also check manufacturers load limit).

Rule 2

Ensure most items have more than one use - no excessive luxuries over the need for vehicle spares and practical tools.

• Tent or swag and associated bedding
• 1 or 2 gas bottles (9L and 2L is handy)
• Gas lantern (and mantles) and battery lantern (and batteries or recharger)
• Washing up bucket, washing liquid, sponges, scrubs, brush, tea towels etc
• Portable shower system
• Camp chairs
• Folding camp table
• Dust pan and brush
• Ground sheet for under tent.
• Rubber mats ($5 from supermarket - many uses other than door mat into tent, van etc).
• 3 tarps of different sizes (and extra long poles and pegs with springs)
• Gas cooker (2 burner is ideal)
• 2 x camp ovens (large and small) with lipped lids for holding coals
• Round cake rack (to lift meat off the hot base and allow air to circulate beneath food)
• Wok or large cast iron frypan (can be used on either gas burner or on open flame campfire)
• Stainless steel billys and kettle
• Jaffle iron - purely indulgent!
• Metal fire grate
• Cast iron or steel barbeque hotplate with handle/legs
• Long-handled bbq tongs, short tongs, 8 long metal skewers
• Leather gloves for handling fire tools
• Long handled pot holder for lifting lid off camp oven (9 gauge wire bent into shape will do)
• Natural fibre brush to brush off coals
• Tripod holder for hanging billys, camp oven over flame (not necessary but useful)
• Stainless steel cutlery and assorted utensils
• Plastic (melamine) plates, bowls
• Storage bowls with lids for leftovers
• Thermos
• Thermo, lidded coffee mugs

When it comes to bedding - look for self-inflating mattresses (they look slim, but insulate from the cold and pack up small into a narrow rolled tube). Alternatively, you can pack them flat and fold them in half.

Most caravan parks have a rule about using a ground sheet under your tent. This sheet should be made of shade cloth to allow the grass to breathe.

A dust pan and brush is good for sweeping the tent floor before packing up and for sweeping the dirt off a rolled up tent before packing away.

• Books to read
• Games to play
• Sporting equipment
• Art supplies for painting, drawing etc
• Camera with various lenses, tripod, camera bag, cleaning solutions
• Hats, sunglasses, blockout
• High quality shoes
• High quality socks
• Clothing to suit the climate
• Toiletries and towelling

Hiking style boots are mandatory as too are a pair of good quality sandals such as the Teva brand that can be worn in water or can be adjusted for rock climbing.

Especially needed the for those cold desert nights, look for thermo socks that use "wicking" technology to draw moisture away from the foot and evaporate off the surface of the sock. These are available from good adventure sports shops such as Paddy Palins, Mountain Design, Kathmandu etc.

A polar fleece of 200 - 300 weight is mandatory for the desert where night time temperatures can plummet to zero. You will soon realise this will be the most useful item you own as it can also double as a pillow among other things.