Family camping trip- thoughts?

I think the first thing you should do is see how much room you have left after packing the items you mention along with your basic essentials in a practice run.I would imagine the Esky would soon get the flick,a 60ltr fridge is enough for at least a week.

Hi Sam

You may not fit so much into the six weeks, as you won't want to drive long days with your little ones who will need time to run around.

You will fill any given space in your vehicle, but as you won't be going remote, you will be able to be able to shop frequently so no need for lots of frozen food. Just take plenty drinking water to cover the Nullarbor in the hot weather. The Engel should be more than adequate.

Do you have room for a portable toilet? That would be invaluable for free camping; particularly with a three year old.

If you car is reliable at home, it should be reliable travelling. You'll want the air conditioner in good working order.

I have blogs here in MyBlogs of our 2005 tour of the Eyre Peninsular and out trip from SW of WA to Melbourne and return for our 2006 Tasmanian trip.

If staying in the Clare Valley, i can thoroughly recommend the tiny caravan park at the sportsground at Auburn in the south of the Valley.Well appointed, cool and shady and away from the noises of the town and road. We went there on a particularly hot day in 2009 and found it very pleasant. See Our review Auburn Sports Ground CP

The best approach to the trip plan is to travel in your chosen direction, take you time and see what you are passing thoroughly. Half way through, turn around and take another route homewards (with the exception of the Eyre Highway where there is little option).

Motherhen

Although my camping days are over I agree with "Motherhen". You DO need to carry a lot of water. As much as you can of good water. Be carefull where you top up some water is, to say the least, unpleasant. Carry enough food for three days! Sometimes you may not be able to top up in isolated places and as has been posted here before. The small shop you pass today may be closed next tiem you go past due to lack of patronage. I and the family always carried "iron rations' of the most unpalateable food (so we did not eat it unless desperate - and as a consequence eventually threw it away) . We carried a tank of fuel and one jerry can. Never pass a bowser. Always top up even if only 100 ks on the trip meter. You will be surprised what you can find out at short stops in small towns!
Set out to enjoy yourselves and have a great trip. At 80 years of age all my bush travelling is all done on this site. I read each and every post! I love it and envy those of you who travel this wonderful country.

Sam,

i agree with not taking both the fridge and the esky. actually - a 60l fridge is prolly overkill if you short on space.
also consider (if you dont already have one) a cargo barrier. youll fit plenty more in the back with one.

enjoy.

Hi Sam027.
We have an x-trail and fitted a cargo barrier to which I fitted a shelf that ran from the rear of the barrier to the rear. held it up by attaching it to the cargo barrier with cable ties and then to the child car seat anchorage points on the head liner with a webbing tie down type strap. we were able to fit the fridge under this . it gave us approx 300mm height on the top shelf.

we also added a roof bars and a mid sized basket on which we carried the spare wheel (otherwise you will need to unload all your gear if you get a flat) and other gear.
Found the X-Trail great but as others have mentioned carry a good quantity of water,extra fuel and fuel up when you can and you'll be fine.

happy travels

as others have said, do a few "test" runs, and make CERTAIN that the car handles the heat and the AC works really well, dont even think for a second you can get along without it and with small kids as you will end up in big trouble, it is a whole new ball game with liddle kids and yes the old timers will tell you they did it all without ac's but do you still see them in FJ's with 10 foot bondwood vans .... NUP .......
Just keep in mind that Feb is probally the hotteset time to travel anyware and it can make a trip kinda crap if it comes un-stuck..
Personally i reckon this is how it will pan out, you will go with the tent and it will be fun for the first week, then it all get hard, really hard and un-comfortable, you will stay in motels or on-site accom at parks and enjoy the pools and comfort, you will cook for the first part and realise it sux and buy cooked food for the rest of the trip and have an absolute ball ........ i have liddle kids, i love em and love travelling but tents suc .............. the only time to do it is in the cold times of the year, just simply to hot to enjoy and if you dont sleep well you dont travel well, you dont travel well you dont get far and it all get boring, tired, grumpy, cranky, whinging kids, hungrey kids and food aint cooked yet dad .... and all you want is to relax with a beer or 7 hahaha
Cheers and enjoy it
Joe n Mel n kids

We are doing the trip in reverse (with 3 under 9) - Melbourne - Perth leaving Saturday and coming back the first week of Feb. Have just got a NL Pajero which we have converted to gas and a camper trailer. Having electric brakes put on the car this week (as they are already on the CT). So planning on having a complete blast with the kids! Don't have a fridge as yet, but trying to work out how to run one, at the rear without a dual battery. Have a battery pack, but how to charge it... hmmm. Also have an inverter, have no idea why lol
The pods are great. We had one on the Verada on a return trip to Alice Springs in April and between that and behind the cargo barrier we were pretty full for a 4 week trip.

Hello Sam
A good rule we worked out for planning family camping trips which still applies, even without kids: sit comfortably at home studying all those maps and brochures to work out where you want to go. Remember everything looks and sounds attractive, locations all appear convenient and skies clear and blue! Then draw up a very rough itinerary. Then, the most important step, halve the distance you will aim to cover OR double the time for the trip! Remember the aim is to have FUN and have everyone wanting to go again next holiday. Don't become one of those families who use their tent once and never again because the first trip was such hard work.
On the ground with kids, everything is harder and slower than you expect. Setting up camp with two little ones (we had three!) running around trying to commit siuicide, wanting food or toilet NOW etc is a challenge in itself. After one trip we gave in and hired (later bought) a trailer. This made travelling so much more comfortable and meant we did not have to unpack the whole car to get out something vital like a chane of clothes or lunch! With a trailer we could carry a few added comforts like better bedding and some favourite toys. It also means you can leave your camping stuff packed up and out of the way if you need to take a break and stay in a cabin if it gets too hot, too wet or the mozzies get too much! It is a very good idea to plan for a couple of such breaks.
Mosquito nets for the children's beds might be a good idea if they are at all sensitive. Infected sores are not a good addition to a camping trip - we know!
Have a great trip! You are on the way to building great family memories! Lynne

Hi Sam,

I go camping with my kids as often as I can - I want them to grow up loving it as much as I do. I took my 4 month old baby camping just over a month ago and had a great time.

Things to make it easier - give the kids their lunch to eat in the car while you are still travelling. Then when you stop for your lunch, they can run around and have a play.

Do you have a second battery to run the Engel? If not, you should seriously consider one because you wouldn't want to run the risk of a flat battery, particularly if it happens somewhere where you can't get help reasonably quickly.

I agree with previous posters about a cargo barrier. It will stop stuff falling onto your precious children and hurting them.

What sort of cooking stuff are you taking? Before we got a camper trailer we used a coleman dual fuel (shellite & unleaded) stove. It worked a treat, and since we carried a spare jerry of unleaded for the car, we had the fuel for the stove and didn't need to worry about gas. If you don't take a jerry can, you could always siphon a bit from your car for the stove. We also had a coleman dual fuel lantern, which we also found good.

Definitely do some practice trips. You will then be able to sort out what is essential to take, and what is unnecessary.

Hope you have a great time.

Leanne

Thanks so much for all of your replies everyone, certainly lots to think about! I'm sure we will be fine- if worst comes to worst, I'll just fly home with the kids :)
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!