9 FREE CAMPING ESSENTIALS 

Want to feel the freedom of bush camping? Well, here’s the gear you’ll need to get out there comfortably. 

WORDS BY MICHAEL BORG 

Well, if an unhealthy dose of bitumen and squished-up caravan park sites sounds about as appealing as banging your big toe on a small coffee table, free camping is probably more your style, right? Don’t worry, we’re right there with you, so to speak. In fact, if you’re new to the “free camping” game, we thought we’d help shine a little light on the equipment you’ll need, apart from your camper trailer of course. So, read on and get ready to start planning your next adventure!     

1. WATER FILTRATION

Clean drinking water is a non-negotiable when you’re out travelling. Sure, you can buy bottled water, but that’ll only get you so far if it’s unavailable in the required quantities, especially in remote communities. Streams, rivers, and lakes might look crystal clear but can be teeming with bacteria, parasites, and other harmful microorganisms. A reliable water filtration system ensures that you stay hydrated safely, preventing illnesses like giardia or E. coli. So, to ensure your drinking water is always safe, it’s time to delve into the world of water filtration.

2. RECOVERY GEAR 

If your adventures lead you to isolated regions, having the means to recover yourself is a must-have. Here are a few must-have items to add to your recovery essentials!

Recovery Tracks: Provide traction to get out of sticky situations and help reduce the loads involved when using other recovery equipment. 

Winches: Essential for heavy-duty self-recovery.

Snap Strap: Need somebody pull you out of trouble? A snap strap can help essentially spring you out of a sticky situation. 

Shackles: Required to attached winch ropes and recovery straps to an anchor point. Rated bow shackles come in steel or synthetic, with synthetic versions offering a safer alternative to steel.  

Reliable Vehicle Jack: allows you to lift your vehicle up in order to place a traction aid or blocks to increase clearance under your tyres. 

Shovel: When all else fails, it’s time to dig yourself out!

3. FIRST AID KIT

In order to be prepared for the worst, you’ll need a comprehensive First Aid Kit with Remote Area Supplies. Why? Well, accidents and health issues can occur at any time, and when you’re far from professional medical help, being prepared is crucial. A comprehensive first aid kit helps you manage injuries and ailments until you can get professional care. Options to Consider include trauma Supplies, for serious injuries and bleeding control. Snake bite kits, because let’s face it, Australia has no shortage of venomous snakes. Splints, for stabilizing fractures or sprains are a good idea, as are supplies for dealing with burns around the campfire and cooking equipment.

4. NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION

Losing your way or being unable to communicate in remote areas can be dangerous. Reliable navigation and communication devices ensure you stay on track and can call for help if needed. There are a few options to consider, which include satellite phones for reliable communication beyond cell service. EPIRBs or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons can alert emergency services to your precise location in a true emergency situation too. 

In terms of navigation, you’ll find a good GPS unit with Topographic Maps is essential for accurate navigation these days, but its also a good idea to carry a detailed paper map of your area as a backup. 

5. TOILET OPTIONS 

If you’re planning to go free camping, you can’t rely on access to public facilities. That means having a camping toilet system is a mighty good idea. Sure, you could dig a hole, but these days, there are much more options available. Sturdy chemical toilets can be found at most camping stores, coupled with a pop-up privacy room you’ll have a throne fit for a king. Composing toilets have also come a long way and offer a waterless toileting option. 

Biodegradable Waste Bags: Environmentally friendly and convenient. There are odor-sealing designs too, a far cry from the old urine smelling chemical toilet designs of the past. 

6. SHOWER SYSTEMS 

A portable shower system helps you maintain hygiene, especially on extended trips where natural water sources may not be suitable for bathing. Options available include solar showers, which heat water using sunlight, perfect for warm climates like up north.

Battery operated portable pump showers can also provide a steady water flow, similar to home showers. Some have LPG water heaters in-built, others just draw water from a buckertor natural water source. 

7. TEMPERATURE REGULATION 

Rain, hail and freezing temperatures right through to heat waves and high winds can all cause mighty uncomfortable living conditions when free camping. So, in order to be self-sufficient safely, this kind of thing needs to be considered. Sure, you might have a well-equipped camper trailer straight off the showroom floor, but can it be improved in terms of design or efficiency? For example, would a 12V electric blanket provide a low-power and cost-effective method to keep warm instead of running a diesel heater all night? Would a floor rug add extra insulation and help keep the cold from coming through the floor?     

8. EMERGENCY REPAIRS

If you’re bush camping, chances are you’ll often be in isolated locations. This means you’ll need to be able to fix any issues that get thrown your way. For this reason, a comprehensive repair kit should be considered. Naturally, it should include a versatile array of tools. Spare parts for common failure points of your set-up could also be included, along with those quick-fix items like duct tape, cable ties and tech-screws. Other handy additions include plumbers’ tape, sealant, electrical wire and assorted terminals, assorted nuts, bolts and washers, and a OBD scan tool to check and erase engine fault codes.   

9. FRIDGES, SOLAR AND YOUR TUCKER

How long you can stay self sufficient and therefore remain off-grid at a free camp willusually depend on how long your food and water will last, plain and simple. In the golden olden days, we opted for food that had a long shelf life for camping, and an icebox to extend the life of your meat, dairy or vegetables. These days, a fridge or freezer is pretty much a staple for longer free camping time frames. Of course, these rely on electrical power to run, hence the ever-evolving world of batteries to store power and solar panels to charge them. So,when it comes to selecting a power system, perhaps you can look at it like this; How long will you be camping for, how much food will you need to be comfortable during that time and how much power is required to keep the food fresh for that time.

From there, you can start to consider the options available and how suitable they are to your needs. 

Free camping may seem a bit scary if you haven’t done it before, but in reality, it just means putting your big boy or girl pants on, and not relying on anyone else to keep you safe and comfortable in the great outdoors. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with that. So, go on, give it a try.