Christmas camping is a popular holiday option in Australia. It’s a time when the kids are on school summer holidays and many people take advantage of their annual leave and public holidays to have a decent break. Unfortunately, it is a time when every man and his dog and cat are often doing the same, and this can make camping over Christmas in Australia stressful. But it doesn’t have to be. I have been camping over Australia’s Christmas holidays quite a few times and I can tell you, it isn’t always a bed of roses camping at this time. To help make your camping trip enjoyable I offer my best tips I have learnt over the years.

Tips for Christmas Camping

1. Get in Early

To be totally honest, Christmas time is one of the worst times of the year to be camping. People are everywhere, it is wildly busy, prices are at a premium and the heat, well the heat can be stifling. So to help combat all this, my biggest tip for successful camping over Christmas is to get in early. Get in early booking a spot at a caravan and camping park and get in early to set up. And choose a camping spot that will cater to your entire Christmas party. You don’t want to be walking through the campsite of others to get to those you want to spend Christmas with. And choose a spot near to the amenities you want to use. Perhaps you want to be close to the pool so you can keep an eye on your kids. Or you want to be right by the river so you can throw your fishing line in. But if you don’t get the spot you want, don’t stress. Having a good spot is not the point of Christmas camping, having a good Christmas with friends and family is what camping over Christmas should be all about!

2. Choose a Less Popular Area

The most popular areas in Australia for Christmas camping are coastal regions and the big cities. But there are literally thousands of amazing campsites in Australia. So don’t head to the cities or the coast, head the other way! Use apps such as WikiCamps to find great campsites for your Christmas camping adventure.

3. Set Up Your Campsite Christmassy

The easiest and best way to make your campsite look special is to add Christmas decorations. String up some fairy lights and have a small Christmas tree with plenty of baubles. To help reduce carrying around decorations, you could send the kids out to find pine cones and sticks which they could decorate to become Christmas ornaments. 

4. Explore Local Christmas Events

Where ever I decide to spend my Christmas camping adventures in Australia, I like to explore local Christmas events. In the lead up to Christmas there can be Christmas markets, Carols by Candlelight, Christmas lights to see and other Christmas events in town to enjoy. I always ask the office staff at the caravan park or in the local shops what is happening. Getting out and enjoying Christmas events means you aren’t always sitting around a table eating, drinking and chatting. Unless of course, that is what you want to do.

5. Pre-prepare Meals

I always pre-prepare meals for any camping trip or road trip I on go on and particularly for Christmas camping. I work out how many meals I am going to be camping for and think about what I can make, or someone else make, for every meal. Because I like to relax on my Christmas camping holiday too and don’t want to be stuck always preparing meals. So I have a lot of pre-prepared meals that I have frozen to help keep them fresh, particularly if there are going to be heatwave conditions.

6. Pre-wrap Gifts

Another of my best tips to surviving Christmas camping in Australia is to pre-wrap gifts at home. Let’s face it, who wants to find a hiding spot to wrap presents! Do it beforehand so you don’t need to take wrapping paper sticky tape, ribbon and name tags. And during set up, you can put them under your new Christmas tree made from sticks the kids put together.

In regards to gifts, give gifts that people can use on the camping trip. Some of the best camping presents I’ve received and given include:

• New camp chair that has a drink area in the arm.
• Boogie board to ride the waves.
• Fishing rod to catch dinner!
• Camp oven with cooking accessories (thought I would have preferred an air fryer).
• Hammock
• Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)
• Card games
• Camping clothes
• Camping equipment for my car as I love car camping.

7. Pack Camping Equipment You Will Use

I’m happy to say I am a list person. So I suggest you make yourself a list of all the camping equipment you think you will need, then work out what you will use. Check out my list of essential, and not so essential camping items to help you pack. I have found many collapsable camping items good to take for the room they can save you.

8. Connect with Other Christmas Campers

If you are a small Christmas group, or are having Christmas on your own because you come from abroad or travelling solo, why not connect with other Christmas campers to have an ‘orphans Christmas’. But that is up to you!

9. Keep Cool

Even though an Aussie Christmas camping is great, it can be hot and it can be hard keeping cool. This is probably why many Christmas campers prefer to camp near water! But you can’t be in the water all the time, so other ways to keep cool during summer camping includes:

• Set up your campsite in a shady spot – though not under a gum tree as they are notorious for dropping branches and even falling over.
• Bring a 12v fans to keep air flowing through the campsite
• Create shady areas with awnings, shelters and annexes.
• Cook outside and away from the seating area.
• Stay hydrated so pack plenty of water for everyone including the pets.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat to keep the direct sun off you and wear cool clothes.

10. Staying Safe

Camping during the summer months in Australia can bring unforeseen hazards. Insects and snakes can see you as invading their territory. Definitely pack a first aid kit. With so many people out enjoying the weather, the good weather can also see bushfires. Adhere to bushfire information and get out if there is a threat of a bushfire. Same with summer storms, they can be violent with lots of rain and hail. Considering your safety is a must while camping, particularly camping through the Australian summer and Australian Christmas period.

11. Relax

My final tip for Christmas camping in Australia is to relax and enjoy yourself. If you have done all my above tips I’m sure relaxing should be easy.

Are You Ready to Enjoy Camping over Christmas in Australia?