So you want to travel Australia and you are considering taking your accommodation with your. Your accommodation being a tent. And you probably have many questions about what type of tent you will need and what is the right tent for you. Fear not, having been camping most of my life I have slept in many tents. From a swag to a 2-room family tent to currently a SUV tent I attached to my car for car camping. So, I consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to matching a tent to my travels. Let me help you by explaining the types of tents out there.

Great places to buy a tent

My Amazon store, Anaconda, Camping RV Caravanning, BigW, Kmart and Aldi. 

Not sure – buy a second hand tent.

What to Think About Before Buying a Tent

Let me just say ‘there is no one size fits all when it comes to choosing a tent to travel Australia with’. But to find the tent that suits you, ask yourself a few simple questions.

How Often Will the Tent be Used?

Are you looking for a tent for an overnight festival? Or perhaps long weekends away? Maybe it will be a full-time home as you travel Australia? Being aware of how often the tent will be used helps you identify how much maintenance and care the tent will require. Plus, identify how easy, or not so easy, putting the tent up and dismantling it will involve. You may then prefer an easy instant pop-up tent over a traditional pitch tent. Keep that in mind while answering the next questions.

How many people are camping?

It is vitally important to consider how many people will be camping with you as everybody will want to sleep somewhere. Sleeping comfortably and ensuring there is room for your ‘stuff’ helps people feel not so cramped and overcrowded in the tent.

I recently learnt of an industry standard. Yep, they say to work out how many people can sleep in a tent you take the average shoulder to shoulder width of 60cm. So one person = 60cm wide. If travelling with a few people, the tent will be bigger which means, heavier and larger for carrying.

Also consider if you want to separate kids from adults thus, a two-room tent might be more convenient than a one-room tent. An extra room can also be great to store your gear in, particularly if camping during inclement weather.

How Easy Do You Need the Tent to Assemble?

You’ve arrived to town late and need to set up camp maybe in the dark and so, will need to assemble your tent as quickly as possible. Thus, the design of your tent should be considered along with how many people it is for and how often it will be used. Perhaps you have assembly down pat, or maybe not!

There are different styles of tent on the market nowadays ranging from pop-up and instant-up tent designs to those going through the process of inserting poles and pitching them. If on your own you may prefer a quick pop-up design but if with family you will probably need a tent with poles.

Where and When will you be camping?

I’m afraid I cannot predict the weather, but you can listen for weather conditions before and during camping. If you plan to camp in all weathers and all seasons then you will need to ensure your tent is up to the task. Bad weather can easily put a dampener on any camping trip. This is where the quality of the tent comes into play. Thankfully most high quality tents are made of canvas or polyester to handle the elements. However, best to check its waterproof rating and consider extra protection such as a tarp – great for providing extra protection from the rain on wet days and nights and shade during sunny days.

How Much Do You Want to Spend?

You’ve thought about how often you will go camping, how many people you are camping with, how easy the tent is to assemble and where and when you will be camping, the last thing to ask yourself is, how much do you want to spend on your tent?

Best to shop around and know what you will spend to get all the things you require from your tent. Now, what are some different types of tents for camping to consider?

Different Types of Tents for Camping

Swag

Just you and/or with a friend, a swag is a convenient tent option. Available in single and double configurations a swag is great for overnight camping. Made from waterproof material to keep you dry and the insect net to keep them pesky insects out. Mostly lightweight and easy to carry. Some now include a cross-bar for easy free standing so you don’t need to rely on guy ropes and pegs.

Pop-Up Tent

A pop-up tent is the perfect option for festival goers and single overnight stays because it is very quick to set up. It has built-in pre-assembled poles that spring to life providing you with shelter. The simple assembly attracts many campers and many also provide extra support and stability with rope and tent pegs if staying longer than a night. I have found them a little tricky to dismantle and get back in their bag, but with practice this task becomes easy. They are also light making them a great option for overnight hikes.

There are different sizes for 1-2 people and 2-4 people making them a great tent camping option while discovering Australia.

Traditional Pole Tent

Pole tents are a great option for travelling in a couple or with a family. They are versatile, lightweight, compact and in many cases, very cost effective. These tents can range from cosy two-person shelters to large 12-person tents for accommodating larger groups and families. These tents are relatively easy to erect though require poles to be linked together to form a frame. And ropes and pegs will help hold the tent in position. They are made with durable and waterproof material to protect against the elements. Many can be lightweight making them great for hiking.

Inflatable Tent

Inflatable tents are new on the market. They are basically tents where air-filled structural tubes or beams replace the traditional metal or fibreglass poles. I have not tried out this type of tent but they look fun, particularly also when filled with inflatable furniture like a couch. And many have a flue area so you can have a heater come cooker inside – great for camping in the snow and cold weather.

SUV Tent

I currently use an SUV tent for my car camping adventures. It is similar to a pop-up tent that connects to my SUV. It provides extra private space that I can set up my kitchen and table so I can work online while travelling. I can also use it as a stand alone tent when I want to drive somewhere in my car and leave my tent up.

Ute Tent / Truck Tent

I recently saw this tent when I was researching SUV tents and I think they are a good idea. Having not used this tent myself I can only presume they offer privacy and protection from the weather. I guess you would need a good mattress so as to not be sleeping on a hard metal base. And they are high off the ground so you would need steps to be able to get inside.

Roof-top Tent

A roof-top tent sits atop your car. Before purchasing you should check the roof-top weight you car can carry. This type of tent can be attached to all sorts and sizes of vehicle – from small cars to 4WDs and everything in between. So if you want to go off-grid while still using your vehicle to drive around town, a roof-top tent may be on your tent shopping list. 

They can be made from different materials and are usually locked inside a hard roof. This one I show in this post is an inflatable roof-top tent.

Toilet / Shower / Change Tent

When travelling with other people, or even on your own a toilet tent, shower tent or change tent can be added to your tent set-up. This will allow you to go to the toilet, shower or change in private.

Are You Ready to Go Tent Camping?

Having the correct tent for your adventures is just the tip of the iceberg. After deciding on your tent you then need to consider gear to deck your tent out. Gear such as camp furniture like chairs, tables, lounges and bedding. Then there is cooking gear. Ah yes, lots of gear to take when tent camping, but remember – it is your home away for home! I hope this post has helped you in your quest to buy a new or, your first tent. I’d love to hear what tent you decided on. Happy Camping!