So, you want to have power camping in the great Australian outdoors. Sure you want to hike, swim, fish and sit around your campsite fire with a nice vino enjoying a sunset, but you also want to keep your food cool in your fridge, be able to cook your food and catch up on what’s happening in the world on one of your devices. Yes, camping has changed. Even though we say we are ‘connecting with nature’ our connection to the great Australian outdoors often goes hand in hand with our reliance on having power thus, we need to know how to have power camping so we stay powered up.
With the advancement in camping product technology over the years, you may have found more and more of a need for power in the bush. Fridges, battery lanterns, tent fans, laptops, GPS devices, cameras, and phones are all common items we like to take away camping. So how do we keep these items powered up in the great Australian outdoors when there are no electricity plugs? Let’s explore a few of the ways we can acquire electricity in the bush.
I have been camping most of my life varying from a weekend away tent camping, a road trip in a camper van, towing a caravan to now car camping. And I will say, I enjoy having some creature comforts. I like to have power to keep my food and drinks cool and have power for my laptop so I can work remotely. And also, so I can watch a movie and not miss my favourite footie team play. I have learnt from the different types and lengths of travel I have done what power sources work best for me and this post is written to help you decide on the different ways to have power camping that will work best for you.
Table of Contents
Why Have Power When Camping
Most of us go camping in Australia to connect to the great outdoors and to see the sights. We love hitting the road on road trips, doing the big lap of Oz, getting away for a weekend or an overnight stay. To do this we have camping gear like tents and cooking equipment and other electronic devices to ensure we have a good time. Much of this gear, in turn, requires power. There are a number of reasons campers might want power. Reasons to have electricity when camping or caravanning can include:
- safety reasons of keeping your phone and GPS device charged
- Medical reasons such as travelling with medical equipment such as a CPAP machine or insulin pump.
- Being able to keep food cool
- Ability to cook on different cooking equipment
- For heating and cooling
- Keeping entertainment gadgets powered so you can keep in contact with the outside world and to watch movies.
- Being able to continue working if you work remotely.
Camping Power Options
Power options for camping and caravanning to run your camping accessories and electronic devices include batteries, power banks, power stations, generators and gas. All of these options can help you stay powered up when camping and caravanning. Let’s explore the types of power sources for camping and caravanning in a little more detail.
1. Camping Battery

batteries look a lot like car batteries
Some people like to hook their electric devices and travel accessories up to their car battery via an outlet in the vehicle, mostly through the cigarette lighter plug. Although you can get power this way, some 12 volts of power, using it to power your electronic devices does run the battery down. This in turn means you run the risk of having a flat battery in the morning. An alternative is to have a second battery, a camping battery. This looks very similar to a car battery but is usually larger and has the inlets so you can hook it up to a power source like solar panels to keep it charged and outlets so you can use the power it generates to run your electronic devices. It can be set up so it is charged when the vehicle is running.
These are more suited to shorter trips and weekend getaways where you are running smaller appliances and devices such as a portable fridge, phone, laptop and lights.
Check out camping batteries at outdoor adventure stores such as BCF and Anaconda. Also look online at Amazon and RVCaravanCamping.
2. Power Bank

a portable power bank is compact and light
If you are only wanting to power your phone, tablet and laptop, a power bank may be all you need to keep you powered up in Australia’s outdoors. A portable power bank is small, lightweight and fits in your pocket or hand bag. They come in different size MaH (power they hold) and are very handy to discover Australia now with.
Personally, I have a few of these as they are not terribly expensive and are a useful backup for charging my phone, laptop or headlamp on a short trip. Unfortunately, portable power banks will not provide enough power for larger devices like cameras, computers or fridges. Read more on how to choose a power bank for travel here.
You can purchase a power banks online at Amazon or electronic stores.
3. Power Pack

plenty of power to power your electronics
Power packs or power stations are a big step up from a power bank. While they are similar to power banks, they are larger, have a larger power capacity and are equipped with more outlets, USB ports, and other connectors to power various devices. And they are becoming popular with the camping community due to their size, versatility, and features. The size of their Ah and Wh ranges so choosing the right size for your style of camping should see you stay powered up. Brands to consider include EcoFlow, Jackery and Bluetti.
Power packs come in different sizes, I mean power size, and these can power your fridge. Check out camping batteries at outdoor adventure stores such as BCF and Anaconda. Also look online at Amazon and RVCaravanCamping. Or directly at their websites:
Solar Accessories To Help Keep You Powered
SOLAR! Yep, solar. Having a solar panel or several panels means you can travel longer off-grid and still power all your favourite gadgets. You could install a solar panel on the top of your vehicle or carry panels with you. By connecting the solar panels to your power pack or battery you will charge this so it will power you appliances and electronics. So harness the power of the sun and run solar panels.
As I do a lot of car camping nowadays, I have a power pack and solar panels. These power my fridge/freezer, camping lights, a small fan and my laptop. Check out solar panels at outdoor adventure stores such as BCF and Anaconda. Also look online at Amazon and RVCaravanCamping and Bluetti.
4. Generators

a generator powering a camp site
Generators provide a good, strong supply of power almost anywhere you go – even at home during a blackout. They will operate at all hours of the day (or night) and deliver 240 volts of power to run normal household appliances plus air-conditioning and heating. Generators can be used to both power appliances directly or charge batteries. The downside of a generator is the noise they create. So get use to fellow campers complaining about the loud noise if you park up too close and are using this source of power to keep you powered up while camping. They are also quite big and take up a substantial amount of space. As they are fuelled by diesel you will also need an extra supply of this. Oh, and on total fire ban days, their use can be restricted or not allowed.
Check out generators for camping at outdoor adventure stores such as BCF and Anaconda. Also look online at Amazon and RVCaravanCamping.
5. Gas

gas is great for powering a camping stove
Not everyone of course takes electrical items camping and caravanning. For small appliances like camping stoves, gas can be the chosen form of power. Gas powered appliances are often cheaper to run. However, you do need to travel with gas either gas bottles of liquid fuel canisters. With gas bottles you will need to know where you can refill or exchange them when you run out of gas.
You can purchase gas and other liquid fuels from service stations, some variety stores such as K-Mart and Big W, adventure outdoor stores such as BCF and Anaconda.
Choosing the Right Power for You
When choosing the right power for you, consider what ayour power requirements are. To work out your power requirements, there are some things to consider.
- The first thing to think about before purchasing a power device or system that will provide electricity to you while camping is ‘what are your power needs’? In my case, I wanted to power my fridge/freezer, my laptop and my phone. So, I really didn’t need a big power source. To help you figure out your power needs, make a list of devices and products you will be taking and write down their power needs in terms of wattage, voltage and amperage. Once you know the total of these you can determine how much power you need to power your electronic devices
- Next thing to think about before purchasing your power device is how long you will be using it for. Are you going away for a weekend or longer and will the power device power you for the time you are away? So, I bought something a little more powerful than what I actually thought I needed, just in case I decided to stay away longer.
- Are working out your power needs and how long you need the power for, consider the type of camping you are doing. If you are staying somewhere where you will have access to power, like in a camping ground, you might not need to take so many power sources yourself. However, if you are going off grid you will need to have power for the time you are camping to power your devices.
- Lastly, consider your budget. Portable power sources range from inexpensive to very expensive so it is important you can afford the features you want in your power source. For instance, I have an Anker Powerbank that charges my phone and laptop for 2 days and I use this only for a couple of days before it needs charging itself. For longer trips I have a Bluetti power pack.
Features to Consider When Choosing a Power Source to Use While Camping
You are almost there in choosing power to keep you powered up while travelling Australia. Here are some more things to look for in the power sources to help you make a decision.
1. Understanding Power Terminology
The power output is the amount of energy that the device can provide you. This is important because different devices require different amounts of power to power them. From your list of appliances, ensure the total amount of energy you need is covered by the device you are wanting to power your devices. You don’t need to know the ins and outs of ‘Ah’ (ampere-hours) and ‘Wh’ (watt-hours) but you do need to know the total amount needed so you device will cover it.
For instance, what I want to know is a 24Ah power source providing 720Wh of power can run my fridge/freezer and for how many days before my power source needed to be topped up again.
2. Portability and Ease of Use
Next on my list of features to consider when choosing a power source to use while camping is portability and ease of use. Portability is important because you want it to be easy to carry and transport. This is why I like a light weight and smallish device, particularly when going away backpacking for a weekend. I’d choose my Bluetti power pack any day over a heavy, cumbersome and noisy gas generator.
3. Rechargeability
As well as ensuring my charging device powers up all my devices, if I have been off grid I need to ensure how long my power source will take to recharge. There is nothing worse than a long recharge time, particularly if I have let it run very low. I don’t want my frozen foods to melt!
4. Durability
As camping is done outdoors, you will want to know your power source can handle different weather elements. Look for a power device that can withstand harsh conditions.
5. Compatibility
Ensure the device you choose is compatible with all the devices you need to power. By this I mean there are the types of plugs you need to connect – power points, USB ports, etc. There is nothing worse than having a device that is not compatible with the power source.
Are You Ready to Stay Powered Up in the Great Australian Outdoors?
As you can see, there are a lot of options when it comes to power while camping. And there are a number of things to consider to choose the right power source for you. From portable power banks, power stations, solar panels, and generators all offeing different benefits and downfalls. Usually the best option is to combine different methods of power. I’d love to hear your thoughts on powering your appliances and gear while travelling Australia.

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