Always be prepared. Not only the mantra of boy and girl scouts the world over, but also a great thought to live by if you are thinking about heading into the wilderness (or not so wilderness) to enjoy a camping holiday.
Your camping holiday may vary depending on the type of traveller you are. Whether you are the true outdoors type who likes roughing it, family campers who make the most of camping grounds with flush toilets and power supplies, right through to the top end of the scale where “glamping”, a relatively new buzzword, or ‘glamour camping’, for the uninitiated. If glamping is your thing, you will be looking for exotic locations with personal service, Egyptian cotton sheets and all the trimmings ... in your tent with a view. If you are the more traditional type of camper, all you need are the basics and your wits. For those who have never ventured on a camping trip before, you might find the following camping checklist useful; a handy guide to what to bring, what to remember, and how to go camping safely in NZ.
Campsite Essentials in NZ
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Decent tent, camp table and folding chairs – Well, the tent is the most important on your camping checklist in NZ, but having furniture to sit on and eat off is a bonus if you have room for it. Sitting on a rug and eating off your lap night after night gets old pretty fast.
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Hammer (for tent pegs) – Taking a hammer is a good idea – much more effective than trying to find a rock or using your boot heel to bang tent pegs into the ground. While we are on the topic of tent pegs, it is a good tip to remember to loosen up your guy ropes a bit if the weather is windy and make sure they are nice and tight if it is raining.
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Sleeping bags/pillow – For a decent night’s sleep, you need at least the basic bedding that packs down to not take up too much room. Definitely leave your duvet at home if you are glamping or staying at a motel or cabin – in which case, all your bedding will be provided!
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Lilo (air mattress and pump) or foam bedrolls, plus spare plugs and a patch kit in case a plug gets lost or your airbed has a puncture! Unless you are of the very hardy variety and enjoy sleeping on the wooden floor at home, you will want a comfort layer between yourself and the ground – and a way of keeping dry should the weather not co-operate.
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Tarpaulin or groundsheet to put on the ground inside your tent – to help keep your bedding and your possessions dry and tame the prickly dry grass you are camping on top of.
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Torch/Flashlight or battery-powered lantern (better than a torch for reading or playing cards at night) and the torch to dodge those shin-bruising obstacles as you go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
Optional:
- Clothesline (rope) and pegs – To hang out any wet clothes, swimsuits, and towels. Most TOP 10 Holiday Parks provide clotheslines onsite, so you can avoid the hassle of finding a spot to put up the line.
- Spare batteries – To fit your battery-powered gear.
- Citronella candles – To burn and help keep the bugs at bay during the evening hours.
- Beach sunshade/shelter - In NZ, the ozone layer is pretty thin, and you will need some protection from the sun, especially in summer. Remember to fill the pockets on the sides with sand or rocks to make sure they don’t blow away. However, most campsites at TOP 10 Holiday Parks are covered with trees. You can easily find a shaded spot underneath a tree if you want to pack light.
Tips:
- Check all your camping gear at home BEFORE you go away, go through your camping checklist NZ at least twice. Make sure all the tent poles and pegs are there, there are no holes in the tent or fly, airbeds all stay up, and your camp stove has enough gas (if you are not using shared kitchen facilities).
- Practice setting up your tent in the backyard so you’re not stuck looking for the instructions when you arrive at your campsite late, and try to set up an unfamiliar tent. It’s a great way to ensure all the parts are there and in working order.
- Avoid pup tents – go for an easy-to-put-up Dome-style tent, and keep in mind that if the package/salesperson says it will sleep 4, then it will comfortably sleep 2 with your gear.
- On hot days, the inside of your tent will become very hot – so buying a tent that has mesh windows can help keep air circulating and cool things down a bit.
If you want to travel light, yet still experience the joy of Kiwi camping holiday, then you can choose to stay at a cabin, motel or roofed accommodation at TOP 10 Holiday Parks. All your bedding will be provided by TOP 10 Holiday Parks, and you’ll have access to a private or communal kitchen and bathroom.
Food and Cooking Equipment List
- Food – chilly bin (Esky/cooler) – plan your meals ahead if you want to bring food and cook at the campsite. You’d want to keep your food and drinks cool for as long as possible, so a chilly bin or Esky is a great idea, especially if you are driving to your campsite.
- Water – make sure you have fresh water while you’re on the road when planning your camping essentials in NZ. Remember to have suitable water bottles to carry if you are planning on going hiking/walking during your holiday. You can fill up your bottles with tap water before you leave a TOP 10 Holiday Park.
- Multi-purpose liquid soap – for dishes, hands, and laundry.
Optional
- Pots, cooking utensils, knives, plates, bowls and cutlery – if you’re staying at a TOP 10 Holiday Park, you’ll have access to a communal kitchen with all the cooking essentials. But if you prefer to use your own utensils and pots, you’re more than welcome to bring them from home.
- Energy bars/snacks/Scroggin –are good things to have on hand for those day trips and the peckish moments between settling in at a campsite and actually getting something to eat.
- Drinks – your choice, but keep in mind where your campsite is located and what facilities might or might not be nearby. A few cold beers can be the perfect finish to the day (keep them in your chilly bin, or maybe firmly anchored in the river to keep cold if you have one close to your tent site)
- Rubbish bags – rubbish bins can be found at all TOP 10 Holiday Parks. However, you can bring some rubbish bags to put away any rubbish or snack packages while you travel between locations or while you’re hiking.
Clothing and Personal Items for Your Camping Checklist
- Sunscreen – When it comes to camping essentials in NZ, sunscreen is an absolute must-have, especially during the summer months when you’re spending all day outdoors. Something with a factor higher than +35 is probably a good idea, and don’t forget to keep reapplying it every 2 hours during the day – it will wash off with swimming and perspiration.
- Hats – bring a sun hat if you are camping in the summer months – especially if you want to get a bit of protection under our ozone-free skies, or a woolly hat if you are camping in the cooler months of Spring or Autumn. Keep in mind that up to 55% of body heat can be lost via the head if you are not wearing a hat.
- Clothes – New Zealand’s weather can be unpredictable, so it’s vital to pack for all conditions, especially during spring and autumn. Consider layering, including moisture-wicking undergarments, insulated layers (fleece or wool), and a waterproof and windproof outer layer.
- Beach towel and swimsuit – clothing is not optional at most beaches and camping grounds around New Zealand, with a few exceptions.
- Jandals/sandals/flip flops you can slip on at night for a quick run to the toilets! Going barefoot in the dark in unfamiliar territory is never a good idea.
- Mobile – take your mobile phone with you on day trips to take all the Insta-worthy photos (there’s free WiFi at TOP 10 Holiday Parks for you to share the photos with the world). And, just in case if you get lost, there might just be a cell phone tower somewhere handy, which makes it possible to call for help.
- Mobile phone charger – don’t forget to include a mobile phone charger on your Kiwi holiday parks camping checklist. If you have a car charger or a power bank, this can be a good idea, or if you are booked into a camping ground with power, then your normal charger will be fine.
Optional
- Pack of cards – to while away the evening hours and hone your poker, bridge or 500 skills.
- Earplugs (tent walls are thin, and noises do carry) – often overlooked, but a great idea if you are camping somewhere with lots of other families or couples, and especially if you are camping over holidays like New Year’s Eve.
- Wet wipes – come in handy for a multitude of things when you are away from a bathroom or kitchen tap.
Safety Items
- Insect repellent spray, bracelets, anklets – vital to have on your camping checklist in NZ, and possibly could make the difference between a great camping holiday and a really itchy one where you spend half your evenings swatting off tiny biting insects. Wearing long-sleeved tops or long pants is also a good idea if you are in an area where the little critters are biting. Keep in mind that sand flies and mosquitoes will be at their worst around dusk and anywhere near water, particularly standing water and lakes.
- First aid kit – a comprehensive first aid kit is a non-negotiable item on any Kiwi holiday park’s camping checklist. Remember to bring sticking plasters/band-aids, bandages, gauze strips, cotton wool, disinfectant, anti-histamine cream for bites and stings, aloe vera gel for sunburn, insect repellent, tweezers, scissors, aspirin/Panadol. Your local pharmacy will probably have something readymade.
Optional
- Take or buy current maps of the region and the immediate area you are staying in – use them to teach your kids about where you are staying and to plan day trips/walks.
It’s crucial to always have a Plan B when you’re figuring out how to go camping in New Zealand. - if the weather is bad (not just drizzly and occasional showers kind of bad), it really pays to have some kind of backup plan to rescue your holiday from going down on the list of “worst ever”. There are cabins, motels and roofed accommodations at all TOP 10 Holiday Parks, and you can check if there are still available rooms if the weather isn’t looking so great for tent camping.
Most importantly, keep an eye on long-term weather forecasts before you head into the wilds and look out for predictions of fast-rising rivers. You really don’t want to be stuck across a raging torrent from your food, warmth, and shelter!
This information might seem a lot to keep in mind, but we’ve tried to bring together tips that will help ensure you have a holiday that is fun, relaxing and memorable for all the right reasons. If you want to travel light, have a short camping checklist, and avoid some hassle, then stay at TOP 10 Holiday Parks. For a traditional camping experience, our fully equipped communal kitchens have everything you need to make warm, delicious meals onsite. There are also shared bathrooms at our campsites with toilets and showers. For those looking for a slightly more luxurious experience or a touch of home comfort, our roofed accommodation offers communal or private kitchens and bathrooms, with bedding and bath towels.
Exploring the outdoors with your family and friends can be very rewarding and a great way to get away from all the pressures (and conveniences) of city life – so make the most of it, be safe and have a great time!