If you are new to the camping scene, then this is for you! While it might seem self explanatory, it’s good to know for your comfort & safety. It was one of the first things I learn’t about at uni as an Outdoor Education Teacher (Sarah).
- Make sure the area you pick is already cleared, you should be clearing vegetation from an area to make yourself a campsite. Pick a designated spot where you won’t be damaging any of the surrounding vegetation.
- Next check for any over-hanging trees. You don’t want to park yourself right under a tree with a huge branch that looks like it could fall down any second. Especially if you are in a tent!! But even if you are in caravan, they can do some serious damage.
- You want your area to be nice and flat, if you are in a tent and there is a clear line where the water has been flowing downhill from recent rain, you wouldn’t set-up onto of that, because if it rains, it will flow straight under your tent. If you are in a caravan, you already know that flat ground means you don’t have to worry about levelling your van.
- Lastly, pick a spot where you can have some privacy. Even if that is from surrounding trees or by parking your car strategically, it’s nice to not have your neighbours staring straight at you while you try to have some dinner.
- Leave No Trace – Make sure you leave the campground as you found it, we always use the 7 LNT Principles as a guide to looking after the places we visit.
The 7 Leave No Trace Principles
- Plan Ahead and Prepare.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces.
- Dispose of Waste Properly.
- Leave What You Find.
- Minimise Campfire Impacts.
- Respect Wildlife.
- Be Considerate of Your Hosts and Other Visitors.
To read more on the Leave No Trace Principles or understand what they mean in detail, visit the Leave No Trace Australia website and pass on your knowledge to other campers! These principles couldn’t be more important. As a teacher, these were DRILLED into my students 
If they took anything away from Outdoor Education, I hope it was these principles!
Thanks for reading!
We hope that this blog has been useful for planning your upcoming camping trip, road-trip or holiday! If you enjoyed this blog, please leave a comment below. If not, please leave some feedback. We really appreciate your support.