Bust out the fairy lights, whether you’re seasoned campers who are sad to be missing your annual camping pilgrimage, or it is your first attempt at sleeping under the Southern Cross, any adventurous family looking for something fun to do in the confines of their own homes should consider backyard camping! You can likely still enjoy the same stars, the same arguments and the same rank farts that the Dads seem to drop the minute the tent is all zipped up for the night #hotboxed
It’s actually surprising how little gear you need. If you have a tent, great. If you don’t, maybe you can sleep on the trampoline, in the cubby or in the boot of your car if you have a wagon? (Unless your children are actually my children, they are wild animals I tell you and letting them sleep in your car would in-fact be a bloody terrible idea.) Scratch that, lets assume we all have a tent or have managed to borrow one for the sake of this blog.
Things to consider
- What is the weather forecast?
- What basic equipment have you got?
- Are you all sleeping out or just the kids (age and experience dependant)
- Are you having meals at your camp site too or just sleeping?
- What games / entertainment do you need?
- How extensive will your set up be? Chairs, mattresses/air beds, quilts, sleeping bags, pillows, shade (esky?..lol you were all thinking it)
- What are you ‘allowed’ back in the house for? Toilet, kitchen, sneaky netflix once the kids go to bed, nothing……?
- Will you call it quits and move inside at a set time if no one has slept?
- Have your kids slept outdoors before?
- Is technology allowed?
On arrival to your back yard, plan out your time. Every one helps set up and decides a bit of a schedule for games, eating, maybe a quick run or bike ride around the block (….social distancing please) then it might be time to brush your teeth with the hose and perhaps settle in for some star gazing and charades or a family game of storm the lantern.
Will you pack some story books to read? Do you have a fire pit or can you make a pretend fire in a bucket or on a matt? Get as creative as you like, hell throw in a fishing rod or two (please remove the hooks or jig……what’s that movie when he cops a squid jig in the lip? Something About Mary?)
Backyard camping is a great time to slow cook on coals on your Weber. Perhaps toast some marshmallows after or better again make some s’mores.
We love the free app SKY GUIDE down load it HERE for Apple and SKY VIEW down load HERE for Android
April is usually mild weather and the weekend is looking pretty clear with cool evenings. Make sure you have enough bedding to keep warm the whole night. Pack a torch and water bottles minimum. Don’t forget the favourite sleep teddy!
No backyard, no worries! How about a balcony bunker? A veranda va-cay? A Patio PJ Party or just build a kick arse fort under the kitchen table or with the lounge cushions and some sheets and sleep in there.
Last but not least, set your expectations for actual sleep low and happy backyard camping 2020!
Do you need mozzie repellent or coils?
You might also be interested in
-
October 22 - 28, 201 What is it? The Aussie Backyard Bird Count aims to engage communities in the natural world while getting to know the birds in your local area through participation in a simple, fun, all-ages activity that can be done anywhere. By taking part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count kids will become citizen scientists. By participating in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, you will be helping BirdLife Australia find out about the common species that live where you live. Providing a snapshot of Australian birds at the same time each year allows us to look at the trends in our bird communities from year to year. This is important because it’s these more common species that give us the best indication of the health of the environment – think of birds as a barometer for nature! How do you get involved? All you need is 20 minutes, your favourite outdoor space, and some keen eyesight. Simply record the birds you see on our Aussie Bird Count app or through the Submit a Count tab at the top of this website. You’ll instantly see live statistics on the number of people taking part and the number of…
-
Only a short trip up the freeway, Woodhouse Adventure Park (formerly Woodhouse Activity Centre) provides a safe and convenient space for the experienced camper, or those just starting out. There are numerous unpowered camping areas, complete with shared campfire circles (seasonal use) and adjacent Basecamps which have been fitted with deluxe creature comforts including toilets, hot showers, hand dryers, vanity mirrors and power points for your hairdryer. In addition to the unpowered camp sites, we highly recommend taking a look at the bell tent options. With your own private BBQ area, the bell tent includes a tent, lantern, mattresses (sleeps up to 6 people and just BYO bedding) and table and chairs. And, your camping fee also includes access to the awesome onsite activities including Challenge Hill obstacle course, giant maze, tube slides, bouldering wall and disc golf! AND you can enjoy a CAMPFIRE! (allowed outside of Fire Ban season generally May - November). Or make a birthday celebration really special with a Woodhouse Birthday Party! Just $23-$26 a head per night includes access to the awesome onsite activities, showers, toilets and BBQ facilities. Grab a some drinks and food from the supermarket and you’re set for the weekend. Under…
-
Murray River National Park is divided into three separate areas: Katarapko (Winkie), Lyrup Flats (Lyrup) and Bulyong Island (Renmark). Katarapko is also divided into three sections Lock 4 section, Eckert’s Creek section and Katarapko Creek section (not far from Berri). Each section has a separate entrance so you’ll need to make sure you know which section you want to visit before you enter. Katarapko Creek flows through the park and is a great spot for a waterfront camping holiday. Swimming, great canoeing and kayaking, fishing, mountain biking, bushwalking and birdwatching are some some of the activities you can do together as a family. The campsites themselves are huge but make sure you read the description of each camp site before you book online as some have steep banks leading to the water. There is a good write up for each site on the Parks SA website to help you make the right choice. There are around 40 unpowered sites you can book for as little as $12.50 a night! There’s a few great playgrounds to check out while you’re in the area too. Monash and Loxton are under an hour and Karoonda is a good one to stop at if…
