WA has thousands of places to camp from beach to desert to forest and in this episode we are going to look at how to choose one that suits you and your family.
Remember that planning your camping trip can be half the fun, so spend some time researching and share what you find with your kids and get their feedback.
There are some great online resources that can really help you tailor your trip; the Parks and Wildlife Parkfinder website is great, the CIAWA website, Tourism WA and of course our website as well as activity specific resources such as the Trails WA, Munda Biddi and Bubbulmun Track websites.
When you are choosing where to have your camping adventure think about how long you have and how far you are prepared to drive. You don’t want to get there in the dark after a long drive and have to turn around too quickly at the end.
Look for a spot that has activities at the site or nearby for you and the kids. It doesn’t have to be complicated but places to swim, hike, fish or bike all add up to a great camp spot.
Campsite themselves can be great fun just on their own. Time to relax and enjoy the simple experience of outdoor cooking and watching nature isn’t to be underestimated.
It might take a little while for your kids to stop asking for their screen based devices, but pretty soon they will be building cubbies, making games and having a ball.
Something to bear in mind also is that even busy campsites can be great for kids. They will soon find other kids their age and guerrilla sports and creative games spring up from nowhere.
When you get to your campsite it’s time to find the perfect spot to pitch your tent.
You want to look for a place that has shade, a pleasant outlook and depending on family requirements is close to particular amenities.
Choosing your area once on-site; High, flat ground is the best, because wet conditions can be fun when camping however a tent that is underwater is never fun.
It also pays to look into the trees above you and look for any limbs that are old or damaged and could potentially drop … make sure your tent isn’t underneath it if it does.
Positioning to take into account sun/shade and wind is important; the main camping seasons in WA often coincide with our standard clear sunny and windy days so take into account where the sun will be at various times of the day and the sleep requirements of your family as well as shelter from the prevailing winds.
If you like to sleep in in the mornings having shade from the east is important but if you have a young member of the family that needs afternoon sleeps that may be your main priority.
Quick tips
- Always do a quick look around your potential site for large ant nests or similar that might make camping uncomfortable.
- And if you are camping in wet weather it can be a good idea to dig in a simple gutter around your camp site to divert any groundwater away from your warm tent.