Camping Hacks For Large Families

Camping together as a family is a wonderful way to build memories and spend quality time with the ones you love. But, camping with a big group can also be a challenge. 

To help your next family camping trip go smoothly, check out these tips for camping with a large family. 

Don’t forget the essentials

This one goes without saying, but nothing will put a damper on your family camping excursion than realising you’ve forgotten the basics. Make a check list before you depart, and be sure it includes:

• Insect repellant
• Sunscreen
• Plenty of water and water storage*
• Snacks
• Hand sanitizer
• Any cooking utensils you may need
• Aluminium foil
• Sleeping bags and extra blankets and towels
• Waterproof shoes and jackets
• Tarps, if you plan to camp outdoors rather than in a cabin

*Bonus tip: You can freeze your water ahead of time and use that to keep items in your cooler cold. When the water melts, it can be used for drinking or cooking, instead of loose ice cubes that just form a puddle. 

Be prepared

Image source: St John

On any camping trip, it’s important to be prepared in case of an emergency. That’s especially true if you’re traveling with young children or seniors.

Chances are you won’t encounter an emergency situation, but it’s always better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. Take extra precautionary measures including: 

• Pack any necessary prescription medicines in a waterproof bag, and make a list of medicines as well as doctors’ phone numbers in case of emergency. 
• Pack a first aid kit, complete with bandages, disinfectant, pain reliever, and gauze. 
• Check the weather forecast, and have a backup plan in case of bad weather
• Do some research on the surrounding area, including the plants and animals you may want to be aware of, the difficulty of nearby hiking trails, and distance from the nearest town. 
• Map out the route to the nearest hospital or emergency contact station. 
• Pack a flashlight or lantern with extra batteries or a power generator
• Bring some toys or games for young children to play with in case of a rainy day
• Bring more than enough clothing, and pack them efficiently to save space

Plan your meals strategically

When you’re camping with a big group, mealtime can be a challenge. You want to take everyone’s dietary needs and preferences into account, but you also need to be mindful of how much food you can realistically pack and store at your campsite.

If you’re feeding a crowd, inexpensive items like hot dogs can be purchased in bulk and transformed into all kinds of exciting meals. Foil packet meals and kebabs are easy to assemble and a great way to pack in healthy proteins and vegetables. 

Better yet, if you can prepare meals ahead of time that only need to be assembled or heated at your campsite, this extra preparation will save you time and energy during your trip.

Vegetables can be sliced or diced before your trip and packed in resealable bags. Snacks for the kids can also be prepped and packed ahead of time: fruit, crackers, nuts, granola, and more can all be portioned out and stored in reusable containers. 

Choose the right location

The right location for a family camping trip depends on the unique needs of your family. Are you traveling with young children? Elderly grandparents? Maybe you have a large group of aunts, uncles, and cousins of different ages.

When deciding on a venue for your trip, it’s important to consider the ages and mobility levels of your campers so that everyone can get the most enjoyment from the adventure. For example, you might like the idea of sleeping under the stars, but your mother would prefer accommodation with all the modern conveniences. Or, while some members of your group like a challenging hike, it might be too much for young children. 

Consider the range of options for activities near your campsite. Some members of your group might like to hike, while others may want to venture into a nearby town for some culture. Some may prefer to be active on a camping trip while others just want to relax in nature.

If you’re traveling with a mixed group, the ideal scenario would be a central location with a variety of activities available and where group members can choose the right accommodation for them, whether that’s a tent, a minimalist cabin, or a fully-outfitted beach house. 

Book your group stay at Broken Head Holiday Park

Just a short distance from Byron BayBroken Head Holiday Park offers a range of accommodation options for large group stays, from powered and unpowered camp sites to beach shacks and deluxe beach cabins. We also have excellent camp facilities including a kitchen, BBQs, a laundry, shower blocks and a kiosk. Book today and secure your spot!