You don’t need a big fancy caravan to enjoy camping with your family! I don’t know about you, but getting out of town with the kids for an adventure is so refreshing. Camping with your family is so great to connect and make the best memories.
We purchased an old cheap caravan a couple of years ago and have slowly been making it our own.
I’d love to share with you what works for us when we are camping and what products make the experience more pleasant.
I’ve gone ahead and added the links to all our favourite products and things to use so it is easier to find them if you see something that could work for your family.
This is what works for us - hopefully this helps making your next trip that little bit easier with little ones.
The first thing I do before setting off is order a click and collect for snacks and easy food that will last. Stock up on a lot of water. That way when we arrive at our destination you don’t have to worry about finding a supermarket or takeaway for hungry kids. If your anything like me I can’t stand drinking water from another town (always tastes different) so having bottled water stocked up in the van and car is essential.
ORGANISING
Everything collapsible!
Storage and weight is a huge factor in the van so collapsible everything is perfect for little space.
CLICK HERE - COLLAPSIBLE LAUNDRY BASKET
The amount of washing with kids you’ll need one of these, or a couple for toy/swimming storage
CLICK HERE - COLLAPSIBLE BUCKET
These collapsible buckets are so handy for filling up water from the camp kitchen for hot water to wash up or even filling up a tub for bathing kids.
You always need containers for leftovers - extra food leftover from the bbq for lunch tomorrow. These collapsible containers are perfect! Easy minimal storage.
CLICK HERE - COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE CONTAINERS
Ok so I may have gone a little collapsible storage crazy but just one more.
this strainer is brilliant in the van, if your kids love pasta and rice as much as mine. 
CLICK HERE- COLLAPSIBLE STRAINER
Our caravan is stocked up on replay tableware. It’s lightweight and comes in so many cool colours! And the kids love to use them. We got ours locally from HERE
For us adults we love to use the Yeti products. These things are insane. You can keep your drinks hot or cold for hours in them we both have a stubby holder and a coffee much each. Totally worth the investment.
LAUNDRY
The washing can build up with kids while camping and we don’t have a washing machine in our van so we just use the caravan parks. We like to hang our washing out close to our van with a camping clothesline. Great for the kids swimmers and towels.
We don’t have a shower in our caravan so when staying at a caravan park we just use the communal showers or book an ensuite site. My biggest tip for showering with kids is to take a big flexible tub to the shower. Chuck all your toiletries, change of clothes, towels and you don’t have to worry about them getting wet. We use this big one from KMART and it’s perfect for fitting everything we need. 
KEEPING THE PEACE
I always, always! keep a bottle of lavender in the caravan incase any of us get stung by an insect, better than any insect cream, takes the sting away almost instantly. Another essential is a diffuser. This small travel one is so handy and the lavender oil in the diffuser at night helps the kids wind down ready for bedtime. It also provides a night light for the kids if they wake up in the middle of the night so they aren’t scared.
CLICK HERE - LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
Don't judge me they are my favourite shoes!
I literally wore these everyday camping. The best part is you can wear them in water - perfect for showering in the caravan park shower blocks. Crocs are totally making a huge comeback!
CLICK HERE - CROCS MULTIPLE COLOURS
Don't forget your Jibbizs!
CLICK HERE - CROCS JIBBITZ
The kids went crazy for these. We got lots of comments from the kids at the caravan park. Good talking point to make friends.
THINGS TO KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
Bringing a hammock was a hit. It gave the kids some downtime and they loved swinging and relaxing in it, so did I.
SUNSAFE
Honestly I’m flat out getting my kids to put sunscreen on at the best of times, but I will let you in on a little Mum hack, Coloured zinc sticks. The kids think these are great and want to put it on themselves. They have fun with it picking their favourite colours and you know they are protected from the harsh sun. Win win.
I have tested a lot of sunscreens with the kids and the best one we have found and use daily is Neutrogena beach defence. It smells amazing too.
CLICK HERE - NEUTROGENA SUNSCREEN
Put your hat on please!
The kids lived in their LRC reversible bucket hats.
The best thing is they can be worn in the pool too! And dry fast.
KEEPING KIDS HAPPY
It’s the little things while camping that the kids have the best time with, giving them something different to do that you wouldn’t normally do at home is so interesting to them.
You can’t go wrong with glow sticks. It attracts kids from a mile away and they have so much fun with them.
The amount of stacks we have on the push bikes, scooters or just running around, be sure to keep a box of bandaids handy in the van.
The kids love these character ones and it soon makes it all better.
Paint your fridge with chalk paint!
The amount of chalk drawings we found on our walks around the caravan park was pretty cool. Such a cheap easy way to keep the kids outside and off the devices.
I just keep this in the van for each trip.
Once the sun goes down I find the easiest way to keep the mosquitoes away from us all is the BUZZ PATCH stickers. The kids just think they are stickers and I know they are safe. Natural ingredients, fun to use.
The kids went crazy for these shark snorkels.
This made Billy want to spend hours in the pool and made him more confident going under water. They come in heaps of cool colours!
Keeping games in the van is a great idea to keep the kids entertained and off the devices.
My son is age (5) he loves to play card games like this one, it is a great way to interact and connect with other kids that are camping. Anything to keep the kids of the IPad
We always pack a bunch of colouring books and textas/pencils to keep the kids happy while we are getting dinner ready or just for some chill time.
CLICK HERE - OUR FAVOURITE TEXTAS
Last but not least, enjoy the time together outdoors.
These moments with your kids will be something that will leave an impression on them forever. Don’t get too caught up if the kids aren’t in a strict routine or grubby before bed. Most importantly make lots of memories and take heaps of snaps!
CLICK HERE - INSTAX INSTANT CAMERA
The adventure awaits.
Tilly. X