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Tips for Camping with a Young Family

Camping Hat

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme slow-down of travel across the world, we thought we’d provide some light-hearted reading on our top tips for camping with a young family. Even when international travel was a trending thing, we’ve more often than not, hooked up the camper trailer and taken off somewhere remote, beautiful and most-of-all, spiritually rewarding. We did this prior to kids and now we have a 3.5yr old and a 7 month old that we still take-off with. So here’s our little list of tips for your enjoyment:

  1. A series of good car snacks comes in very handy for the drive time. We like sultanas, cheese, blueberries, crisps and muesli bars.
  2. A car DVD system. Yes, watching too much TV is something we don’t promote, but to help kids engage and accept ‘travel time’ and to get them used to long-distance travel particularly, a DVD with a good selection of children’s programs and sing-along music is a marvellous thing.
  3. A collapsible bath (a bath that folds flat when not in use) is ideal for both kids to use and stores well in the camper or car for travel.
  4. A selection of monster trucks and diggers. Perfect for ‘driving’ around the campsite when we arrive and are setting up camp.
  5. A few bedtime books & quiet games to soothe/calm the kids for sleep each night. But alas, if we run them buggered during the day, falling asleep at night is much easier!
  6. Campfires (when permitted). Teaching them early to stay away from fire is important. And teaching them the benefits of fire such as warmth and cooking are worthy activities. Marshmallows are optional!
  7. Decent shoes. Yep, we make sure the shoes we take for our kids are comfortable, somewhat amphibious, protective from prickles and easy to put on/off.
  8. Planning our meals before we depart. For most camp trips and weekends away, we plan our evening meals before we leave so we have a guide. Then if things do change (say we catch a fish or something), we’ve still always got go-to food for the kids at dinner time. And baked beans are always an awesome stand-by!
  9. Weather forecast. Yeah, we’re weather people! So when it comes to packing the clothing, swimwear and bedding, we definitely check the forecast beforehand, especially because we want to pack light when we’re carrying clothes and bedding for the whole family!
  10. Hiking backpack and baby carriers – lifesavers!
  11. Camp shade – either a gazebo or camper awning – essential!
  12. Child friendly insect repellent is a must-have.
  13. And last but not least – take a darn decent hat for each member of the family! If you’re wondering where you can get some of those…… 😉 😉 😉 Hint hint. Nudge nudge. Shop the Ozbrero here.
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Yarn Time with Surfer Josh Palmateer

Surfer Josh Palmateer Mud Crab

Former world tour professional surfer Josh Palmateer, who achieved a career high ranking of 45, travelled back to the Kimberley (one of his favourite stomping grounds) earlier this year for some fun camping adventures. When Josh isn’t camping in the Kimberley he runs his own surf academy in Margaret River and, back in the day, Josh also used to run his successful surf school for a decade here in Broome in between the busy summers in Margaret River. It was great to catch up with both he and his wife Sarah while they were in town.

What is your top Kimberley camping spot/s? Port Warrender in the Admiralty Gulf. There is absolutely no-one there, very difficult to get to and, fish and crabs and crocs everywhere. Bloody exciting!!! 

What is your favourite fish to catch and best fish to eat, and why? To catch would be a Barra because they look like some prehistoric creature and can be quite elusive to catch at times. But to eat would be Baldchin Groper because they are just simply Proper Yummy!!!

What makes WA so special for you guys? WA is extraordinary – it has to be the best place in the world to live, it has some of the most remote places to explore, you can get some of the best waves on the planet, catch some of the biggest fish ever and, camp in places that are so beautiful you would never want to go home!

We tend to agree! Top stuff and enjoy the Margs summer you lot 🙂

Check out the Josh Palmateer Surf Academy for more info and don’t forget to slip, slop, slap with an Ozbrero this summer – shop it here.