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Caravanning Checklist: Packing For Your Family’s Adventure

Four caravans parked on the grass next to a mountain and trees.
Above:Food ✔ Camper ✔ Family ✔ Let's go...

Planning a cavanning adventure in the near future? Whether you’re a beginner caravanner or you’ve got a few trips up your sleeve, it’s important to be well-prepared with everything you might need for safety and comfort. And at the same time, you want to avoid unnecessarily adding to your to-do list or cluttering up your van!

We’ve put together a caravanning checklist to help you pack efficiently and set off on your family adventure with confidence!

 

We’ve broken up our caravan packing lists into 7 categories to reduce the overwhelm and help you customise your own list:

  • Camping and caravanning essentials
  • Luxury caravanning items
  • Family camping checklist
  • Groceries for your caravanning trip
  • Caravan maintenance checklist
  • Camping with pets checklist
  • Off-grid vs on-grid camping essentials

Camping and Caravanning Essentials

If you focus on one part of our caravanning checklist, let it be this one. These camping essentials include all the things you need to stay safe and healthy as a family, while also protecting the people and environment around you. 

Some of these might sound obvious… but this camping pack list also includes some of the most commonly left behind items.

  • Water – Potable for consumption and non-potable for cleaning
  • Toilet – Bring your toilet/ensuite and toilet paper (FYI: it’s now an offence in most national parks to do your business in the bush)
  • Power source – Batteries, solar, and/or generator
  • Cooking/heating/light source – Firewood, axe, fire lighter, portable fire pit, gas, torch (be sure to check fire regulations for your site and region)
  • Shelter – Tent, swag, gazebo, or ideally a caravan or campervan for maximum comfort
  • Fire safety – Fire extinguisher/blanket
  • Linen – Sleeping bags, sheets, pillows, mattresses, stretchers, bath towels, tea towels, hand towels
  • Cleaning – Cleaning chemicals and equipment
  • Navigation – Phone charger, maps, UHF
  • First aid – First aid kit, medication, and insect repellent
  • Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and soap
  • Protection – Sunscreen, hat, face mask, raincoat, umbrella
  • Furniture – Camp chairs
  • Clothing – Always bring a jumper even if you expect hot weather
  • Kitchen items – Plates, cups, cutlery, pots, pans, utensils, cutting board, grater, foil, clingwrap, garbage bags 
  • Cooling – Esky, fridge, ice
  • Travel essentials – Recovery gear (if off-road), wheel chocks

Luxury Camping Checklist

Why rough it? If you’re caravanning, make the most of the more luxurious camping experience and bring along your favourite creature comforts for a more relaxing, enjoyable adventure. You definitely won’t feel the need to rush home with these extras on your caravanning checklist. 

  • 12v fans (our entire fleet is air conditioned!)
  • Gas heater
  • BBQ or gas cooker
  • Bed linen
  • 12v TV or projector
  • Appliances, including toaster, kettle, and coffee machine
  • Serving platters (for a very Instagrammable spread)
  • Shuttle Chef portable slow cooker
  • Portable hot water system or shower
  • Camera or drone

Family Camping Checklist

Family playing with a ball in the grass next to their caravan.

Camping or caravanning with your family? You’ll make all the best memories with your loved ones, but you can’t be too prepared – especially with young kids or teenagers to keep entertained. Here are some things you might want to keep on hand:

 

  • Board games
  • Card games
  • Puzzles
  • Musical instruments
  • Portable speaker
  • Kids toys (but you’ll probably find they prefer the dirt, sand, or sticks)
  • Books
  • Paper, colouring ins, and pencils
  • Bikes and scooters (don’t forget helmets)
  • Fishing rods
  • Kayaks/inflatables
  • Chalk
  • Soccer ball/football
  • Glow sticks

Camping with Pets Checklist

A dog lies at its family’s feet in the back of a camper.

Bringing your furry friend along for the adventure? Don’t forget their needs to ensure they have a fun, safe adventure! Add these items to your caravanning checklist:

  • Portioned pet food
  • Pet treats
  • Food & water bowls
  • Favourite toy
  • Blanket
  • Bedding or spare towel
  • 6m rope/leash and ground peg
  • Brush
  • Medication
  • Vet certificates

Camping Grocery Checklist

Most of the best adventures happen off the beaten track (sometimes literally), so you’ll need to make sure you bring enough food for your trip. You can’ just pop down to woollies!

It’s a good idea to plan your menu and meal prep before you leave home. This can save a lot of time (which means more time to relax!) but most importantly, it means you’ll bring everything you need for each meal.

Breakfast

  • Cereal
  • Pancake mix
  • Frittata
  • Bacon & eggs

Lunch

  • Breads, wraps, and spreads
  • 2-minute noodles
  • Soup
  • BBQ meats
  • Salad

Dinner

  • BBQ meats
  • Salad
  • Stir fry
  • Casserole
  • Roast meats & vegetables

Snacks

  • Cheese, crackers & dips
  • Deli meat
  • Muffins
  • Fruit
  • Muesli bars
  • Yoghurt
  • Veggie sticks
  • Chips
  • Lollies

Drinks

  • Tea, coffee & hot chocolate (don’t forget the sugar and marshmallows)
  • Juice
  • Milk
  • Soft drink
  • Alcohol 

Caravan Maintenance Checklist

When you’re camping, it’s wise to expect the unexpected. Your camping checklist should include a number of caravan cleaning and maintenance items – after all, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in the middle of nowhere, unprepared. These items will help get you out of many stick situations:

  • Basic tool set, including screwdrivers, spanners, wrachets, hammer, and allen keys
  • Broom, dustpan, and brush
  • Zip ties
  • Gaffa tape 
  • Shovel
  • RV jack
  • Jump starter pack or jumper leads
  • Fuel
  • Spare tyre
  • Extra tent pegs and rope

Note that our fleet comes with roadside assistance. However, in some cases, you may need to roll up your sleeves and relocate to a more built up location so you can phone for help. So it’s always good to be prepared!

Off-Grid Vs On-Grid Packing Requirements

A man and woman sitting on camper chairs next to their caravan, parked in the woods.

These camping and caravanning checklists can be used for all types of adventures, but you’ll need to modify them based on your family’s needs and the type of adventure you’re embarking on. Your holiday might have different requirements depending on where you’re headed – and what resources you’ll be able to access onsite and locally.

If you’re going off-grid, you’ll likely be away from shops that sell everyday items. Forgotten your toothbrush? That’s a 60 minute round trip to the nearest Friendly Grocer. So you have to pack more carefully and bring along extra supplies, just in case. That includes food for all meals, sufficient amounts of water, medical supplies, additional lights, and power sources such as solar or generators.

If you’re staying on-grid, you can probably pack a lot lighter. You’ll be able to access things like shops, power, water, and lighting quite easily – so you don’t have to pack for all those ‘just in case’ situations.

Fortunately, when you hire one of our caravans or campers/hybrids, we include most of the essentials as part of the hire. That way, you can pack fast and light!

Ready to Book Your Next Adventure?

Whether you’re going away for a weekend, or a couple of weeks, our caravans and campervans offer the quickest way to get on the road. Getting ready for your adventure is quick – all you have to bring is your linen, clothing, medication, toiletries, and food (plus a few optional extras!). Each camper comes pre-stocked with caravan maintenance gear, safety gear, appliances, and more. 

When you arrive at your destination, you’ll be set up in minutes – and packing up is just as fast. Especially if you’ve prepared well with our caravanning checklists!

Explore our range of campers and caravans, available for hire from our north-Brisbane hire HQ. 

And don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure!