Tried and tested: Everything you need for the perfect camping setup

I'm fairly new to the camping game. Back in the UK, where I'm from, I wouldn't be seen dead spending my weekends in a tent. But since moving to Sydney's Northern Beaches, it's part of the lifestyle and not really something you can avoid.

Now, I'm a good few camping trips deep – and dare I say I actually enjoy it. A weekend of kicking back with friends, cooking on the BBQ, nose in a book, a beer in hand and a serious amount of gear...What's not to love?

Between my friends and me, we have a good camping setup (it's mostly their gear, I'll admit). And these are all of the things we now swear by for a good camping weekend.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing

Dometic Recon Hardside 41L

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A cool box makes or breaks a camping trip. It's devastating (and I'm not being dramatic) when your food for the weekend becomes all gross and sweaty, or your tinnies go tepid. This hardside cooler from Dometic has 5cm of insulation, which kept our goodies cold and fresh until the very end.

It could be kept in the car boot due to the ease of the dual-hinge lid opening from either side, or coming off completely when we needed wide-open access. It comes with a drainage system, flip-down handles, die-cast metal latch catches that double as a bottle opener (handy as we forgot ours), and is armed with a divider and drop-in basket for optimal organisation.

It's lightweight, durable, and its generous 41L capacity can hold 67 cans and is tall enough for wine bottles. What a win.

Weber Q Gas BBQ (Q2000N)

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This BBQ is truly versatile: it's big enough for everyday use, but still compact enough to pack up and take with you on a camping trip. This absolutely levels up campsite meals, whether it be breakfast baps or barbecued chicken wraps.

Hiker's Stainless Steel Flat Plate

$9 | Decathlon

This stainless steel plate was an unsuspecting weekend hero. We love our brekkie rolls, and we found this super useful for keeping elements warm whilst we cooked the rest up.

Quechua Kitchen Set MH500

On sale now

This camping kitchen set from Decathlon packs in some great campsite essentials, including a spatula, ladle, tea towel, and a chopping board. It keeps the setup super easy.

Gasmate Travelmate II Single Butane Stove

$44.99 | Decathlon

A gas camp stove is, I would argue, a fundamental part of any camping setup. If you're low on cooking equipment, this is great for all sorts of tasks: frying, boiling, one-pot wonders, and more. And if you have more to hand, this is great to have boiling water for coffees and teas in the morning.

Adjustable Windshield for a Campsite Cooking Table or Worktop

$20.99 | Decathlon

This windshield was a Godsend over the camping weekend. It might not seem crucial, but when Australia's weather is so unreliable, this helped keep the wind away from ruining our cooking.

Camping Folding Aluminium Table with Adjustable Legs

$129.99 | Amazon

My friend recently invested in a camping pantry. Here she can store all the kitchen essentials for the weekend, including cooking equipment, seasoning and sauces, crockery, and more.

Kathmandu Cabana Moon Chair Deluxe

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So many camping chairs are deathly uncomfortable, and since I'm a bit of a comfort princess (shamelessly), I need something better than bog-standard. Enter: this Kathmandu moon chair. With ample room, it's a cosy nook for reading your book or cracking open some cans with friends.

Even two of you can squeeze on, which is all the more fun after a few drinks. It comes packed in a handy cover with a handle, so you can sling it over your shoulder when on the move or packing up.

It's unbelievably comfy; we were all fighting for it.

Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag

On sale now at Amazon

I've spent too much time in dodgy tents at festivals, basically sleeping on the ground after my airbed deflated, either freezing or sweating. For me, tents are associated with discomfort, which is why I've been put off camping.

Once I tried a swag, though, it was a game-changer. They're so comfortable, spacious, and you can sleep with the exterior rolled up to enjoy the stars as you fall asleep. Did I use a Big Daddy Deluxe Double just for me? Yes, yes, I did.

KeepCup Camp Mug

$38 | Amazon

If you're to make it through a weekend of camping, obviously, coffee needs to be on the agenda. With an insulated and splash-proof mug, you can keep coffee hot and other drinks cold on the move.

Outdoorish Essential Outdoor Moisturiser

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When camping, there's always a good number of critters creeping around. Instead of being sprayed head-to-toe in sticky bug spray, we used this 'no bite moisturiser'. It smells lovely, is lightweight, and non-sticky, perfect. And I was bite-free!

Decathlon Inflatable stand-up paddleboard pack

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One of the best things about camping is doing all the activities with it. After a while of sitting at the campsite, I get agitated and desperate to do something fun. We packed a couple of inflatable stand-up paddleboards from Decathlon to take out onto the water.

I didn't even bother trying to navigate the instructions, but it was so simple to set up. So, if I can do it, anyone can. They take about five minutes to assemble and take down, and are stored in a convenient backpack-style bag.

Jetboil Zip Stove 0.8 L

Buy it from Kathmandu here

A Jetboil is a pretty cool piece of equipment. Though not a campsite essential per se, it's good to have to hand to take to the beach, or on a hike. If you're a sunrise enthusiast, you can take it with you and enjoy a cuppa as the sun comes up. So cute!

Kathmandu Ruru Rechargeable Lantern 1000

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Somehow, I always forget that, when camping, when the sun sets, you are, in fact, plunged into darkness. This Kathmandu rechargeable lantern packs a punch with 1000 lumens of light and four modes – warm white, warm, white, and strobe – and has up to eight hours of light. You can also charge your phone, speaker, or anything else with its USB port.

Seymour's Collapse-A Sink 9L Foldable, Compact Washing Basin

$18.44 | Amazon

This makes transporting all your dirty dishes to the camp kitchen sinks and your clean ones back to camp easier.

READ MORE: I've found the perfect backpack that's carry-on-friendly