Family camper starter pack for $300: Where to get all the gear you need on a budget

The expense of shopping at a camping supply store — not to mention the sheer amount of items required to set yourself up for the Great Outdoors — is enough to turn any budget-conscious parent off the notion of a fresh-air family holiday.

But we're going to let you in on a little secret — you don't have to spend a fortune on cutting-edge tents and equipment to go camping.

In fact, you can get almost everything you need from big-name department stores and hardware chains for a fraction of the cost.

Far from the lavish pocket-draining theme park holiday, camping trips give parents and littlies a chance to relish in the simple things, from roasting marshmallows and making campfire damper to stargazing and exploring nature.

9Honey took up the challenge, and we were able to create our own family camping starter kit for just over $300 (who knew it was possible?).

We based our starter kit on a family of two adults and two children. Without ado, here's what you'll need, and where you can get it for less.

Ultimate family camping budget starter kit - $307

Tent - $110

Hinterland 4 Person Instant Tent, RRP $110, bigw.com.au

Air mattresses - $38

Hinterland Queen Size AirBed, RRP $22.00, 2x Hinterland Airbed Single, RRP $7.50ea ($44), bigw.com.au

Sleeping bags- $88

2x Trail Hooded Sleeping Bag, RRP $29 ($58), 2x Unicorn Hooded Kids Sleeping Bag, RRP $15ea ($30), kmart.com.au

Table and chairs - $71

4x Blue Camp Chair, RRP $10ea ($40), kmart.com.au, Marquee Black Folding Card Table, RRP $30.99, bunnings.com.au

Booking a campsite 101

For those who are new to this whole camping thing, it's worth taking note of the best time to book your camping site.

As with most holidays, there are peak periods, and popular campsites can fill up well in advance.

If you're planning a getaway over the Christmas holidays, Easter weekend or September break, you'll need to book your campsite months in advance.

For some high-demand spots, it's akin to entering a camping lottery, with many popular spots requiring you to enter a ballot system well before you can hit the 'book now' button.

If you're really keen to do a camping vacay on the cheap, australiancampsites.com.au is a great resource for finding free and cheap campsites around Australia.

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