'I love international holidays, but as a family, camping is so much easier'

OPINION - The last big trip we did with our now almost two-year-old covered two countries, across two continents, and involved about 16 hours of flight time (each way).

Don't get me wrong, we had an amazing time as a family exploring and making memories, and even the flights themselves were relatively painless.

But when I think about the prep work that was required, the luggage organisation, the logistics of getting from A to B - truthfully, I cringe a little.

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And I'm not alone in this sentiment, it seems.

According to new research commissioned by Australian camping company ArcMate, nine in 10 Aussies actually find holidaying stressful, particularly for young families.

The biggest contributor to that stress, according to 41 per cent of people, is overcrowded destinations.

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The best destinations for young families around the world

So it's no surprise to hear that more and more families are now opting to go camping as an affordable and meaningful way to switch off and spend quality time together.

In fact, in 2024, Aussies took 15.2 million caravan and camping trips, spending $14 billion – a figure that has soared well above pre-COVID levels.

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We've been camping many times, and now as a young family, it is an attractive option for an affordable getaway.

You have more flexibility, and really the biggest decision you have to make is whether you're going to head to a holiday park or stay somewhere more secluded and away from other people.

We usually opt for the latter, as it means we don't have to worry about other travellers doing annoying things like blasting music.

An overseas holiday, on the other hand, involves so much more juggling, packing, the long travel days, routine adjustments, nap schedules, snacks, and jet lag.

It never really feels like having a "break" at all.

So while I look forward to our next overseas adventure, and showing my little one more of the big wide world, if it's some destressing we need as a family, you can bet we'll be opting for camping instead.

The best part? We have a camper trailer which is pretty much always packed and ready to go, so the only thing we have to worry about is doing a grocery run, and off we go.

Top tips for camping first-timers

The new research also revealed that while Australians are increasingly drawn to the idea of camping, many are unsure how to get started. More than half (57 per cent) of Aussies describe themselves as novice campers.

To help, the experts at ArcMate have shared some top tips:

• Keep packing simple: Create a packing list and stick to it. Using the same for list each trip means no last-minute scrambling or second-guessing what's been forgotten.
• Choose functional, portable gear: Bulky gear can make travelling stressful, especially with restless kids and an overloaded car. Portable, easy-to-pack equipment keeps things organised before you leave and stress-free when you arrive.
• Don't overcomplicate camp set-up: A campsite doesn't need to be fancy to be fun. The simpler the set-up, the more time there is to relax, explore, and enjoy the outdoors.
• Embrace the mishaps: Every camper has a story about forgetting the pegs or getting rained out. Small hiccups are part of the adventure, so plan well enough to avoid the big headaches, and laugh off the little ones.

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