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10 Tips To Survive Your Family Camping Trip

What better way to spend your summer nights in New Zealand with the family than pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars?

Banks Peninsula is full of scenic spots that are perfect for such an endeavour, and many people take advantage of that fact during our warmer months.

If you’re thinking of roughing it for a few nights in Canterbury’s great outdoors, be it in iconic Banks Peninsula destinations such as Akaora, Okains Bay or Little River then here are ten things you should bring to ensure your family camping trip is a great success:

    1. Pack of Cards – Or any other board game really. Stock up on the kids’ favourites to wind down at the end of a day of running around in the sun, or for that unexpected stormy summer weather.
    2. Wet Weather Gear – Even if the forecast is telling you there will be nothing but sun, with New Zealand weather’s notoriously unpredictable reputation, it pays to be prepared. If you’re in a tent, make sure the rain cover is packed away, along with the parkas and some extra blankets.
    3. Sun Stuff – On the other hand, the ever so bright (and burning) Kiwi sun can be almost as much trouble as an unexpected storm. Like they say, be sure to slip, slop, slap, and wrap when enjoying the great outdoors.
    4. St John first aid kitFirst Aid Kit – Bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers; all essentials for the travelling family. Every kid is bound to graze a knee or get a splinter, and being able to fix up an ailment in a jiffy reduces the worry and hassle of having to ask around for a hand. St John do a great range of first aid kits from ambulance plasters to an ambulance shaped kit. Great for your trip or for a Christmas gift idea.
    5. kathmandu solar chargerMap – GPS, Google Maps, or whatever fancy technological equivalent you may have can do the job just fine, until it can’t. Have a back up old school hard copy of the way to your destination to avoid getting lost or stuck in the middle of nowhere. If you prefer plastic to paper why not invest in a solar charger. Kathmandu do a great solar charger kit so you can stay connected.kids camping torch
    6. Lights – Nobody likes having to get up in the middle of the night to find the loo, only to realise the lights are out and there’s nowhere to find them. Bring a torch or lamp, and some spare batteries, to avoid stumbling through the dark. They’re also great for a game of spotlight. We love this kids camping animal torch from Typo!
    7. Sleeping gear – Although sleeping bags and pillows are a given, it might pay to pack a few extra blankets for those colder nights. Don’t forget the air mattress or cot either – especially if you’re after a comfortable night’s sleep. Or simply bring the whole bed and call it glamping..glamping

 

8. Food glorious food – A local Four Square or dairy is usually pretty helpful for anything you’ve forgotten, but for those more remote locations, prepping meal plans before you go can make a load of difference. Snacks are an essential for the little ones too as all that running around is bound to work up an appetite long before dinner. Don’t forget the utensils either – those beans aren’t much good if you can’t get into them!

9. Toilet Paper – One can only truly appreciate the wonders of toiletries when one has accidently left them at home before a camping trip. Be sure to double check for loo paper, wet wipes, soap, and hand sanitizer in your bathroom bag before you head off into the wilderness.

10. Fun – Not everything will go to plan, and there will no doubt be a bit of stress in the atmosphere, but try your best to go with the flow and make the most of it. There’s nothing quite like a Kiwi summer in the great outdoors!

For more information on camping in Akaroa and the bays check out this fantastic guide cortesy of akaroa.comAkaroa and the bays camping guide 1Akaroa and the bays camping guide 2