During Sydney’s second COVID lockdown back in 2021, the glamourous world of camping was calling my name. I found out later that this was pretty common. Being locked in our homes for the better part of two years was creating some yearning in many to escape the city and explore the great outdoors.

In saying that, I am not an experienced camper. I’ve been camping before, but I have never been the organiser. I was lucky to know some camping enthusiasts who coordinated the whole adventure, the only thing that I had to do was turn up. They made it look so easy. Setting up the camp, cooking the food, lighting the campfire. They would just go to the truck, pull out some equipment, and then everything was set up and ready to enjoy.

The idea of camping on my own, while exciting, was also daunting. There are a lot of things that can go wrong without a lot of help close by. And as a single woman, there is also the element of safety to consider. But I couldn’t ignore the call of the wild. So I packed up the car, strapped Harry in, and off we went.

the location – riverwood downs, monkerai, NSW

For my first camping expedition, I didn’t want to venture too far off the beaten track. I wanted to find somewhere that was close enough to amenities so that if I needed something or got into trouble, I wouldn’t be far from help, but outdoorsy enough to satisfy my camping itch. So after a bit of research, I decided upon the idyllic spot of Riverwood Downs, about three hours north of Sydney. Riverwood Downs is nestled in the foothills of the Barrington Tops National Park, and encompasses 750 acres of bushland, mountains and riverbank frontage. The perfect spot for exploring shady walking trails, tall mountains and cool, fresh mountain pools. Riverwood Downs is also pet friendly, so you can bring along your favourite furry friend. The property has pretty poor mobile phone coverage, but that isn’t such a bad thing. The property has very clean bathroom and laundry facilities, a restaurant and bar, as well as many cabins available, but I chose one of the river side camp spots.

preparing for the adventure

The first step in my camping journey was the preparation. As I’ve seen, a successful camping trip requires more than just a tent and a sleeping bag. Here is a list of essentials that helped me get started.

Gear

Investing in good gear can make a significant difference. The keyword being good. Not having been camping on my own before, I wasn’t totally sure what I needed. But I figured it out, and brought, what I think, was the perfect amount of stuff, not too little, not too much. As a novice, this is my list of camping pieces that got me through the trip.

Wanderer Tourer Extreme 4×4 Double Mattress

I couldn’t tell you how many inflatable mattresses I have bought in my life, but this one is, by far, the most comfortable. This beauty is self-inflating and takes seconds to set up. The mattress is 12cm thick, which makes it perfect for car camping. It fits snuggly in my backseat with the seats lying flat. I just put some blankets in there with a couple of pillows, and I could sit upright comfortably. It was just the right size for one person, but I think it would be a tight fit for two adults.

Awning

I wholeheartedly believe that an awning, or some kind of pavilion or marquee, is essential for camping. However, I cannot recommend the awning that I had. To start with, not all the components were in the box, so I had to duct tape it to the roof racks (duct tape is 100% essential). Halfway through the trip, it even collapsed under the weight of the rain. If you have the same amount of camping experience as I do, I recommend going into a specialist store and getting some advice in person, based on your vehicle and the frequency at which you’ll use it.

Chair

I used a moon chair for my camping trip, which was comfortable, but takes up a lot of space. It dried pretty quickly, which was a positive considering how wet this trip was. The exact chair that I have is no longer available, but, again, the best way to find the best chair for you is to go try one out in a store.

BCF Lightweight Aluminium Roll Up Camp Table

This table is genius. This table comes in a small bag, in separate pieces, and you can put it together in under one minute. It’s light, it’s easy to transport, and it’s pretty sturdy when placed on even ground. I am a fan.

Gasmate Travelmate Deluxe II Butane Stove

A huge part of the fun of camping is cooking outside, and this little gas stove handled everything I needed. I cooked everything from tacos to pancakes (more about that later), and this didn’t skip a beat. It ran a little bit hot, so I kept this on low while cooking, and everything cooked beautifully. This does not come with the gas cannisters, but you can pick these up from camping stores, or even Coles or Woolworths.

Luci Solar Inflatable Lantern

Having a reliable light source is important when camping. I had done a little research, and the Luci Solar Inflatable Lantern was recommended time and time again. And for good reason. This lantern comes in a box that is no bigger than an Apple Airtag. You just have to blow this up with a few breaths, sit it in the sun for a few hours, and there you have it, a lantern with four light modes, that will last you for up to 12 hours. I hung these from the window of the car, and they provided a beautiful glow that allowed for cooking and reading.

15L camp fridge

I had prepped a lot of my hot food before the trip, so I brought along a camp fridge. I borrowed my parent’s camp fridge, which was a 15 litre cool box, that is powered through the cigarette lighter in the car. I kept it plugged in while I drove to the campsite and had lined the bottom with a couple of ice packs, which kept the food nice and cool for a day or so. A vital step in the process is “pre-cooling” the fridge. I had put a couple of icepacks in the fridge the night before to drop the internal temperature, so that it was cool when I put my food in.

food and cooking supplies

Like I said, one of the most fun parts of camping is the camp food. One of the first things you think of when you hear about camping is roasting a marshmallow on a campfire. While I didn’t have a campfire, I did have some marshmallows, and a whole lot of other fun foods. I wanted to have a good mix of hot foods that I could heat up, and some snacks for when just sitting around the campsite. I prepped and froze a batch of ground beef taco meat, some mac and cheese, and a vegetable laksa. These were all easy to reheat in a saucepan, and didn’t take too long. For breakfast, I brought preprepared foods like pancakes and oatmeal, which are both simple and satisfying. For snacks, I just brought some pringles and marshmallows. And finally, for a liquid refreshment, I brought along some canned margaritas. While certainly not as good as a freshly made cocktail, they hit the spot all the same.

As a way to cook everything up, I didn’t bring a lot of equipment. I really only brought a small non-stick saucepan, a spatula, and a bamboo knife and fork set. All the food I brought was pretty simple to cook and prepare, which was the best way to get comfortable with cooking in the great outdoors.

my time under the stars

I got to the camp site mid-afternoon, and immediately set up my home for the next two nights. The set up involved erecting the awning, and table and chair, which all sounds very simple. The problem I had was that I had bought a cheap awning, which turned out to be missing a few pivotal components. A very kind couple a few plots down helped me strap the awning to the roof racks with duct tape and gave me some guy ropes to keep the poles in place. No issues with the chair and tables, no help needed.

Once set up, there was nothing left to do but relax. My camp site looked out over the Karuah River, and there was plenty of wildlife to enjoy ,including kookaburras, platypus, and even some cows who had escaped a neighbouring paddock. I spent the rest of the evening, cooking up my tacos, and enjoying the sounds of the river. When it came time for Harry and I to go to bed, we snuggled up for a cosy night in the car. In the below picture, you can see that I had set up some fairy lights. They had a USB connection, which I just hooked up to a power bank, so that I didn’t have to use my car battery.

The next morning, we awoke to the sound of raindrops on the roof of the car. But it quickly passed, and I cooked up a breakfast of pancakes. Sitting by the river, with the smell of rain, enjoying pancakes, it doesn’t get much better than that. Harry and I then spent the morning exploring the trails and riverbanks until the rain set in again. We spent the rest of the afternoon huddled up in the car. The rain proved too strong for the duct-taped awning, which collapsed under the weight of the downpour. Harry didn’t complain too much, he was pretty happy to burrow himself under the blankets.

The rain came through intermittently over the remainder of the trip, and with the awning in poor condition, we spent a lot of time in the car. But it was cosy and warm, and best of all, dry. Harry and I would jump out of the car when the rain passed and tried to enjoy some fresh air. We were lucky enough to have a little bit of time between showers, so we could cook up the mac and cheese and the vegetable laksa. But as soon as the rain would pass, a new front would come through, and it was back in the car. Navigating the campsite in the rain was tricky. The amenities block was a good 500 metres away, and trying to stay dry enough so not to wet everything in my car was a challenge.

By 5am of the last morning, I’d had enough of the rain. I dried everything off as best I could, packed everything up, threw the awning in the bin, and hightailed it back to Sydney.

the verdict

Camping by myself for the first time was an unforgettable adventure. I may have written this sounding a little negative, but I did enjoy the trip. It was a journey of self-discovery, problem solving, and connecting with nature. There were challenges, and I wish I could say that I had been a little more resilient and not let the rain ruin the experience, but my city mouse in the country story is a little funny now (I say that now that I am dry and sitting inside under a blanket).

Something that my dad always says to me is Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. I spent a lot of time thinking about the food for the trip, and not so much on the gear. It would have been a good idea to have a dry run not far from home. This is when I would have found that my awning wasn’t up to scratch, and I could have come up with an alternative. Having a solid awning would have made the rain a bit more bearable.

For anyone considering camping, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the plunge. The beauty of nature, the thrill of adventure, and the peace of the wilderness are worth every bit of preparation and effort. So pack your bags, gather your gear, and head out into the wild. Your adventure under the stars awaits!

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