Jackie Gower - Let’s go camping!

Friday, January 06, 2012 3:29 PM

Our family of four loves going camping together!  Camping is a fantastic way to enjoy a super cheap holiday.  Even your tent and camping gear doesn’t have to cost a fortune, as these tips from www.simplesavings.co.nz will show!

Read up on camping first.  It pays to do a little research before buying any gear. Your library should have books about camping for beginners which include equipment lists, or there is plenty of information available on the Internet.  Ask friends and family to share their favourite camping spots and check out the National Parks, which are inexpensive to stay at and in terrific locations.

Hire gear from camping shops.  If you have never been camping before, you can get started by hiring the equipment you need from a camping shop.  This way you can try it out and make sure the family all love camping before buying a load of gear.   Many camping shops allow you to hire a huge range of equipment like tents, books and backpacks. Because most of their staff are outdoor people themselves, they have all the knowledge you need and are happy to answer any questions you have. They are always really excited to help a new outdoor enthusiast!

Source items from around the home.  To save money on camping, go through your home first to see how many suitable items you already have around the house - mattresses, blankets, sheets etc. Ask friends and family if they have any camping items you can borrow too; this is a good way to find out which equipment suits you before you commit to buying.

Gear up at garage sales.  When you do purchase your own gear, buy as much as you need second hand from op shops and garage sales to begin with. If you find later on that you are doing a lot of camping, you can always upgrade to better quality later, when you know what suits your needs best.

Small price for home comforts.  Camping need not mean ‘roughing it’. For around $5.00 extra per night you can get a powered site and have the convenience of your electric kettle, toaster and portable light (this also saves heaps on batteries). For an extra $10 per night you can get an ensuite site!  Some parks even have kids' activities during school holidays, with movies, daily bird feeding and wildlife watching included in the cost.