There is always a temptation to pack more than you need. In most cases this is not necessary. If you have checked the weather conditions, planned your meals etc, you can make an educated assessment of what will be required. With children you may need a few extra items of clothing and also lots of fruit, healthy snacks etc as children seem to get hungrier when camping. 

• If you are camping with children, leave toys at home. The only exception would be things like bicycles and, if you have a young baby, small toys for him or her. The children can play with their toys when they are home; while they are camping they should be enjoying nature

• A cheap floor for your tent can be made with shade cloth.

• A doormat helps keep sand out of the tent.

• First Aid kit

• Gas stove and gas bottles

• LED lights – these are light and can be suspended over the stove when cooking or left on at night to provide a nightlight

• Solar garden lights – can be useful around the tent to light the way to the shower tent or toilet.

• 12v air compressor – to pump up air matresses and tyres.

• Gas lights and spare mantles.

• A portable Water purifier such as the First Need water purifiers or purification tablets.

• Sunscreen – if you are camping with young children you will need a sunscreen suitable for their skin.

• Before packing your thermos, fill it with hot water. That way you can have a cuppa on the trip or as soon as you have set up your tent.

• Pack healthy snacks and drink bottles for the kids if the journey is a long one.

• If you are using disposable nappies, you can use plastic shopping bags to hold them until you can dispose of them in a bin.

• If you have children who suffer from motion sickness you can buy a commercial preparation or, alternatively, use ginger. Peel and grate a small piece of ginger into a heatproof jug and pour a small quantity of boiling water over. Let stand for 5 or 10 minutes and strain. Add some of the liquid to a small amount of water and add honey or sugar to sweeten it. Give it you your child about 20-30 minutes before leaving.

• Minimise washing by packing a few outfits that kids can play in and wash them when you get home.

• Basic toiletries including soap, shampoo, conditioner, razor, blades, deoderant, toothpaste, toothbrush etc

• Bedding including air mattresses, pillow cases, sheets, blankets, or sleeping bags.

• Leak patch kit for air mattresses.

• Buckets or plastic container for washing up, dishwashing liquid, dish cloths, tea towels.

• Sink plug as some sites have basins.

• Plenty of fresh and dried fruit, healthy snacks etc for hungry kids.

• Put water in softdrink bottles and freeze. Pack in the esky. This helps keep food cold, menas you can buy less ice, and provides ice cold drinking water as it thaws.

• Food. Where possible take food which can be prepared easily, which lasts and which is multi-purpose. For example, olive oil can be used for cooking and for salads. You travel pantry should include: salt and pepper, pasta, packet soup, milk powder, flour, garlic, onion, mixed herbs, eggs, some basic tinned goods such as baked beans.

• Ice

• Plastic bags for rubbish.

• Cutlery and crockery.

• Tin opener and bottle opener.

• Cooking utensils including chefs knife, paring knife, egg lifter, wooden spoons for stirring.

• Camp table.

• Chairs.

• Toilet paper.

• Portable toilet.

• Shower tent.

• Towels.

• Basic tools including a shovel or spade, shifting spanner, screwdrivers (flat and philips), garden rake, and a hammer or mallet.

• Citronella candle or mosquito coils.

• Gloves (for collecting firewood).

• Board games if camping with kids in case the weather is too wet to do anything else.

• Pack of cards.

• Let someone know when you are leaving and when you will be back.