Bush camping for families - equipment to take

I'll dig into more detail on some of these in future posts, but for now here's my camping essentials list for bush camping. It's slightly biased towards a family with kids, so if you're a couple or going solo there are bits you may not need / need so much of.

Base Camp

Shelter - a tent, camper trailer, caravan etc
Sleeping bags or doona - sleep in/under. I recommend sleeping sheets for sleeping bags, not only do they help you keep your bag clean, but they give you greater temperature options (sleeping sheet in the bag in winter keeps you warmer, in summer sleep in the sheet and use the sleeping bag as a doona).
Self inflating mat / stretcher / mattress - sleep on. If you're using air beds, bring a pump.
Pillows - regular or inflatable. If you're hiking, you can stuff a jumper into a tee-shirt as a last resort
Camp chair - sit on
Camp table
Light - lantern/s or head lamps
Broom / dustpan and brush
Map - a map of the area you are staying is essential in my opinion.  It doesn't have to be a bought map - print information out from the internet before you leave! But you need to find the camp you're looking for, and you will want to know what there is to do / see / visit once you're there.
Kids entertainment - frizbee, ball, card games / board games, drawing materials
First Aid Kit - burns, cuts, sprains, insect bites, accidents happen
Tarp / picnic rug - something to sit on for playing games etc

Kitchen Equipment

Camp stove - portable gas or butane

Pot / billy / kettle - something to boil water in for drinks

Plate / bowl / mug - one each plus a couple of extras for serving food from

Knife / fork / spoon / teaspoon

Pots / saucepans - I consider 3 the minimum for a family (cook mains, cook pasta / rice, heat custard)
Frying pan
Spatula / scraper

Stirring spoons
Tongs
Chopping boards - a couple are handy
Kitchen knives - warn people if yours are especially sharp!

Grater

Bottle opener

Can opener

Scissors

Vegetable Peeler

Storage containers for leftovers (ziplock bags can work too)

Large bowl to wash up in

Bucket for collecting water

Gloves (washing up kind)

Scrubbing brush

Consumables

Water containers don't last forever!

Water - camping next to a river, I budget 2.5 litres per person per day minimum. Always bring more
than you need, as you can't rely on there being water to wash up in at every camp ground. Refillable water jerry cans are a good investment, but you can buy water in 5 or 10 litre containers from most major supermarkets.

Firewood - you're not allowed to collect firewood in most national parks, so bringing firewood with you is sensible. If you know you're going through a town that will likely sell wood, buying close to camp saves you from carting it the whole way, and puts money into the local economy near where you're camping. In winter camping we easily go through at least one bag of firewood each day (fires morning and night); warmer weather camping almost as much, but morning fires aren't essential.

Fire-lighters - I'm a fan, because camping without a fire can be miserable. There are eco-friendlier options that we have tested and work well, such as Samba Natural Firelighters (Bunnings has them).  Also, matches and gas lighters are essential.

Sunscreen - Bring lots. Camping next to rivers (my favourite) always results in children playing in the river - no matter the time of year! Bring enough to re-apply every few hours.

Insect repellant - you'll want personal spray (aeroguard ONO) and campsite deterrents like citronella candles. If you're particularly susceptible to mosquito bites etc, bring long sleeves / long pants that you're able to wear even when it's warm, to minimise your attackable surface area.

Toilet paper. We tend to always camp at campgrounds with drop toilets, but they don't always have toilet paper stocked.  3-4 rolls don't take up much space and should see a family through a week of camping easily enough, and you're better off taking more than you need!

Hand sanitiser. Hot soapy water to wash your hands with is not readily available when you're bush camping, and I like to minimise the amount of soap / chemicals that we're pouring onto the ground as we like to camp close to waterways. (Note you usually should not pitch your tent within 20 metres of a waterway national parks, state forests etc.) Hand sanitiser is a good alternative that keeps hands germ-free.

Paper towel / tin foil. Best bring some of both, they have multiple uses. Even though we aim to minimise the amount of waste we produce while camping, I'd still count these as essentials.

Garbage bags.  At least 5 bags if you're looking at camping for up to a week, and more if you're going longer.  Whatever you take in with you you're taking home again at the end of camp, which means you're likely to have at least one bag each of rubbish, recycling, compost / food waste. A garbage bag for dirty clothes is not a bad idea (especially when kids are playing in the river while you're packing up camp) - though be aware if you're having a campfire and your tent is anywhere near the fire, then everything you bring will want washing when you get home.

Tea-towels - at least one per day of camping (up to a max limit I suppose, but depending on the time of year drying out your tea-towels isn't guaranteed).

Gas / Butane - to run your camp stove. Gas is one of those things that you don't use a lot of on any one trip, but you don't ever want to run out. Either fill up before every trip, carry a spare, or ideally both.