The Ultimate Caravan Packing List for Travelling Australia [PDF Download]

Here you’ll find our caravan packing list for travelling Australia (as well as a pdf checklist you can download)

Now before we start:

These are the things we use regularly… but we’re a family of 5.

So some of these you won’t need…

…while there may be 1 or 2 that you need that aren’t on here

[So in the pdf download there’s a few spaces so you can add in your own items]

Also:

We’ve grouped these items by function or areas of the caravan.

But if you’re new to caravanning and wondering where to start, I’d check out our article: 15 Things To Buy For A New Caravan [Essential Caravan Accessories]

I’ve mostly avoided referring to any specific brands… so if you want recommendations, leave a comment below.

Otherwise… let’s get started:

Caravan kitchen packing list

When you’re packing a caravan kitchen there’s 2 things to consider:

1. Keeping weight down, and
2. Saving space

This means not everything on this caravan packing list might apply to you… it all depends on whay you normally cook. For hints and tips about packing your caravan kitchen check out our article: how to pack a caravan kitchen (here we’ll cover what food to take… and what to leave behind). Here’s our list:

• Air fryer
• Baking tray
• Bottle opener
• Can opener
• Chopping boards
• Coffee keep cups
• Coffee maker
• Collander (collapsible)
• Cups
• Cutlery set
• Dinnerware (corelle or bamboo)
• Dishwashing detergent
• Dish cloths
• Drying rack (roll up)
• Egg flip
• Egg rings (silicone)
• Grater (container type)
• Insulated slimline travel mugs (Love Your Travels)
• Kettle (collapsible)
• Knives (in sheaths)
• Measuring cups (collapsible or nesting)
• Meat thermometer
• Mixing bowls (collapsible)
• Mixing spoons
• Masher
• Peeler
• Pots and pans (nesting with removable handles)
• Scissors
• Sifter
• Spatula
• Tea towels
• Toaster
• Tongs
• Wine glassess (stemless)
• Wooden spoon

Setting-up your caravan: levelling and security devices

Unless you want doors swinging open and water getting stuck in your sink… then these should make your ‘must have’ section of your caravan packing list:

• Caravan hitch lock (best one is Kovix her on eBay)
• Jockey wheel chock pad
• Handheld UHFs
• Levelling ramps
• Levelling device
• Stabiliser pads
• Wheel chocks

If you want specifics about caravan levelling devices then check out our article

Powering and lighting your caravan

There’s 3 separate parts to this section of the list:

1. Powering your caravan at home
2. Using the son to power your van, and
3. Power storage

To find out more about how to power a caravan at home (connecting to mains electricity), it’s worth checking out this article. Otherwise, here’s the caravan packing list:

• Ampfibian adaptor
• Battery charger
• Extension cord (heavy duty 15A)
• Headlamps
• Powerbank
• Rechargeable batteries (9V, AA, AAA)
• Solar panels (blankets vs folding)
• Torches (torch/lantern combo)
• 12V fan (Sirocco)

Towing your caravan

Do you need towing mirrors in your caravan packing list?

Yes, unless your vehicle’s factory fitted mirrors are wider than the caravan and provide a clear view along it’s full length. This is because you must be able to see along the full length of the caravan at it’s widest point and a further 20 m behind it. You can read more about that here. Otherwise, add these:

• Towing mirrors
• Reversing camera

If you don’t have any yet, check out a review of Best Caravan Towing Mirrors in Australia [2021 Review]

Caravan water works packing list

Whether or not you travel with your caravan water tanks full, you’ll still need the following bits and pieces. These are things for getting water in (or out):

• Collapsible bucket
• Drinking water hose (blue)
• Gardening gloves
• Hose fittings (brass)
• Hose joiner
• Inline water filter
• Portable grey water tank
• Storage bag for hose
• Tap key

Caravan laundry packing list

Haven’t worked out how you’ll do your clothes washing while caravanning? We’ve put together this article about the 5 best options. It has the pros and cons… and why we settled on:

1. Using the bucket with a screw on lid for the majority of washing
2. The Scrubba Wash Bag for small loads (or stubborn dirt), and
3. Keeping some $1 coins on hand for the big loads or to play catch-up

Here’s the packing list:

• Collapsible laundry tub
• Hanging clothes dryer
• Pegless clothesline (Slide n’ Dry)
• Pegs
• Portable folding clothesline
• Scrubba Washing Bag
• Mini washing machine (or bucket with lid)
• Washing powder / liquid
• Wool wash

Caravan bedding packing list

We have small kids, so have a lot of spares! Even if you don’t have small kids, the big item in this section is the mattress topper… it’s in our list of 33 Most Popular Caravan Accessories for Travelling Australia [2019].

• Mattress topper
• Mattress protector
• Pillows
• Spare sheet set
• Spare blanket
• Throw blanket

Caravan bathroom packing list

This part of the caravan packing list is open to personalisation… make-up, shaving gear, 15 types of shampoo… these are just lumped under ‘toiletries’:

• Toilet chemicals
• Toiletries
• Toiletries bags
• Toilet Paper
• Turkish Towels (double as beach towels)

Outside your caravan: the outdoor room

The wonderful thing about caravanning is that you get to spend a lot more time outside. So… you want to make sure you’re comfortable. Now, comfort doesn’t just include having the best deck chair (although it helps). It’s also about lighting, keeping the bugs away, not getting sunburned, etc. So make sure you include the following in your caravan packing list:

• Barbeque
• Camping chairs
• Combination bike locks
• Folding fire pit
• Folding table
• Ground sheet
• Hats
• Insect repellant
• Matches or lighter
• Mosquito coils
• Mosquito head nets
• Picnic rug
• Sunscreen

Caravan cleaning products

You’ll probably notice a pretty simple approach to cleaning products in this section of the the caravan packing list. That’s because bleach and white vinegar go a long way. Recently I discovered that a lot of cleaning products are just different concentrations of bleach (including Miltons). You’ve also probably noticed no mop or broom… the floor’s small enough that the dustbrush or handheld vaccuum would do the job. And a cloth for mopping the floor. So here’s our list:

• Bin
• Bleach (unscented)
• Cleaning cloths
• Dustpan and brush
• Garbage bags
• Hand held vacuum
• Paper towels
• Paper towel holder
• White distilled vinegar

You might also be interested in our articles:

How To Clean Mould Off Your Caravan Awning [Step By Step]

and

What Can I Use to Clean My Caravan Water Tank? [Good, Bad, Dangerous]

Caravan storage ideas

We put together an article about caravan storage ideas… there was 15 of them. Since then we’ve started making notes about things that didn’t make the cut… but should have. So check back in, becuase it’ll be more like 60 very shortly! But in the meantime, add these to your caravan packing list:

• 3M hooks
• Knife safe
• Non-slip matting
• Shelf rack or under-shelf hanging basket
• Velcro tape

Heating and cooling your caravan

Included in this section of the caravan packing list I’ve put a wireless weather station. Why? Because caravan’s are such a small area, the let the heat/cold in and out very easily. So we found these invaluable (they made our list of Top 20 Caravan Gadgets Under $20) Knowing how the temperature compared in and out the van mad a big difference to help us know if it was to time to open/shut the door.

• 12V fan
• Electric blow heater
• Wireless weather station

Caravan Tool Kit Packing List

We interviewed a roadside assistance mechanic to find out: what are the essential caravan toolkit ‘must have’ items. We asked the question: What are the most common reasons you’re called out that could have been easily prevented? Some of the answers surprised us. But he also made a point:

You could take EVERYTHING, but you have to strike a balance because of weight.

You can see more about his answers in our article here… But if you want to avoid being stuck on the side of the road in the heat waiting for roadside assistance? These first 11 items here are the essential tools you should include in your caravan packing list as a minimum:

• Breaker bar
• Cable ties
• Duct tape
• Hydraulic jack
• Screwdriver set
• Socket set
• Spanners (8-19mm)
• Tow ball spanner
• Tyre sealant in a can
• Wheel bearings
• Wheel brace (may be different than your car)
• Compressor
• Cordless Drill
• Fuses
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Multi-grips
• Multi-meter
• Pliers
• Ratchet straps
• Rope
• Side cutters
• Silicon and caulking gun
• Superglue
• Tap washers
• Test light
• Tyre repair kit
• Tyre pressure monitor
• Wire strippers/crimpers

Caravanning First Aid Kits

The first 7 items on this list are based on an interview with a paramedic and emergency nurse: they’re based on the things that are more likely to happen because you’re travelling in a caravan. So if you include nothing else in your caravan packing list, at least have those. Have them in a separate first aid kit that’s easily accessible. Everything else under that? Go nuts and develop your own super-kit:

Emergency First Aid Kit

• Heavy duty crepe bandages (5cm, 10cm and 15cm… min. of 2x each)
• Snake bite bandage with compression indicator
• Tourniquet
• Sterile water
• Face shield
• Trauma shears
• Gloves

Caravan First Aid Kit for Non-Emergencies

• Antihistamines (kids & adults)
• Anti-inflammatories
• Anti-fungal cream or powder
• Bandaids (different shapes and sizes)
• Betadine
• Burn cream
• Cling wrap
• Crepe bandages
• Gastro-Stop
• Hydrolite
• Instant cold packs
• Instant heat packs
• Lozenges (Anitcol & Soothers)
• Micropore tape
• Notebook and Pen
• Opsite wound dressing
• Pain relief medications (kids & adults)
• Rigid strapping tape
• SAM splint
• Scissors
• Splinter probes
• Sunburn cream
• Super glue
• Stingose
• Thermal blanket
• Triangular bandages
• Tweezers

[Here’s where starting off with something like this St John Caravan and Camping First Aid Kit from eBay can come in handy as a good base]

Caravan entertainment, photography, and gadgets

Here’s the part of our caravan packing list that starts to get very individual… what fun do you like to have? What are your hobbies? These are the ones that we “couldn’t live without”. Well, that’s a big fat lie. We could have labelled this section of the list our “big kid toys”:

• 12V television
• Digital compact camera
• Drone
• GoPro
• iPads
• Kindle
• Laptop

Kids toys

This part of our list depends a lot on how old your kids are, their interests, etc. These are our kids’ must have items on their packing list when we’re caravanning:

• Duplo or LEGO
• Bikes
• Board games
• Body boards
• Helmets
• Scooters
• Snorkeling gear
• Toy cars and trucks

Items for families: caravanning with small kids

We hit the road with a newborn. Crazy? We don’t think so. We loved it! This section may not apply to you at all. But if it does? You might also be interested in this article: Our 6 Top Tips For Travelling with a Baby. Oh, and if you’re debating whether or not to travel with a baby? Do it. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences for us as a family. These are things that made it easier:

• Baby/toddler carrier
• Baby monitor
• Formula dispenser
• Night light
• Portable travel cot
• Pram

Summary

So there’s our caravan packing list for travelling Australia… these are the things we use all the time.

Comment below if you want specific recommendations about any of the brands we recommend (or don’t!)

Otherwise:

Anything we’ve missed?