Holidays with children are not the same as holidays were in your pre-child days. In your old life, a holiday was all about relaxation- the most stressful experience of your time away was tossing up between a glass of red and a glass of white.

These days, a break away involves as much planning as a military operation... and sometimes seems like about as much fun. Shepherding bored children around an unfamiliar city; trying to get your toddler to behave in a vaguely acceptable manner during meals at a restaurant; spending a fortune on tat in a gift shop at an attraction you never wanted to go to in the first place. Sometimes it just seems easier to stay at home.

If the thought of going on holiday with your children is enough to make you want to tear your passport into tiny pieces, then maybe you should consider a camping holiday.

Camping with kids is a fabulous way to rekindle your romance with family holidays. Cheap and cheerful, a camping trip brings the family together in a way that a hotel break can’t.

A little planning and preparation before you go will ensure a happy and relaxed holiday for all. If you’re camping during school holidays or other busy times, then book your campsite in advance- popular camping grounds are often booked months ahead, especially the ones with the best amenities.

Once you have your site booked, the next most important part of your camping trip is the tent. Make sure you have one that’s big enough for all of you- a good rule of thumb is to add two to the number of people you want in a tent. So if you are a family of four, you’ll be most comfortable in a tent that sleeps six. Remember, you may spend a bit of extra time in the tent if it’s raining and you don’t want to be in each other’s laps during your marathon game of cards!

If you’re new to camping, borrow or hire gear to start with. This means you can find out what you really need before committing to a big financial outlay. The absolute essentials are a tent; sleeping mats or airbeds, sleeping bags, a picnic blanket and camp chairs.

You may even be able to get away without buying any cooking equipment at first. Many camping grounds in Australia have well equipped camp kitchens with barbeques and seating areas. Some even have microwaves, kettles and fridges. You will need to take your own cooking utensils and pots and pans though (as well as dishwashing equipment). With small children, it’s often safer to use the camp kitchen, as you don’t have to worry about accidents with wobbly gas stoves and portable barbeques.

Plan your meals in advance and do a big shop before you leave home. This means you will take only the food you need and won’t waste space bringing things you’re not going to use. It’s also a good idea to take extra snacks- all that fresh air and exercise is great for stimulating the kid’s appetites! Don’t forget a few treats for the grown-ups too.

One of the real joys of camping with kids is watching them make new friends. Kids in a campground gravitate towards each other and before long; they’ll be involved in one game or another- coming back to home base only for food and sleep. Even the toddlers love chasing about after the big kids. Take some inclusive toys or games for your kids to share with their new mates- a cricket set will always be a hit... not only with the littlies, but also with the dads!

If you want your children to stay a bit closer to you, then take along a game such as swingball and set it up at your tent site. Then your kids can play with the others where you can see them.

It’s essential to factor in a little relaxation time for Mum and Dad too. Take turns with your partner to organise the games or supervise the children- one parent can be ‘on duty’, while the other relaxes.

Before you snuggle into your sleeping bag at night, take a few minutes to organise things inside the tent. Make sure you have a torch, bottle of water and other essentials close to hand, to save scrabbling about in the dark in the middle of the night. It’s also a good idea to put a bathmat or towel down at the entrance of your tent, so you can wipe the dew off your feet when coming back inside after a late night toilet stop.

Most kids will love sleeping on an airbed or sleeping mat, however for small babies it’s recommended that you take a travel cot- otherwise they’ll be rolling all over the tent in the middle of the night! You can also use the travel cot as a playpen during the day, or when you are putting up or taking down the tent.

Take plenty of spare clothes and pyjamas with you- things can get dirty in the great outdoors. A decent supply of plastic bags for wet and mucky clothes will also come in handy. A well stocked first aid-kit is essential- include lots of sunscreen and insect repellent, as well as something to soothe bites and stings.

Camping is a great adventure for kids, so relax and have fun. It might take a few trips to find your passion for camping, but stick at it and you’ll soon be hooked. And don’t forget the most important piece of camping equipment of all- the corkscrew!!

By Clare Steel