10 Camping Essentials

10 Summer Camping Essentials

Camping this summer? Unless you're driving a three-tonne truck to your campsite, there are a few essentials that can save your camping trip from ending in divorce or involuntary manslaughter.
 

1. All the openers! There's nothing worse than when your baked beans don't have that little lid pull off tab, the Coronas aren't twist top and the wine that's been chilling has a cork...and you don't have an opener.

2. Five litres of insect repellent and a gallon of sunscreen for those toasty NZ summer days.

3. Tarpaulin: apart from your tent, your only shade and shelter might be a giant sheet of canvas with eyelets. Try and hang it with the middle higher than the sides so that the inevitable downpour doesn't turn your tarp into an airborne reservoir.

4. Batteries for the torch. Nothing worse than a dark scramble to the loo in the middle of the night.

5. Bag of bungies: Those hook-ended elastic cords can perform miracles!

6. Hanging safe: Possums, keas, gulls and rodents are looking forward to your arrival. Stash your fruit and fresh food in a hanging mesh larder and foil nature's thieves. 

7. Foot pump: Because you just know that inflatable mattress will go flat. Probably at 3.16am.

8. Ukulele: Campfire singalongs annoy fewer fellow campers when accompanied by a well-tuned stringed instrument. If the insults still fly, can be handy for self defence.

9. Rubbish bags: A tidy camp's a happy camp. Leave it like you found it and take your detritus away with you.

10. First Aid Kit. Always be prepared and take a first aid kit. You never know when someones going to burn themselves on the barbie or get a fishing hook in their finger.

Article courtesy of www.stuff.co.nz