One of the most incredible experiences of my life was travelling around Australia in a campervan. I was lucky enough to spend almost 18 months driving around the entire coast of Australia. I started in Sydney and travelled through South Australia, up the West Coast, into the Northern Territories and then down the East Coast back to Sydney.
It was incredible!
During the journey I definitely learnt a thing or two about the campervan or caravan accessories you need when travelling around Australia. It was a constant battle between enjoying the minimalism that comes with van life and having very few possessions and living with little more than the clothes on my back, a book I swapped for new ones at every campsite and a simple bed and sleeping bag. But also knowing that some caravan accessories do make life much easier and more comfortable.
Whether you’re heading along the coast or exploring the outback, having the right caravan accessories can make your Australian road trip smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Here are 10 must-have caravan accessories in Australia:
1. Portable Solar Panels
With Australia’s gorgeous, sunny climate it makes sense to use solar panels to power the gadgets and appliances in your caravan. This is an expensive initial cost but it’s a huge money saver in the long-run and it’s environmentally friendly too. You’ll really feel the difference if you’re running air-con or heating your caravan during the cooler months, and it’s essential if you’re taking your caravan off-grid!
2. A fan
Of course, air conditioning would be ideal, but a fan is second best and you absolutely cannot even think about setting off without a great fan. Even if you do have an aircon, I’d still take a fan as a backup or as a more energy efficient option to run throughout the night. I’d opt for a rechargeable fan so it’s available off-grid and in any situation.
Trust me, I’ve had many sweaty nights in a campervan without a fan because the batteries have died and it isn’t pleasant!
3. Ice Maker
OK, this might be an extravagant luxury for caravans but you can’t beat an icy cold drink on a very hot day. Many caravans have very small freezers so there simply isn’t the space to make large quantities of ice, so an ice maker is a game-changer.
Make sure it’s a good quality ice maker so it can keep up with demand during the hottest of Australian summer days! You’ll be the envy of your campsite when you emerge with an icy G&T and you’ll definitely appreciate the iced water on the hottest of days.
4. Levelling Ramps
It’s a simple one but an essential one! Many campsites are uneven and your caravan won’t be completely level without the help of levelling ramps. Even if your caravan is a tiny bit wonky it can be really disorientating. I suffer with motion sickness and I find a wonky caravan makes me feel really sick. I know it has nothing to do with motion but it’s a very similar feeling and it really isn’t nice, so make sure you’ve got your levelling ramps and maybe even a spirit level to make sure it’s totally even!
5. Water Filters & Extra Water Storage
OK, it’s a bit of a boring one but this was the main advice I was given before leaving on my road trip around Australia; never leave without as much water as you can carry! Refill whenever you can and never run low.
Running out of water literally costs lives in Australia and it’s so preventable. Make sure you have extra cans filled up and spare water filters because not all water sources in Australia are safe or reliable.
6. Portable Wifi
Portable wifi has come on in leaps and bounds since I did my Australia road trip in 2010. We had little to no wifi (which in some ways was dreamy!) but you can get speedy wifi virtually everywhere now. Starlink is probably the best option and this is what I use at my caravan in Wales. You can buy additional power supplies which allow a reduction in power usage so you can stay off grid for longer.
7. Caravan Reverse Camera
Anyone who has felt the embarrassment of maneuvering or parking a large caravan with an audience watching and struggling to get it into the perfect spot will benefit from a reversing camera! If you can get a camera combined with object detection then it’s even better, particularly if you’re travelling solo or parking in challenging conditions.
8. Quality Awning & Matting
A good caravan awning will expand your living space enormously, something that is always challenging, no matter how big your caravan is!
An easily set-up awning can give you a shady space outdoors, somewhere to shelter from the rain and an extra living area without feeling cooped up inside your caravan. It’s also very handy to have this extra space for shoes, coats and pets to keep dirt out of the caravan. Don’t forget that awnings can also get very hot so it’s best not to keep your pets in there unsupervised.
9. Portable BBQ or Camp Stove
Your caravan probably will have a small kitchen but nothing beats an Aussie BBQ! A small, portable BBQ is great for cooking outside the caravan and keeping all the smells outside and it’s also a much more enjoyable and sociable way to make dinner.
Whether you choose to cook right outside your caravan or take your portable BBQ to the beach, park or communal cooking space on the campsite, a BBQ will be your best friend.
10. First Aid Kit & Snake Bite Kit
It’s so important to have a first aid kit as part of your caravan accessories, especially if you’ll be travelling in the bush or outback. I like to buy a ready-made first aid kit and then add additional medicines and creams to it. Don’t forget a snake bite kit and an enormous tub of factor 50 SPF! It’s also worth keeping medicines for dehydration and sunstroke and plenty of cream for insect bites.
Non-essentials caravan accessories I wouldn’t want to be without
And now for 5 things that aren’t exactly essential but they’ll make your caravan experience in Australia that little bit more special.
Solar powered fairy lights
Is there anything better than sitting outside your caravan in the evening after a delicious meal. You’ve got a glass of something delicious in one hand, you’ve watched a beautiful sunset….and then as it gets dark your pretty little twinkly lights come on and make it even more magical!
I love sitting out in the evening and fairy lights really do make it even more special.
Super comfortable camping chairs
And while we’re talking about sitting outside and enjoying the great outdoors, you need some comfortable chairs!
When I did my campervan trip we had terrible chairs for the first few months but eventually invested in some good ones and what a game-changer. Those evenings outside suddenly became comfortable and luxurious. We spent A LOT of time in those chairs so it’s definitely worth getting good ones.
A mini 12V airfryer
For quick and easy meals you really can’t beat an airfryer. I have a 12V one in the back of my car and I love being able to rustle up real meals while we’re out and about. Whether it’s a cheese toasty or a salmon fillet, I love how easy it is, especially when you’re trying to make something tasty in a tiny kitchen. It’s so easy to clean up after using an air-fryer, even if you’re cooking fatty meats, and it keeps smells to a minimum too. And let’s not forget that an airfryer makes the perfect french fries!
A big iPad
I know lots of people have a TV and a laptop in their caravans but, personally, I’d rather have a large iPad. It’s great for watching shows and movies to replace your TV and it’s equally good for working and for entertainment like reading books and playing games. I also like to use Google Maps on my large iPad as it’s super easy to follow directions – not that you’ll be getting lost along those long Aussie roads!
A tripod
And finally, do yourself a favour and get a good tripod for your camera or your phone. A tripod will allow you to get the best photos of this incredible experience but, most importantly, it’ll allow you to get in the photo. One of my biggest regrets from my Aussie road trip is that I don’t have many photos with me in them. I’d love to look back on my 22 year old self and see myself in all those gorgeous locations, living the carefree van life that I’m struggling to remember 15 years on. Set up your tripod and use an app like Lens Buddy to continuously take photos so you can jump in the frame and select your favourite picture.