Good camp cooking comes down to having the right gear. Too much and you’re hauling unnecessary weight. Too little and you’re eating cold beans out of a tin. This guide covers the essential cooking gear for Australian campers — cookware, utensils and tools, and coolers and food storage — with practical advice on what’s actually worth buying.
Cookware — the foundation of camp cooking
Your cookware is the most important investment in your camp kitchen. The right pot, pan or Dutch oven will last years and make cooking outdoors genuinely enjoyable.
Camp pots and billy cans
A good camp pot handles everything from boiling water for coffee to cooking pasta or a curry for the whole group. For car camping, stainless steel is the best choice — it’s durable, easy to clean, and doesn’t affect the taste of food. For backpacking, titanium or hard-anodised aluminium saves significant weight.
What to look for:
- A 2-litre pot suits 1-2 people. For a family of four, go 4 litres or larger
- Folding handles make storage easier
- A tight-fitting lid doubles as a strainer or small pan
Cast iron skillets and camp frying pans
Nothing beats a cast iron skillet for campfire cooking. It retains heat evenly, handles direct flame without warping, and gets better with use. The downside is weight — a 25cm cast iron skillet runs around 2kg — so it’s strictly car camping gear.
For a lighter option, a hard-anodised aluminium frying pan with a non-stick coating works well for eggs, bacon, and quick meals on a camp stove.
Cast iron tips:
- Season at home before your first trip — coat lightly in oil and heat in the oven
- Never scrub with soap — rinse with hot water and a brush, dry thoroughly
- A pre-seasoned Lodge skillet is the go-to for Australian campers
Dutch ovens
A Dutch oven is the most versatile piece of campfire cookware you can own. You can bake damper, slow-cook stews, roast meat, and even make a camp cobbler in a single pot. A camp Dutch oven has legs so it sits directly over coals, and a flanged lid that holds coals on top for even heat from above and below.
For Australian family camping a 4-quart (3.8L) Dutch oven handles most meals. A 6-quart suits larger groups.
Browse camp cookware on Amazon →
Utensils and tools — the details that matter
Good utensils make the difference between a smooth camp cook and a frustrating one. These are the tools worth having.
Cooking utensils
- Long-handled spatula and spoon — essential for working over a campfire without burning your hands. Look for stainless steel with heat-resistant handles
- Tongs — for turning meat on a grill or moving coals. Get a pair that locks closed for compact storage
- Ladle — for soups, stews and curries
- Can opener — a manual one lives permanently in the camp kit
- Knife and cutting board — a mid-size chef’s knife and a lightweight plastic or bamboo board. Some sets come in a roll for compact storage
Camp utensil sets
For backpacking or minimalist camping, a lightweight utensil set covering spork, knife, and chopsticks all in one compact roll is worth considering. Sea to Summit and Light My Fire both make solid options available through Australian outdoor retailers.
Campfire tools
If you’re cooking over a campfire rather than a stove:
- Grill grate — a folding stainless grate that sits over the fire ring handles everything from sausages to a full breakfast
- Campfire tripod — hangs a pot or Dutch oven directly over the fire at adjustable height. Good for boiling large quantities of water or slow cooking
- Leather gloves — handling cast iron and campfire tools safely. A must-have
Browse camp utensils on Amazon →
Coolers and food storage — keeping it fresh
In the Australian heat, food storage isn’t optional — it’s critical for both food safety and keeping wildlife out of your camp.
Hard-sided coolers
A quality hard-sided cooler is one of the best investments for regular Australian campers. The difference between a cheap cooler and a quality one is ice retention — a budget cooler might keep ice for 24-48 hours, while a quality rotomoulded cooler like a Yeti, Coleman Xtreme or Dometic can hold ice for 5-7 days.
What size do you need?
- 25-35 litres: Solo or couple for a weekend
- 45-55 litres: Family of four for a weekend or couple for a week
- 65+ litres: Family for a week or longer trips
Ice retention tips:
- Pre-chill the cooler with ice or frozen bottles before packing
- Keep raw meat at the bottom in sealed containers
- Minimise how often you open it
- Keep it in the shade — a cooler in direct Australian sun will lose a day of ice retention
Soft coolers and insulated bags
For day trips and short outings a soft cooler or insulated bag is lighter and more flexible than a hard cooler. Brands like Hydro Flask, YETI Hopper and Coleman make solid options. Not suitable for multi-day trips in the Australian heat.
Food storage containers
- Airtight containers for dry goods — keeps moisture and insects out
- Bear canisters or hard-sided containers for wildlife-prone areas — mandatory in some national parks
- Reusable zip bags for pre-prepped ingredients
- Mesh bags for fruit and vegetables that need airflow
Keeping wildlife out
In Australian campgrounds, possums, galahs, kookaburras and in some areas dingoes will investigate any accessible food. Store everything in your vehicle or a hard-sided container overnight. Never leave food on the table or in soft bags unattended.
Browse coolers and food storage on Amazon →
Camp cooking tips for Australians
Prep at home to save time at camp
The more you do at home the easier cooking at camp becomes. Chop vegetables, pre-measure spices into small containers, and marinate meat the night before. Label everything by meal — “Friday dinner”, “Saturday breakfast” — so setup is fast.
Master the one-pot meal
One-pot meals are the backbone of good camp cooking — less washing up, less gear, and they’re often tastier because the flavours have time to develop together. Camp chili, a simple curry, pasta with a tomato-based sauce, or a sausage and vegetable stew all work brilliantly over a camp stove or campfire.
Build and manage your fire properly
If you’re cooking over a campfire, patience is the key skill. A roaring fire is for warmth and atmosphere — cooking happens over hot coals. Let the fire burn down to a steady bed of coals before you start cooking. It takes 45-60 minutes but gives you consistent, controllable heat.
Always check current fire restrictions before lighting any fire. In Victoria, NSW, SA, WA and Queensland, total fire bans are common during summer and can apply at any time during high fire danger periods.
Free camp recipes
We’ve put together a collection of tested camp recipes — simple, flavoursome meals that work over a campfire or camp stove with minimal gear.
Download: Gourmet Camp Recipes →
Download: One Pot Lamb Recipes →
Frequently asked questions
What cookware is best for camping in Australia? For car camping, cast iron is unbeatable for campfire cooking and a stainless steel pot covers everything else. For backpacking, titanium or hard-anodised aluminium keeps weight down. A Dutch oven is worth adding if you cook for a family.
How do I keep food cold camping in Australian heat? A quality rotomoulded hard cooler (Yeti, Coleman Xtreme, Dometic) with proper pre-chilling and ice management will keep food cold for 5-7 days even in Australian summer temperatures. Keep it shaded and minimise opening it.
What should I cook when camping? One-pot meals are your best friend — camp chili, curry, pasta dishes, and stews are all easy, satisfying and require minimal washing up. See our free recipe downloads above.
Do I need a camp stove or can I just use a campfire? Both have a place. A camp stove gives you consistent, controllable heat regardless of fire restrictions — essential during Australian fire season. A campfire adds atmosphere and works brilliantly for slow cooking in a Dutch oven. Having both covered is the ideal setup.
Also see our guides to sleeping bags for Australian campers and camping tips for Australians.