Essential Tips for Camping in the Rain
Wet season is definitely here in the Whitsundays and North Queensland and while we do love the rain as it makes nature flourish and grow, most of us wouldn’t venture out camping in it. However if you’re already out camping, if you’re on a road trip a long way from home or maybe you’re even living in a tent (we’ve done it ourselves when we were in between houses) then we’ve got some essential tips that will help you stay happy and dry.
1. Take all your wet weather gear camping with you, just in case!
Having all the right equipment with you makes all the difference if you do get hit by the rain. Here are some of the most important things to bring in preparation for bad weather:
- Gum boots and a decent rain coat – this way you can still get out for a walk and explore. Rain walks can be magical if you’ve got the right protection from the elements.
- Towels – take at least a couple of towels per person so you can dry off if you do get soaked. You may also need them to absorb water that could leak in to your camping setup.
- A clothes line, a tarp and some pegs – string your clothes line up under a tarp so you can hang up any wet clothes to dry.
- A large dry bag – it get’s pretty humid up here in the tropical north, so if your clothes don’t dry all that much take a dry bag to put the wet ones in until you can get to a laundromat.
- Spare clothes – dry clothes to change in to are essential, even if you are going camping for just one night, you never know when you might get caught out in a rain shower.
- An umbrella – for those late night toilet runs in the rain
2. Find the right site to pitch your tent
The best place to pitch your tent is a spot with a little elevation that’s not right beside a river or lake. You don’t want to wake up with the water right on your doorstep or washing your tent away. If you can already see water pooling in or near the camping spots available, then it’s best to avoid them. It’s also a good idea to look around for any trees that have branches that could fall on top of you and your camping setup. Heavy rain can cause branches to come crashing down and you don’t want to be underneath them if they do fall! Although trees are definitely helpful to string up tarps between, if you have other supports available for your tarps then it’s best to avoid them.
3. Create a dry outdoor chill space
Lay out a waterproof tarp and string up a couple of tarps overhead so that the water can slide off them easily. If it’s windy you might also want to tie some up to create sides to your makeshift chill space. String some outdoor fairy lights up, fold out the camping table and chairs and make a comforting cuppa. Camping in the rain can be really cosy if you have enough shelter and dry space to relax in.
4. Make sure your tent is waterproof
When you’re buying a new tent to add to your camping equipment, it’s worth setting up and giving it a spray with a hose to check whether it does repel the water adequately. At Bell Tents Whitsundays we use high quality bell tents that come with a anti-rip PVC groundsheet and high quality cotton canvas that naturally repels water.
We also recommend taking moisturise absorbing bricks camping with you. They can be placed inside your tent and really aid in the prevention of mould growth. This is particularly important if you own a Swag or Bell Tent which tent to be made out of blended cotton fabrics.
5. Pack a camping stove
If the rain takes away the opportunity to have a camp fire, be sure you have a trusty camping stove with you to fall back on. Just be sure to never use it inside a tent! Set up a nice dry outdoor chill space, fold out your camping table making sure there is enough ventilation in the area where you have your stove. Cook up a warming meal or brew a cuppa to enjoy while you are nice and sheltered. You can even collect some rain water to do the dishes in!
6. If it’s flooded, forget it!
Above everything, stay safe. Check weather forecasts before and during your trip – if it looks like heavy rain is on the way, you’re better off packing up and heading home. If you’re a long way from home, head in to the nearest town to find some accommodation until it’s safe to leave. If you do find yourself stranded because the road in to your camping spot has flooded, call the emergency services and inform them of your situation.
Ready for your next Bell Tent getaway? Get in touch now to make a booking.