It’s Australia’s favourite pastime…. camping! And for the uninitiated, there is a whole new vernacular to decipher. Here is our dictionary of essential camping terms you need to know and save. You will sound like a seasoned camper in no time!
General Camping Terms
- Bush telly – watching the fire for entertainment
- Camp chair – comfy, folding chair to sit in front of fire with
- Camp etiquette – sometimes a rare beast – but it’s being mindful of others you are camping around, keeping your kids and dogs and opinions to yourself and letting people enjoy peace and quiet without disturbing them
- Day pack – backpack to take hiking, big enough for water, first aid kit, togs etc
- Deet – insect repellent
- Dirty gear bag – bag that gets mounted on your rear spare wheel – good for rubbish, wet clothes, firewood, anything really
- Esky – portable cooler, ice box, or if you are a Kiwi, it’s a ‘chilly bin’
- Kip – also known as a nanna nap – that sweet little sleep you sneak in during the afternoon
- Muk mat – a mat that allows you to clean your feet before entering your tent or caravan
- Pig – aka Ozpig – portable camping fire/cooker – good for cooking on or just using as a campfire when you aren’t allowed one on the ground
- Pooper scooper – a wonderful device that allows you to pick up your dog poop
- Porta potty – a wonderful device that collects your poop (aka portable toilet)
- SUP – stand up paddle board – always good to have one handy (even if it’s a blow up one) when you’re camping near water
- Swag – your own portable roll up bed
- Tarp – a very handy piece of equipment – can be used to provide shade, shelter or as a ground cover, tarpaulin
- Tinny – a small boat – also see Food and Drink Terms
Camping Food and Drink Terms
- 5 o’clock – as in “it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere” – so no rules apply, and you can crack a beverage at any time of the day
- Amber fluid – Beer
- Billy – a container for boiling water and brewing tea
- Breakfast dessert – it could be unique to our family, but we’re prepared to share it – it’s choc mint slice biscuits after your breakfast – you can thank us later
- Crack a bevvie – open a drink (usually alcoholic)
- Tinny – a can of beer – also see General Terms
Caravan/Trailer Terms
- A Frame – triangular shaped section of caravan where hitch head is attached
- Coupling – where the caravan or camper trailer connects to the tow vehicle
- Draft/Draught Skirt – attached bottom section of van below annex or awning designed to reduce draught into the area
- Drawbar – connects the body of the trailer to the coupling
- Fly – thing that goes over your tent to give extra protection from the elements
- GCM – Gross Combination Mass – maximum combined mass of your loaded tow vehicle and loaded van hitched together – maximum allowable weights are set by the manufacturer of the vehicles
- GVM – Gross Vehicle Mass – maximum loaded weight of the tow vehicle and caravan/camper trailer
- N/S – near side – the side closest to the curb (usually the side where your door is on)
- Off grid – being completely self-sufficient – not needing electricity or water
- O/S – offside – the side opposite near side (usually the driver’s side)
- Payload – the weight of all items loaded into the van or vehicle
- Pop top sock/Roof tent vinyl – the vinyl part of your pop top that attaches to the hard roof section
- Tare – weight of empty vehicle
- WDH – weight distribution hitch – device that spreads the weight between your vehicle and trailer more evenly
Clothing to pack for Camping Terms
- Boardies – board shorts, swimming trunks
- Budgie smugglers – speedos, male swimming briefs
- Flanno – flannelette shirts – good for keeping warm in Winter
- Pluggers/double pluggers – thongs, flip flops – footwear
- Togs – Queensland speak for what you wear swimming. Also known as swimmers, bathers, cossie/costume, swimwear, boardies, board shorts
- Uggs – Uggboots – sheepskin boots for keeping your feet toasty
Travelling and Camping Terms
- Freecamp – one you don’t have to pay for, usually with few facilities, but allows you to choose your own site
- Happy campers – anyone who goes camping or caravanning
- Glamping – when you have some creature comforts…. like a bed, bathroom, and other ‘luxuries’
- Lap – as in ‘doing a lap’ – travelling all around Australia
- Shakedown trip – the first trip you take in your new set up – a chance to see what works, what doesn’t, whether you have packed too much or not enough
- Station Hopping – when you plan your travel itinerary so that you stay at stations
- The Cape – on everyone’s bucket list – a trip to the northern most point in Australia, Cape York in Queensland
- Vanlife – living the dream by travelling around in your van
Disclaimer: The information provided is general information. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Each person’s vehicle, appliances, accessories, and situation may be different, and so you should seek specific assistance relating to your particular needs and situation.