Packing...The Big Squeeze



Look at all that stuff!



Well its that time, the big pack must begin.  I know that for a lot of people the thought of packing up a family of four for a five month camping trip around Australia in a camper trailer is a nightmare.  But I'm actually looking forward to it!  Yes I'm a bit weird I know.  Especially when you look at the picture of what needs to be squeezed into the car and camper.



Do you suffer from packing procrastination? I know when I'm off on a short trip, I always seem to leave the pack to the last minute.  This means I'm usually tired and over it, and end up packing too little or usually too much.  Sure enough when I arrive at my destination I've forgotton something vital. So why am I so calm you ask.....because packing for a trip like this can't possibly be left to the last minute....the ground work has already been done.   

Here are my Family Big Trips Packing Tips:

1. Start a 'running' packing checklist as soon as you know where your going and for how long. This way as you research and plan for the trip you can keep adding to the checklist.  I started mine on a whiteboard breaking it up into categories like Camping Equipment, Technology, Education, Car Equipment, Food Supplies, First Aid and Medication, Clothes etc. This way I could cross off the things we already had, and add things I realised we needed to buy.  
2. Do a Trial Pack a couple of weeks before you go.  Print out a hard copy of your packing list and get EVERYTHING on the list out and pack it. Its like a big jigsaw puzzle trying to squeeze all the bits and pieces into such small spaces. Its best to do this early, as like me you may discover that its not going to fit. If this happens just make a decision on what you dont really need, or I found by changing the shape and size of some of my storage boxes it then all fell into the space at hand.  If you take the time its also amazing how many little nooks and crannys you find to put stuff. 
3. Create a 'Where to Pack it' List.  Now that you know it all fits and how, write it down.  This saves time when you come to do the real pack as you'll know exactly where every item is going. 
4. Save camp set up time by packing smart.  On an extended trip like ours there will be a lot of packing down and setting up camp. Actually 60 times! Try to pack things not being used all the time at the back so they dont have to be unpacked every time.

Other packing tips for a big trip around Australia are:

• If you are heading Outback and Offroad, transfer sauces and other liquids out of Glass bottles into food grade plastic bottles and containers. Some of the tracks are rough and corrugated, and you'll end up with a mess. I've even heard that tinned foods will rub together so much on these roads that labels can come off, (i'll keep you posted whether this really happens or not) so maybe label the tops of cans with a permanent marker. Of course crockery is out, as well as your favorite wine glass.  Scott was worried about giving up his bottled beer for the can, but quite enjoyed researching which canned beer he likes best!  
• Make sure you tie down the boxes and gear in the back of the car so it doesn't shift around. 
• Minimise whats on the top of the car. A top heavy car is more likely to be in a roll over.
• Pack extra food supplies and water in the back of the car in case of emergency.  So if you are on a day trip and breakdown or get flooded in, you wont go hungry or thirsty.
• If you pack everything in the same place everytime, it will save time and you all know where everything is.
• Cables, cables, cables....we were sick of past camping experiences where all the cables ended up in a big knot.  Hannah did a great job of finding a glad bag to fit each individual cable and labelled them all. Problem solved!  

If anyone has any other packing suggestion leave a comment as we'd love to hear about it!