On (And Off) The Road Our Ultimate Guide to Beach Camping

JAWA lives in the Sunshine State, so we know a bit about beach camping! Whether you’re fellow Queensland Caravan enthusiast, or you’re hitting the beaches near Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, we’ve got you with some hot tips for cooling off! Remember, when camping, take only photos, leave only footprints and always think, safety first.

Getting in and out: Think about your access

It’s summertime, so why not hit the beach and go camping at the same time? Sure, you can always go to those organised campsites complete with toilets, showers, electricity, etc. But nothing beats waking up to the sounds of rolling waves and the sand between your toes of more our more remote beachfront camps. Check out our favourite summer camping spots here.

And in truth, what’s the use of your 4×4 drive, camper, or hybrid caravan if you won’t go on a beach camping adventure?

But first, you need to check out your vehicle thoroughly.

• Check the tyres – You don’t want to bog down in the sand, so check out your tyres – including the spares – and ensure all have the proper pressure for sand traction. Lower tyre pressure for sand makes for better traction and momentum. Don’t forget your bog kit!
• Check out and practice driving your 4×4 drive – Make sure your four-wheel drive engages properly off-road and on sand by doing some practice driving runs (here’s our favourite short off road trips near Brisbane). This will also check out your tyre’s traction.
• Check out the brakes – This is important in case you need to back up or reverse. When the camper/caravan feels like it is getting buried, you need to brake immediately and back up before getting buried in the sand.
• Be prepared to help yourself and others – In case of recovery emergencies, always be prepared with the right tools such as recovery boards and emergency snatch straps. These are all useful now and in the future not only in sand but also in mud. Be prepared to assist others who get stuck in the sand. Your recovery kit of recovery boards and emergency snatch straps is there not only for you but also for others in trouble as well.

Choosing your location carefully

• Plan ahead carefully when choosing your location – Before you even begin packing, research the state, region, national park or reserve, and the beach sand you want to visit. Make sure beach camping is allowed, or you’re liable to be turned away. If you can, contact the local authorities about the beach, sand, and any precautionary measures they may have. Do ask about the nearest potable water source. On arrival at the site, study the terrain first before going forward.
• Always factor in the tides – Know the tides in your area. Again, check with the local authorities on this. Check for the high tide mark and factor in another 10 metres for it to come up. So, in case of a king tide, your camper or hybrid caravan will still be on dry land. If you need to beach drive to the campsite, factor in more than two hours of low tide for a stress-free drive.

Choosing your shelter

• Don’t rough it in the open – Roughing it out in a sleeping bag under the stars may seem romantic until you factor in a surprise storm, sand flies, and just how cold and hard sand gets at night! You can set up a floorless shelter near or beside your camper or caravan as a sun canopy during the daytime. Again, take note that the summer can bring a sudden thunderstorm and large swarms of sandflies.
• Alternate tents – The purpose of a camper or caravan is that you and your family can sleep inside away from the cold, creepy crawlies and any sudden rain. However, for more adventure, you can set up a tent if you really want to sleep outdoors. Choose a well-ventilated and double-wall tent that will keep out the cold, rain, and humidity.
• Be careful with the wind – It can get windy at the beach, which can become annoying when you’re camping. The best way to minimise the wind is to camp behind sand dunes. If you can find sand dunes at your campsite, these serve as natural windbreakers. Make sure not to disturb any vegetation or dig any holes as sand dunes have fragile ecosystems. You can also camp further off the beach to protect from strong winds.

Salty environments and rust go hand-in-hand

Unfortunately, one downside of getting amongst our salty and sandy pristine beach environments is exposing your vehicle and camper or hybrid caravan to the corrosive nature of salt. Prevention is definitely better than cure, so be sure to treat your vehicles and any campers or caravans to a thorough post-beach wash to remove all salt residue before it starts corroding. Thanks to advances in technology, you can also take your rust protection one step further and use electronic rust protection systems. Here at JAWA, we can fit you out with CouplerTec, which is the World leader in the manufacture and supply of Electronic Rustproofing Systems for the Automotive and Heavy Equipment industries. The CouplerTec system uses Patented Capacitive Coupling Technology to stop the corrosion process from occurring on your pride-and-joy. To learn more about electronic rust protection click here.

Don’t forget the brush and dustpan!

Beach camping means getting sandy inside and outside the camper or caravan. You can make things easier by bringing a brush and dustpan to sweep out the camper/caravan and tent. You can place a mat and shake off the sand from your feet before going inside the tent/camper/caravan. Additionally, keep your camper, caravan, and tent doors and windows closed/zipped up throughout the day to minimise the amount of sand entering with the wind.

JAWA Campers

We design, build and equip all of our JAWA Campers and hybrid caravan campers to exceptionally high standards with the end goal of bringing Australian’s outdoor adventures to life. Thus, you can fully depend on all JAWA campers and hybrids when you go beach camping. For more information, or to take a tour through our showroom, get in touch with our friendly JAWA Campers team today by calling 07 5479 6844.