Discover More | Connections

For some people, camping is about ticking off destinations.
For others, it’s about creating space.

For Dave and his family, it’s always been the second.

Any chance to get away is worth taking. Winter camping in particular is something they genuinely look forward to. It’s a chance to slow down, unplug, and spend time together without the usual noise of everyday life.

Dave travelled with his wife and their two teenage daughters.

Trips like this aren’t just a break from routine. They’re something the family values deeply. Time outdoors gives them the chance to step away from screens and schedules, and reconnect in a way that everyday life rarely allows.

“It’s life-giving for us,” Dave says. “Camping gives us the space to connect, and that means a lot to me.”

Over the course of a few days, plenty of fires were lit. But one moment stood out more than the rest.

Dave’s youngest daughter took it upon herself to build, light and tend the fire each time. Watching her take ownership of the whole process, from start to finish, became one of those quiet moments that sticks with you.

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t forced. It just happened.

Like most trips, not everything went to plan.

One day the family set out to reach the top of a nearby mountain range in the 4WD, only to find the road washed out further up. They had to turn around before reaching the summit.

They missed the view from the top, but stopped halfway and took in the sweeping outlook across the hinterland. It wasn’t what they expected, but it was still worth it.

What this trip offered was something everyday life doesn’t.

Uninterrupted family time. Swimming, hiking, exploring, playing cards. All happening back to back in a short space of time, instead of being squeezed in around everything else.

“When in life do you get to do that much together, all at once?” Dave says. “That’s something special.”

One small addition made a noticeable impact on this trip.

Oztent camping lights, particularly the amber ones, helped keep bugs to a minimum in the evenings. It made time around camp more comfortable and relaxed. Sometimes it’s the simple things that quietly improve the experience.

Dave is quick to encourage others to give it a go.

“Not many countries have great outdoors that are so easy and accessible to get to,” he says. “Add the fact that we can camp year-round, and there’s really no excuse not to.”

Tools like Hipcamp make it easier to find sites with the facilities you need. And you don’t need much gear to start. Over time, you work out what matters most and what helps make each trip better.

These are the kinds of moments that stay with you.
And the reason so many families keep heading outdoors, to discover more of what really matters.