Tips to Keep Cool While Camping in the Aussie Outback

The outback in summer is a beauty, but she's a scorcher, with inland maximums regularly climbing past 40°C. If you want to enjoy the red dirt, not just survive it, you need to get your setup golden. Here's how to stay cool, sleep well and keep safe when it's flat out roasting.

Quick Takeaways

• Pick a shady site and point your van or awning away from the western afternoon sun
• Get air moving with cross-ventilation, a damp bandana and a 12V fan
• Time your big activities for the cool of morning and late arvo, not the middle of the day
• Drink water constantly and stay hydrated
• For serious heat, a camping aircon plus a solid battery, solar and inverter setup makes all the difference

Our Top Bush Tricks

Start with the freebies before you spend a cent:

1. Chase the shade: Set up under trees or on the eastern side of a ridge, and angle your awning and van away from the harsh western sun.
2. Get air moving: Open opposite windows and vents for cross-ventilation, and hang a wet towel in the breeze for a bit of evaporative magic.
3. Work with the clock: Do your fishing, walking and cooking early or after 4pm, and rest through the worst of the heat.
4. Cool your swag: A damp bandana on the neck and a small battery fan by the bed can be the difference between a good kip and a shocker of a night.

The Gear That Beats Serious Heat

When the mercury won't budge, a bit of kit earns its keep. 

Camping air conditioners suit tents and swags, while caravan air conditioners are built for vans. As a rough guide, small spaces want around 5,000–7,000 BTU and a full caravan needs 9,000 BTU or more. Match the unit to the space, because an undersized aircon runs flat out and drains your batteries for little payoff. Just know the power draw is real; these units pull serious watts, so plan your battery setup around them from the start.

Keeping your tucker safe matters too. Camping fridges and freezers run on 12V and hold food and drinks cold even when it's 45°C outside, far safer than an esky full of melted ice, and no chucking out dodgy meat.

Running an Aircon Off-Grid: What You'll Need

No mains power? No worries, here's the rundown:

• Lithium camping batteries store enough juice to run cooling gear through the night.
• Solar panels recharge your batteries through the day, so you're not caught short by morning.
• Camping inverters convert 12V battery power to the 240V that an aircon needs. An all-in-one portable power station bundles the lot if you'd rather keep it simple.

Staying Safe in the Heat, Especially for Grey Nomads

Heat's no joke, and folks over 65 are among the most at-risk. Sip water steadily rather than waiting till you're parched, and keep an eye out for dizziness, headaches, cramps or confusion, which are early signs of heat stress. Rest in the shade, don't push yourself in the midday sun, and check in on your travelling mates. If someone isn't cooling down, get help fast.

Head Bush and Stay Cool with the Right Gear

Sort your cooling setup before you head bush and the outback summer becomes something to enjoy, not endure. Shop the range to build a rig that keeps you cool wherever the track takes you.