Everyone loves a campfire! When you mention camping, the first thing most people think of is sitting around a cosy fire pit, soaking up the warmth, and roasting marshmallows.
If you’re about to head off on your next camping adventure and want to make sure a bonfire night is part of the experience, we’ve put together the ultimate cheat sheet to cover all the need-to-know questions for beginners.
WHEN AND WHERE CAN I HAVE A CAMPFIRE?
Image Credit: Dwellingup Chalet and Caravan Park, WA
There are more than 120 G’day Parks where you can have a campfire, with some restrictions. You can easily find these locations by applying the ‘Camp Fire (Seasonal)’ filter on the G'day Parks app or online.
Each individual park will have their own rules, so it’s important to confirm their campfire guidelines ahead of your arrival. These include days or months when campfires are not permitted, in what part of the park campfires are allowed, whether you need/are able to bring your own equipment or can hire it, and what time you need to put out the fire.
Weather is a huge factor. One thing’s for sure: if you’re travelling on a total fire ban day, you categorically cannot start a campfire. Check your state or territory’s fire service website for a daily update.
Most parks in at-risk bushfire areas only give the green light for campfires in seasonal periods outside of fire danger season (which typically runs November to April in southern Australia, and April to November in northern Australia). It's important to check ahead of booking whether fires are generally allowed during your travel dates. Park management can also advise you of any further rules, such as equipment requirements or times. For example, some parks will specify that fires must be started in raised drums, to avoid damage to the earth below.
Image Credit: Discovery Parks - Barossa Valley, SA
The next thing to check is where you can have a fire within the park grounds.
Image credit: Discovery Parks - Bright, VIC
Many parks have communal fire pits which can be accessed by any guest, whether you're staying on a campsite, glamping, or in a cabin.
Image Credit: Dundee Beach Holiday Park, NT
Others will allow campers to have a campfire on their powered or unpowered site.
Image Credit: Eldorado Caravan Park, VIC
What’s more, select accommodation – like the cabins at Eldorado Caravan Park – even comes with its own private fire pit to ensure that cabin guests can also enjoy a private campfire experience.
HOW TO START A CAMPFIRE?
Image Credit: Forrest Holiday Park, VIC
Here’s a basic rundown of the different containers you can use to construct your fireplace.
Fire pits
A fire pit is either dug into the ground or an above-ground bowl, made of metal (steel, cast iron, aluminium, copper) or mineral (stone, concrete). They are typically a low and wide structure (not usually portable), which makes them a great fit for fixed communal campfires.
Braziers
Braziers are a portable, upright structure, often with legs or stands to keep the fire off the ground. They tend to be on the smaller side and are therefore better suited to warming up a tight-knit group rather than a large gathering.
Fire drums
Fire drums (or burn barrels) are made of sturdy steel or cast iron, often from repurposed 200-litre oil drums, to provide all-around heat. They are raised off the ground, with an open top and holes drilled near the base to provide oxygen flow and drainage.
Fire ring
A fire ring is a circular, bottomless ring that sits on the ground and forms a barrier to prevent fire from escaping.
Chimineas
Chimineas are enclosed, free-standing, pot-bellied fireplaces with an opening in the front (unsurprisingly, as the name is Spanish for 'chimney'). They produce less smoke and use less firewood than other options, but don’t produce 360-degree heat.
Image: Beechworth Lake Sambell Caravan Park, VIC
Every fire requires three essential elements:
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Tinder, to get the fire started – dry grass, leaves, and small twigs, newspaper or cardboard
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Kindling, to keep it going – small branches and sticks
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Firewood, to help the fire burn long into the night – large pieces of wood (typically bigger than one inch).
Other items you won't want to forget are a firestarter, lighter, or matches to strike a flame.
WHAT IS A FIRESTARTER?
Image Credit: Tawonga Tourist Park, VIC
It’s in the name: firestarters are made of two parts—one that produces a spark, and another that is a flammable material to create enough heat to light the kindling. These tools (like a lighter or ferrocerium ‘ferro’ rod) can give you an extra leg up, especially in tough weather conditions.
That said, we're big fans of Holiday Hacks, and there are plenty of DIY materials that can be lit to make starting a fire much easier, such as:
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Pine cones
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Dry spaghetti
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Tortilla chips
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Cotton balls dipped in Vaseline.
LET'S START BUILDING
Image Credit: Tathra Beach Eco Camp, NSW
There are a few different ways you can stack your tinder, kindling, and firewood.
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Teepee – Layer your tinder, then kindling, and finally firewood in a teepee shape.
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Criss-cross/log cabin – Place two parallel logs on the ground with space in the middle to add tinder and kindling, then place two more logs on top in a criss-crossed square shape. Keep alternating until you’ve built four layers, and finish with kindling and tinder across the top.
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Pyramid – Create a base layer with a few large logs, then turn 90 degrees and make the next layer with slightly smaller ones. Continue alternating and reducing the layer size each time, then place kindling and tinder on the top.
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Star – Place your tinder and kindling in the centre, then arrange your firewood with one end in the centre and the other sticking out to create a spoke/star shape. As it burns, you'll need to push the firewood in towards the centre so it keeps burning.
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Lean to – Lay one large log, gather tinder and some kindling to its side, then stack more kindling against the log over the pile. Place larger pieces of wood above the kindling, and once it's burning, keep adding as needed to keep the fire going.
Then, it’s time to light the tinder in multiple spots, giving your fire the best chance to catch. You may need to carefully blow on the base to give it air and allow the flames to spread across the firewood.
Image Credit: Spear Creek Holiday Park, SA
From here, stoke the fire to keep letting in more air and expose the flame to more of the firewood. Where possible, don’t use all of your firewood at the beginning, as you’ll need to keep adding more as you go. Try to use medium-sized firewood to get the fire started (as it will catch easier), then use your largest logs once it's going strong.
The biggest rule of all? Once ignited, never leave your campfire unattended!
GETTING KIDS INVOLVED … SAFELY!
Image: Beechworth Lake Sambell Caravan Park, VIC
Travelling as a family? If you’re on the road with kids, it can be a fun opportunity to teach them about the science behind the process of starting a fire, while also educating them about fire safety.
Curious kiddos love being active and involved, which means they make excellent kindling (and marshmallow stick) foragers. Make sure you tell them to only collect dry, dead wood that’s already on the ground! You can also ask them to help you clear up all debris for a four-metre radius around your fire, to create a safe environment and avoid potential incidents. Kids can then help with laying tinder and kindling, but leave the heavier stuff to the adults.
Once it’s time to get the fire started, let them sit back at a safe distance to watch. It’s crucial that children always have adult supervision and are never left unattended once it's going.
CAMPFIRE HIRE
Image Credit: Warburton Holiday Park, VIC
It’s important to check before arrival whether you can supply a BYO fire drum or if you are only allowed to start a campfire using in-park facilities.
If a park does not have their own communal fire pit, many will have fire drums available to hire. The cost per day or per stay is determined by each park independently and can range from $5 to $50. It’s worth noting that more expensive hire costs tend to include firewood as a package, rather than you needing to purchase wood and kindling separately (or forage for your own). Kindling and firewood are usually available at nearby hardware stores, supermarkets, petrol stations, and in-park kiosks.
After that, all you need to buy is food supplies for your favourite campfire cooking. Speaking of which …
WHAT ARE THE BEST CAMPFIRE MEALS?
Image Credit: Discovery Resorts - Undara, QLD
Sure, everyone knows about toasted marshmallows, but what are some other delicacies to cook up on the coals? It’s easy to create stews, curries, pastas, and one-pot meals, particularly using something like a Trangia outdoor stove, plus here are three of our favourite campfire snacks:
- S’mores: There's no doubt you've seen these scrumptious American creations before, where you squash a roasted marshmallow and chocolate in between two crackers. It’s the ultimate flavour combo, with fluffy marshmallow, melting chocolate, and crunchy biscuits.
- Banana boats: Peel a banana, slice it longways to create a split, and fill the banana with squares of chocolate. Wrap the dessert in aluminium foil and let it heat up on the coals for a tasty treat.
- Jacket potatoes: Salt and butter potatoes, wrap them in aluminium foil, and let the coals warm them up. Then, peel off the foil and cover the cooked potatoes in your favourite toppings. Delish!
MAKING FRIENDS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
Image Credit: Goondiwindi Holiday Park, QLD
Upon arrival at the park, check with reception whether they are running any communal gatherings or events around the campfire. For example, destinations like Standown Park, Cunnamulla Tourist Park, and Broken Hill Tourist Park frequently run happy hour (sometimes even with bush poets and entertainment) to make friends and kick back around the fire pit.
PUTTING OUT THE FIRE
Image Credit: Discovery Parks - Mount Buffalo, VIC
When it’s time to wind down for the evening, make sure to fully extinguish the fire with water. Use a stick to stir the ashes, in case it’s still smouldering below the surface, and use more water to fully douse the embers. Don’t leave the fire unattended until the coals are cool to touch with your hand, and you’ve cleaned up any rubbish.
HERE'S THREE FINAL TIPS TO REMEMBER
Image Credit: Thornton Riverbend Holiday Park, VIC
1. Before you start a fire, triple check with the park managers that you have permission to do so (they can advise if it’s a total fire ban day or if there are any rules or fire restrictions in place).
2. When you build your fire, make sure that it’s the right size for purpose, but keep it as small as possible.
3. Always be prepared with more firewood than you think you need to keep the fire going … and more water than you think you need to safely put it out!
Dreaming of campfires on your next camping escape? You’ve come to the right place!
Image Credit: Robe Holiday Park, SA
Plan your stay at Australia's largest network of holiday parks on the G'day Parks app or online. With winter on the horizon, get out in nature using the ‘Camp Fire (Seasonal)’ filter to search for locations where you can enjoy a campfire. You can also apply any other filters to find parks with the features you want and need on your getaway, from beach access to pet-friendly campgrounds.
Another great way to light up your getaway is by joining G’day Rewards. Become a member for just $50, and you’ll get two years of benefits including fuel discounts, early access to sales, exclusive deals with popular brands, and, best of all, a 10% discount on all stays at G’day Parks (up to the value of $50).
