Camping with toddlers is wonderful until the day’s dirt, sunscreen, sand and snack crumbs meet bedtime. A proper bath may be several kilometres away, the campground amenities may be busy, and a tired child may have very little patience for a cold washcloth. The solution that has worked best for our family is simple: pack a sturdy, shallow plastic storage tub and turn it into a small washing station.
This portable camp bath gives little ones a warm, contained place to wash without wasting precious water. It works at a caravan park, beside a campervan, or at a basic campsite where there is no family bathroom. The key is to keep the routine safe, lightweight and respectful of local camping rules, especially when travelling around Australia’s parks and bush camps.
Choose a strong lidded storage box that is wide enough for your child to sit in without being cramped. A 25- to 40-litre tub is usually practical for a toddler, while older children may prefer to stand and wash over it. Look for rounded edges, a stable base and handles that make it easy to carry from the car to the campsite.
The tub is not a substitute for a swimming pool or unsupervised paddling area. Place it on level ground, away from tent ropes, vehicle paths and open drains. Keep one adult within arm’s reach for the entire wash, even if the child is sitting rather than standing. A shallow depth of water is enough for cleaning, and the child should never be left alone for a moment.
We fill a separate jerry can with clean water and warm it in a kettle, saucepan or camp shower bag. Test every addition on the inside of your wrist before it reaches your child. Mixing hot and cool water in a larger container is safer than pouring very hot water directly into the tub. At a caravan park, use the designated tap and follow any drinking-water notices.
The bath works best as a quick evening reset rather than a long soak. Lay out pyjamas, a towel, a nappy or underwear, a small face washer and a warm layer before the water goes in. This avoids the chilly dash across camp after washing, which matters on cool nights in the Grampians, the Snowy Mountains or Tasmania.
Use a small cup for rinsing hair and a gentle, biodegradable soap sparingly. Babies often need only warm water and a soft cloth, while older toddlers may need help removing red dirt from knees and sunscreen from their necks. Keep the soap, shampoo and toys in a zippered wet bag so they do not become scattered through the campsite.
A useful variation is a “top and tail” wash when water is limited. Clean the face, hands, feet, nappy area and any visibly grimy spots, then finish with a damp cloth over the arms and legs. This is often enough after a short bushwalk, and it lets you save a full wash for a caravan park with proper facilities. In hot places such as Brisbane or Darwin, a cool rinse can also remove sweat before sleep.
Australia’s camping conditions vary dramatically. A powered site near Melbourne may have easy access to hot showers, while a remote Western Australian campsite may require you to carry every litre. Before leaving, check the park’s current rules, the availability of potable water and any fire restrictions. During a total fire ban, using a gas stove or other heating equipment may be restricted, so plan how you will warm water legally.
Here is a practical way to compare washing options for different family trips:
| Washing option | Best for | Water use | Main advantage | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shallow storage tub | Toddlers and preschoolers | Moderate | Contained, familiar and easy to supervise | Never leave a child unattended |
| Warm washcloth | Babies and low-water camps | Low | Fast and simple | Less effective for sandy feet |
| Camp shower bag | Older children and larger families | Moderate to high | Rinses hair and muddy legs well | Needs safe hanging and temperature checks |
| Caravan park amenities | Longer stays | Usually included or metered | Proper drains and hot water | Busy periods and shared facilities |
| Sea or creek rinse | Only where expressly allowed | Variable | Removes sand before bed | Soap and shampoo may harm waterways |
Our favourite combination is the tub for the child and a small rinse bottle for hair. A two-litre bottle with a sports cap gives better control than tipping water from a large container. It also helps when staying at a beach campsite near Sydney or on the Mornington Peninsula, where sand seems to find its way into every sleeping bag.
Do not empty soapy water into a creek, lake, stormwater drain or directly beside a campsite. Australian national parks, state forests and council-managed campgrounds have different requirements for greywater disposal. Follow the instructions from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Parks Victoria or the relevant local authority, and use a designated dump point when one is provided. If no guidance is displayed, use plain water for the child’s wash and carry the used water away from natural waterways for disposal as directed by the ranger or campground operator.
The tub can do several jobs before bath time. During the day, it can hold dirty shoes, wet swimmers or muddy clothing. A lid keeps insects out and makes it easier to transport the kit without dripping through the car. Pack it near the tent door so it is available at night instead of buried beneath chairs, esky supplies and sleeping bags.
We keep a dedicated wash kit inside: two microfibre towels, a washcloth, a small cup, fragrance-free cleanser, moisturiser, a nappy sack roll and a waterproof laundry bag. A headlamp is useful when washing after sunset, but aim the light at the ground rather than directly into a child’s eyes. A bath toy or two can make the routine feel special, though lightweight silicone toys are easier to rinse and dry.
For snacks after the wash, avoid leaving food beside the tent. Crumbs can attract ants, possums and other wildlife, particularly at popular sites around the Blue Mountains or the Queensland coast. A homemade snack mix can be portioned into small containers before the trip; these backpack trail mix recipes are useful when families need compact food that will cope with a warm day and a bumpy drive.
Sun protection and insect checks belong in the evening routine. Remove hats and shoes, inspect behind ears and knees, and check for ticks after walking through long grass or bushland. Use child-appropriate insect repellent according to the label, and wash it off when practical. In northern Australia, mosquitoes can be a serious nuisance, so keeping the wash area brief and getting children into long sleepwear can make the night more comfortable.
Choose a campsite with shade, but do not position the tub beneath dead branches or too close to a riverbank that could rise after rain. In the Australian summer, a tub of water can heat quickly, so fill it only when you are ready to use it. In cooler weather, dry the child immediately and put on a beanie or warm layer if needed. Never heat water inside a closed tent, and keep hot cookware away from small hands.
The bath can become part of a bigger nature routine. After washing, children can settle with a story, look for stars or mark the day’s wildlife sightings in a notebook. Older kids may enjoy collecting activity ideas from national park junior ranger badges, while younger children can simply choose a favourite animal to draw before lights out.
The most important rule is to make the process predictable: wash, dry, dress, snack, story and sleep. Familiar steps help a tired toddler cope with an unfamiliar tent, and they give parents a manageable way to finish a dusty day without searching for a shower block.
Pack a sturdy shallow tub, a small water supply and a warm towel on your next family camping trip. With a little preparation, bedtime can become calmer, cleaner and far less dependent on campground facilities, leaving everyone ready for the next morning’s adventure.