Do you have a camping trip scheduled soon? Do you want to avoid eating instant noodles and bland prepackaged meals during your downtime?

Getting to the campground, setting up the tent and preparing a decent meal should be the bare minimum after a long hike or drive. If the only thing waiting for you is another cup of two-minute noodles, the whole ritual starts to feel like a bog — and it cheapens the camping experience. The payoff of a delicious meal cooked over a campfire is a different thing entirely.

So what should you pack to eat like a king at the campground? Here's what you need to know about packing your meals before a multi-day camping trip.

Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

Before deciding what to pack, get the details of the trip locked down. How long are you staying? Does the campground have cooking facilities — or are you carrying everything in on your back and hauling the rubbish home? How many people are you responsible for feeding?

Australian campgrounds may not have bears, but our wildlife is every bit as motivated: possums, goannas, dingoes and even determined ravens will help themselves to anything left out overnight. Sealed containers and food kept in the vehicle or strung up out of reach save you from waking to a shredded food bag.

From there, you can narrow down the right kit — whether sauces are worth their weight, or whether shelf-stable and lightweight items should take priority. Think about how many meals the trip actually involves, and sketch a rough menu for each breakfast, lunch and dinner before anything goes in the pack. With a menu on paper you'll carry enough for everybody without overpacking and burdening yourself with dead weight.

Driving rather than hiking changes the equation completely — a vehicle means an esky or fridge, and a far bigger menu. No van of your own? You can hire a campervan or 4WD with the kitchen practically built in.

The first thing to pack is your carbohydrate source. Carbs are your quick energy reserve — the glucose that powers you through hours of hiking or trekking without feeling wrung out.

Good options include pasta, rice, tortillas and oats in tight containers. Dry, uncooked carbs are convenient because they're light, they don't spoil at room temperature even after multiple days, and — properly contained — they won't leave a mess or a lingering odour in your pack.

Beyond that, carbs are the great stomach-filler: cheap, endlessly versatile, and the difference between going to bed satisfied or hungry. For anyone who wants a happy stomach at the end of the day, they're not a recommendation — they're a must.

To complement the carbs, pack protein. Protein keeps you feeling fuller for longer and supports muscle recovery — vital after long hours on the trail.

The best camping proteins travel well and won't spoil: canned tuna, canned beans, beef jerky, peanut butter and sealed sausages are all excellent for multi-day adventures.

If you're driving to the campground rather than hiking, bring a cooler — it expands your protein options enormously. And if prep time before the trip is the real bottleneck, a cheat: order ready-made meals from a food delivery service such as healthy food delivery with Bondi Meal Prep and pack them straight into the esky.

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Lastly — and just as importantly — pack the utensils and equipment that turn ingredients into an actual meal at the campsite:

• Portable camping stove
• Fuel canisters
• Lighter or waterproof matches
• Pot and frying pan
• Cooking and eating utensils
• Cutting board
• Plates and mugs
• Cutlery
• Food storage containers or resealable bags
• Dishwashing liquid, sponge and towel
• Garbage bags for rubbish disposal

With those on hand you can turn out a surprising range of flavourful dishes — you'll find everything above in our camp cookware range.

Photo by Paulina Herpel on Unsplash

Plan the trip first, then the menu, then the pack: shelf-stable carbs, long-life protein and a compact cook kit will feed you far better than any styrofoam cup ever could.

We hope this gives you a head start on packing for your next trip. Still picking the destination? Browse thousands of sites in our Campsite Explorer — or start with a classic like Caringal Scout Campground. All the best whipping up some tasty dishes on your next campground adventure!