Dirt Bike Camping: From Planning to Campsite Setup

Planning

Location

Choosing your destination often depends on who you’re going with. For example, if you’re going with your mates, they might like to go camping to a new “unknown” or remote place. But if you’re going, say, with your partner and kids, the family might want to stay in a cabin with comfortable beds, a toilet and shower.

Once you have worked out who you are going with, you can then find a suitable campsite or accommodation.

Take note of the weather forecast. If it is raining you might want to pack your wet weather jacket, a spare set of riding gear and some extra clothes.

Check ahead to see what shops are in the area too. Are there cafes you can easily buy meals from? Are there convenience stores where you can buy snacks, water, alcohol, or even ice? If there are, then you can pack lighter than a full-on camping kit.

Route

Check your destination on a map and find the best route. Google Maps is the go.

Whether you're driving or riding, consider a stopover or two along the way for toilet breaks, meals. Or to mix things up, even an overnight stay at different campsites could be an option.

If you're staying in a town on the way to your destination, look for motels or accommodation where you can securely store your bikes overnight.

Check online forums too. Other riders probably have plenty of recommendations and practical tips for the areas you're travelling through.

Emergency

Before starting on your adventure, plan for emergencies. Even if you think the destination is near your home or you have enough mates with you on the trip, it is still a good idea to prepare for the unexpected.

Share your destination, routes, stopovers, and itinerary with someone who isn’t going on the trip with you. If something happens, or you’re unreachable, they’d know where you are.

Send updates too throughout the trip and make sure you have emergency numbers saved to your phone.

Packing

There’s a lot to say (and list) when it comes to packing, so we’ve written a separate article for that: Packing the Essentials.

Pro Tip: Plan for bad weather, especially if the place is renowned for unpredictable weather. Pack an extra layer of clothes and a beanie if it looks like there could be a cold snap. In the summer, grab your pluggers, favourite hat and sunnies (and some coldies) and you're done. Insect repellant is also a must to keep the midges and mozzies away.

Campsite Setup

Settling down

If you opted for a cabin, apart from unpacking there is not much to do, so turn off your phone, relax and enjoy a coldie or two.
Now if your a Aussie battler and are camping in a tent from Aldi, you’ll have a few things to take care of. If you’re thinking of having a fire, go look for wood while it’s still daytime. Pitch your tents before it gets dark too. One important thing to do when you arrive is make sure your beverage of choice is on ice.

It is a good idea to lock up your bikes up for the night to your trailer or something secure.

Pitching your tents

We will assume you know how to find a good campsite and put up a tent, but one thing worth noting is don’t set up camp too close to the track if it is dry as you will cop dust all day long.

The final thing to remember is when you're out in the bush, leave nothing behind and take only good memories. Happy riding!