What to pack, and what to skip
Camping shops sell a lot of things you do not need. A short, honest list for a two-day trip in Victoria.
Outdoor retail is very good at selling solutions to problems you do not have. For an overnight camp an hour and a half from Melbourne, this is the whole list.
Bring
Layers, not a single big coat. Victorian weather changes hourly. A thermal top, a fleece, and a rain shell will handle almost anything the Central Highlands does to you, and you can shed them as you warm up.
More socks than you think. Wet feet are miserable and unfixable in the field. Two pairs per day, minimum.
A head torch. Not a phone. You will want both hands free, and your phone battery is your emergency contact plan.
Your own mug, plate and cutlery. We do not use disposables.
Skip
Hiking boots, if you do not own them. Broken-in runners beat brand-new boots every single time. Blisters on day one will define your weekend.
A camp chair, for your first trip. Borrow one and see if you miss it.
Specialised cookware. We cook communally. You do not need a stove.
Anything you bought specifically for this trip and have not tested. Set your tent up in a park or a lounge room first. Discovering a missing pole at 6pm in the dark is a rite of passage nobody enjoys.
The genuinely non-obvious one
Bring a small dry bag or a couple of plastic bags. Separating wet and dry clothing is the difference between one uncomfortable day and two.