How to Choose the Best Campsite: A Practical Guide for Future Bookings

How We Scope Out Campsites for Future Stays

This weekend we're heading to Illaroo, near Minnie Water, about two hours south of home. We’ve booked a beachfront site for two nights. While we’re there, we’ll do what we always do: wander through the campground with an eye on future stays.

We take our time and check for a few essentials. First is sunlight and shade. We rely on solar charging, so we look for a patch of sunlight within ten metres of the teardrop. If a site offers that, it goes on our shortlist.

Shade is just as important, especially in summer. Morning sun is usually fine, but we always look for afternoon shade to keep things cool. We check where the trees are and imagine the sun's path during the hottest part of the day.

To help with that, we use an app called Sun Locator Pro. We were fortunate to purchase this for a few dollars before it went to a rather high subscription. Another one is Sun Position. It lets us scan forward in time and see where the sun will fall in different seasons. It's designed for photographers, but it works well for campers. There are plenty of other apps that do a similar job, and most are worth a few dollars.

Beyond sun and shade, we look at a few practical things:

• Is the site too close to the toilets?

• Does it feel cramped?

• How much privacy does it offer?

As we go, we note the site numbers along with any standout features. Sometimes we take quick photos to help jog our memory when it’s time to book again.

It only takes a short stroll, but it makes future bookings a whole lot easier.