Last Minute Bathurst Camping Items
Last-Minute Camping Essentials for Bathurst 1000: What You Actually Need
Every October, our Bathurst store sees the same Thursday morning rush: race fans arriving at Mount Panorama, unloading their vehicles, and realising their camping setup just isn’t quite right for the next four days.
We're not motorsport experts - we're outdoor gear specialists who've been helping thousands of race-goers sort their camping setup for over 15 years. And we've learned that Bathurst camping presents unique challenges that catch even experienced campers off guard. Bathurst camping isn't camping.
It's endurance sitting with occasional racing. Four days. Twelve-plus hours of sitting daily. October weather that swings from "pleasant t-shirt afternoon" to "why didn't I bring my winter jacket" within six hours. Zero natural shade. Morning moisture that makes you question whether it actually rained overnight. (It didn't. That's just Mount Panorama being Mount Panorama.)
If you're reading this while doing your final packing check - or at the event after one night realising what you're missing - here's what actually matters for the weekend ahead.
The two-bundle foundation
After watching hundreds of people bring $20 discount store chairs that collapse by Sunday, we started tracking what first-timers wish they'd brought.
Answer: better chairs and something to charge their phones. So we bundled them. Revolutionary, we know.
Price: $69
What's in it: 2x Kings Essential Camping Chairs + Blue 10000mAh Power Bank The chairs survive a race weekend. The power bank charges your phone 4-5 times without you queuing 45 minutes at charging stations or running your car battery flat. (Which we've seen happen. Many times. Sunday evening. When 50,000 people are trying to leave. Don't be that person.)
Price: $149
Mount Panorama's camping areas have zero natural shade. What looks fine at 8am becomes "why did we choose this spot" by noon.
What's in it: Kings 3 x 3m Heavy Duty Gazebo + Carry Bag + Mesh Flooring + 4 Bar Camp Light Kit
The mesh flooring keeps gear off the ground. (Morning moisture at Mount Panorama is real.) The camp light kit means you're not blinding everyone with your phone torch at 11pm. The gazebo fits six adults comfortably.
The data: People who skip the gazebo year one buy one year two. Every. Single. Time.
The Middle Ground
Everything else we're about to discuss? Optional. Will you be less comfortable than someone with the full setup? Yes. Will you survive? Also yes.
Bundle 3 (The Power Move): Kings Lithium 12Ah Power Pack + 2x Rechargeable Lanterns
Price: $129
What's in it: Kings Lithium 12Ah Power Pack + 2x Rechargeable Lanterns
Live timing apps. Phone cameras. Portable speakers. Team radio scanners. Everything needs charging. By Friday night, half the campground is running cars to charge devices. By Saturday, you're fighting for outlets like it's 2007 at an airport.
This power pack runs a small fridge AND charges multiple devices. The rechargeable lanterns solve the "fumbling for batteries at 3am" problem.
Bundle 4 (Light + Surface): Kings Aluminium Roll Up Table + Lithium LED Tripod Rechargeable
Price: $99
What's in it: Kings Aluminium Roll Up Table + Lithium LED Tripod Rechargeable
Stable surface for cooking. Proper lighting that doesn't blind neighbors. Packs down small. That's it. That's the pitch.
Bundle 5 (The Sleep Upgrade - Swag Edition): Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag + Canvas Bag + Mesh Flooring
Price: $189
What's in it: Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag + Canvas Bag + Mesh Flooring
Three nights of camping. October temps dropping to near-freezing. Ground moisture soaking through cheap tent groundsheets.
We're swag people. (We've used them from alpine Victoria to desert South Australia for decades.) Canvas keeps you warmer when it hits 2°C. Mesh flooring stops morning moisture. Quick setup when you're exhausted Thursday night.
Price: $239
What's in it: Kings Kwiky 4-6 Person Tent + Mesh Flooring + Lithium 2-in-1 LED Fan
Family or group? Need more space? This is your option.
The 4-6 person size gives you room for gear storage. With an instant frame design, you’ll be set up in no time. The mesh flooring is still non-negotiable. The 2-in-1 Led/fan handles warmer afternoons and has a hook that is perfect to hang on the inside of your tent.
Pick option tent if: Kids or groups. Pick option swag if: Solo/couple and value speed over space.
The all in approach
Bundle 7 (Basic Kitchen): Kings Single Burner Gas Stove + Propane Gas Cylinder + Rechargeable Head Torch
Available in-store only
Price: $99
What's in it: Kings Single Burner Gas Stove + Propane Gas Cylinder + Rechargeable Head Torch
Track food costs $40+ per person daily. Quick maths: Over $300 for two people across four days.
This handles coffee, quick meals, breakfast, dinner and everything in between. Can't ship it (gas cylinders), but that's fine - you can click and collect it at the Bathurst store on Thursday morning anyway.
Bundle 8 (Full Kitchen): Kings Portable BBQ + Aluminium Roll Up Table
Price: $179
What's in it: Kings Portable BBQ + Aluminium Roll Up Table
For groups. For people who enjoy camp cooking. For bacon and Friday night steaks.
Reality check: This is a long-term camping investment that happens to be useful at Bathurst, not a Bathurst-specific purchase. Buy it if you're camping regularly, enjoy the outdoors or even for your backyard. Skip it if you're not.
Bundle 9 (The Throne Upgrade): 2x Kings Throne Camping Chairs + Rechargeable Head Torch
Price: $89
What's in it: 2x Kings Throne Camping Chairs + Rechargeable Head Torch
Remember the Essential chairs from Bundle #1? These are the same concept with better back support. A rechargeable torch that saves you buying batteries and has a hands free motion sensor. Yep, you read that right.
The difference: Matters over four days if you've got any back issues and want to save continuous purchases on batteries. Doesn't matter if your back is fine.
That's it. That's the whole decision tree.
Bundle 10 (The Fridge Question): Kings Escape 20 Fridge/Freezer + Cover + Rechargeable Head Torch
Price: $197
What's in it: Kings Escape 20 Fridge/Freezer + Cover + Rechargeable Head Torch
Controversial opinion time: You don't need a fridge for Bathurst.
Plenty of people manage with eskies and ice runs. Ice costs $12 per bag, you'll need three bags ($36), plus the walk and queue timing. By Sunday your esky is water soup.
This fridge runs off a power pack. Maintains freezing temperatures. Set Thursday, forget until Sunday. Cold beer at 6am. Fresh milk for coffee. No water-logged sandwiches.
Hours during race weekend:
Thursday-Friday: 8am-7pm
Saturday-Sunday: 8am-5pm
Staff have all camped at Mount Panorama. They're sharing actual experience, not reading from training manuals.
No appointment needed. Walk in, explain your situation, get sorted. Already sorted? Excellent. Enjoy the racing.
See you at the Bathurst store. Or trackside. Or both.
(Probably both.)