You’ll laugh about this one day

We asked Seal Rocks Park Manager, Katie Toney, why us Aussies love camping so much...

Camping isn’t for the faint-hearted. Sometimes it feels more of an extreme sport than a relaxing hobby. Throw in some wind, rain, sick kids, creepy crawlies and it’s verging on the stuff of nightmares.

So why do we do it? Why do we love it? Why do we bundle ourselves up on a Friday arvo and head to our favourite campgrounds?

If you’re not a camper, keep scrolling, you just won’t get it. Those who know. Read on. You’re our people.

As a Park Manager, I’ve seen it all. I’ve rallied in the wee hours of the morning with sodden kids and stressed parents packing up a collapsed tent in the middle of the rain, bundling them into the camp kitchen for shelter.

I’ve shared leftovers from our dinner with those who rock up late at night to the remote Seal Rocks asking where the grocery store is to get food. (hint: it’s an hour away).

We’ve dug through our own camping kit to find hammers, drills, tent pegs, spare poles when sheepish dads come forward to admit they forgotten a vital piece of set up.

And let’s not even start on the first aid. We patch up grazes on scuffed knees, take the sting out of a jellyfish encounter, pull out ticks and bandage up sprained wrists. And that’s just the parents! Our kiosk is stocked with aloe vera for those who stayed in the sun just a touch too long.

It’s the irony when you want to get close to nature that the bush turkeys will destroy your campsite the moment you turn your back, or a big goanna makes off with the eggs you’d planned to have for breaky.

But despite all the ‘oh no’ moments it’s the comradery of campers when things don’t go to plan that brings out the best in all of us. There’s something just a little bit cute when you hear the chink chink chink of tent pegs being tapped into the ground in the middle of the night as the storm passes through and hear the chorus of blokes checking in on each to keep the marquees earth bound.

I always say to people... you WILL laugh about this one day. I’m just not sure how long ‘one day’ takes to roll around though.

One thing we can guarantee is that when you visit a Reflections Caravan Park, we’re here to help. We want you to make memories and we want them to be good ones. We want to be known for being the people who turn a bad day into a good one. We’re campers, just like you. Here for the adventure, the whole adventure, and yep that includes the wind, rain, sick kids and creepy crawlies as well.

If you are looking for the full adventure, check out our holiday parks here, and don't forget your furry friends are welcome too!