Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, hey! There’re not many other places in the world that have a Christmas quite like us here in Australia. You won’t find Jack Frost nibbling at your nose or chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but more likely seafood on the BBQ, backyard cricket and a cool drink or two.
Everyone has their own unique way of celebrating, but there are a few things we all have in common for the festive season. One is hitting the road early boxing day morning and finding your perfect camper trailer spot.
Each year, millions of Aussies head all over the country to soak up the sun rays and spend some quality time with their family and friends before the chaos of the new year begins. More and more people are choosing to beat the traffic and are already set up and ready in their spots before boxing day, ready to spend their Christmas in their camper trailer!
While the home is where the heart is, there are some small but meaningful ways that you can make a Christmas in your camper feel just as warm and fuzzy as you do at home, so we’ve put together our best tips for having the best camper Christmas ever.
For those of you who are living the nomad lifestyle, this blog will come particularly handy as your camper trailer is your home, and so getting into the festive spirit and adding in some Christmas decorations will likely be high up on your to-do list.
Dust of the Michael Bublé Christmas album, (don’t pretend you don’t love it) and read on, as we prepare you for Christmas in your camper trailer.
We’re guessing that for a lot of people, your normal go-to doona cover, towels and tablecloths aren’t plastered with Santa’s face and Rudolph. That’s all about to change, as our first step in getting your camper trailer ready to rock and roll for Christmas day is to swap out your day to day items for Christmas coloured or themed goodies. Think doonas, sheets, towels, table clothes, cups, plates … the works.
If green and red isn’t your thing, choose whatever Christmas colour scheme your heart desires. Your camper trailer should look as festive as Santa’s workshop. We challenge you to make it as impressive as the foyer of a department store.
There are a tone of ways to bring the Christmas tree to your camper trailer this festive season. While it’s almost impossible to ask you to bring your tree from home along with all your decorations in your trailer, we have some even better alternatives.
The first option is really popular among camping families, and it involves creating a tree of sticks. Stay with us here, this is a great way to get the kids involved in finding the perfect size sticks, and, you get a chance to explore the area where you are staying.
A small plastic tree proper somewhere inside your camper is a simple way to have Christmas tree around or pop a larger one out the front!
If you’re going to be in the one location for a while, why not grab a real tree and decorate it outside your camper? There are a ton of locations all around the country where you can grab a real Christmas tree. To find a list of locations around Australia, follow this link.
Christmas lights, fairy lights, light up lawn decorations … whatever you choose, lights make everything a bit more special. Christmas lights will ramp up the spirit but also act as a great source of light come night time. Go for a solar light that will charge up during the day while you’re out and about. When it’s dark, watch the faces of passers-by light up, both literally and figuratively!
Bringing small things from home is an awesome way to remind ourselves that Christmas is all about being thankful for your family and friends, and experiencing the day together is what’s most important.
Christmas stockings are pretty lightweight and easy to pack, which is an added bonus when you’re trying to maneuver Christmas gifts and the likes into the car like Tetris pieces.
If you forget your stockings, don’t fret. Even socks will do the trick, and for kids, letting them decorate a sock with glitter glues and sticky bits is a great wet weather activity. We’re sure you know that even in the midst of summer the weather in some parts of Australia can be seriously unpredictable.
Because you probably won’t be able to pop presents under the tree like a traditional Christmas, stockings are a space-conscious way to put aside some gifts for your family. If you have kids with you, this is an awesome way to store Santa’s overnight surprises.
Okay, we admit, cooking up a big roast turkey complete with potatoes and pumpkin isn’t possible in your camp kitchen, but hey– this Christmas wasn’t meant to be stock standard and by the book anyway.
Whatever it is that your family love, make a feast of it and bring the Christmas spirit to your camper. Mexican, pasta, fish and chips, baked beans on toast …. Whatever it is that makes your family gleam, make it happen! Just a reminder though, it’s unlikely that you’ll find a shop that is open Christmas Day, so plan ahead and stock up.
Alternatively, if you’re not staying somewhere super remote and far from civilisation, check out the local town and see if you can find a place that’s putting on Christmas lunch.
Sometimes, you just can’t beat a roast at the local Surf Club or RSL, and plus, getting out of clean up and cooking on Christmas day is a gift in its self.
Maybe not on Christmas Day, but in the days leading up, lots of towns will have Christmas parades and events, so make sure to check the websites or notice boards where you are.
To fill in the day and keep the good times rolling, come up with some games that you can all play together that are fun and will help you all bond. Think things like obstacle courses, card games, and of course a good old-fashioned game of monopoly never goes astray (or maybe it will tear your family apart, the risk is up to you).
Just to mix things up, why not make them Christmas themed? To find a list of Christmas themed games to keep even the sorest of losers happy, click this link.
This one is for the parents wondering how on earth they’re going to fit Christmas presents in with everything else and keep them hidden. More specifically, those who need to keep up the illusion that a man in a red suit is going to swoop into your camper trailer in the black of night.
While a new bike or a trampoline are going to be almost impossible wish list items to fulfil, have a think about where you are and some experiences that you could do with your kids during the summer break.
For example, if you’re near the water, take a look at scuba diving, penguin or whale watching or stand up paddle board sessions. Things your kids will remember long after the trampoline rusts up.
If you’ve been thinking about heading off early and beating the traffic this year, now you have all the tools to make it a Christmas to remember. Take a look at our range of campers to see what suits you and your family the best, and of course, Mars Campers are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.