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It was another freezing cold morning as I set off for the road with my partner.

We had everything packed; sleeping bags, blankets, water, food and most importantly … snacks!  After a long semester it was just the thing we needed and something I was desperately looking forward to.

During my time camping I learnt a few key things and found a few ways to unwind.

Fire is fun

At the risk of sounding like a pyrotechnic, a little campfire can be really fun! There was something relaxing and purposeful about scavenging around for dried up dead pieces of bracken and little twigs and fallen tree branches in the dark. After a solid half hour of collecting building and prepping, we had a nice little fire to stay warm next to. With a bag of marshmallows, we set to work with a stick in hand. There was something nice and comforting about getting the little fire started. It took my mind off from other worries and helped me focus on something mundane and simple. It was a nice way to block out the numerous distractions of life that can sometimes chip away at me.

The fresh air and the quiet

I sometimes forget just how noisy city and suburban life can be. I could be forgiven for thinking there was something wrong in the refreshing silence that surrounded us at our camp site - nothing but bird calls, a light wind and the gushing of the stream next to us. With all the noise and distractions I am accustomed to in my day-to-day life, trying to sit still and just be was challenging at first. I felt I needed some music, or to clean up some mess or sort things out. It was only in the early hours of the morning that I just sat by the dimmed fire and listened. At this moment, the minutes seemed to stand still and yet pass rapidly at the same time. I felt my active head overcome with a numbness that was quite refreshing and calming.

Nothing beats a bush walk

As always, a good hike or a bush walk seems to accompany any camping trip. This trip was no different. We walked for hours around the area and into the bush and were even treated to a few wallabies, a couple of rosellas and even a wombat! The long walks left us tired, hungry and thirsty but that was all part of the fun as I collapsed into a nice deep sleep later that night. It made me realise how little time I have spent in nature recently and even how little exercise I have been doing. In a strange way, it felt great to feel so physically tired rather than mentally fatigued. The camping trip reminded me how refreshing it can be to do something different from my everyday norm and get back into the beautiful Australian nature. 

When did you last go camping? Are you keen to go again?