Useful Apps for Camping, Caravanning and Travelling Australia

When travelling, it’s important to have up to date information on the places you are going, especially if you are somewhere remote. Technology has allowed us to be so much more versatile with regards to the information available. No longer do you need to have tonnes of books and maps taking up room in the car.

The variety of apps available for your phone and tablet to help with campsites, facilities, roads and things to do can be overwhelming. Here is our list of the best and most useful apps to help you when camping, caravanning and travelling Australia.

1. WikiCamps – campsites and destination information
2. Fuel Map – fuel Locations and prices
3. Gasfinder – find when to fill gas bottles
4. Willy Weather – weather forecast
5. Tripadvisor – see reviews on places to stay, eat and things to do
6. Hema Explorer – Australia wide 4WD map and navigation
7. Mad Paws – find a pet sitter
8. AllTrails – find bushwalking tracks
9. Roadtrippers – find local attractions and read reviews.
10. Packing List – packing guide
11. Travel Spend – plan your budget for travelling
12. Level Remote – help level your caravan or camper
13. Beachsafe – information on beach safety and patrols
14. National Public Toilet Map – find the closest public toilet when you need it
15. Playground Founder – find a playground for the kids near you
16. Sky View – stargazing
17. First Aid – step-by-step first aid information by St John Ambulance
18. Emergency + – uses your phones GPS to give your co-ordinates in an emergency
19. Australian Bites and Stings – know what to if something bites or stings you
20. Kids Health Info – health information for common kids illnesses

The apps that are most useful will depend on where you are going and what you are doing, but these are the one’s we think are some of the best apps for camping and caravanning.

WikiCamps

WikiCamps is a fantastic app to look for campsites and places to go. It’s designed to be a database of campsites, caravan parks, backpacker hostels, points of interest, visitor information centers, dump stations, water taps, facilities and more.

Wikicamps allows users to comment, review and upload photos of campsites and points of interest so it is current information. It has over 31,000 listings and is one of the biggest apps for finding campsites in Australia.

You can read our full WikiCamps review.

Fuel Map Australia

Created by the same people as WikiCamps, Fuel Map is a crowd-sourced database of petrol stations and fuel prices from all across Australia. It can also show real time fuel prices in WA, NSW and QLD. Locations of petrol stations are shown on the map as a branded pin with the last known fuel price displayed above. Great if you are in an unknown area trying to find a station, or just if you’re trying to find the cheapest fuel.

Gas Finder

If you are camping and run out of gas, it can be a pain to go searching for where you can either fill it up or swap the bottle. The gas finder app allows you to quickly and easily find the nearest store. It even has some prices to compare.

Willy Weather

If you want a comprehensive weather map to plan your travels, then try Willy Weather. It has the general weather forecasts but also wind, tides, rainfall, sunrise and sunset, UV and even the radar. Willy Weather is a good allround app with over 30,000 locations.

Tripadvisor

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, visit or stay, then you can get recommendations and reviews off Tripadvisor. TripAdvisor has millions of reviews, photos, and maps from travellers all over Australia and the world. You can use the “Near Me” function for searching for a hotel/restaurant that’s close to you.

Hema Explorer Australia

If you’re thinking about doing any 4WD tracks or unsealed roads, then the Hema Maps app is a great travel companion. This app can help you plan and navigate your adventure. The Hema Explorer Map is a multi-scale topographic map that features an entire database of roads and 4WD tracks to guide you anywhere in Australia. You also get access to a range of Hema regional maps  such as Cape York, Fraser Island, Great Desert Tracks, High Country Victoria and the Kimberley.

Plan and navigate your next great adventure both on and off the beaten track.

Mad Paws

When you go away, what do you do with your furry companions? Mad Paws is a platform that connects thousands of Pet Owners with loving Pet Sitters across Australia. You can search for local pet accommodation for your pet or find someone to come and pet sit for you in your home. You can even get photo updates while you’re away.

You can easily search through Mad Paws database of verified pet sitters to find a solution to suit your pets needs.

AllTrails

AllTrails has a large collection of detailed trails and tracks for the avid bushwalker. In fact AllTrails has 3,779 Australian hiking trails, trail running trails, mountain biking trails and more. If you want to spend some time bushwalking (and not get lost) then this app might be a great help.

Roadtrippers

You can use the Roadtrippers app to find things like restaurants, fun roadside attractions, scenic points, national parks and more.  You can find stuff around where you currently are, or along a route you are planning. Read reviews and even see photos people have put up.

Packing List

A simple app to get your organised so you never forget things! Packing list allows you to make lists of what you need to take as well as what you need to do. Get organised before travelling, and even use it as a guide of what to remember when setting up or packing down your campsite.

Travel Spend

Keep track of your holiday spending by using this app. Travel Spend allows you to enter all your expenses to keep track of how much you’re spending. Put in everything from accommodation costs to entertainment, groceries and even laundry costs. You can also set a budget that you would like to spend and the app will tell you how much you have left. It’s a great way to keep track of how much your trip is costing.

Level Remote

If you don’t have a level on your caravan or camper trailer, it can be hard to know if you are actually level. Level remote is an app you can use that will let you know if your van is level, both visually and audibly.

Beachsafe

If you’re planning on going to the beach, you want to do it safely. The Beachsafe app gives you detailed information on just about every Australian beach. It includes information on patrol status, facilities and hazards as well as weather, swell and tide. The current lifesaving service for each beach is listed to help you find the nearest patrolled beach. It’s a must have app if you’re planning a beachside stay.

National Public Toilet Map

The National Public Toilet Map provides information on over 19,000 publicly available toilets across Australia, including accessibility, opening hours and facilities, such as showers & baby change. Great if you have a kid suddenly decide they’re busting.

Download the National Public Toilet Map App

Playground Founder

Do your kids need to burn off some energy? Find a playground for the kids near you with reviews and photos by other parents.

Sky View

If you love gazing up at the night sky, this app lets you know about the planets, stars and constellations. Just open the app and point the phone around the sky to show you what is currently up there. It even shows you some satellites such as the ISS and Hubble when they are overhead. Use it to follow the sky paths for the sun and moon at any time of day.

Great app for any budding astronomer and fantastic for teaching the kids about stars.

Emergency+ App

If you need to call 000, using this app will allow it to use your phone’s GPS and give your coordinates and address to the emergency operator. This can be essential if you don’t know the actual address of where you are because you’re bush camping or have gone for a drive for the day.

It also provides a list of numbers such as the SES and Police Assistance Line so you can also use it in non-emergencies where you still need help.

Australian Bites and Stings

This app provides information on the various venomous species in Australia including snakes, spiders, aquatic creatures, jellyfish, insects and other creepy crawlies. It also includes what to do if you are bitten or stung and a ‘Be Prepared’ checklist for before you go.

Handy if you are wanting to identify a creature, or if you’ve been bitten and want to know the signs and symptoms of a bite or sting and its treatment.

First Aid

The First Aid app by St John Ambulance Australia gives you step by step emergency first aid information with a large clear image for each step. If you need help administering first aid then this app can tell you what you need to do.

It has topics including allergic reactions, asthma attack, bites and stings, burns, chest pain, choking, defibrillation, diabetic emergencies, fractures, recovery position, severe bleeding, shock and sprains & strains. It also includes the latest CPR guidelines.

Kids Health Info

Instead of consulting Dr Google, head over to this app for over 300 medical facts sheets from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. It covers a variety of topics and common illnesses (and not so common one’s).

It is a helpful resource when camping if you or your family get sick and can be referenced for things such as concussion, allergies, rashes, infections and illness.