An Overnight Camping Trip at Crosslands Reserve
On 10 January 2025, we headed out for a summer camping trip to Crosslands Reserve. It was just the two of us, Mark and Paing, looking for a simple night away surrounded by nature.
The rain had already passed by the time we arrived, leaving everything around the campground fresh, green and a little damp. We arrived after dark, so our first challenge was setting up camp at night.
Arriving and Setting Up Camp at Night
Setting up a tent at night always makes things a little more interesting.
With our lights out, we found a spot and started putting together the tent and gazebo. The ground was still damp from the rain, but once everything was set up, we had a comfortable little campsite for the night.
We brought an air mattress and plenty of blankets, which made sleeping much more comfortable. Our Ozito light was especially useful while setting up and cooking after dark.
There was a little wind during the night, enough to notice from inside the tent, but nothing that caused us too much trouble.
Camping at Crosslands Reserve
One of the best things about Crosslands Reserve is how easy the campground is to access. There are lots of parking spaces, so getting our camping equipment from the car to the campsite was straightforward.
The toilets were also only around a three-minute walk from where we camped, which was very convenient, especially at night.
The river is nearby and gives the reserve a relaxing atmosphere. It was nice waking up surrounded by trees, open space and the natural environment.
Camping at Crosslands Reserve is free, which makes it a great option for a simple overnight or weekend camping trip. The main thing to keep in mind is that it can get very busy, particularly during good weather, weekends and summer.
Camping Gear We Used
We packed enough gear to make the overnight trip comfortable without overcomplicating things.
- Gazebo
- Tent
- Air mattress
- Portable gas stove
- Butane gas
- Blankets
- Ozito light
- Camera stand
- GoPro 13
- Portable charger
- Jackets
- Picnic mat
- Thongs
- Detergent
- Wipes
- Mosquito spray
- Workout resistance bands
The mosquito spray was especially useful in the evening, while the portable charger and Ozito light made things much easier after dark.
BBQ and Camping Food
Food is always one of our favourite parts of camping.
For dinner, we had a BBQ with Wagyu beef and ssamjang sauce. Cooking outside after setting up camp made the meal feel even better.
We also brought water, noodles, eggs and avocado for our other meals.
The portable gas stove and butane gas made cooking simple and convenient, especially since we did not need to rely on a campfire.
Waking Up to Beautiful Summer Weather
The biggest change came the next morning.
After arriving following the rain and spending a slightly windy night inside the tent, we woke up to really good summer weather.
Everything looked different in daylight. The damp surroundings, the trees and the nearby river made the campground feel peaceful and fresh.
We laid out the picnic mat, enjoyed the morning and had time to relax without needing to rush anywhere.
Our Crosslands Reserve Camping Experience
Our Crosslands Reserve camping trip was simple. We arrived at night, set everything up in the dark, cooked our food outside and spent the night surrounded by nature.
For anyone looking for a camping spot near Sydney, Crosslands Reserve is worth considering. You have the river nearby, toilets within walking distance, lots of parking and a beautiful natural setting.
Just keep in mind that it can get very busy, especially during summer and on weekends.
For us, it was a great little summer escape after the rain, with a slightly windy night, a beautiful morning, good food and another camping memory together.
Camping date: 10 January 2025
Campers: Mark and Paing
Season: Summer
View official Crosslands Reserve information
View Gallery of our Camping under the stars
Join us for a group camping trip event
