Our Fourth Camping Trip With Friends
There’s nothing quite like camping with friends and escaping the city for a weekend surrounded by nature. For our fourth group camping adventure, we headed to Cattai Campground on 10-11 January 2026 for an overnight stay by the Hawkesbury River.
When: 10-11 January 2026 - 1 night, Saturday to Sunday
Departure: 9:00 AM, Saturday 10 January 2026
Return: 2:00 PM, Sunday 11 January 2026
What to bring: Your own food and drinks, including lunch, breakfast and another lunch.
Camping gear: Tent, air mattress or sleeping pad, comfortable blanket and flashlight.
Transport
Organise your own carpool or travel with a friend who is joining the trip. You can also message us to check whether there is a spare seat available in one of our cars or with another driver in the group.
It was the perfect summer escape, with river swimming, BBQ cooking, games, kangaroos and plenty of time to relax together under the stars.
Our Fourth Camping Trip With Friends
This was our fourth time organising a group camping adventure, bringing together friendly people for one night away from Sydney.
We departed on Saturday morning and made our way to Cattai Campground, ready for a weekend outdoors. Some people drove themselves, while others organised carpools and shared rides.
That’s one of the things we enjoy most about camping with friends and meeting new people along the way. You don’t need to arrive knowing everyone. By the end of the trip, you’ve shared meals, explored the campground and created new memories together.
Riverside Camping at Cattai Campground
Cattai Campground gave us plenty of space to set up our tents and enjoy the surrounding bushland.
Being close to the river made it an ideal location for a summer camping trip. Once everyone had settled in, there was no need for a complicated itinerary. We could simply relax, enjoy the scenery and spend time outdoors.
For anyone wanting to experience camping with friends near Sydney, Cattai offers a great balance between getting away from the city and not having to travel too far for a weekend adventure.
Swimming and Relaxing by the River
One of the highlights of our trip was spending time near the river.
With the warm January weather, swimming was a great way to cool down before heading back to camp. Others were happy just relaxing by the water and taking in the peaceful surroundings.
Sometimes the best part of camping is having nowhere you need to be and nothing you need to rush.
Kangaroos Around the Campground
We weren’t the only ones enjoying Cattai.
Kangaroos could be spotted around the campground, adding something special to the experience. Seeing native wildlife wandering through the surrounding landscape made the weekend feel much further removed from Sydney.
It was one of those simple moments that reminded us why we enjoy getting out of the city and spending more time in nature.
BBQ Dinner and Games With Friends
As the afternoon turned into evening, it was time for one of our favourite parts of camping with friends cooking and eating together.
Everyone brought their own food and drinks, and we prepared a BBQ dinner at the campground. After eating, we spent the evening talking, laughing and playing games together.
A fire ban was in place during our visit, so there was no traditional campfire this time. But that certainly didn’t stop us from enjoying the night.
Good company, food, games and a night outdoors were more than enough.
Camping Under the Stars
Once the sun went down, the campground became quieter and the temperature started to cool.
After spending most of the day outside, everyone eventually headed back to their tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for the night.
There’s something special about camping with friends under the stars. You’re away from the usual routine, surrounded by nature and sharing an experience that’s completely different from a normal weekend in the city.
The following morning was relaxed. We had breakfast, enjoyed a little more time around the campground and slowly packed everything away before heading home.
What to Bring When Camping With Friends
For a simple one-night camping trip like ours, everyone brought their own food, drinks and essential camping equipment.
Our basic camping gear included a tent, air mattress or sleeping pad, comfortable blanket and torch. We also planned enough food for Saturday lunch and dinner, followed by breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
When camping with friends, sharing equipment and organising carpools can make the trip easier, especially for people who don’t own every piece of camping gear themselves.
Is Cattai Campground Good for Group Camping?
For our group, Cattai was a great choice.
We wanted somewhere where we could get away from Sydney, camp together, enjoy the water and spend a weekend surrounded by nature.
- Riverside camping
- Swimming in the river
- BBQ cooking
- Playing games together
- Spotting kangaroos around the campground
- Relaxing in the peaceful surroundings
- Sleeping under the stars
If you’re thinking about camping with friends near Sydney, Cattai Campground is definitely worth considering for a relaxed overnight or weekend adventure.
Another Camp Escape Adventure
Our Cattai weekend wasn’t about doing as much as possible. It was about getting outdoors, meeting people, sharing food and enjoying a different side of NSW.
From swimming in the river during the afternoon to sitting together after dinner and waking up surrounded by nature, it was another memorable Camp Escape adventure.
For us, that’s what camping with friends is all about leaving the city behind for a while, enjoying the outdoors and creating memories together.
And after our fourth group camping trip, we’re already looking forward to the next one.
Past meetup event here
