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Best Camp Kitchens in Australia – Our Opinion

We have all been there, as kids or adults – sitting on the ground with a small knife or peeler, cutting up vegetables in the middle of the bush, with no table, just a plate.

Thankfully our ability to prepare food whilst camping has drastically improved these days and now we have not only portable tables we can use (link) but also portable camping kitchens!

These camping kitchens are all aimed at allowing you to peel, dice, slice and prepare all your food ready for cooking safely and easily and without sitting on the ground.

Camp kitchens will also allow you to keep your plates, pots and pans where you want them along with all your foodstuffs. Check out our list of the best camping kitchens in Australia before your next adventure.

 

Coleman Deluxe Camp Kitchen

OZtrail Folding Table with Storage

Wanderer Cook and Clean Kitchen

OZtrail All In One Camp Kitchen

Darche Stowaway Kitchen Sink Table


Our Pick
Coleman Deluxe Camp Kitchen
OZtrail Folding Table with Storage
Wanderer Cook and Clean Kitchen
OZtrail All In One Camp Kitchen
Darche Stowaway Kitchen Sink Table

187 x 55 x 81/102 cm

122 x 61 x 81 cm

106 x 56 x 76 cm

250 x 54 x 81.5-132 cm

165 x 50 x 132 cm

90 x 50 x 10 cm

60 x 60 x 8 cm

106 x 56 x 13 cm

100 x 56 x 30 cm

103 x 53 x 15 cm

45 L

29 L

77 L

168 L

82 L

Polyethylene, steel

600D polyester, aluminium, melamine

Aluminium, plastic

600D polyester, MDF, steel

Aluminium, steel, polyester

100 kg

30 kg

30 kg

30 kg

??

7.6 kg

7.5 kg

10.5 kg

20.5 kg

13.1 kg

1 year

1 year

1 year

1 year

1 year

Best Camp Kitchens Australia

Coleman Deluxe Camp Kitchen

Coleman Deluxe Camp Kitchen

Our Pick

Pros
  • Super-strong yet lightweight frame
  • Easy to set up and pack down
  • Unique cantilever shelf system
  • Packs down to small volume
Cons
  • The holes in the mesh side table can be a little large

First up is a fantastic little space organizer – the Coleman Deluxe Camp Kitchen.

This is a lightweight set-up that can hold a great deal of weight if required and comes with a main working surface, a higher shelf, a space for a bin (or sink) on the side and a mesh side table opposite for cooking or holding hot pots and pans.

All of this folds up quite neatly into a small bag for easy carrying.

This is a widely loved piece of equipment that makes preparing food at the campsite a breeze and can be used right next to your BBQ, camp oven or open fire and can hold hot pans with no worries at all.

While this is on the smaller side of kitchens and it doesn't have any permanent spaces for holding spices or dry goods, customer reviews are all very positive and everyone who uses this camp kitchen is very satisfied.

This is a top buy at a great price and a great weight for camping adventures for small groups.

OZtrail Folding Table with Storage

OZtrail Folding Table with Storage

Best For Storage

Pros
  • Super easy setup and pack down
  • Sturdy frame
  • Two massive lower storage cupboards
  • Tiny packed volume
Cons
  • Only one large space
  • A little wobbly

Differing in design from the last product, the OZtrail Folding Table with Storage is a simple, easy to use camp kitchen.

It's a large flat table that folds in half for transporting with two massive lower storage shelves that can hold all your dry foods on one side and all your pots and pans on the other, keeping everything in one place.

As it is a simple design, there is only one surface to work on, but it’s very large and will allow you to work on multiple dishes at once with no problems. Overall most customers are very happy with this camping kitchen, especially if you like to have lots of food or utensils on hand.

Some people have commented that it is a little wobbly at times, however, the leg lengths are adjustable to somewhat mitigate this. Overall this is a great camping kitchen and the lowest priced on this list.

Wanderer Cook and Clean Kitchen

Wanderer Cook and Clean Kitchen

Best For Windy Conditions

Pros
  • Relatively lightweight
  • Large washing tub
  • Carry bag included
  • Large cooking shield
Cons
  • The tabletop can warp
  • Not overly sturdy

The Wanderer Cook and Clean is a very straightforward looking model that unlike the two options above, is trying to give you a bit of everything.

It has a nice large space for preparing food that comes with a windshield so you can use that space for one or two gas stoves as well. It has an actual sink and trash bag holder on the side too for washing up and a rack underneath for limited storage.

As this tries to do a lot at once, its functionality slightly suffers – there is no space for placing prepared food if you intend to also cook on the main table for example.

The storage rack won't hold too much either and on top of that there are issues with the tabletop warping after getting wet and the whole structure being a little wobbly. While aiming high, the Wanderer hits a little low and is perfectly usable as a camp kitchen, however, there are better options.

OZtrail All In One Camp Kitchen

OZtrail All In One Camp Kitchen

Complete Setup

Pros
  • Very large tabletop
  • Two mesh side tables
  • Standalone dishwashing tub and wire drainer
  • Multi-use storage underneath
Cons
  • A little low for tall people
  • More expensive
  • Takes up a lot of space when packed up

OZtrail has upped the ante from their folding camp kitchen table with this impressive set-up – the OZtrail All In One Camp Kitchen.

Like the Wanderer Cook and Clean, the OZtrail All In One aims to have every function all in one place and it succeeds in this much better as it is much larger with more space (and a higher price). One look at the picture can tell you that this camping kitchen has everything you need right in front of you.

There are ample multi-functional storage options down below with shelves for your smaller items, a mesh side table you can cook on along with a windshield and rack for utensils. This camp kitchen is capable of it all.

It's a brand new product with limited reviews, however, we feel it performs very well and if you love to cook at the campsite, this will make it as close to home as possible.

It's a little low for tall people that may feel they have to bend over a little but as long as you can afford the almost $300 price tag – this is the kitchen for camping cooks.

Darche Stowaway Kitchen Sink Table

Darche Stowaway Kitchen Sink Table

Best For Taller People

Pros
  • Easy to set up and pack down
  • Built-in hooks for utensils
  • Attachable light pole
  • High tabletop
Cons
  • Unstable on uneven ground
  • Mesh holes are too large

Another all in one style camping kitchen set, the Darche Stowaway can't seem to decide if it wants to be a large kitchen or a small one that packs up neatly and as such it has a bit of both.

On one hand, it has a tabletop, mesh side table, plastic washtub, utensil holder, lower storage rack and a side bin. On the other, none of these are very large or overly practical.

Then there is a stability issue that some people hated, while others didn't seem to notice at all. As the whole kitchen is built to be a little higher, taller people tend to like this more than shorter people overall.

It has everything you need but considering it's only slightly cheaper than the OZtrail All In One that is quite expensive, the Darche comes across as good but not great.

What To Look For When Buying Camp Kitchens

When buying a camping kitchen or camping kitchen set, some considerations should be met, such as:

Size

There is no need for a larger all in one style kitchen for two people, likewise, a large group of 20 may end up waiting a long time for food with a small one. Ensure you know what sized groups you will be cooking for.

Stability

You will be chopping, cutting, pounding and washing on this thing, you want to make sure it’s as stable as they come. Many models like the Darche Stowaway have adjustable legs for uneven ground.

Storage

All the kitchens have some storage options, but if you like to take lots of food and pots and pans, something with larger storage options like the OZtrail Folding Table will make you happier.

The kitchens with an open storage rack underneath will require tupperware for your food.

If you find that your camp kitchen doesn't give you enough space to store everything, you might want to consider getting a dedicated set of camp cupboards.

Functionality

Do you want to prepare food and also cook in the kitchen? Not all models allow you to do this like the Wanderer Cook and Clean. Others just have a side mesh table for a small stove or burner. If you use a separate BBQ or campfire, then this is less of an issue.

Camp Kitchens FAQ

What should I have in a camp kitchen?

The idea of a camp kitchen is to have as much as possible in one place so you can prepare food, cook food and clean the dishes in one place. As most also have storage options, you can keep a lot in your set up kitchen such as:

  • Plates
  • Cups
  • Pots and pans
  • Dry foodstuffs
  • Spices, soup packets etc
  • Washing up liquids and sponge
  • Gas burners or stoves

As an aside, if you're travelling with a caravan or campervan, a slide-out kitchen might be a good option, as they usually contain all of these things and conveniently slot into the side of your vehicle.

Final Thoughts

If you like to camp in one spot more than a single night and/or you like to cook and eat well – then a camping kitchen is a great way to go. It allows you to stay organized, keep all your dry foodstuffs, pots and pans in one place, provide a cooking space and can deal with the dishes afterwards.

A camp kitchen will take a lot of the stress out of eating in the bush for families or groups especially.

The Coleman Deluxe is the pick of the lot for a small compact and easy to move kitchen, while the OZtrail All in One is a fantastic large kitchen that has it all.


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on the best out there, comparing products in total, and reading hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of our research is to help figure which product is right for you, the user. We systematically go through all of the available options on the market to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

Here’s a full list of the options we considered for this article. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

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