When most of us think about heading out to go camping, images of sitting around a campfire having a yarn with our mates or family is something that springs to mind.
Given the combustible nature of most of Australia's native trees, it’s often not possible to have a large open fire pit at your campsite, especially around summer when the bush can react like a tinderbox.
But have no fear! There is a range of portable camping fire pits available that are designed primarily to allow you to enjoy an open fire but more safely than the large bonfires of yesteryear. Portable fire pits allow you to still enjoy sitting around a campfire while reducing the risk of starting a bushfire.
We have reviewed some of the best portable camping fire pits available in Australia for you, so you can take some of the guesswork out of your purchasing decisions. So read on and learn about the best portable camping fire pits for purchase in Australia.
| Darche Stainless Steel BBQ 450 Firepit | Coast Steel Portable 600mm Fire Pit & Ember Tray Kit | BioLite FirePit+ - Wood & Charcoal Burning Fire Pit | Fireside Portable Popup Fire Pit | BCF Fire Pit with Grill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick  |  | smokeless  |  | Best Value  | |
45 x 45 x 44 cm | 60 x 56 x 12 cm | 70 x 30 x 41 cm | 60 x 60 x 68 cm | 63W x 40H cm | |
Stainless steel (grill is food grade) | BlueScope Steel | Stainless steel (grill is food grade) | Heavy-duty stainless steel | Stainless steel | |
Wood, heat beads | Wood | Wood, heat beads, charcoal | Wood | Wood or charcoal | |
Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | |
11.5 kg | 24 kg | 9 kg | 3.6 kg | 3.9 kg | |
1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 6 months | 6 months |
Best Portable Camping Firepits Australia
Darche Stainless Steel BBQ 450 Firepit
Our Pick
Once you have decided to purchase and use a portable fire pit for your camping adventures, a secondary decision on whether you would like to cook on your fire pit as well needs to be made. If you love fire-based cooking or BBQing, then the Darche BBQ 450 Firepit could just be the unit you are looking for.
This firepit is easy to set up in a matter of seconds from its carry bag and uses a baseplate with the rest of the firepit locked down on it for a secure fire. After that, it's a case of setting and lighting your fire and waiting until the embers are suitable for cooking.
If you plan to cook, you can easily place the high-grade stainless steel grill on top and get to it. Once done, remove the grill, stoke the fire and sit back and relax.
Customer reviews are all very positive, with literally almost every review being a 5 star. It's solid, holds a great fire and is also easy to cook on. The only real downsides are its weight, coming in at over 11 kg and the fact the baseplate can leave rust marks if you're using this fire pit on a concrete base.
Regardless, the Darche Stainless steel BBQ 450 Firepit is the perfect buy if you are looking for a solid and safe fire pit that can double as a BBQ and you don't mind the weight of moving this around when you move.
Coast Steel Portable 600mm Fire Pit & Ember Tray Kit
Best For Your Backyard
The largest and heaviest firepit in this review is the Coast Steel Portable 600mm Firepit and Ember Tray Kit. This firepit is designed to contain a larger fire than other models, which can accommodate more people sitting around it.
It really is a simple design and it is made from BlueScope steel, which is a zero-emission made steel that is sturdy and will retain heat. This fire pit is a very stylish one that is very stable and once burning, will radiate heat out in all directions.
The biggest issue with this firepit is its weight, coming in at 24kg, which means just moving and setting it up can be a two-person job. While it's not designed for cooking, you can still place an external grill over it if needed, or collect embers from the tray for use elsewhere.
Customer reviews are very positive about this firepit, but the weight makes it less practical to take out camping with you and it's often better suited to a backyard or another semi-permanent location around your house. This is definitely worth the purchase as long as you are aware of how heavy it actually is.
BioLite FirePit+ - Wood & Charcoal Burning Fire Pit
Smokeless Option
When it comes to the best camping and outdoor firepits, the BioLite FirePit+ comes close to taking the crown. This next-generation style of firepit has a battery pack that will blow air all around your fire to ensure it burns more efficiently and reduce overall smoke.
The battery pack can also be used to charge USB devices if needed. You can also control the airflow to the fire by your phone via Bluetooth for ultimate control of your smokeless firepit.
The rectangular shape allows for longer pieces of wood to be burnt, without taking up loads of space when packed up and not in use. There are also mesh grills around three sides of the firepit to allow for great visuals of your fire when you and your friends are sitting around it.
It can also be used for cooking, however, this is not its primary design and you need to know how to cook with very high heat, hibachi style. There are additional accessories for cooking such as a griddle pan.
Customer reviews are all very positive due to its ease of use, ability to get a fire going quickly and easily, great visuals while the fire is going and a safe and quick extinguish when done.
As long as you can afford the almost $400 price tag, this firepit will keep you happy at home or out camping for a long time to come.
Fireside Portable Popup Fire Pit