Free camping in Australia is as good as it gets, but your awning setup can make or break the experience. A bare awning gives you shade. The right accessories turn that strip of canvas into an actual outdoor room where you’ll spend most of your day.
This guide covers every category of caravan awning accessory worth knowing about, from side walls and floor mats to camp furniture and outdoor kitchens. It’s not about buying everything at once. It’s about knowing what’s available so you can prioritise what actually matters for how you travel.
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Side Walls & Privacy Screens
Side walls are the single biggest upgrade you can make to an awning setup. They block afternoon sun, give you privacy in crowded campgrounds, and cut the wind on cold evenings. Most attach to standard awning rail or use clip systems, and they pack down surprisingly small.
The main decision is how much coverage you want. A single side wall blocks one end. A full kit with a front wall and two sides turns your awning into an enclosed room, which is useful if you’re staying somewhere for more than a few nights.
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Best Full Kit
Dometic Santorini FTK Sidewall Kit
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A complete front and side wall kit designed specifically for Dometic Santorini awnings. Heavy-duty fabric, full zip access, and a clean integrated look. The best option if you run a Dometic awning and want a proper enclosed room.
Check price at Caravan RV Camping →
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Best Privacy Room
Fiamma Privacy Room
$2,662
Designed for Fiamma F45 and F70 awnings, this large privacy room creates a fully enclosed outdoor space. Solid zip entry, good ventilation panels, and a size that works well for extended stays. A proper room, not just a side wall.
Check price at Caravan RV Camping →
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A long single side wall in black mesh that blocks sun without completely killing airflow. The Aussie Traveller Sunblocker range is a staple in Australian campgrounds for good reason: it works, it’s affordable, and it suits most standard awnings. The long version gives better coverage than the standard size and is the better buy if you’re in it for full-day shade.
Check price at Caravan RV Camping →
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Tip
Check your awning brand and model before buying any side wall or room kit. Brand-specific products like the Dometic Santorini kit and the Fiamma Privacy Room are engineered to attach cleanly to their matching awnings. Universal walls work fine but often require more fiddling to get a tight fit.
Awning Floor Mats
A good mat under your awning defines the outdoor living space, keeps dust and dirt out of the van, and gives everyone something clean to walk back onto after a beach or bush walk. The options range from budget foam tiles to premium outdoor-specific mats designed to let sand fall through.
For extended travellers, weight and packability matter as much as size. A mat that takes up half your storage bay isn’t worth it, no matter how good it looks at the campsite.
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Best for Dusty Conditions
CGear Multimat
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The CGear Multimat is the favourite of serious long-term travellers. Its patented dual-layer weave lets dirt and sand fall through rather than building up on top. Lightweight, packs small, and holds up to years of use on mixed surfaces. Worth every cent for anyone spending significant time in dusty outback conditions.
Check price at CGear →
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Best Value Large Mat
Kings Caravan Floor Mat | Reversible | 5m x 2.4m
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Reversible, UV-resistant, and large enough to cover most standard awning footprints. The Kings mat is excellent value for the size and does the job in most conditions. Not as packable as the CGear, but significantly cheaper and still a solid choice for travellers who prioritise coverage over compactness.
Check price at 4WD Supacentre →
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Best Premium Option
Tiegear Terra Mat
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An Australian-made outdoor mat built for serious travellers. The Terra Mat is anti-fatigue, UV-stabilised, and resists mould and mildew in wet conditions. It packs reasonably well for its size and looks the part at camp. A premium choice for those who want a mat that’ll last the whole trip and beyond.
Check price at Snowys →
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Best Budget Option
Spinifex Foam Floor Mats (4-pack)
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Interlocking foam tiles that set up in minutes. Not as robust or packable as woven mats, but cheap, comfortable underfoot, and easy to clean. A practical choice for families who want something soft for kids to sit on, or travellers who want a quick solution without spending much.
Check price at Anaconda →
Tie-Downs, Anti-Flap Kits & Organisers
Awning accessories in this category don’t get talked about much, but they matter. An awning that flaps all night in the wind is miserable. One that comes down in a gust is worse. And having somewhere to hang your wet gear and camp towels keeps the van tidy without making your awning look like a laundry day disaster.
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The Anti-Flap Kit Pro replaces your standard awning tension rafter with a rigid aluminium bar that eliminates the flapping caused by wind. It’s one of the most worthwhile awning upgrades you can make, and Aussie Traveller’s Pro version is better built than the cheaper alternatives. Fits most rollout awnings and makes a real difference to how stable the awning feels in a breeze.
Check price at BCF →
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Best Tie-Down Kit
Companion Caravan Awning Tie Down Kit (2-pack)
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A straightforward two-pack of awning tie-downs with adjustable straps and ground stakes. Keeps your awning legs secure in moderate wind and gives extra peace of mind when the forecast looks uncertain. A must-have accessory that should be in every caravan kit.
Check price at Anaconda →
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Best Complete Bundle
Tiegear Steadfast Caravan Bundle
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A purpose-built bundle that includes Tiegear’s awning storm straps, leg anchors, and tensioning system in one kit. If you want a comprehensive tie-down solution rather than piecing together individual components, this is the easiest way to get there. Good quality hardware and designed specifically for caravan awnings.
Check price at Tiegear →
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Best Organiser
Aussie Traveller Awning Organiser
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A hanging organiser that attaches to your awning rail and gives you a place for wet gear, towels, shoes, and small items. It sounds minor, but having a dedicated spot for this stuff keeps the living space much tidier. Aussie Traveller’s version is well-made and fits most standard awning rails.
Check price at BCF →
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Best Awning Protection
Xtend Awning Saver
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The Xtend Awning Saver prevents water pooling on your awning by adding a second pitch point to the fabric. Water runs off rather than collecting and causing the dreaded sudden dump. A simple and effective accessory that protects a piece of equipment that costs hundreds to replace.
Check price at Caravan RV Camping →
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Important
Always retract your awning if you’re leaving camp for more than an hour or if wind is forecast. No tie-down kit is a substitute for rolling it in. Awning repairs are expensive and often not covered by insurance if the damage occurs while unattended in high winds.
Camp Chairs & Outdoor Sofas
The furniture you put under your awning matters more than people realise when you’re living outside for months at a time. A bad camp chair gets abandoned after a week. Good outdoor seating becomes the place where you spend every morning coffee and every evening sundowner, and that’s worth investing in.
The choice is between individual chairs, two-seater camping sofas, and inflatable options. Each has its place depending on how you travel and how much storage you have.
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Best Recliner Chair
Dune 4WD Deluxe Lounge Recliner Camping Chair
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A proper reclining camp chair with adjustable back angle, padded armrests, and a footrest. For extended travellers who spend significant time at camp, a recliner is a serious quality-of-life upgrade over a basic camp chair. The Dune 4WD version is a solid mid-range option that won’t punish your back after a few hours.
Check price at Anaconda →
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Best Two-Seater
Spinifex Camping Chair Comfort Series 2 Seater
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A two-person camp sofa that folds down for storage. Good for couples who want to sit together and save space compared to two separate chairs. The Spinifex Comfort Series is well-padded and rated for decent weight capacity. A practical choice that works well in a typical caravan awning footprint.
Check price at Anaconda →
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An inflatable double sofa that packs down to almost nothing. The KickAss Inflatable Sofa is a good option for travellers short on storage who still want proper seating. It inflates quickly, holds its shape well, and is comfortable enough for extended sitting. Not as robust as a hard-framed chair over years of use, but impressive for the packability. A solid backup seating option or a primary choice for minimalist setups.
Check price at KickAss Products →
Camp Tables
A camp table is essential. Whether it’s for meals, a coffee station, or just somewhere to put things, every awning setup needs at least one. The debate is between compact folding tables that pack small, larger tables for families or long stays, and slide-out kitchen setups covered in the next section.
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Best Large Table
Zempire Slatpac Large Camp Table
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A large-format slatted aluminium table that sets up quickly and has enough surface area for group meals or a camp kitchen spread. The Zempire Slatpac is a favourite among long-term travellers who want a proper table rather than a compromise. Packs flat and is lighter than it looks.
Check price at Snowys →
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Best Compact Table
Dune 4WD Deluxe Compact Table
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A smaller folding table that fits neatly in tight storage spots. Good as a side table, a coffee station, or a compact main table for couples travelling light. Height-adjustable and easy to set up. The Dune 4WD compact table is a practical all-rounder that earns its place in most setups.
Check price at Anaconda →
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A mid-size folding table with built-in storage shelves underneath. The OZtrail version adds useful shelf space below the tabletop, which is handy for a camp kitchen setup where you need somewhere to stow condiments, utensils, or a cutting board. A good middle ground between a basic folding table and a full camp kitchen unit.
Check price at Snowys →
Outdoor Kitchens
Cooking outside under the awning is one of the genuinely great things about extended caravan travel. An outdoor kitchen setup, whether it’s a standalone camp kitchen unit or a slide-out built into your van, makes the whole process faster, cleaner, and more enjoyable.
The options range from budget portable camp kitchens to premium slide-out drawers that integrate directly with your caravan’s body. Where you land depends on your budget, your caravan’s setup, and how seriously you take camp cooking.
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Best Budget Camp Kitchen
Spinifex Weekender Camp Kitchen
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A portable folding camp kitchen with prep space, storage shelves, and a side table. The Spinifex Weekender is the entry-level option for travellers who want an organised cooking area without spending much. It won’t last as long as premium alternatives, but it does the job and keeps everything in one place.
Check price at Anaconda →
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Best Premium Slide-Out
Dometic Large Slide Out Kitchen
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A purpose-built slide-out kitchen drawer that mounts to your caravan’s external body and provides a full prep bench, storage, and cooking surface in one integrated unit. The Dometic Large is the premium end of the market and requires professional installation, but the result is a permanent, robust outdoor kitchen that adds real functionality and resale value to your van.
Check price at Caravan RV Camping →
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Tip
Before committing to a slide-out kitchen, check your caravan’s external wall structure. Some vans don’t have the right mounting points for a flush installation without modifications. A caravan dealer or installer can assess this in a quick inspection.
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Key Takeaway
- Side walls and privacy screens are the highest-impact awning upgrade for comfort and usability.
- For floor mats, the CGear Multimat is the best long-term option for dusty travel; the Kings mat offers better value for general use.
- Anti-flap kits and tie-downs protect an expensive piece of equipment and should be considered essential, not optional.
- Invest in chairs and seating you’ll actually want to use every day. A bad camp chair gets retired fast on a long trip.
- Camp tables range from compact side tables to full outdoor kitchen units. Most setups benefit from having at least two: one large and one compact.
- If you cook outside regularly, a slide-out kitchen is worth budgeting for. It transforms the cooking experience.
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