How to Get the Campfire Vibe, Without the Campfire

It’s a problem we stumble upon more often than we’d like to – a camping trip, but no campfire. Is there a way to replicate all the good parts of a campfire without the flames? Explorer Amy says it’s easier than you think.

Without a doubt, one of the greatest things about going camping is the campfire. Whether you’re cooking on it, tending to it, keeping toasty by it, or just sitting around it having a yarn, a campfire elevates every camping trip.

But what about the times when there’s a fire ban, the campground you’re pitched up in doesn’t allow campfires, or it’s just too damn hot?

Once that sun is lost below the horizon, you don’t have long before people start wondering if it’s time to crawl into the tent. So how do you recreate the wholesome campfire vibes without the flames, and stop the crew from calling the night early?

It’s possible! You’ll just need to be prepared with a few extra gear and some Bundaberg Campfire Bourbon Barrel Rum and Cola RTDs. Here’s how to do it!

6 Ways to Bring Campfire Vibes Without the Campfire

A campfire brings more than just warmth to the campsite – it creates light, gives you something to cook on, and acts as a central gathering point. The smoke even helps keep away bugs AND it provides entertainment. When there’s not one around, there’s a lot to replace. 

Let’s start with the most crucial feature, lighting.

1. Set the Mood With Lighting

The right kind of lighting is the cornerstone of recreating campfire vibes. 

Fairy lights are your best bet. They light the space evenly, bring a feeling of whimsy, and make the campsite feel more like home.

But you might also want a more central light to gather around (like a moth to a flame you could say). Best to avoid anything blindingly bright, otherwise you’ll find yourself turning away from it. I find the soft lighting of a Luci light or two works well. 

Whatever you do, don’t just rely on everyone’s head torches. You’ll either end up sitting amongst an eerie tinge of red light or blinding someone every time you look up. 

Pro tip! If all you have is a head torch you can create a makeshift lantern by placing it underneath a clear water bottle, helping the light disperse.

2. Bring the Heat in Your Cooking

Nothing tastes better than a meal cooked on a campfire and gobbled up alongside great mates. So when cooking on coals isn’t an option, in order to keep the wholesome campfire vibe going, it’s imperative that whatever you make for dinner is a hot and heartwarming meal, able to be shared with everybody.

My go-to is a spice-filled curry that never seems to run out. The more heat the better (to warm you up from the inside out)! Make sure to serve it piping hot so that nighttime breeze doesn’t turn it cold.

If you need something sweet and refreshing post-curry, try the expertly blended flavours of vanilla and toasted caramel found in the Bundaberg Campfire Bourbon Barrel Rum and Cola RTDs.

Read more: Bundabgerg Campfire Rum Bananas Fosters & Matching Cocktail Recipes

3. Create Ambience With Music & Soundscapes

Without the crackle of a fire, the bush can be eerily quiet come nightfall. If you’re desperate for the natural sounds a campfire brings, download some fire sound effect tracks to play from a speaker as a background soundscape.

Or if you want to bring the energy up, why not chuck on a campfire moments playlist instead?

If you’ve vowed to not touch your phone all weekend, you better make sure to invite your mate with a guitar along. The simple picking or strumming of a guitar is a ripper way to bring some life to your campsite. A little bit of entertainment also entices the crew to stay up until at least hiker’s midnight (ya know, 9pm).

4. Get Cosy With Blankets & Cushions

Now this one may not be relevant for everyone. If you’ve decided not to light the fire because the temperature alone is making you sweat, snuggling up under some blankets will be the last thing on your mind.

But if you’re without a fire on a cool or even freezing night, you’ll want to recreate the warmth a campfire provides. I suggest bringing along your favourite blankets from home and a few extra cushions so you can really get cosy in your camp chair.

Avoid the trick of bringing out your sleeping bag and jumping in there instead (unless temps are drastically low) as you’ll start dreaming of sleep before the last rays of sunlight have disappeared. Plus it’s easier to snuggle up to someone under a blanket, which could spark a different kind of flame… which helps with the feeling of circling in around the fire.

5. Replicate the Benefits of Campfire Smoke

If you’re longing for the unmistakable aroma provided by campfire smoke, it’s time to whip out the incense sticks. Light a few sticks and carefully place them in a few safe zones – just don’t put them too close to dry leaves or a walkway where someone might brush past and burn themselves. You can even buy incense that replicates that classic campfire smell!

The other great benefit of campfire smoke is its ability to keep mosquitos at bay. Having a packet of mosquito coils on hand is an easy way to stop those pesky bugs in their tracks. Carefully place a handful of coils around the zone you’re keen to keep mozzie free and light them up, taking care not to let the falling ash land on any dry leaves.

Make sure to set the coils up around sunset, right when the bugs start making themselves known, then crack a Bundaberg Campfire Bourbon Barrel Rum and Cola RTD and cheers to the day’s end.

And just like that, you’ve replaced the two greatest aspects of campfire smoke – all without it stinking out your clothes and burning your eyes.

6. Keep the Night Going With Games & Stories

The aspect of a campfire that you forget about until you don’t have one, is that it keeps the night going. As long as someone is stoking that fire, people will be sitting around it chatting. And everyone knows campfire chats are some of the best you’ll ever have. So how do you help dig a little deeper without a fire for everyone to dreamily lose themselves in? You need a different kind of prompt. 

Read more: An Ode to the Golden Hour Campfire Chat

Time to whip out the games and conversation cards. These are always a great way to get to know people on a new level, especially under the cover of twilight when a shade of anonymity is thrown onto everyone’s faces. 

No campfire doesn’t mean no camping. With a fun-loving bunch of people, the right drinks (hello Bundaberg Campfire Bourbon Barrel Rum and Cola RTD), a little bit of prep, and a few extra pieces of gear, you won’t even notice the campfire’s missing.