We looked at 11 different drones and settled on the best three drones for camping in Australia. In this article, I’ve detailed the features, pros, and cons of each of the drones so that you can make an informed purchase.
I’ve also included a helpful buyer’s guide that lists some things you should consider when buying a drone for camping before making your final choice.
Best Drone For Camping – In-Depth Reviews
Kings Cyclone Remote Controlled Drone
The Adventure Kings Cyclone Remote Controlled drone is the best drone for camping at the cheapest price. The controls of the remote are easy to use. You can connect this drone directly to your phone via an app, and the remote control that comes with the drone can hold your smartphone.
This makes it easy to view where you are flying the drone. You can capture aerial pictures and videos and even save all your photos and videos directly to your smartphone.
- Folds Up Small
- 150m Range
- Smart Phone App
- Struggles With Wind
The drone app on your smartphone has a draw function that allows you to draw a flight path on your phone screen and makes the drone follow your command.
This is a very versatile drone as you can connect your phone via Wi-Fi and control the drone without the controller in some situations.
One good thing about this drone by Adventure Kings is you can control the drone using your smartphone even without the remote controller, and this feature makes it even more portable. It is very simple to fly this drone.
You can take videos quickly in significantly less time, and you will be impressed by how high it can fly. It has two speeds and 360° directional flight, hovering, and barrel rolls.
It offers a headless mode, which makes flying this drone easy if you are less experienced. Using this drone, you will become an expert without even realizing it.
With a range of up to 150 m, you can get a very clear view of your surroundings and get great photographs and videos with its 2-megapixel camera while driving or camping. This drone by Adventure Kings is portable and folds up easily.
This makes it easy to carry to the campsite or any of your adventure trips. This compact and portable drone fits anywhere easily; you can fold out the drone with ease, and it is ready to fly. If you are a beginner, this drone is just perfect for you and is easy to fly.
The 3.7 V 1000mAH LiPo battery works excellently with this drone. When it is fully charged, you can fly it for around 7 – 9 minutes. It takes 60 to 80 minutes to charge the drone.
You can charge it with ease using the USB cord. The red light indicates that the drone is charging. You can also fly this drone at night as it has LED lights, making it easy to spot in the dark.
Before using this drone indoors, make sure the space is large enough, and the drone is kept away from pets or any barriers. To use it outdoors, it works great in sunny, windless, and slightly breezy weather.
Make sure while flying the drone you can see it and keep it away from trees, people, and high-tension cables. Avoid using it when it is very hot, cold, or rainy, as these types of weather may damage the drone.
DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone
If you want the best drone for camping and money is not a concern, then the DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone is the best drone for camping. This drone comes with a Hasselblad camera and is known for its ergonomic design and excellent image quality.
These Hasselblad cameras have captured some of the most iconic pictures, including the first moon landing.
- 20 Megapixel Camera
- Ergonomic Design
- HNCS Technology
- Battery Life
This Mavic Pro 2 is much better than many other drones available on the market. You will love flying this drone as it is easy to use and comes with a controller. It delivers excellent images along with 4k/30p video quality.
This Mavic Pro 2 has the all-new Hasselblad L1D-20c camera. It has a unique HNCS technology that captures excellent 20-megapixel aerial shots with superb color details.
The 1-inch CMOS sensor with an active sensing area is much more effective than the previous Mavic model. It provides better performance with its large sensor area even in a low-light environment.
It has an extensive ISO range that can be increased to 12800. You can easily adjust the aperture from f/2.8 to f/11. This helps deliver excellent image quality in both high and low-light environments.
This feature is perfect for people who like to adjust and control their exposure manually.
The Mavic Pro 2 drone is compact and rectangular, and the camera is mounted at the front. While landing in wet grass, make sure to use a mat, so the lens does not get wet.
You can switch on the drone by simply pressing the button on the top of the drone. You can connect the controller to your smartphone. You will need to have the DJI Go app to access the drone settings and control the camera.
The controller is also compact and easy to fold away. The joysticks also safely fold into the bottom. You just need to place it correctly. You can open the bottom part of the controller to hold your smartphone and access the drone.
It can hold a smartphone of up to 160 mm in length.
The Mavic Pro 2 drone supports a 10-bit-Dlog-M color profile that offers a great dynamic range. It provides much better flexibility than other drones. This drone can capture great pictures and videos with 4K 10-bit HDR support.
You can plug the Mavic Pro 2 drone into the 4k TV along with the HLG. This will play back to the videos you have taken immediately with the correct color tones.
This powerful drone is designed in such a way that it reduces noise and helps lower power consumption.
It has an improved autonomous flight system, and it offers a much smoother and quieter flight for safety and discretion than other drones.
The drone is 21.8 X 9.1 X 8.4 cm when folded. To fold this drone, you simply need to rotate the front arms out, twist the rear arms up and position them well. It becomes very compact when folded. You can carry it quickly to the campsite or while traveling anywhere.
The maximum flight time of this Mavic Pro 2 drone is 31 minutes. Make sure to charge it fully before use. It offers a maximum speed of 70 km per hour with the S-mode. It weighs 907 g.
DJI Mavic Mini Drone
The DJI Mavic Mini drone is the best drone for camping at an affordable price. This drone is compact and as powerful as other drones. This drone is equipped with advanced sensors that do not shake and capture pictures perfectly.
With a net weight of just 249 g, this drone is ultra-light and easy to carry along while traveling. This drone is as light as an average smartphone nowadays. The maximum flight time of this drone is 30 minutes.
- 12 Megapixel Camera
- Smartphone App
- Lightweight and Portable
- Charging Time
You can capture and take excellent HD video transmission up to 4 km.
This drone is extremely easy to use with the new DJI fly app. The app makes the drone effortless to operate and provides a great user experience. You can capture some excellent cinematic shots with just a few clicks.
If you are using the drone for the first time, you can have a look at the flight tutorial. It will help you get started with this drone quickly and safely.
This drone has a 360° propeller guard. It helps protect the drone, improves its safety while flying, and prevents the drone from being damaged during transportation.
You can even use it to fasten the drone to your bag. With its downward vision sensing system and GPS, you can capture excellent images both indoors and outdoors.
The DJI app has a lot of great features. It offers a lot of different creator templates that help to make some awesome videos. Even if you are not used to editing videos, you can do it easily with this app.
This drone supports a 12-megapixel camera, and you can capture good-quality aerial photos. With its 2.7K quad, you can shoot great HD videos.
One great thing about this Mavic Mini drone is it provides excellent camera stability and ensures the pictures come out clear and the videos have ultra-smooth footage.
Using the remote controller, you can shoot videos at a distance of up to 4 km. The remote controller comes with sticks that can be detached. You can then store the sticks inside the controller, so it is easy for you to carry them along.
Due to its low weight, you can fly the drone in the air for a longer time than other FlyCams on the market. You can enjoy flying the drone for up to 30 minutes when it is fully charged.
You can capture some great pictures like a Hollywood film set using the Mavic quick shot mode. The modes include circle, rocket, drone, and helix.
You just need to select the mode – the drone will adjust the setting and carry out the preset motion while recording. You can create the video automatically and share it with friends instantly on social media.
Using the CineSmooth mode, you can slow down this drone’s flight speed and movement. This makes the drone more stable and captures perfect and precise photos. This is beneficial when you fly the drone in a slight breeze.
You can access social media platforms like sky pixel using the DJI fly app. You can share your photos and videos on such apps. You can browse your work or share your pictures and even search for other aerial shots in your locality.
This Mavic Mini drone has a two-way charging hub that allows you to charge up to three batteries. You can store your drone and carry the batteries in this hub or use it as a power bank to charge your smartphones. This makes it very convenient to charge.
It comes with a DJI mini bag. You can store all your small items in your pockets.
Camping Drone Buyers Guide
Drone Weight
The drone weight is essential to consider when you look for the best drone for camping. The weight determines how you should use the drone.
If you want to carry the drone while traveling, it is important to see if it’s lightweight.
Flight Time
How long you can fly your drone depends on how far you want it to go. When the drone was first invented, it could barely fly continuously for a minute.
Now you can fly most drones for at least 30 minutes continuously when it is fully charged. You can then change the battery and continue with your shoot later.
It is essential to look at the flight time with a fully charged battery before buying a drone for camping. It is important to see if you can replace the battery easily or if a spare battery is included with the drone.
This feature is essential to look at as it helps you know how long you can fly the drone in the air on a single charge.
So if you are going camping, make sure to have a powerful battery backup for your drone. Few drones come with rechargeable batteries. At the same time, some drones have battery replacement options that make it easy for people to use spare batteries in case of an emergency.
It typically takes around 70 to 80 minutes to charge a drone’s battery fully. The minimum flight time of any drone is approximately 8 minutes, but if you keep changing the setting and modes, the flight time gets reduced.
Control Range
It is essential to look at the control range before buying a drone for camping so that you know how far you can fly without losing control. This makes a significant difference in the footage, and you enjoy using the drone.
There are three main ways to use your drone that affect your drone range.
Radio. You need to use the controller to send and receive the radio signals to and from your drone. The range can extend to a distance that is dependent on the size of your antenna.
Wi-Fi. Using Wi-Fi, the maximum range it can cover is around 600 meters. This is a much shorter range than radio, so consider looking at the specification of the drone before making a purchase.
GPS. With some drone models, you can use GPS and look at the drone’s direction with ease.
Controller
Looking at the controller system is essential before buying a drone for camping. There is generally a huge trade-off between the flight range and the total weight of the drone.
If you need to carry it while traveling somewhere, it is essential to consider the weight of the controller.
It is best if you can control the drone using your smartphone. However, if you use a smartphone, you might not get as extended of a range as you will get when using the remote controller.
If you want to use the drone to capture selfies, then you can do it without the controller using your smartphone. But if you’re going somewhere far, such as going to the beach and capturing pictures of whales, then you need to have a controller.
Camera Resolution
You need to look at the camera resolution before buying a drone. Most people use the drone for shooting photos, so it is important to check if your drone can capture and shoot videos even in High Definition, Standard Definition, Full HD, or low resolution.
It is essential to look at the footage quality of the drone as well.
Look to see if the footage is saved on the SD card in the drone or if it is transferrable to your phone while being recorded. If it has no built-in recording process, you might lose the recording if you lose the connection to your smartphone or remote controller.
But if you have an SD card in the drone, you will get the full footage of the recording after the drone is retrieved. Even if you lose the connection in between, you will have your recording saved.
Camera Stabilization
You should always look at the camera stabilization options before buying a drone. You can either stabilize the recording with the app or manually.
To get the best results, look to see if the drone has a 3-axis gimbal. If it does, you can shoot Hollywood-quality footage using steady, cinematic motion. This mode prevents the drone from shaking and captures excellent pictures.
Some drone models have built-in software that helps compensate for the shakes and movements while capturing.
Sensor
It is essential to look at the sensor of the drone before making a purchase. Some cheap drones may not have a sensor option, but if you look at an expensive range of drones, you will get some advanced sensors on the drone. The most common and popular type of sensor is GPS and the temperature.
Using a GPS-enabled unit, you can move the drone easily to a specified area by programming the controls. You can adjust the location on your device, allowing the drone to move in the preset direction.
Some drones have an advanced feature that lets the drone return to the controller’s location when you press the home button.
Repairs
There is a high chance of an accident causing a drone to crash. So it is essential to consider if it can be repaired. Most drones come with propeller guards, and these guards help prevent the drone from getting damaged.
It is always better to look for drones with spare parts readily available and can be repaired easily.
A drone with a brushless motor is durable and has a much better lifespan as compared to others. Drones with brushed motors may not last for a long time, but you can get them replaced at a very low price.
Best Camping Drone – Conclusion
I took a detailed look at three of the most popular drones for camping in Australia, and in my opinion, the DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone is the best drone for camping currently available.
But if you need something a bit cheaper, then Adventure King’s cyclone remote-controlled drone was the cheapest drone for camping I reviewed, and I felt the DJI Mavic mini drone presented the best overall value for money.
Camping Drone FAQs
Are DJI drones worth it?
DJI drones are an excellent choice to buy and are definitely worth it. They capture excellent HD photos and videos. You can create incredible videos and pictures using DJI drones.
They are a must-have, especially when you are traveling to hilly areas or camping. It is effortless to use the DJI drone and is even great for beginners. If you travel solo, you can get a DJI drone to capture some mesmerizing pictures and videos and make your journey worth sharing with others.
You can take selfies using the DJI drone with ease. I’ve found that using a DJI drone to take my picture is much easier than setting up the tripod and getting the perfect shot.
DJI drones also offer smooth and clear pictures and videos with their 3-axis gimbal.
Are drones allowed to fly overnight?
To use a drone at night, you need to look at the rules and regulations of your country. In Australia, the rules are very clear: you can fly your drone half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset. This rule is applied all over Australia.
Most people think they can fly for more than 30 minutes when the drone is already up in the air, which is not true. If you don’t live in Australia, pay close attention to the rules and restrictions in whatever country you want to fly your drone in.
Do drones fly in the rain?
Usually, you cannot use your drone in the rain as it may get damaged. Most drones are not waterproof but may have different modes that provide some level of water resistance. The main parts to look for when using the drone in the rain are the motor and other electrical parts.
Many pilots test their drones in the rain only to be met with disappointment, as most drones will not fly in the rain. This is because the drone’s motor is in the open air and receives water damage quickly.
The engine may stop working, which will cause the drone to crash. So it’s better to avoid using the drone when it rains unless it is waterproof.
Also, when it rains, the visibility becomes poor, so the photos and videos you capture will be of worse quality.
How do you know if I am allowed to use my drone?
If you want to use the drone in Australia, you need to have a flyer’s license. You may also need to register your device in some cases.
In the recently updated scheme in Australia, you need to consider the weight of the drone. If it weighs more than 250 grams and you want to use it for commercial or recreational purposes, you need it to get accredited.
Let us look at a few general rules for flying a drone in Australia:
You need to fly the drone during the daytime, and it must be kept in sight.
You may not be allowed to fly a drone higher than 120 meters.
You need to keep the drone away at least 30 meters from other people.
Do I need extra batteries for my drone?
The maximum flight time for most of the best drones is around 30 minutes when the battery is fully charged. The minimum flight time for some drones is seven to eight minutes.
You may need to have extra batteries if you need to fly the drone for more than 30 minutes. Also, if you use different modes to capture photos, the flight time will be reduced.
If you want to fly the drone for an hour or so, you will need to either recharge the battery or get it replaced. You will need at least three batteries if you want to fly the drone for an hour each time you go out.
