Best Portable Fire Pit for Camping Australia

How to Choose The Best Folding Fire Pit For Aussie Camping

A campfire is non-negotiable for most Australian campers.  It's how we stay warm on a cold night, how we cook with that unmistakable camp fire flavour, and the centrepiece that brings us together around the campsite. The problem is, dragging a traditional fire ring or heavy steel bowl out of the back of the ute every trip loses it's appeal pretty quickly. And an open ground fire is banned in most national parks and increasingly restricted across more and more camp sites.

A portable fire pit solves both: it's compact enough to go anywhere, keeps the fire off the ground to keep the rangers happy, and sets up almost immediately.

This guide covers what separates a genuinely good portable fire pit from a cheap one that warps after two uses, the main designs available, what size you actually need, and which products make sense for different styles of camping in Australia.

What Makes a Good Portable Camping Fire Pit?

If you've been camping in the aussie bush or beaches, you'll know our camping environment is brutal on gear — UV, heat cycles, rain, and dusty storage in between trips. A cheap powder-coated steel fire pit will rust, warp, crack at the welds, and fade within a few trips. The fire pits that hold up are built from high grade stainless steel,  chosen specifically because it handles repeated extreme heat cycles without degrading. It's heavier than mild steel but resists rust and distortion in the long term.

Beyond material, look for: a design that packs genuinely flat (not just 'folds' into a bulky shape), legs or feet that raise the base off the ground (protecting grass and satisfying ground-fire rules), a stable footprint that won't tip in wind, and a carry bag so it doesn't scratch up everything else in the boot.

Types of Portable Fire Pit — Collapsible, Flat Pack, and Bowl

Flat pack / collapsible fire pits are the clear winner for camping. The panels fold completely flat — often to 30mm or less — so they take up almost no space and pack without any protruding edges. Assembly is tool-free: panels slot together in under a minute, and disassembly is just as fast once the fire is out and cooled. This is the design that experienced Australian bush campers have largely converged on, see our range of Winnerwell Folding Fire Pits for a great example

Bowl fire pits are a popular backyard option — a hemispherical steel bowl on legs. They look good on a patio, but the bowl shape doesn't pack flat, the legs are fiddly to remove, and the bowl catches rainwater when left outside. They're heavy, bulky, and not well suited to camping unless you're staying in one spot for an extended period.

Mesh fire pits use a wire mesh basket that folds down. Lightweight, but the mesh degrades fast under the heat of an Australian hardwood fire, embers escape through the gaps, and the mesh shape provides less structural stability than a solid panel design.

For most Australian campers — from weekenders to long-distance tourers — a flat-pack stainless steel fire pit is the pick every time.

Best Collapsible Fire Pit for Camping Australia — The Winnerwell Range

Winnerwell's flat folding firepits are built in AISI 304 stainless steel and pack to just 30mm thick. They're the fire pit most commonly seen at serious bush campsites across Australia, and for good reason — they're genuinely flat-packed, genuinely stainless, and genuinely easy to use. Ramped Up stocks the full Winnerwell firepit range with fast Australia-wide shipping:

Winnerwell Folding Fire Pit Small — $59. The entry point. Comes with the fire pit, grate, and carry bag — everything you need to start a fire out of the box. Suits solo campers, couples, and anyone backpack-touring or motorbike camping where pack size matters. Fire opening: 28 × 28 cm.

Winnerwell Folding Fire Pit Medium — $89. The best size for couples and small groups. Slightly larger fire opening gives you more cooking flexibility and a bigger flame on cool nights, with the same flat pack convenience as the small. Fire opening: 35 × 35 cm.

Winnerwell Folding Fire Pit Large — $129. The pick for family camping and regular group trips. Handles a proper log fire, fits a full-size cooking grate across the top, and is still compact enough to pack flat in a standard camping kit. Fire opening: 42 × 42 cm.

Winnerwell Folding Fire Pit XL — $289. Built for large groups, extended base camps, and anyone who wants a serious fire. The XL creates a fire comparable to a permanent fire ring, packs flat like the rest of the range, and is the clear choice if you're camping with more than six people regularly. Fire opening: 56 × 56 cm.

Winnerwell Ultimate Bundle — From $135. The medium fire pit plus charcoal grate, cooking grate, and carry bag in one package. Best value if you plan to cook over the fire as well as use it for warmth and atmosphere.

Best Flat Pack Fire Pit for Backyard Use

Winnerwell firepits aren't just for camping — the flat-pack stainless steel design works equally well in a backyard or on a deck. Because the base is elevated on legs rather than sitting directly on the ground, they're safe on pavers, decking, and most hard surfaces. Many councils in Victoria, NSW, and Queensland permit contained fire pits in residential backyards outside of fire ban days, but always check your local regulations before lighting up. The flat pack design means you can store it in a cupboard between uses rather than leaving it out to weather.

What Size Portable Fire Pit Do I Need?

The sizing guide is simple: match the fire pit to the number of people you camp with most often. Small (28 × 28 cm) for solo or duo camping where packability is the priority. Medium (35 × 35 cm) for 2–4 people — the sweet spot for most Australian campers. Large (42 × 42 cm) for families and groups of up to 6. XL (56 × 56 cm) for large group camps and anyone who wants a big, sociable fire. If you're unsure, size up — a fire that's too small for the group is more frustrating than a fire pit that's slightly larger than needed. For a deeper look at sizing, check our guide: What Size Winnerwell Firepit Do I Need?

Portable Fire Pit Accessories Worth Having

The Winnerwell firepits work straight out of the box, but a few accessories make a real difference. The cooking grate  sits across the fire opening and turns the fire pit into a camp stove — cast iron or stainless camp cookware sits directly on it over the coals. The charcoal grate  elevates charcoal for better airflow and a more even cooking surface. The firepit accessory table clips onto the side and gives you a small prep surface beside the fire — handy for keeping tools, a drink, or ingredients within reach. And the carry bag keeps the flat-packed panels together and stops them from scratching in the boot.

Portable Fire Pit vs Bunnings — Why Specialist Matters

Bunnings stocks a range of fire pits, but most are powder-coated mild steel bowl designs built for backyard use rather than camping. They don't pack flat, they rust faster, and the weight and bulk makes them impractical for ute camping or touring. At Ramped Up, every fire pit in our range is purpose-designed for Australian conditions — AISI 304 stainless construction, genuine flat pack, and sized from solo camping to large-group base camps. You get a product that will outlast several Bunnings alternatives and actually fits in your camping kit.

Shop the Best Portable Fire Pits for Australian Camping

Browse the full Winnerwell flat firepit range at Ramped Up — Small, Medium, Large and XL, plus bundles and accessories. All products ship fast Australia-wide. Whether you're a weekend warrior, a serious tourer, or just want a reliable backyard fire pit, there's a size and bundle for every setup.