If you've ever finished a dusty drive, wrestled the awning in a stiff southerly, and thought a warm rinse would be magic right about now—you're not alone. A good portable gas water heater turns camp life from "making do" into "no dramas." But the shelves are full of shiny boxes and big promises. What actually matters out bush, on the beach, or at a windswept caravan park? This guide breaks it down in plain English, with Aussie conditions front and centre. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for so your next shower feels like a little slice of home.
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Fast, reliable ignition
You want water on, burner on—simple as that. Look for electronic ignition that lights within a second or two when flow starts, and relights cleanly if you pause the shower. Think of it like your car's start button: one press, and away you go. If a unit coughs, delays, or needs matches, move on. In short: tap on, flame on, every time. -
Stable temperature control and modulation
Great units automatically adjust flame size (modulation) to keep water near your chosen temperature when you tweak flow or the inlet water changes. It's cruise control for heat. Without it, you'll cop hot-cold swings when someone rinses dishes or the wind picks up. Bonus points for clear Celsius readouts you can read with wet eyes in the evening. -
A realistic flow rate for how you actually camp
Flow rate (litres per minute) is the headline number, but the trick is matching it to your habits and climate. A comfy solo shower is around 6-8 L/min. Two outlets at once? Aim higher. Remember: in winter or alpine areas, colder inlet water steals capacity because the heater must lift the temperature more. If you tour Tassie or the high country, upsize a touch so showers stay lush on frosty mornings. -
Low-pressure friendliness
Many camp setups feed from jerry cans, tanks, or creeks. A heater that triggers reliably at modest pressure is gold. Check the minimum activation flow/pressure and whether the unit plays nicely with small 12 V pumps. Quick-connect garden fittings help you go from "arrived" to "steam rising" faster than you can say arvo cuppa. -
Sensible gas consumption
Ignore wild efficiency claims and ask how the unit sips gas in real life: short showers, stop-start rinses, kids in and out. On-demand heating is already efficient—no tank simmering all day—so the decider is how cleanly the burner runs across different flows. A tidy flame, quick light-off, and a well-designed heat exchanger keep your bottle lasting ages. That's the difference between a weekend top-up and running on fumes Sunday night. -
Safety systems that actually save the day
Non-negotiables include flame-failure shutoff (cuts gas if the flame goes out), overheat protection, and—if you'll ever be near enclosed spaces—an oxygen depletion sensor. Add a proper drain plug so you can empty the internals before a cold snap. Safety's like a seatbelt: you hope not to need it, but you'll be chuffed it's there when the wind throws a curveball. -
Wind, rain, and dust resistance
Aussie wind loves blowing out weak flames. Look for a combustion chamber and flue that resist cross-breezes, plus splash-resistant bodywork for those sideways-rain nights. Dust is a silent killer, so serviceable air inlets and a grille you can brush clean are handy. Field check: with a bit of wind across the intake, the sound should stay steady—no fluttering, no drama. -
Controls you can actually use
Big tactile dials for temperature and flow, a real on/off switch, and a display you can read at dusk with water in your eyes. You shouldn't need torch gymnastics or a manual. If the interface makes sense to your least techy mate, you're on the right track. -
Quick mounting and portable form factor
From boot to bush shower in a minute is the dream. Sturdy handles, hooks, or brackets; mounting holes that match common hardware; and a body that doesn't flex like a cheap esky. A decent carry bag stops knocks on corrugations and keeps hoses wrangled instead of sprouting like spaghetti. -
Winter readiness
Even coastal campers get surprise chills. You want an easy drain-down process and clear winter storage steps. Some units add thermostatic freeze protection; great for alpine trips, but the simple act of draining after use is the best insurance. Remember, water expands when it freezes—that's how heat exchangers crack. Make drain-down muscle memory before the first frost. -
Water quality protection
Bore water, creek water, and gritty tanks can scale or clog internals. A cheap inline sediment filter is non-negotiable, and the manual should show simple descaling steps (often mild vinegar). If you've ever cleaned a kettle, you already understand what scale does inside a heater. Filters are cheap; blocked exchangers are not. -
Compatibility with Aussie gas gear
You want standard Australian regulators and hoses so you're not hunting weird adapters in a servo carpark. Check the expected inlet pressure and match it with a quality regulator. If you're running a 9 kg bottle, the setup should be plug-and-play. It's the difference between "on with it" and "where's that mystery fitting?" -
Honest build quality and warranty
Open the panel (if the shop allows) or at least inspect fasteners and seams. Neat welds, solid screws, tidy wiring—these tell you more than marketing badges. A warranty that outlasts one holiday season says the maker backs their gear. If screws strip on first touch, the rest won't age well on corrugations. -
Noise level
Some burners roar like a jet. A good one gives a steady whoosh rather than a shriek. Your campsite neighbours (and the dog) will approve, and you'll actually hear the kookaburras at dawn rather than your own plumbing. -
Useful accessories, not junk
Winners include a shower head with a pause switch (saves water between rinses), quick-connect hoses, an inline filter, and a compact pump if you're not on mains. A carry case is worth it for travel days. Skip grab bags of random adapters that never fit when you need them.
How to size it without spreadsheets
Picture your real use. Solo traveller? A mid-flow unit covering a comfy shower plus a rinse is perfect. Family weekender? Step up so someone can rinse dishes while another showers—doesn't need to be full blast, just not a cold shock. Cold-climate touring? Add a little buffer to offset that frosty inlet water. If you ever stand there thinking "do I throttle the tap just to stay warm," you've undersized.
Set-up that works first go
Keep it simple: bottle, regulator, heater, short hose run, filter, shower head with pause, and a small 12 V pump if gravity won't cut it. Test at home before you point the bonnet at the highway. Practice your drain-down routine once, and you'll never worry about a snap freeze. That five-minute drill beats buying parts in a tiny town on a Sunday.
Maintenance you'll actually do
Once a season, brush dust from inlets, check hose washers, and run a quick descale if your water's hard. If your burner ever feels "lazy," clean the filter before blaming the heater. These tiny habits are like checking tyre pressures—they keep things sweet and save gas.
Real-world myths, busted
Gas is always pricey. Not when you only heat water you actually use—on-demand beats keeping a tank hot all day. Biggest flow rate is best. Oversized units can force you to throttle to stay toasty; right-sized feels better and wastes less. Solar means no backup. Magic idea, but clouds and winter still exist. For most campers, gas on demand is the dependable backbone, with solar helping other loads.
A quick bit of jargon, translated
Heat exchanger: the metal maze where flame warms water, like the base of a saucepan wrapped around pipes. Modulation: the heater adjusts flame size to hold your set temperature, just like cruise control. Standby losses: energy wasted keeping a tank hot when you're not using it—on-demand avoids this entirely. Minimum activation flow: the trickle needed to wake the burner; your pump helps you clear this every time.
Two-minute buyer's checklist
- Instant, clean ignition
- Holds temperature when you pause or change flow
- Flow rate matched to your climate and habits
- Triggers at low pressure and loves a small pump
- Flame-failure, overheat, oxygen sensor where relevant
- Wind-resistant combustion, splash/dust protection
- Tool-free drain-down for winter
- Big, readable controls and a Celsius display
- Aussie-standard hoses/regulator
- Serviceable design, available spares, decent warranty
The bottom line
A brilliant portable gas unit disappears into your routine: turn the tap, warm water arrives, everyone smiles, and your gas bottle lasts heaps of trips. Focus on ignition quality, temperature stability, realistic sizing, pressure tolerance, weather hardening, and simple maintenance. Nail those and you'll turn the bush, the beach, or the back paddock into your own comfy ensuite, no dramas.
