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The Best Gazebo Tents Reviewed In Australia (2022)
A gazebo is an Australian staple seen across many campsites, beaches and parks but it's a bit rare to see a gazebo tent. A gazebo tent is basically just a gazebo with walls.
The added benefit of the walls helps keep out pests (like mosquitos and other insects), provides extra privacy, can double as a tent and gives more protection from the sun, wind and rain.
Today, we’re helping you find the best gazebo tent for your needs and give you the low-down on why you would want to pick a gazebo tent over a more traditional gazebo without walls.
Sounds like something you need on your next trip? Then you should have a gazebo tent in your life! And not just for camping, a gazebo tent is an excellent investment for all sorts of outdoor activities including backyard parties, BBQs, or even at the beach.
Compare Gazebo Tents
Best Gazebo Tent
Adventure Kings Gazebo Tent
The Kings Gazebo Camping Tent is a terrific choice if you’re looking for a sheltered, functional space at a bargain price (like most of their products). It's actually comprised of both the gazebo frame (which also holds the roof) and a separate wall structure that attaches to the frame.
As we mention in our roundup of the best gazebos in Australia, the Kings Gazebo itself comes in 3 different sizes. All have a width of 3m but come in lengths of 3m, 4.5m and 6m. The separate gazebo tent comes in only two sizes, 3m x 3m and 6m x 3m. An interesting thing to note though is the 6m x 3m gazebo has pole frames at the halfway point, so buying the 3m x 3m gazebo tent will fit the larger gazebo which leaves essentially an extra 3m awning like the picture shows.
Set up isn't complicated at all. Once the gazebo frame is standing, just tie the ropes of the tent to the horizontal arms and hook the corners of the tent to around the vertical poles. Because the canvas is much more likely to be affected by wind, it also comes with additional pegs for the corners.
Once set up, you'll be greeted with a large, poleless open floor plan with three large side panels that unzip for airflow but still have mosquito-proof mesh.
The canvas walls are made of weatherproof 210D polyester and the floor is a 180GSM which provides decent protection against rain and wind. Because the tent is the same size as the frame, you may need to put up an additional side-wall or awning in case of extreme conditions to prevent sideways rain from seeping into the mesh.
This is honestly one of my favourite options because of its versatility of building on the foundations of a great gazebo and adding additional accessories such as the tent if required.
Pros
Great value for money
Fits most 3m x 3m gazebos
Provides great ventilation
Cons
May require additional reinforcement in very windy weather
OZTrail Gazebo Tent Inner
Unlike the OZTrail Gazebo Fast Frame, this model acts as a more traditional gazebo tent that attaches to the frame and sits inside the gazebo. If you have the OZTrail Gazebo frame, then this 4.5kg tent will transform it into a versatile space for sleeping, storage or preparing meals while the walls, mesh and roof keep the sun, bugs and rain out.
Setting the tent up is a straightforward exercise consisting mainly of hooking up the corners to the OZTrail frame, then attaching the edges to the vertical legs and finally pegging down the ground corners for extra stability against wind.
While it's designed to be attached to the OZTrail Gazebo, with a bit of ingenuity you might be able to attach to similar-sized gazebos with both horizontal and vertical legs but to be safe I would stick with the recommended frame.
Once set up, you can get inside through two large twin D doors at both the rear and front of the tent and be greeted by a tall ceiling coming in at 2.05 cm.
Cross ventilation is no problem because the side walls also have a window each with your typical mesh and opaque zip up.
The walls are 150D Polyester and the floor is a PE Bucket Floor which is pretty typical amongst these types of gazebo tents and should provide enough protection against mild rain events.
This is just one of many options that attach to the OZTrail Gazebo, but it's a strong contender if you're looking to add additional functionality to your camping set up at a relatively affordable price point.
Pros
Fast set up
High ceiling
Lots of ventilation
Lightweight
Cons
Slightly smaller than others
Best used with only OZTrail Gazebo frames
OZTrail Gazebo Fast Frame Tent 3.0
From the established brand OZtrail, we have the Gazebo Fast Frame Tent 3.0 that you can use alone or with a gazebo to extend its usable space. It can serve as extra bedrooms, storage space, or food preparation area - it’s up to your needs.
The freestanding inner tent provides more stability to make assembly a breeze, while the separate rainfly allows you to integrate the tent with the gazebo for seamless, weatherproof joining.
Moreover, the vertical side-panels feature extra zips so you can attach wall kits and panels if you want. Also, the oversized windows are fitted with No-See-Um mesh and the door has a double entryway design, providing excellent ventilation.
Not to mention, the door and windows are equipped with privacy flaps for total privacy control. The OZtrail Gazebo Fast Frame Tent 3.0 is backed up by the OZtrail 1-year manufacturer's warranty against defects of material or manufacture.
Pros
Features extra zips for wall kits and panels
Has privacy flaps
1-year warranty
Cons
Can be too short for taller campers
Wanderer Gazebo Hub Tent
The Wanderer Gazebo Hut Tent is another wonderful option for campers looking for both affordability and functionality. This unit will turn your 3m x 3m gazebo into a large living area suitable for all sorts of activities.
It offers a maximum headspace of 210cm, which is enough for almost any camper. Constructed from polyester with UPF 50+ sun protection and 2000mm water rating, you can rest assured you’ll be well-protected against sun and rain.
The Wanderer Gazebo Tent is also equipped with No-See-Um mesh in the windows and door to support efficient ventilation and protection from insects. With 3m x 2.5m floor dimensions, this tent promises enough space to accommodate up to six people.
Pros
Great Value for money
Good sun protection
Easy set up
Cons
There’s a possibility of leaking in heavy rain
Not as large on the inside as others
What to Consider before Buying a Gazebo Tent
Type of Gazebo Tent
First things first, you should decide the type of gazebo tent you want to use. Generally speaking, the term 'gazebo tent' refers to multiple types of shelter, but screen house gazebos and canopy tents are the most popular two.
Screen House Gazebo Tent
A screen house gazebo tent typically features mesh sidewalls along with a soft-top or hard-top roof. The mesh walls function to prevent insects from entering whereas the roof blocks sunlight and rain thanks to its full coverage and usually does this better than a traditional canvas tent roof.
This type of gazebo tent is built to provide maximum breathability so you stay cool on hot days due to the cross ventilation.
Some screen house gazebo tents are self-supporting, but the vast majority of the models will need to be attached to a gazebo frame. Once attached, the additional zippered doors will provide entrance to the tent and the windows will also be opened and closed through zips.
Often these screen houses do not come with floors, so will be impacted by rainfall and might require additional floor material for a comfortable sleep.
These types of gazebo tents are great for those camping in warmer climates with insects and when they aren't expecting too much rainfall. Setting up a swag inside the the screen house is my advice or using it as a storage and food preparation area.
Canvas Gazebo Tent
This is a more versatile style of gazebo tent, but with the downside of being a bit heavier and often requiring a separate gazebo frame. Once set up it will offer much better protection from heavy rain events as well as keep the tent cooler due to the gap of air between the gazebo roof and the tent roof.
The most common size of these tents are 3m x 3m and set-up is usually the same, consisting of hooking in the corners to the gazebo frame, looping the edges of the tent to the vertical pole legs and then pegging down the floor for additional resistance against wind.
Because these tents assume that you'll have a gazebo frame, they are often a very light additional piece of gear and unlike the screen gazebos typically come with a waterproof bucket floor.
The final product is that unlike the screen gazebos, a canvas gazebo tent acts more like a traditional tent which is suitable for sleeping in.
Set up and Foldability
One thing you should always consider when shopping for a gazebo camping tent is how easy you’ll be able to set it up and take it down.
Some gazebo tents will have the term "pop-up" in their names, which means the tent involves a quick and simple set-up that usually takes a couple of minutes to complete and an even shorter time once you get the hang of things.
Still, other tent designs come with more complex setup mechanisms, requiring you to put in additional effort.
You should also check the foldability of your tent since tucking it away should be as easy as putting it up. The last thing you need to deal with as you're heading back is trouble packing.
Setup and foldability features may not be an obvious priority for many people, but they can make all the difference in your camping experience.
Size and Weight
Next, you should look at the tent’s size and weight. These are two of the most important features when it comes to gazebo camping tents.
Gazebo tents are available in various shapes and sizes, from 8-person hexagonal tents to smaller, 3 x 3-meter canopy tents. Once you determine the extent of space you need, you’ll definitely find a match for your camping requirements.
Check the width, length, and centre height of the tent so you can decide whether or not it offers enough coverage.
Probably, you want a tent large enough to fit your body sitting and standing with extra room for you to move around comfortably. You should also account for other people who may be sharing the tent with you; some tents offer sectioned areas for this purpose.
You’ll find most gazebo tents peaking at a centre height between 2 and 3 meters, some will be even taller. Headspace is crucial, especially for taller campers.
Of course, size and weight go hand in hand. This means you need to figure out a good balance between the two.
You want a gazebo tent that's lightweight enough for you to carry and transport in and out of your garage or car with minimum effort. Luckily, most manufacturers understand this so they tend to make gazebo tents quite portable.
Construction Material
Durability and longevity are directly associated with the construction materials used to build your gazebo tent.
Steel frames and polyester covers are generally the most common materials used nowadays. However, make sure they're treated to be waterproof and resistant to weather elements for maximum service life.
Design
A good gazebo camping tent should have both the looks and the means for an overall practical and convenient experience. An ergonomic design will feature a wide entrance door and multiple storage pockets.
Ventilation
Who wants to sleep, change, hangout, shower, or use the toilet in a stuffy, smelly room? That’s right, no one. This is where good ventilation comes in.
Your gazebo tent should be well ventilated to provide an adequate flow of air inside the tent so it stays clean and fresh throughout your adventure. A top mesh vent or some side mesh windows can do the trick.
Budget
Gazebo camping tents don't come cheap. While you’ll have to spend some money, buying a gazebo tent doesn’t necessarily mean your wallet will end up with a dent. Just remember: you get what you pay for, so the better the quality, the more cash you'll need to invest.
Additional Features
More features equal more convenience. They’re also what makes some tents special and others not so much.
You’ll find some tents offering storage bags and clotheslines, while others let you remove the flooring. This is particularly essential if you plan to use your gazebo tent as a toilet or showering area.