Heat beads and bagged charcoal make a great alternative heat source to camp fire coals.

All too often we find wood is hard to find or non existant at popular camping sites and sometimes the type of wood that is available is no good for cooking coals.

There are many brands to choose from although I tend to use the Redheads brand of charcoal and the Heat beads branded briquetts as they are the most readily available at supermarkets and hardware stores.

Starting out using this method greatly improves your confidence as they are easy to control and cook at an even temperature for an extended period of time.

It also gives you the opportunity to experiment in your back yard at home before you take your new found skills to the bush. 

For even more detailed information get yourself a copy of my book. Jo Clews' Australian Camp Oven Cooking. You will be a pro in no time.