Picnics are all-time good fun. If we describe something as 'being no picnic', it's a chore. Even the Macquarie Dictionary, while acknowledging that the French must have had it first (because our word comes from theirs - le pique-nique) also adds with uncharacteristic frivolity 'compiling a dictionary is no picnic'.

The best way to make sure your picnic will be fun is to always keep the right equipment ready to go. Keep a hamper, or a basket, or even a large box, packed with proper plates, real cutlery and glasses, a pepper-grinder, rug, serviettes and cloth. Add an insect repellent, some sunscreen and a shady hat, an umbrella, perhaps, a book of verse, a sharp knife and a bottle opener. Then when the mood strikes, all you really have to do is stop off somewhere on the way, load up with some crusty bread, chilled drinks, pate, fruit, cheeses and whatever else seems appropriate and voilą - le pique-nique !

What to take 

Often the biggest problem when planning a picnic is deciding what to take - the choice is so enormous. To whet your appetite and your imagination try some of these ideas: Because the French had it first, it often seems that they do it best. What could be better than the following?

• quiche - any sort, just remember it contains eggs and cream and should stay cool
• cold cuts - chicken, ham, fish - kept cool too
• pate and crusty bread, buttered perhaps
• fresh fruit or a fruit compote
• Australian cheeses - brie, a good blue, cheddar
• chilled wine, mineral water or fruit juice

You can also stop in delicatessens or fruit markets and stock up with:

• freshly prepared salads
• a handful or so of mesclun (mixed green)
• a takeaway chicken
• smoked fish to toss through a salad
• a dozen or so fresh oysters, to open when needed

Maybe you don't want to eat a la Francais, so why not think about one of these picnics?

A Mediterranean theme - stock up on olives, cold pasta salads, and antipasto goodies like prosciutto, bocconcini, melon, breadsticks and tomatoes - sundried and fresh. Throw in a torta or cheesecake, figs and mascarpone cheese for dessert, and some robust wine or grappa.

Or Lebanese - grab some pita bread, kibbeh and thinly sliced roast lamb, some tabbouli, hummous, feta cheese, and perhaps some cooked chickpeas and salad. And don't forget to toss in some baklava or shortbread biscuits for afterwards.

Then there's Asian food, available everywhere - pick up some spicy Vietnamese sausage, plenty of greens, chilli sauce and some crisp long rolls to make great picnic food. Or you could take chicken wings marinated in a honey soy dressing and a bowl of cooked noodles and vegetables ready to mix together for a quick Asian-inspired salad.

Or why not simply try a Dinkum Aussie picnic - sausages, chops, plenty of sliced onions to fry on the barbecue plate you'll find at most public parks. Team them with crusty bread rolls, some salads and some good sauces and chutneys.

Or pair some fabulous Australian wines and cheeses with damper, the best seafood you can find, some great Illabo lamb cuts or corn-fed chicken pieces. A basket of seasonal fruit with thick King Island cream is about the only other thing you'll need.

But don't forget these:

• Rug or folding chairs to sit on
• Tablecloth and clips to hold it
• Serviettes, plates, cups, cutlery
• Corkscrew and stopper for leftover wine
• Ice, or an insulated bag or carrier
• Bottle cooler or insulated bag
• Sharp knife, cheese knife and vegetable peeler
• salt shaker and pepper grinder
• a pillow!

Picnics are a breeze to organise. Particularly when travelling, they have to be the ultimate way to dine. Just think of it, you can eat anything you wish with a view to suit your mood - mountains, sea, beach or park. The cost is minimal because there are no waiters, surcharges or fees to pay. A trip to any supermarket will give you enough basics to last your entire stay: paper plates, disposable cutlery, plates, serviettes and glasses, a corkscrew, a sharp knife for fruit and salad, even a basket to pack it all in if you wish.