100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

How's the serenity — or not! Why Sami Muirhead really hates camping

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Council expected to defend appeal over holiday rental rules

Noosa Council is set to consider whether to continue defending a Planning and Environment Court appeal over additional operating conditions imposed on a short-term More

Foreshore revamp milestone beckons after delay

A key part of a multimillion-dollar foreshore upgrade along the Sunshine Coast's main beach is on the verge of being completed. The main section of More

Govt touts Coast health workforce after scrutiny

The Queensland Government has highlighted growth in the Sunshine Coast health workforce following recent concerns over hospital funding and staffing. The government said the Sunshine More

Grandma’s killers ‘barbaric, devoid of human decency’

Two men who savagely bashed a grandmother to death before dumping and burning her body in bushland have been jailed for life for the More

‘Best in show’: robotic dogs set to impress

University of the Sunshine Coast students have taught robodogs new tricks, developing a voice-command app that allows the machines to herd sheep under the More

Restaurants named best in Queensland

Four Sunshine Coast restaurants have scooped major hospitality awards at a state and regional level. Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) Hostplus Awards for Excellence Queensland More

Hi! My name is Sami, and I am not a camper. I have always felt a little ashamed of this. I love a hotel room. I love room service and fancy sheets. I love a resort pool. I even love just being home in my bedroom.

This admission makes me a little unAustralian, and I have hidden the knowledge that I am terrified of tents my entire life for fear of being labelled a snob or a wimp. Why do I dislike camping? Let me count the ways.

  1. You spend days packing everything, from plastic wine glasses to portable toilets.
  2. Dirt, grime, sweat and general ickiness (this includes wearing thongs while having a shower).
  3. Sleeping in a swag (feels like a coffin) or a tent means you spend the entire night listening to rustling sleeping bags and stressing if any wild animals will break into the tent and put you out of your misery.
  4. A cup of coffee is a cooking procedure not a pleasure.
  5. Packing up and then heading home to unpack all over again and wash off the mud and dust and sand off every single tiny item you packed.

I know everyone will say sleeping under the stars trumps all these small issues, but I am yet to be convinced, people!

Like reading opinion? Get more Sunshine Coast News direct to your inbox by subscribing to our free daily news bulletin. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article

I have just arrived home from the Dunga Derby – Rally for a Cause. We put together a bash car thanks to very generous local companies and dressed up as Batman and Batgirl.

Off we went through remote routes around southeast Queensland. It raised half a million dollars for charity and the people who received the money are very well deserving.

The charity pays for things such as funerals for those who cannot afford it, a new kitchen for a family where the mum has been diagnosed with a brain cancer. It is powerful stuff.

Great people. Great scenery. Great fun. Except for the camping.

It didn’t help that naughty Todd who I work with cable-tied shut my swag with me inside it, placed a fake snake everywhere I went to terrify me and poured ice-cold water over me when it was two degrees. I ended up getting a chopper home because I was a bit pathetic.

If I do Dunga Derby next year (they may not want this princess back) the deal will have to be motel rooms every night.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share