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.

Prominent hotel unveils new look

A Sunshine Coast hotel has reopened under a new brand after a refurbishment that includes a new restaurant, upgraded accommodation and additional family-focused facilities. The More

Clinical trials hub to open at private hospital

A major clinical trials facility is set to open at a new hospital, expanding access to research and emerging treatments on the Sunshine Coast. UniSC More

Beachside estate tipped to smash suburb record

An award-winning home on rare beachside acreage is expected to set a new sales benchmark for Mudjimba. The property, at Nojoor Road (number withheld), sits More

Why responsible journalism matters more than ever

This year, the Australian Press Council marks 50 years since its establishment in 1976 – a milestone built on a simple proposition: a free More

Your say: dog access, flooding concerns and more

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name More

Declaration sets stage for up to 12,000 homes

A new Priority Development Area (PDA) has been declared to streamline planning for a large community on the Sunshine Coast. The Halls Creek PDA encompasses 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