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.

Coast man charged over alleged wounding

Detectives have charged a 23-year-old Marcoola man following an alleged wounding incident at Edge Hill in Cairns on March 28. The arrest follows an alleged More

Businesses to collaborate and celebrate at events

Sunshine Coast business community members are set to share their stories and recognise industry leaders at two annual events. They have been invited to the More

Petition calling for action on hospital labelled ‘insulting’

A candidate for October’s state elections has begun a petition to ensure the future of a local hospital, but the Health Minister has called More

How budding entrepreneurs can turn ideas into a business

An innovative challenge that supports young entrepreneurs and aims to tackle unemployment is gearing up to celebrate its 10th year in the Sunshine Coast More

Child bitten by collared dingo on K’gari

Rangers on K’gari are attempting to identify a collared dingo that bit a child and caused minor injuries today. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service More

Plans and details revealed for rail line to coast

The state government has announced its next steps and provided further details for a heavy rail line from the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the 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.

[scn_go_back_button] Return Home

Subscribe to SCN’s daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.