To not want to camp in the Australian outback?

[MrsMushroom]

Would you? We're going to Oz to see DHs family and friends....he's excited and so am I....and the DC aged 4 and 8.

He has just told me that his best mate is planning a family camping trip and we're all going.

AIBU to not want to? I HATE camping...and the outback is frightening frankly. There's nothing there ffs!

They love it..him and his mates.but I can't imagine what you do! They have done it lots but tbh I find the heat in Australia far too much and can just see myself sitting in a tent, melting and miserable...it IS beautiful in a bleak kind of way....but you can't walk far and there's nothing to do.

It seems to me, to be something a lot of people would like to do in their imaginations...but the reality is that being so far from shops etc will get me down. I can't imagine I will get broadband either.

WIBU to send the DC with him and not go myself? I have VERY pale skin...think blueish...and reddish hair.

I'll just melt or shrivel up out there!

well my personal view is that YADefinitelyNBU about this. I don't see the appeal either really. However if it is organised, what can you do?

Try it. Take two cars so you can always bail. With young children they'll probably be close to a town.

It is stunning. You don't have to have broadband to survive

Balls to that. I've seen Wolf Creek.

How long is this camping trip supposed to be?

I can't drive abitcold I don't know how long ZZ....but just because they've "organised" it doesn't mean I HAVE to go.

no, I suppose not but if you are staying with them and they are all going, bit awkward.

Sheesh bet going away with u is fun. Do u moan this much about ur usual holidays or just this one? There is more to oz than Sydney. Are u camping long? A week? More? Or just a day or two? Either misread or can't tell....?

If I was him I'd b laying it on so u would stay in a hotel and let me have some time with a mate. Equally perhaps he's excited about an expensive trip and wSnts to try some stuff out with u. And ur sitting there sucking a lemon...

Glad he's the one on the plane with u, u do realise how long that is? What are u going to do without access to phones iPads and shops.......?

I can't imagine I will get broadband either. For this reason alone, you mustn't go. How would you cope without your MN fix?

I camped for a few days in the Outback and whilst it was OK, I can't really see the appeal and probably wouldn't bother again. I'd also worry about the DCs and me being bitten by a poisonous spider and dying as we were too far from any doctors. And take plenty of mosquito repellent to spray the inside of your tent with before you go to bed. I got about 200 bites in 3 days. Don't worry about sunburn; just take wear wide brimmed hats and long sleeved clothes.

In summary, don't go. Alternatively, do go, and think of it as supporting your DH in something he really, really wants to do. You MAY actually enjoy some aspects of it.

we're not staying with the friends whilst we're in Oz. We're using his sisters house...she's in the US.

I do know Oz is "more than Sydney" thank you very much. I just dont like roughing it...it has no appeal in the UK where the weather isn't half as extreme as it is in Oz...so camping in Oz will be tough in more than one way.

Take a step outside your box.

At least you'll be able to say @I'm never doing that again@ Afterwards.

The outback is beautiful, serene, you'll never experience anything like it. It's only a few days. I think you would offend your hosts if you didn't go and who knows, you might just enjoy it.

I would find out how long they're planning and how far you are from civilization, then work out your options.

I camped in the Australian outback. It was fab.

Do it! I travelled for 3 months around Australia and made my bf swear that we would stay in hostels most of the time with only short camping stays. After a couple of stops I was hooked on camping, it's peaceful, beautiful and a really amazing experience. I did a bit of bush camping which was just amazing and we stayed in a load of 'proper' campsites which are fantastically well organised, clean, friendly. Most sites have communal barbies which everyone uses and it's just wonderful sitting under the stars with a bottle of Aussie Shiraz.

Your children will love it, I promise, and it will be a magical, memorable experience for them.

i have camped in the outback. it was not that much fun if it is camping around byron bay go for it

i also went camping at a lovely place called pebbly beach (it is a beautiful sandy beach) it is closeish to sydney and every morning the kangaroos would tap on our tent demanding their breakfast and the parrots woudl sit with us while we were eating i really enjoyed it there are lots of nice places to camp in australia and if you are at a camp site and well catered for

I read up on Wolf Creek, I'm too chicken to watch the film.

I too wouldn't like camping but you'll come over as rude to your hosts, tricky!!

Sorry not helpful.

Moley they are not our hosts. We are not staying with them.

Just don't do it. It's not fair for a host to arrange something like this and expect everyone to go along with it.

Politely decline, it's fine to say no to things you're not comfortable with

camping sites are good in australia

where roughly are you going?

Do they mean camping as in tents and sleeping on the ground, or Camping as in RV'S and barbeques and pop out shade and plastic chairs?
I hate both, but would suck it up for the RV type camping for a few nights seeing Dh is so excited about it.
Tents? Not a cat in hells chance, too many snakes and big spiders. {{shudder}}

PPPop - yes, me too! Got rapidly fed up with expensive and noisy hostels, started camping and LOVED it. We had a cheap tent but a decent mattress and bedding, which made all the difference.

OP - you will be up at sunrise and in bed at sunset, that solves the heat thing. BTW this was summer and I survived, and never saw any dangerous insects.

no shopping and no broadband? So? Buy the food in advance, and most sites sell some food. Kangaroos lounging in the campsite, small marsupials emerging at dusk, stunning sunsets, great things to see - and most sites have a pool too.

Now, I'm a real expert, having watched Neighbours in my misspent youth! Don't do it! Anytime anybody from Neighbours went into the outback it ended in disaster. Bad idea.

Actually, my brother spent quite a while travelling through Australia, including camping. He loved it but has got some hairy stories... Have fun!

We had an inflatable mattress and a duvet - it was perfect.

Friends of mine went sailing a few years ago, on a sea going yacht. They went with people who were experienced sailors.

They were really unsure about it, and so had an agreement that if either of them didnt want to stay on the boat at any time, they would leave and go and stay at a hotel. (In the event, they had a lovely time.)

Could you and DH agree something similar?

We camped out on the nullabour, and a fair few other places besides.

Beautiful, awesome, serene. The night sky out in the desert is truly a sight to behold.

Do it, if only to say that you did it.