Page 8 | To not want to fly to Australia?

Reluctantflyer · 2023-01-12T11:39:42+00:00

Our DC is working in Australia for a couple of years, and DH is understandably very keen to visit. I'd absolutely love to spend time with our wonderful DC and miss them like crazy, but am feeling quite stressed by the prospect of: A long long flight when I really don't like flying (had bad experience with plane being struck by lightning a few years ago). I've never flown for longer than 5 hours. Being cramped on an airplane - I can't sleep at the best of times and can get quite anxious in crowded places. A bed would be amazing but business class is £5000+ per seat! Snakes, jellyfish, crocodiles and dengue fever etc. Heat and sun- I can't go out in the sun due to previous skin cancer. The cost- DH thinks there is no point going for less than 3 weeks. We usually go on holiday for a week in Europe so this would be eye-watering by comparison. Can anyone talk me down from not really wanting to go? I'm assuming that flying is the only way to go - we can both take 3 weeks off work if needed. I know I sound like a right curmudgeon, but it was never on my list of places I would otherwise go or spend our limited savings on. I like Scandinavia.... Any tips for making the journey and the trip less awful?

Nosecan · 14/01/2023 10:22

BertieBotts · 14/01/2023 08:40

I think it's social media Denim. There is a "hilarious" post every week showing some monstrous spider and some Australian man being overly casual about it, or a news story about a child saved from a shark or something. Steve Irwin. etc etc.

It’s really nothing new though. People have always had those perceptions of Australia and in reality tourism probably thrives because of it (sense of adventure and all that).

HoppingPavlova · 14/01/2023 11:16

Yes, I think it’s because of things like Crocodile Dundee/Steve Irwin and Neighbours/Home&Away, and people who don’t know better think this represents Australia - either dysfunctional neighbourhoods at the beach, or the outback/far north.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a few Dundee’s about in the years before croc’s became protected as the skin market was so lucrative, and while I’m sorry he is dead I have zero idea what possessed Irwin to go around actively seeking out and jumping on our wildlife. These people represented a minuscule proportion of the population doing things in places where only a minuscule proportion of the population live.

To be frank I’m more scared of a Wolf Creek situation in the outback than any spider, snake or croc the vast majority of the population would actively have to seek out. While it’s not common that shots real and those people scare me more than any of our wildlife.

However, it’s just like me saying I absolutely refuse to visit or consider living in the UK because Jimmy Savile or Jamie Oliver is representative of the nation, I’ll automatically become a victim of Ian Brady/Myra Hindley style serial killing, and I have a phobia about hedgehogs. People in the UK would think that both ignorant and batshit.

Lastly, on the topic of heat and us all having to flee the country in the next few years, you do realise Sydney is currently about to break an 140 year record for continuous cool weather? We have not reached ‘hot’ for well over a year now so we seem to be heading in the opposite direction. I do appreciate some other places in the vast enormous country have warmed up but unfortunately we have not even maintained status quo here.

Nosecan · 14/01/2023 11:26

HoppingPavlova · 14/01/2023 11:16

Yes, I think it’s because of things like Crocodile Dundee/Steve Irwin and Neighbours/Home&Away, and people who don’t know better think this represents Australia - either dysfunctional neighbourhoods at the beach, or the outback/far north.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a few Dundee’s about in the years before croc’s became protected as the skin market was so lucrative, and while I’m sorry he is dead I have zero idea what possessed Irwin to go around actively seeking out and jumping on our wildlife. These people represented a minuscule proportion of the population doing things in places where only a minuscule proportion of the population live.

To be frank I’m more scared of a Wolf Creek situation in the outback than any spider, snake or croc the vast majority of the population would actively have to seek out. While it’s not common that shots real and those people scare me more than any of our wildlife.

However, it’s just like me saying I absolutely refuse to visit or consider living in the UK because Jimmy Savile or Jamie Oliver is representative of the nation, I’ll automatically become a victim of Ian Brady/Myra Hindley style serial killing, and I have a phobia about hedgehogs. People in the UK would think that both ignorant and batshit.

Lastly, on the topic of heat and us all having to flee the country in the next few years, you do realise Sydney is currently about to break an 140 year record for continuous cool weather? We have not reached ‘hot’ for well over a year now so we seem to be heading in the opposite direction. I do appreciate some other places in the vast enormous country have warmed up but unfortunately we have not even maintained status quo here.

Jamie Oliver 😂

Causticlimeandsoda · 14/01/2023 11:40

OP, there are two things I would suggest you need to repeat to yourself again and again like a mantra before you go:

At any given time, there are tens of thousands of people in the air and they all get home safely. I heard a statistic on breakfast TV once - You’d have to travel on a plane every day for the next 27000 years to be involved in a fatal crash. 27000 years.

and

25 million people live in Australia. They all manage to survive the wildlife bar a minuscule few who often put themselves in more danger - ie surfers and sharks, Steve Irwin and stingrays.

I’m from Australia, and I don’t love flying but it’s a means to an end.
You’ll be fine, life is for living.

Aussiegirl123456 · 14/01/2023 11:49

HoppingPavlova · 14/01/2023 11:16

Yes, I think it’s because of things like Crocodile Dundee/Steve Irwin and Neighbours/Home&Away, and people who don’t know better think this represents Australia - either dysfunctional neighbourhoods at the beach, or the outback/far north.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a few Dundee’s about in the years before croc’s became protected as the skin market was so lucrative, and while I’m sorry he is dead I have zero idea what possessed Irwin to go around actively seeking out and jumping on our wildlife. These people represented a minuscule proportion of the population doing things in places where only a minuscule proportion of the population live.

To be frank I’m more scared of a Wolf Creek situation in the outback than any spider, snake or croc the vast majority of the population would actively have to seek out. While it’s not common that shots real and those people scare me more than any of our wildlife.

However, it’s just like me saying I absolutely refuse to visit or consider living in the UK because Jimmy Savile or Jamie Oliver is representative of the nation, I’ll automatically become a victim of Ian Brady/Myra Hindley style serial killing, and I have a phobia about hedgehogs. People in the UK would think that both ignorant and batshit.

Lastly, on the topic of heat and us all having to flee the country in the next few years, you do realise Sydney is currently about to break an 140 year record for continuous cool weather? We have not reached ‘hot’ for well over a year now so we seem to be heading in the opposite direction. I do appreciate some other places in the vast enormous country have warmed up but unfortunately we have not even maintained status quo here.

Yes agree. The UK’s I’m a celebrity is filmed here too and they have this big misconception that there’s crocodiles in the jungle etc….it’s filmed in flipping NSW. No crocs there other than those rubber shoe variety.

I have an outback story where I thought I’d be in a wolf creek scenario. Was driving to a prac placement with someone. Stopped to have a nap overnight and see the stars. Indescribable seeing the Milky Way with zero light pollution. Was laying on the roof of the car with my passenger stargazing in the middle of nowhere. No bushes or anything for as far as the eye could see. We hadn’t passed another vehicle for about six hours. So alone. As we were on the roof we could smell cigarette smoke as though someone was really close by having a smoke. Looked around but there was nobody there, there was nowhere they’d be able to hide. We were both non smokers and the cig smell was fresh and as strong as you can get. Got out of there fast!
I did spend a year travelling Australia with my husband and kids in a caravan years later and felt as safe as can be, thankfully. Even stayed at wolf creek. It’s so beautiful.

strugglingwithlife · 14/01/2023 12:43

I would love to see more of Australia. I love Sydney

EasterIsland · 14/01/2023 13:56

Sydney is currently about to break an 140 year record for continuous cool weather? We have not reached ‘hot’ for well over a year now so we seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

I was in Sydney last year, and friends seemed almost traumatised by a year of rain & floods! It was sunny the whole time I was there (late spring) and they all talked about the weather all the time (so it's not just the British ...)

It's the point in the current La Nina cycle.

Sagealicious · 14/01/2023 17:31

EasterIsland · 14/01/2023 13:56

Sydney is currently about to break an 140 year record for continuous cool weather? We have not reached ‘hot’ for well over a year now so we seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

I was in Sydney last year, and friends seemed almost traumatised by a year of rain & floods! It was sunny the whole time I was there (late spring) and they all talked about the weather all the time (so it's not just the British ...)

It's the point in the current La Nina cycle.

Parts of Sydney experienced major flooding last year as well as other areas like Lismore in far north NSW which was pretty much destroyed so it was a big topic here and a time of great worry. This often has a flow on effect to other parts of the state as food production and prices are often affected. Same with bushfires. It's why we have a fascination with the weather as it affects our lives either directly or indirectly. Basically if it rains heavily for more than a few days you start worrying. If you smell bushfire smoke in the summer time you start worrying. (happens other times of the year but they're usually doing burning off)

EasterIsland · 14/01/2023 18:44

Yes, @Sagealicious I lived in Australia for 30 years, the first 10 of them in the bush. We lived on tank water & solar power, so I'm pretty aware of bush living (more than most Australians actually).

But everyone seemed particularly traumatised this time ... too much rain & not enough sunshine apparently! It was amusing in relation to the Australian complaint about the Poms being obsessed with weather, and it always raining in England!

Sagealicious · 14/01/2023 18:49

EasterIsland · 14/01/2023 18:44

Yes, @Sagealicious I lived in Australia for 30 years, the first 10 of them in the bush. We lived on tank water & solar power, so I'm pretty aware of bush living (more than most Australians actually).

But everyone seemed particularly traumatised this time ... too much rain & not enough sunshine apparently! It was amusing in relation to the Australian complaint about the Poms being obsessed with weather, and it always raining in England!

Ah sorry my apologies. The way you wrote I assumed you were in Great Britain.

PartySock · 14/01/2023 22:29

If your child lives in a. city you are very, very unlikely to see any scary creatures (although it's not impossible).
Would your dc be open to meeting in eg, Singapore or somewhere like that instead?

Jerseylaura · 14/01/2023 22:41

Hey!
Few ideas. Go to your GP & ask for some diazepam for the flight, there and back. Only a small mg to help you sleep and relax. I know its not a long term solution, but short term will get you from a to b.
Secondly - I lived in oz for a year and saw no snakes, spiders or anything else. I did see an amazing milky way and two kangaroos boxing, from a distance.
Heat, as suggested, factor 50, wide brimmed hats, light clothing and shade. Aussies are big on their skin protection, so pharmacies will have the strongest factor available.
And, I'd say relax. Plan well to avoid/minimise anxiety. Your DC will be thrilled to see you, so focus on that x

HoppingPavlova · 14/01/2023 23:16

I was in Sydney last year, and friends seemed almost traumatised by a year of rain & floods! It was sunny the whole time I was there (late spring) and they all talked about the weather all the time (so it's not just the British ...)

Yes, we have been subjected to rain and floods and we’re obsessed. The bastarding torrential rain was never ending. I didn’t say we didn’t have rain and floods. I said everyone is banging on about increasing heat, yet in the most densely populated area in Australia, our temperature has gone backwards over the last year so much so we are looking to break a long 140 year record. This week looks promising and we may narrowly avoid it, we will see. Also, sunny does not equal hot, how odd. We can be 20deg and sunny, that’s not hot.

Nat1833 · 14/01/2023 23:41

If you don’t really like flying then it doesn’t matter what seat you are in. I have flown business class long haul and the turbulence was really bad. I would have traded that seat for an economy one if I could have guaranteed a turbulence free flight. I have flown to Australia and the flight was very long, very dull and quite turbulent, particularly when we flew over India. If you do decide to go, perhaps choose the route carefully as some areas are more turbulent than others.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 15/01/2023 04:22

Jerseylaura · 14/01/2023 22:41

Hey!
Few ideas. Go to your GP & ask for some diazepam for the flight, there and back. Only a small mg to help you sleep and relax. I know its not a long term solution, but short term will get you from a to b.
Secondly - I lived in oz for a year and saw no snakes, spiders or anything else. I did see an amazing milky way and two kangaroos boxing, from a distance.
Heat, as suggested, factor 50, wide brimmed hats, light clothing and shade. Aussies are big on their skin protection, so pharmacies will have the strongest factor available.
And, I'd say relax. Plan well to avoid/minimise anxiety. Your DC will be thrilled to see you, so focus on that x

It’s against NHS advice to prescribe diazepam for flights these days. Airlines advise against it too. It increases the risk of DVT and reduces capacity to respond, in the event of an emergency.

garlictwist · 15/01/2023 04:38

Yanbu. DH and I will be lucky enough to have four weeks off work this year to do an extended trip. We muted the idea of New Zealand but I looked into it and I just can't be fucked with the flight. I think it would kill me as I can't bear being cooped up.

I'm quite happy just to travel closer to home in Europe. There are so many lovely places.

GADDay · 15/01/2023 04:42

Not sure if anybody has mentioned that the cost of the flights might be a deciding factor.

Trying to get DC home next week - £1600 ONE WAY on a multi-stop flight. Horrendously expensive.

VerveClique · 15/01/2023 04:54

Aisle seat in economy or extra legroom will be fine. Have minimal stopovers. Paying extra and having stopovers won’t really help you avoid the dehydration, jet lag and general cooped up feeling. Get a good neck pillow and eye mask, these make a massive difference.

Stay in Port Douglas in a naice resort. You could be anywhere in the world.

Slip, slap slop in the sun, but mainly just avoid the sun and seek shade. It’s not difficult to do.

Go at a cooler time of year.

Australia is a beautiful and diverse place, a land of contrast and extremes . But actually it’s very easy to live a safe, uneventful existence there if you want to. your DC will be touched by you making the effort.

VoiceOfCommonSense · 15/01/2023 06:02

Keyansier · 12/01/2023 11:43

When I last commented on the country of Australia I had a load of posters jump down my throat for saying the weather there is too hot for me and it hosts dangerous animals that I personally find scary, so good luck with this thread OP 😂

Yeah, and most of the time those people have never been here. The flights are a bit of a pain if you are not used to flying long haul but it’s definitely worth it. This country is great and there’s lots of places and things for everyone. It’s not just about going to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. If you can stay with your DC that saves having to pay for a hotel and there’s loads of little trips you can take around the country to see other parts. Domestic air travel is like catching a bus, really easy and quite cheap if you book enough in advance.

Justellingthetruth · 15/01/2023 06:48

@Reluctantflyer

the most dangerous part of the trip is the car journey to the UK airport so don’t worry about the flight.

re the seat try and spend on legs room seats if you can’t do business class.

Oz is worth the trip at least once . Remember to go visit the sights too.

make sure your child take time off too!

Swissmountains · 15/01/2023 06:53

It’s a hell of a long way and the most exhausting. For me, honestly it wasn’t worth it. I think if people choose to live the other side of the world the onus is on them to fly back and visit not the other way around.
I would encourage dc to fly home or meet in the middle. I couldn’t do that flight again. Aus was so baking hot, humid and uncomfortable- not fun.

notimagain · 15/01/2023 08:30

@Nat1833

If you do decide to go, perhaps choose the route carefully as some areas are more turbulent than others.

I'm not sure it's worth spending time going to that level of detail.

Flying from the UK to Aus you're airborne for quite a few hours, to say the least, the randomness of things means you could get turbulence at any point, and there are seasonal shifts and variations in areas most prone. You mentioned India; in the monsoon season - yes, it can be rough, other times of the year it can be as smooth as glass for hours on end.

There are regions are more prone to turbulence year round, especially the equatorial latitudes and the tropics and at some point regardless of route flown, going Europe to Aus you are going to have transit that part of the world.

skybrary.aero/articles/inter-tropical-convergence-zone-itcz

Even going through that region you don't inevitably get bumped around but the chances of a few "ripples" is probably higher than over some parts of the globe.

I know the subject of turbulence does worry a lot of people but of course the pilots do everything they can to avoid areas of excessive turbulence, aircraft are much stronger than many people think..and above it's a good "keep the seat belt on when seated even if the seatbelt sign is turned off".

sleephelp2022 · 15/01/2023 08:49

Fly with a decent airline (like Emirates) and pay the extra £100-150 for extra legroom. Makes all the difference! I've just done my first trip out of Europe to Australia and it really really wasn't that bad and I'm terrified of flying...

sleephelp2022 · 15/01/2023 08:50

Further to add re. Turbulence. We had zero the whole flight there and back and we flew over India. This was December/January.

NorseKiwi · 15/01/2023 09:05

Buy 2 single tickets, fly west at all times. Fly to San Fran or LA, have 2 nights there, carry on to Australia, you wont have any jetlag ( i.e wont be wide awake at 3am for the first 5 mornings) then on the way home fly back west via Asia - again avoiding jetlag.

Australia is incredible, even the sunlight is different. I've spent a lot of time there and never even seen a snake or spider