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Man living in a tent after partner “gave up” on Covid restrictions

A hyper-vigilant man has resorted to living in a “pressurised” tent in a garage to avoid contracting Covid, after his girlfriend relaxed about restrictions. The Aussie man named Jason, who is a self-proclaimed “Covid education activist” caused a stir online after he posted a photo of his unusual sleeping arrangements. The now-viral post shared by Jason featured a picture of the peculiar tent he claims to be sleeping in, with an air purifier sticking out of the door, igniting a firestorm of reactions on Twitter, ranging from agreeance, to humour, to concern. Despite the media storm, Jason defended his decision to maintain strict pandemic precautions, despite never having contracted Covid-19. “This is my bed in the garage because my partner has dropped precautions. I take precautions 100 per cent of the time. Don’t tell me that this hasn’t upended every f**king second of my life,” Jason declared in his original post, which included the image of his extraordinary sleeping arrangement. Taking his precautions to the next level, Jason also revealed that he has experimented with sleeping in a face mask, but he admitted that he found it uncomfortable and could not sleep properly with it. “I’ve tried to sleep in a mask, and I can’t. I know people sleep in CPAP masks all the time, so it’s possible, but I can’t do it,” he shared on Twitter. Despite the flurry of reactions to Jason’s living arrangement, he did receive some support for his precautionary measures, while some even suggested Jason leave his partner, to which he admitted the thought “had occurred to me”. Another Twitter user commended the tent and air filter idea, considering it a cost-effective and potentially effective solution to avoid contracting Covid. “I like the tent+filter idea. It’s cheap and should be effective,” another agreed. A few people shared that they empathised with Jason, and are also maintaining strict pandemic precautions. One person wrote, “Initially didn’t think much of the pic, but this is infuriating. I spend all my salary in-flo mask, enovid (antiviral nasal spray), no social life, so yes, I take precautions 100 per cent of the time.” “I’m sorry you have to live like this. I no longer see my family since they stopped masking,” another added. However, not everyone empathised with Jason’s living arrangements, saying he was being unrealistic about the future of Covid. “I work in senior living, and in the two years we’ve been open, we’ve lost zero to Covid. Even the (85-year-olds) getting it now are mild cases. Why? They’re boosted, so they don’t panic or sleep in a garage,” one commenter explained. “The vaccine is meant to enable you to live normally without worrying. Covid is endemic, so you will be in the tent for the rest of your life, lol.” posted another. In response to the viral post, one Twitter user humorously remarked, “We’re a few years away from a really good documentary on how this virus broke people’s brains.” Image credits: Getty Images / Twitter

Real Estate

“I live in a tent”: Horror renovations see woman living in home with no roof

A woman and her son have been left living in a “tent” home filled with mould, exposed wiring and holes after renovation plans went horribly wrong. In February 2020, Jill Harris hired Extension Factory to extend and add a second storey to her Melbourne home. Two years later, she says she has been left living in poor conditions after numerous problems plagued the construction work. With tarps replacing the roof overhead, Ms Harris said the home is flooded by “waterfalls that leak through the light fittings” when it rains and that the only thing her home was good for was Halloween. “I call this the tent. I live in the tent because there is no roof over my room or my son‘s room,” she told A Current Affair. “I have good days where I try to be positive and I have the lowest of lows.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/aca-house-damage.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Exposed wiring, holes, and a lack of a watertight roof have been just some of the issues Jill Harris has faced while living in her unfinished home. Images: A Current Affair Ms Harris said the builders first built the storey out of square, forcing them to knock it all down and start again. “(It) just went completely wrong from there. They built it 160mm out of square, which we didn't find out till 12 months later,” she said. Work was eventually stopped by surveyor Steve Maloney after the builders allegedly continued work without the permission of the inspector. Mr Maloney said work needed to stop because of the “owner(s) and their builders' compliances with the building legislation”. Since then, Ms Harris has turned her unfinished home into a warning against the company, adorning the front with signs reading that the company is “destroying our lives”, “doesn’t care” and that “a contract with them means nothing”. “I’ts (sic) cheaper for the “Extension Factory” to put this in the hands than it is to honour my contract with them and finish my home. Tens of thousands of dollars of mistakes, so they gave up and use lawyers to protect them!” another sign reads. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/extension-factory1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> After no resolution was reached to finish her home, Jill Harris let out her frustration against Extension Factory through signs displayed in front of her home. Image: A Current Affair Gerry Hoggard, the owner of Extension Factory, conceded that there had been issues with the property and said he could appreciate Ms Harris being upset. “It certainly was an error, it was built out of square, we accepted responsibility and took it down,” Mr Hoggard said. “I know what she’s living through. “I don’t like it (my name) being treated that way, but I can appreciate she‘s upset about what’s transpired.” Although he claimed that Ms Harris was advised to vacate the property at the start of the build, her brother Ashley, a former Extension Factory employee, said it wasn’t going to happen. “It’s not the sort of job that you would leave anyone occupying the premises,” Mr Hoggard said. However, Ms Harris said she wasn’t told that she would need to vacate her property. A Current Affair reported that it alerted the Victorian Building Authority to Ms Harris’ situation, prompting the organisation to release a statement. "The Victorian Building Authority takes complaints against building and plumbing practitioners extremely seriously,” it read, adding that the building authority carries out thousands of inspections to ensure work is compliant. "When it doesn't, we use the powers available to us to hold practitioners accountable." Image: A Current Affair

Real Estate

Landlord overstays welcome sleeping in tent under tenant’s home

A landlord has been ordered to pay $NZ 700 ($AUD 630) in damages for unlawful entry after he pitched a tent and stayed under his rental property. When the tenant living in the home asked him to leave after he slept there overnight, Brian Clement verbally insulted them and came up with excuses as to why he was allowed to stay under the house, as reported by the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/landlord-slept-in-tent-under-tenants-home-refused-to-leave/MSWNZ6WCH3JCTTTXQM7OSQ57VE/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a>. The tenant and partner, whose names are suppressed, told the New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal that Clement repeatedly came “unannounced and overstayed” for up to three days at a time. “The more visits the more it disturbed our sense of privacy at home,” the tenant’s girlfriend told the tribunal. Over two years, she said she saw Clement at the house at least 15 times and that he stayed overnight seven times. In one incident in February last year, the tenant was away and his girlfriend and her daughter were alone at home when Clement refused demands to leave. "I cannot express how uncomfortable and weird I felt that night," the girlfriend said. "I sent Brian a message as I could hear him around the house and asked him once more to leave." On the two occasions she called him, he answered with “verbal insults” and said he was “just under the house catching internet Wi-Fi”. She believed Clement would sleep in his car, only to discover the next morning that he had pitched a tent under the house and slept there. A neighbour who confirmed the account said it was “unnerving” and that she even felt “unsafe at the time”. She described the relationship between the tenant and Clement as “unusual and always ‘grey’”. She said the tenants had been renting the property for over a decade, and that Clement “appeared to come and go” from the property. Clement admitted to staying at the home overnight, but argued the tent was for storing tools and that he only slept in it for one night. He told the tribunal that his rental agreement gave him the right, as the owner, with “access at all times, with reasonable notice, for upgrading repairs … etc” and that the house “may need to be vacated by [the tenant] for occasional visits and staying of friends”. However, the tribunal ruled that the agreement was “entirely contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, which only allows a landlord to enter the property during the rental period with the tenant’s consent, in an emergency, or with minimum notice given. "Importantly, even if a tenant has given consent to the landlord to enter the premises, the tenant is able to withdraw that consent at any time, and if consent is withdrawn, then the landlord would need to leave immediately," tribunal adjudicator Rex Woodhouse said. As well as paying damages, Clement was ordered to pay an additional $1000 ($AUD 900) for the property having no or ineffective underfloor insulation. "There is a very strong interest for tenants, landlords and the public generally, to ensure tenancies are safe and secure, and tenants being able to preclude landlords from entering or staying on the premises falls within that expectation," Woodhouse said. Georgie Rogers, the resident of advocacy group Renters United, said tenants can go to the police if their landlords are harassing or threatening them. "But the convoluted way of going to the Tenancy Tribunal is the only way for tenants to access their rights," Rogers said. But, he said tenants could be named and blacklisted if their claims were unsuccessful. Image: Getty Images

Legal

A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. Often people think about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as something historic, dating back to the 1970s. But it should also be thought of as a site of the longest protest for Indigenous land rights, sovereignty and self-determination <a href="https://www.echo.net.au/2021/10/50-years-of-aboriginal-tent-embassy/">in the world</a>. In fact, this year, the Tent Embassy is set to celebrate its <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/blackfishing-alt-right-pushes-to-co-opt-aboriginal-tent-embassy-to-cause-20220105-p59lzj.html">50th continuous year of occupation</a>. Demonstrating its significance to Australian history, it was included on the <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6068943/the-aboriginal-tent-embassy-has-been-left-off-the-act-heritage-list/">Commonwealth Heritage List</a> in 2015 as part of the Old Parliament House precinct. In this momentous year, it’s worth remembering how the Tent Embassy came to be and what it has continued to stand for since its erection in 1972 – and the significance it still has today. <h2>Aliens in our own land</h2> The Tent Embassy began its public life on January 26 1972. On that day, Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams and Tony Coorey left Redfern and drove to Ngunnawal Country (Canberra), where they planted a beach umbrella opposite Parliament House (now known as Old Parliament House). They erected a sign that said “Aboriginal Embassy”. With them on that day was their driver, Tribune photographer Noel Hazard, who captured the event in a series of photos. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440344/original/file-20220111-15-1n5yt6q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on Australia Day in 1972. National Museum Australia The term “embassy” was used to bring attention to the fact Aboriginal people had never ceded sovereignty nor engaged in any treaty process with the Crown. As a collective, Aboriginal people were the only cultural group not represented with an embassy. According to Aboriginal activist and scholar Gary Foley, the absence of an Aboriginal embassy in Canberra was a blatant indication <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/first-australians/politics-and-advocacy/activists-aboriginal-tent-embassy-lawns-old-parliament-house">Aboriginal people were treated like aliens in their own land</a>. Initially, the protesters were making a stand about land rights following the then prime minister William McMahon’s speech that <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/welcome/mls-indigenous/home/mls-classroom-photo-mural-initiative/classroom-photos/tent-embassy">dismissed any hope for Aboriginal land rights</a> and reasserted the government’s position on the policy of <a href="https://australianstogether.org.au/discover/australian-history/a-white-australia/">assimilation</a>. The Tent Embassy was therefore a public display of our disapproval of and objection to the policies and practices of the government. In later years, it has become an acclaimed site of our continued resistance to the continuity of colonial rule. <h2>Demands of protesters</h2> Police who were patrolling the area at the time of the Tent Embassy’s erection asked the protesters what they were doing outside Parliament House. They said they were protesting and would do so until the government granted land rights to Aboriginal people. The police were said to have responded, “<a href="http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p72441/pdf/article0712.pdf">That could be forever</a>”. As it turned out, it was not illegal to camp on the lawns of Parliament House, so the police could not remove them. Later, on February 6 1972, the members of the Tent Embassy issued their list of demands to the government. The demands were clearly about our rights as Aboriginal people to our homelands, regardless of the fact cities were now built on the land or mining companies were interested in the bounties within. Compensation was called for in the instances where the lands was not able to be returned. There were also demands for the protection of our sacred sites. While the McMahon government cared little about negotiating with the protesters, the leader of the Opposition, Gough Whitlam, visited the Tent Embassy and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/21/gough-whitlam-remembered-a-true-leader-for-indigenous-australians">publicly proclaimed a promise of Aboriginal land rights</a> under a future Labor government. There was widespread support for the Tent Embassy from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and allies across the continent, and indeed the world. Media attention also grew as it became obvious the Tent Embassy and protesters were not going to move on. Other Aboriginal activists joined the embassy, including Foley, Isabel Coe, John Newfong, Chicka Dixon, Gordon Briscoe and many others. <h2>Forced removal and revival</h2> The government was not too keen on being reminded Aboriginal people were demanding rights, so it <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/welcome/mls-indigenous/home/mls-classroom-photo-mural-initiative/classroom-photos/tent-embassy">amended</a> the Trespass on Commonwealth Lands Ordinance to make it illegal to camp on the lawn of Parliament House. This gave the police the authority to remove the protesters. The ordinance was but a few hours old when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j3Rq2Tryo">police attempted to forcibly remove the embassy</a>. They did so to the roar of the crowd chanting “land rights now”. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOIvHE0tJAk">violent confrontation with police</a> ensued. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOIvHE0tJAk?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> On September 12 1972, the ACT Supreme Court ruled against the use of the trespass laws, and the Tent Embassy was temporarily re-erected before being removed again the following morning. Then, at the end of 1972, the Coalition government led by McMahon lost the federal election to Labor. Whitlam was able to keep his promise in part – he did give the land title deeds to the Gurindji people. This was captured in the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-01/mervyn-bishop-australias-first-aboriginal-press-photographer/8655130">historical photo</a> by Merv Bishop of Whitlam pouring a fistful of dirt into Vincent Lingiari’s hand. While this iconic image has become a demonstration of what might be possible, the work of the embassy is not yet done. Land rights across the continent have yet to be fully achieved. The Tent Embassy was re-established the following year and remained until activist <a href="https://commonslibrary.org/the-aboriginal-tent-embassy/">Charles Perkins negotiated its removal</a> pending the enactment of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1976. In the ensuing years, it occupied several other sites around Canberra, including the site of the current Parliament House. In 1992, it returned to its original site on the lawn of Old Parliament House to mark the 20th anniversary of the original protest. Eleven years later, much of the Tent Embassy was destroyed by fire in a <a href="https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/end-aboriginal-tent-embassy">suspected case of arson</a>. The police once again attempted to remove protesters from the site under <a href="https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/tent-embassy-under-further-attack">orders from federal government’s National Capital Authority</a>. <h2>An enduring symbol of protest</h2> Today, the Tent Embassy remains on the lawns of Old Parliament House as a reminder of the successive failures of subsequent governments to address the demands for justice represented by the embassy and its people. As <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Aboriginal-Tent-Embassy-Sovereignty-Black-Power-Land-Rights-and-the/Foley-Schaap/p/book/9780415839518?gclid=CjwKCAiAz--OBhBIEiwAG1rIOuFlzGCUJvLxLafzUlJZ_D1uyMj0Tz9J_YFIEwcLS0kMzAffvRc_7hoCxwUQAvD_BwE">Foley reflects</a> in his history of the embassy: <blockquote> That it has endured for [five] decades as a potent symbol rejecting the hypocrisy, deceit and duplicity by successive Australian governments is a testament to the refusal of large numbers of Aboriginal people to concede defeat in a 200-year struggle for justice. </blockquote> Nowhere else in the world have we seen such longevity around a site of protest. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is an impressive achievement that demonstrates the tenacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our continued fight for the reclamation of our lands and sovereign rights as First Nations peoples.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174693/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bronwyn-carlson-136214">Bronwyn Carlson</a>, Professor, Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lynda-june-coe-1305919">Lynda-June Coe</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the-aboriginal-tent-embassy-an-indelible-reminder-of-unceded-sovereignty-174693">original article</a>. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Real Estate

Foolproof tips for first-time campers

When planning a trip, many people prefer to tone it down with a camping holiday in the bush, rather than embark on a city escape. For first-timers, there’s a lot of things that can either make or break your next camping trip, and it’s always good to be prepared for any situation. Speaking on Today Extra, expert organiser Anita Birges has shared her top tips to make your next camping trip a success. The tent is everything Anita recommends picking a tent with “plenty of room”, which can make or break a trip when travelling with large groups or with kids. In terms of pitching your tent when you reach your destination, Antia advises to pick a shady spot that is clear of hanging branches, and to practice pitching your tent in the backyard before you embark. Anita also recommends staying at a powered campsite that has access to amenities such as toilets and barbecues, especially for first time campers. Invest in your mattress Camping is no fun if you’re too tired to enjoy it, so invest in some good quality air mattresses that are easy to blow up. Alternatively, double sleeping bags are a good idea, giving you the chance to snuggle up with your partner on colder nights to keep warm. Go all out with extras Anita recommends going all out with the extras to make sure your camping trip is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Extra items such as a gazebo, folding chairs and compact table are sure to make any trip easier. As well as these extra luxuries, essentials such as a good-sized esky, first aid kit, cleaning items and an abundance of toilet paper are a must. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Cleo Smith: Tent zipper detail revealed as army called in

Image: Facebook Members of the Australian Defence Force have joined the search for missing four-year-old girl Cleo Smith after police revealed an important new detail that casts doubt on the theory she simply wandered off. Cleo has been missing for six days now after vanishing from her parents’ tent during a during a weekend camping trip. She woke up at 1:30 am on Saturday and asked her mum Ellie for a drink. When Ellie and her partner Jake Gliddon woke up at about 6am, the little girl was gone. Search efforts around the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, about 70km north of Carnarvon, have proven fruitless, prompting concerns she was abducted. On Wednesday, four members of the army assisted SES volunteers in the search. They were seen launching a drone over the desolate shrubbery. Thursday marks a sixth straight day of search efforts around the area. But the theory that she was abducted is becoming more likely with police revealing a key detail on the tent the family had been sleeping in. When Ellie woke up, one of the flaps in the tent was already opened. Police say the zipper was too high for it to have been opened by Cleo. “The tent certainly has multiple entries,” inspector Jon Munday said. “One of the major circumstances that has given us the cause for alarm for Cleo’s safety is the fact that one of those zippered entryways was opened. “The positioning of that zipper for the flap is one of the circumstances that has caused us to have grave concerns for Cleo’s safety.” Up to 20 registered sex offenders in the area are now under the microscope of police and have been spoken to. The national appeal was earlier issued amid fears Cleo was taken interstate. The police agencies in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia all shared online the West Australian Police’s post with images and information about the missing girl. Munday says, however, that police will remain at the Blowholes for the time being, with the focus moving from “high probability” areas to less likely locations. “We will be here until we are satisfied that Cleo is not in this area, we have searched thoroughly all the high probability areas,” he said. “We are now extended into further reaches of the places where Cleo could have possibly walked her.” “We are hopeful that Cleo is still alive and we’re operating on the premise that she is still alive, so we’re going to keep searching until we find her.” Ellie and Jake spoke earlier this week to plead for anyone with information to come forward.

News

6 tips for choosing the perfect campsite

The right spot on a campsite can make or break your camping trip. Here are six tips to help you find the perfect spot the pitch a tent. 1. Flat, flatter, flattest First things first, look for the flattest spot you can find. This means both that the ground is not on a slope (which could leave you sleeping on an angle) and that the surface of the ground is also flat. You want to avoid any holes, ridges, or large mounds of grass. Beware of depressions in the ground – if it rains there’s a good chance you’ll end up with a puddle beneath you. 2. Smooth things over It’s always a good idea to give your site a quick sweep before you set up your tent. Remove any rocks, sticks or other objects that could make for an uncomfortable sleep or even tear your tent. Ideally, you should be able to set up on something relatively smooth, even and soft like grass or sand. 3. Look out for anthills We really can’t stress this enough. Nothing (really, nothing) will ruin your camping trip faster than a tent full of ants. These little guys will find you before you know it, so do a thorough check of the area around your site. 4. Be smart with shade The sun can very quickly progress from pleasantly warm to searingly hot, so you’re going to want some shade. Position yourself close to some trees that will provide shade in the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest. Give the trees a good once over before selecting your spot and make sure there are no branches that are dead or look unstable. A strong wind can easily bring one down on you. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33971/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (93)"/> 5. Get some privacy If you’re camping at an established campground, you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of the most popular thoroughfare. Try to stay at least one site back from roads or paths where people will walk frequently. Avoid choosing a site too close to the amenities blocks or right by the barbecues as these can be noisy at all hours of the day (and night). 6. Pick the right neighbours Setting up next to a large family with lots of young kids or a bunch of blokes on a beer and fishing trip could spell disaster. If you want peace and quiet, choosing the right neighbours will make all the difference. Do a quick scan when you arrive and try to work out which co-campers are going to suit you best. Are you a serious camper? What tips would you suggest? Share them with the Over60 community in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/10/5-reasons-to-start-wrapping-your-luggage-in-plastic/">5 reasons to start wrapping your luggage in plastic</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/10/major-airline-replaces-meals-with-chocolate-bars/">Major airline replaces meals with chocolate bars</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/10/sleep-better-in-a-hotel-room/">10 tips for a better night’s sleep in a hotel room</a>

Travel Tips

6 of the world’s best camping destinations

Forget your local caravan park, the world is full of incredible camping spots that have to be seen to be believed. And some of them don’t even need you to pitch your own tent. 1. Miyajima, Japan The famous red tori gate rising from the water at Miyajima is one of Japan’s most iconic sights. Travel to Miayajima, known as the Island of the Gods, and you can camp almost in the shadow of the famous gate. The island is threaded with beautiful hiking trails, including one to the top of the sacred Mt Misen. In typical Japanese fashion, the camp sites and well kept and also offer modest cabins. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25256/shutterstock_391891114_498x245.jpg" alt="china camping" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 2. Patagonia, Chile Camp (almost) at the end of the earth. The Patagonia region of South America covers the southernmost tip of the continent and is an incredible, rugged wilderness of mountains, lakes, glaciers and vast snowfields. Spend your days hiking, horseriding, kayaking and looking for rare wildlife. Given that it gets seriously cold down here, you’ll be camping in a sustainable geodesic dome that is part of a larger complex that includes restaurants, bars and yoga domes. 3. Wadi Rum, Jordan Live like a Bedouin in the vast Wadi Rum desert of Jordan. The landscapes are truly otherworldly, which explains why a number of space movies have been filmed here including, most recently, The Martian. The desert is completely dark at night, making for incredible stargazing. You can take a tour on the back of a camel, have tea with Bedouin families and eat dinner cooked over an open fire. Traditional tents are pitched on the sand and beds made with plenty of local blankets – it drops well below freezing at night. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25255/shutterstock_178038215_498x245.jpg" alt="wadi rum" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 4. Uluru, Northern Territory One of the world’s great campsites is just across the Tasman. There’s nothing like watching the sun rise over Uluru as the ancient rock seems to glow from within. You can’t camp within the national park itself, but the official campsite is only a short drive from the rock itself. The area is fantastic for hiking, wildlife spotting or cultural excursions, and you can cool off at the end of the day with a dip in the camp swimming pool. 5. Canyonlands, Utah This is one for the campers who want to really get away from it all. There are designated campsites in the park, but the real fun is in free camping where you can choose just about any spot in the park to pitch your tent. It’s a dramatic landscape of deep canyons, steep cliffs and towering sandstone pillars in all colours of red and orange. Choose your spot carefully and you won’t see another soul. 6. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Camp on the edge of a 750,000 year old volcano on the Hawaiian island of Maui. With strict limits on campers you’ll be one of only a few who reach the summit at sunrise, a breathtaking sight. Active travellers can hike to the two wilderness campsites that are closest to the summit, though there are also drive-up sites that can be reached by car. Have you ever pitched a tent at one of these famous locations? Where’s your favourite place to camp? Let us know in the comments. Related links: <a href="/travel/international/2016/07/6-of-the-best-european-beaches-to-visit/">6 of the best European beaches to visit</a> <a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2016/07/the-story-behind-that-wanaka-tree/">The story behind that Wanaka Tree</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/07/7-best-beaches-on-australias-east-coast/">7 best beaches on Australia’s east coast</a>

International Travel

Lion licks water off camper’s tent

On the list of sights you never want to experience as a new camper, we think the one featured this video is pretty close to the top. Francie Lubbe and her partner were camping in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Botswana when they noticed something strange happening on the mesh barrier of their tent. Two lionesses lick water off the tents. Lubbe shows incredible poise to capture the remarkable footage – we would’ve been quaking in our boots! Lubbe posted the footage on Facebook shortly after. "What a privilege. It rained during the night and three lioness licking the water from the tent," she wrote in another post with the below photograph. We’re glad they saw it that way. We would have been scared out of our skins! Have you ever seen a lion, or any other huge animal in real life? How did you react and did anything remarkable happen that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments. Video credit: Facebook / Francie Lubbe No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card. <a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au" target="_blank">To apply for a card today, click here.</a> Related links: <a href="/travel/international/2016/05/aerial-tour-of-beautiful-flower-field-in-the-netherlands/">Aerial tour of beautiful flower field in the Netherlands</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/05/10-gorgeous-photos-from-seaside-towns-in-italy/">10 gorgeous photos from seaside towns in Italy</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/8-photos-london-mysterious-beauty/">8 photos reveal mysterious side of London</a>

International Travel

10 incomparable views from tents

There’s many reasons to go camping: you love the outdoors, you enjoy the freedom and it’s a fun, healthy and cheap escape. But if there’s only one reason to choose it must be the view you get to enjoy – the sort of view you can only get when you go camping. What view would you most like to wake up to? <img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10471/1.jpg" alt="1 (96)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10472/2.jpg" alt="2 (100)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10473/3.jpg" alt="3 (98)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10474/4.jpg" alt="4 (90)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10475/5.jpg" alt="5 (86)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10477/6.jpg" alt="6 (83)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="375" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10478/7.jpg" alt="7 (76)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10479/8.jpg" alt="8 (70)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10481/9.jpg" alt="9 (57)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="321" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10482/10.jpg" alt="10 (43)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/outdoors/2015/09/sydneys-best-picnic-spots/">Sydney’s best picnic spots</a> <a href="/lifestyle/outdoors/2015/09/beautiful-gorges-in-australia/">5 breathtaking gorges to explore in Australia</a> <a href="/lifestyle/outdoors/2015/09/best-aussie-wildlife-experiences/">3 must-have Aussie wildlife experiences</a>

Domestic Travel

5 tips for choosing the right tent

When you’re off camping preparation is key and taking the wrong tent could turn your camping trip into a not-so-happy adventure. Read our guide to ensure you select the best tent for you and your family. Here is what you need to consider before buying: Number of people using the tent Take those recommendations of a “four-man tent” with a grain of salt – they mean four people can snugly fit in it with not much space to move around or for equipment and so on. For a four person family trip, you might be better suited to a six person tent if you’re after some room. So think about what space you need and what you want stored in the tent too. Easy to pitch Some tents are seemingly perfect except they take a small army to set up. Before you buy, make sure you find out how easy (or difficult) it is to pitch your tent. Conditions you will use the tent There are different tents for different environments. A summer tent will naturally be designed for warm conditions and made with lightweight material. If you’re after a more durable tent that can survive rain and wind, consider a three season tent. Material of tent Many of the cheaper tents might say they’re waterproof but turn out not to be as waterproof as you would like when the rain comes down. While canvas tents are waterproof, they become heavy when water is absorbed. Nylon or polyester tents are waterproof too but not as durable as canvas. Check seams and zips of tent as well as quality of pegs and strength of tent poles. Additional features If you’re buying a tent to last the distance, it’s worth considering the additional features that would make life easier in the long run such as number of doors (two doors stops people clambering over each other), number of windows (helps ventilation), storage pockets, size of awning and the space to add accessories in the future. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/abandoned-puppy-rescued-on-christmas-eve/">Abandoned puppy rescued on Christmas Eve doesn’t look like this anymore</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/spot-the-cat-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you spot the cat hidden in this picture?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/why-coffee-can-be-good-for-you/">Why giving up coffee could do you more harm than good</a>

Domestic Travel

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Lion licks water off camper’s tent

10 incomparable views from tents

5 tips for choosing the right tent