Aussie's 'entitled' camping hack ignites wild debate

Can't find a free camping spot? Well, this bloke's got you covered... just not literally.

2 min read

October 10, 2024 - 10:52AM

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A simple Facebook post has ignited a heated debate among outdoor enthusiasts in the Free Camping Australia Facebook group.

The post shows a traveller's unconventional 'hack' to get around strict camping regulations, whereby he sleeps outside under the stars instead of setting up a tent.

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Image: Facebook

"I only rest"

The images he shared show a neatly set-up sleeping bag sprawled across a picnic table in a beachside park next to a car park.

The man also brought his pillow for extra comfort and a deflated swag to act as a makeshift mattress.

"Why I never camp is because you are never allowed to... he said.

"I only 'rest' for 24 hours because your allowed to."

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"Self-entitled animal"

His approach, however, was met with divided opinions.

On one side of the debate, people expressed disgust that he would turn a public eating place into his sleeping quarters.

“You like sleeping where people eat?” one commenter asked, while another more bluntly stated, “You’re a self-entitled animal.”

“Maybe if you do it in a bit more appropriate locations, not in plain sight or on benches where people eat,” someone else replied.

“Oh. Ok. Just imagine 16 other people all doing the same thing. You’d be ok with that?” one user posed.

“This is why we have rules...” another pointed out.

But not everyone was as harsh.

One user said, “Why is everybody so mean and negative? Scroll on. Have a great day.”

“I think some of you are taking offence to the table sleep a bit overboard, don’t you? You cannot seriously believe that any park bench, especially rest stops, are clean enough to eat from in the first place... It’s not like he is sleeping naked or pissing all over it or anything now, is it?” another group member pointed out.

“Why not... nothing wrong with what you're doing,” another supporter wrote.

Then the author himself replied to the negative comments, defending his behaviour —“Didn’t realise it’s so judgmental and righteous here. Traveling is a way of life, slept under the stars on most continents for free with priceless memories. A tip I’ve learnt is that no one pisses on tables, most people piss on the ground.”