I'm a 63 yo Aussie guy, who wants to do the GN thing. My Japanese child bride (16 yrs younger, so no spring chicken) isn't so easily convinced. I've used words like sunsets, scenery, wombats, kangaroos, sleep in, less stress etc. She has responded with ants, spiders, snakes, scorpions, no Master Chef and drop bears. C'mon guys (and ladies), what can I do, short of divorce, to convince her that it's a good idea?

G'Day Bruce and welcome to the forum. Have you tried or considered maybe an airconditioned tourist bus trip to one of the better locations with luxury accomodation to wet her appetite and maybe, just maybe she may become interested? Take her to a caravan and camping shows? Get plenty of travel brochures on bus tours in the outback or show her pictures on here of exotic ozzie destinations? Being in Cairns I assume she has been up to Kuranda on the train/chair lift etc? If not perhaps start with small trips around the place on bus tours to get her interest up, eg; O,Reilly's Plateau, Gold Coast etc. There are some people who are just not interested in any travel unless it is first class and motel type accomodation etc, etc or are home bodies just happy to be where they are. In which case you may have to be a solo traveller from time to time to satisfy your own travel needs.

take it in turn to choose holiday style. First time let her choose next time you choose then you would be half way there

Hi Bruce,
Welcome to the Forum.  For starters, all the insects, reptiles etc.[except the Drop-bears] she's just as likely to come in contact with at home at some time.  And as for Master-chef, you can have your TV with you.

So there is no argument there.

She might just be like one of my sisters, who won't even leave home to visit the rest of us.

In that case, why not just travel on your own when you feel the need ?

Cheers,
Sheba.

Hi Bruce,

Like those before me, welcome to the forum. As regards making travelling acceptable for wifey, why not as others have said, take her to the Caravan & Camping shows, and show her that the caravans are really flash and all but 1st class accomodation! One thing that hasn't been said though - is that you only have less than 5 minutes of housework at any given time!! Now that's got to work in your favour. Hope you have some luck with convincing her to at least give it a go - the OZ way!

Cheers

Pete & June

-- Edited by Pejay on Monday 27th of September 2010 07:20:32 PM

And also, she doesn't have to cook. You have just offered to do it all. If all else fails you go on your own. Have noticed others on here who have said they have left the wife at home.

Hey --Bruce My ex didn't want to travel ether,, She's now my ex,, Traveling solo is good ,divorce her,,

Hi Bruce, Listen to your woman, ask her suggestions, give her the lead otherwise you've got no hope. Could it be the tent, the work and the occasional camping disaster that turns her off. Does she do most of the work because to get what you want it has to be a united effort. As suggested try out the modern van, visit a caravan and camping show and study the subject at length, because we sold our house some years back and did not regret living in our van one little bit.
As park managers it is important to visit good parks at first, a bit more per night but a turn off if you strike a crooky. Free camp later and enjoy the interaction with fellow tourists and the comforts available these days in the modern RV. Get the DVD RV with Robin Williams, just for a laugh, because if you haven't got a sense of humour out there...well.
Be prepared to get your wallet out because it aint cheap.
Good luck Graham.

BBB, maybe a change of life style could be the thing. Like you doing the cooking and on the open fire or getting the water. doing the dishes in a bucket with cold water.. maybe shes the smart one.. sorry it just looks that way from the photo, and the tent thing???

The tent thing was during an extended camoing holiday in the mountains in Japan. Try it, sometime.

Whoops...camping in Japan. Whatsmore you haven't lived until wild Tanuki (Japanese racoons) raid your site overnight.

Hi Bruce. I know exactly where you're coming from. My brother married a Japanese girl and she too was horrified at the thought of camping, but she had the image of sleeping on the ground, cowboy style.
It's been a long slow learning experience for both of them. The main problem is the toilet. Not even a porta loo is acceptable. She once drove 20KM into town to use the toilet because there was a frog in the loo on a cousins property...a septic toilet near the shearers quarters.
And she is terrified of mice. Even a dead one.
I agree with all the advice before mine.

I should also say, we love her dearly, and she is very happy living here now that her English comprehension is so much better.
Good luck!

Take her on short holiday and stay in chalets in good CPs.

Thaks guys. I've showed her all your posts and she is slowly warming to the idea with the exception of divorce. (She reckons I put you up to that one). We start looking at vans next week. I told her that, within reason, she could choose. This could be a long process. She can take several weeks to decide which pair of shoes to buy.

Hi Bruce,

Good luck with your 'journey' to join us nomads - as the saying goes, it won't happen ovrnight, but it will happen. Be positive my friend.

-- Edited by Pejay on Wednesday 29th of September 2010 07:27:30 PM

some of these tv shows are on dvd too, so maybe take a portable dvd player with you for nights when there may be no reception..

its part of life in australia look how many of us travel the country and who here has been bitten by a spider ? snake and a drop bear come on now ? just leave the mrs at home if she cant be talked into it ,you will have to get some movies on australia ,trust me do it once with her then if shes not hooked give up and do it by yourself or a mate . geesi wish i could drag my old man away like that we are always so busy but i do look forward to the day we can go and go for months ?.

Bring her around to my van for a "chat". This park has everything and is a good example to get her into van mode. Check out the other van parks in Cairns. Most of them don't mind you checking them out. If you plan to free camp there's always the Gordonvale spot which I'm told is a beauty. There are always 2 sides to the story. Some have left their partner/spouse home and gone it alone for various periods, with both agreeing. I've never been bitten by anything either, except the travel bug. I do mean you are welcome to visit for a chat and maybe I could put her mind a ease about those pesky drop bears. I'm not sure how many Bundy's it takes, but it could be a project.

Thanks. I might take you up on that. Where are you staying?