20 Yr/O Taking a Younger Sibling on a Trip to Hobart? Is It Unsafe?

Lgarffi on 02/03/2016 - 21:32
Last edited 06/03/2016 - 23:42

Hi everyone,

As the subject suggests, I'm hoping to take my sister (11 years old) for a 3 day trip to Hobart.

However, after suggesting the idea to my parents, they weren't too keen. My parents think I'm not "old" enough to take responsibility for her and that she's too young to come along with me.

What do you guys think? Is it too dangerous for us to go alone? Or are my parents too overprotective?

I'm also female, and we're from Melbourne.
Thanks :)

Edit v.3 : Thanks for all the replies.

After some persuading, I have gotten my mum to give me the OK, but dad is strongly against it. So now my mum has decided to travel with us.

Travel

Comments

  • PurpleHippo on 02/03/2016 - 21:47
    +7

    Sure it'll be fine.
    Is the issue that Hobart is too dangerous, or that you are deemed too irresponsible? If the latter, asking a bunch of nobodies on the internet probably won't help change your parent's mind :)

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 00:50

      They think everywhere is dangerous lol.
      I don't know why she would think I'm irresponsible. It's not like I have done any 'bad stuff'…

    • mskeggs on 03/03/2016 - 08:12
      +7

      Hobart is a dangerous city.
      According to my research: http://www.numbeo.com/crime/city_result.jsp?country=Australi…
      it is more dangerous than many churches and with a higher risk of violent crime than some daycare centres.

      I wouldn't risk it without full cotton wool cladding for both you and your sister.

      • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 14:28

        hahaha thx for the statistics.

        I will keep your wise words in mind ;)

  • gringo on 02/03/2016 - 21:54

    Getting on a plane for 60 mins really no different from a train trip/car trip 60 mins away.

    If you want to go bushwalking maybe plan it out a bit.

  • altomic on 02/03/2016 - 21:56
    +9

    there are 20 year olds who have 4 kids under 5 years.

    you taking your 11 year old sibling is easy.

    • cDNA on 02/03/2016 - 23:16
      +3

      I see those cave people at the public hospitals all the time.

  • Marcsie on 02/03/2016 - 22:01
    -1

    lol

  • tj101 on 02/03/2016 - 22:05
    +4

    Maybe take your sister on a practise holiday for a weekend somewhere not too far away like Ballarat or Bendigo. It will show both you and your parents what you are capable of.

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 00:53
      +1

      Yeah, that sounds like a good idea

  • Clear on 02/03/2016 - 22:11
    +3

    I grew up there. It's perfectly safe and most of the crime happens up north. Something a lot of people from the mainland say is that they see police everywhere and that's not a bad thing. Very few people live in the city itself so it's practically empty at night.

  • pointless martyr on 02/03/2016 - 22:27
    +3

    Baghdad, mogadishu, compton …yes

    Hobart….no

    • Clear on 02/03/2016 - 22:32
      +5

      But Bagdad is a wonderful town.

      • cDNA on 02/03/2016 - 23:16
        +2

        no….fking….way

        that worked out well

        • Clear on 03/03/2016 - 09:12

          It's an ongoing joke for tour bus drivers to tell unsuspecting tourists that it's where the war was as they come to the Welcome to Bagdad sign.

  • cDNA on 02/03/2016 - 23:14
    +1

    If this was a savage country, your sex certainly plays a role (it's true).
    I'm sure they'd say something else if you were a 6 feet, strong and male.

    In Australia, I think it's safe to go so as long you can demonstrate that you know how to handle emergencies and act mature. Take your sis somewhere closer first.

    Parents start to be accepting after you do something over and over again while keeping them reassured that you're safe. They then realise they can't do jack and begin to place some trust in you.

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 01:08

      Yeah I agree, thats probably why my parents think I can't 'protect' her.

      I think Australia is a pretty safe place in general, as long as you have common sense to not walk in a dark alleyway at 2am…

      Yeah maybe I'll take her to the city for a day and see how that goes.

      • dasher86 on 03/03/2016 - 11:35
        +3

        In Melbourne it's common sense to walk in dark alleys at 2am in the morning. That's where many trendy bars are.

  • GameChanger on 02/03/2016 - 23:38
    +6

    I'm more concerned why you want to visit Hobart, surely you don't want to bore your sister?

    • tebbybabes on 03/03/2016 - 00:59
      +1

      I just came from Hobart 4 months ago! We had a really really good time! :)

      • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 01:01

        Awesome! Makes me want to go even more now…

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 01:00

      Hahaha Why not Hobart? :)

      • StewBalls on 03/03/2016 - 08:57
        +1

        My take on Hobart is that it comes across as a small town trying too hard to have a big city vibe…I don't dislike Hobart per se, but I feel that it lacks the charm of places like Launceston…just my $0.02. ;)

        FWIW OP, Hobart didn't come across to me as a particularly scary or unsafe place; as others have noted, so long as you exercise the usual commonsense, you'd be fine.

        • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 14:33
          +1

          Yeah I couldn't decide whether I should stop at Hobart or Launceston, so I just chose Hobart since it was the capital city…

          Thanks for your comment :)

        • mskeggs on 03/03/2016 - 17:25
          +2

          I like Hobart, but it does have a bad cultural cringe.
          I was there when the Myer store reopened recently after being burnt out years ago. A young woman who visited it the first day was interviewed in the newspaper for her comment:
          "It is so fancy. It's like you are in another state!"

          Brilliant!

        • Speckled Jim on 03/03/2016 - 19:19
          +1

          OMG and the actors here are so amateur. The local TV ads are at least 6dB louder than national ads…just proves an empty vessel makes a bigger noise.

          There's this local ad for a boutique in Hobart, and the voiceover ends with:
          "You'll think you're in Melbourne or Sydney!"

          I shit you not.

  • Flowerbomb on 03/03/2016 - 00:11

    That's a huge age gap!

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 00:54

      yep 8.5 years

    • lenlynn on 03/03/2016 - 01:13
      +3

      Now now, who was the accident?

      • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 01:20
        +4

        LOL nah my mum just decided to have another kid like 8 years later. Hahaha

  • Donaldhump on 03/03/2016 - 00:47
    +1

    be responsible.. you will be fine.

  • kima on 03/03/2016 - 07:31
    -5

    Hey Garffi pm me

  • Diji1 on 03/03/2016 - 08:51
    -4

    Dangers are everywhere!

    Internet: dangerous.

    Facebook: deadly, deadly danger.

    Mobile phone: deadly, dangerous! (Although not as dangerous as being "left behind" … because you will be totally "left behind" if you don't start using an operating system your grandmother can use. Or sometihng).

    Thank God for the Catholic Church and all those non-dangerous priests - you have to get your priorities right … right?

  • porkupine888 on 03/03/2016 - 10:17

    so are the plastic forks and knifes they allow you to use on the plane! we should all swim oh wait there are sharks and other happy sea creatures waiting for humans to sacrifice themselves…

    hobart's beautiful if you're into scenery and walking around a quiet town… will need a car or some sorta hitchhiking way to get around to other touristy places otherwise… good luck and persuade your parents by providing them a proper game plan. telling someone you want to go to the moon seems ambitious and out of this world but you can sell it with a proper plan :)

    sample plan as follows:

    6 am brekkie - self brought muffin, 8 am poop 9 am walk salamanca market, spend boat loads of money, 10 am, get pissed at the nearest pub
    11 am think about lunch @ Mures, don't forget to check out the awesome art hotel Henry Jones take lots of pictures to prove you actually visited the place and not photoshopped it out and was really @ maldives

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 14:39

      I should probably keep a few plastic knifes for safety purposes… :)
      Ok, a plan sounds like a good idea. Thanks!

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2016 - 13:21

    I just got back from tassie on the weekend. Even the junkies in hobart were quite polite. Their hospitals are a bit shit so don't hurt yourself. And you'll want to hire a car so you can travel out of hobart as there is lots of stuff to do nearby. I did enjoy launceston more, but there is better stuff to do near to hobart. it really depends on what you're into.

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 14:44

      I enjoy outdoor activities, so would you recommend going to Launceston or Hobart?

      Unfortunately I still haven't got my licence. :S facepalm
      I was hoping to be able to travel around by public transport or walking…

      • mskeggs on 03/03/2016 - 17:58

        I think you would easily fill a weekend around Hobart without a car. You can walk around the whole CBD in 20 mins, and the interesting Salamanca Markets are next door on a Saturday. The MONA museum can be reached by ferry. Port Arthur is well out of town, but there is a bus, and numerous (expensive) coach tours. And much of the fun is just walking around and seeing new things.

        • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 19:21

          Oh thats good then. I was thinking of visiting those places too, and maybe also try kayaking at Port Arthur.
          Thanks for your info! :)

        • redraoh on 05/03/2016 - 06:00
          +1

          @garffi: You could easily spend two days each at MONA and Port Arthur. Port Arthur is a good hour or two out of Hobart too.

          I wouldn't go to Launceston without a car.

  • WonderboyJim on 03/03/2016 - 19:35
    +1

    I , like others , would suggest you try a trip closer to home. Not necessarily close to home but somewhere that your parents will feel they are able to drive to in order to rescue you. take a V-line and head somewhere a long way off, so you will feel the freedom - but also your parents will feel they dont need to book transport to come get you in an emergency.
    As a parent of a 13 yr old girl I would be happy with that middle ground. :)
    Jim

    • garffi on 03/03/2016 - 20:55

      Ok, maybe I'll head to Ballarat for a day and see if that will gain their trust. Right now, they think my sister is too young to come with me.
      Thanks Jim

      • kima on 04/03/2016 - 08:22
        -1

        garffi, click on my name and press start a conversation with me please

        • Ridiculous Panda on 04/03/2016 - 13:25

          Do you also get ignored in real life or just on the internet?

        • kima on 04/03/2016 - 14:39
          -1

          @samBee: What a stupid thing to say.

  • kima on 04/03/2016 - 08:43
    -1

    You only live once and the best time to explore is when you are young, learn to fly.

  • ronnknee on 04/03/2016 - 21:08

    I reckon you and your sister would have a good time together. However, I guess in the end it's your parents final decision since your younger sister isn't old enough to make choices on her own.

    • garffi on 05/03/2016 - 20:35

      yeah I think the main problem is that my sister isn't old enough…

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2016 - 22:31

    Um I went to the Syrian border and I'm a nordic early 20s female and had no issues.

    Have your parents ever been to Hobart themselves? I haven't so can't speak on safety but what do they think your sister does with her friends? Can she sleepover at people's houses?
    It seems quite an incongruous mentality.

    Whatever happens i hope you have fun.

    • garffi on 05/03/2016 - 20:38

      They're fine with her sleeping over at friend's house.
      They can be quite stubborn… lots of persuading is needed.

      Thanks Beethoven!

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