A new beach trend is making waves across Australia, sparking frustration among locals and tourists alike.

What began as a simple convenience has quickly turned into a controversy, with many questioning the entitlement behind it.

The actions of a few are now raising concerns about the values that have long been associated with Aussie beach culture.

A trend that’s been taking over Australian beaches has left many beachgoers fuming.

This new practice involves leaving expensive beach cabanas overnight to secure the best spots on the sand for the following day.

While this may seem harmless to some, others have called it out as selfish and un-Australian.

Beachgoers divided over cabanas left overnight to reserve spots. Image source: Instagram/@coolcabanas

Beach cabanas, often seen as a luxury addition to a summer day, have become the latest tool for beachgoers to mark their territory.

This bizarre act has been reported in Noosa’s Main Beach.

A couple, Michael and Emily, arrived early one morning only to find several cabanas already set up by the shore—abandoned and unoccupied.

'We got to the beach around 9:00 am and left at 11:30 am and they were empty the whole time,' Emily shared.

'Prime position! So selfish. Cabanas are controversial at the best of times but at least use them mindfully.'

‘I thought “how un-Australian!” Next time I see an empty cabana reserving a spot on the beach, I’m going to take it home and leave a note saying “thanks mate!”' added Michael.

This practice has sparked a lot of debate, with many parents expressing their dismay at what they see as entitled behaviour.

One mum slammed: 'JFC get a life. Can you not deal with ever not getting your way or things going perfectly according to your silly standards?'

Another woman found the whole thing perplexing, stating: 'Even though I still think it's an entitled thing to do, at least with towels on hotel pool chairs I understand the end goal.’

‘I just don’t get marking your territory with a cabana. It’s not like the beach will run out of space or anything?'

The controversy doesn't end with the cabanas.

A similar trend involving parkgoers in Wollongong saw people wrapping shaded park huts in cling wrap to save spots.

These behaviours have been widely criticised as selfish and inconsiderate, leading to plenty of outrage from the community.

One local expressed their frustration, calling the people involved 'morons.'

The phenomenon of reserving beach and park spaces with expensive accessories has left many Australians shaking their heads, wondering where the line will be drawn next.

In a previous story, we discussed how some beachgoers are using Glad Wrap to claim public gazebos and cabanas at the beach.

This unusual practice has become so common that the local council has stepped in.

Read the full story here.

Key Takeaways

• A new trend has emerged where beachgoers leave expensive cabanas overnight to secure prime spots for the following day, sparking frustration across Australia.
• This practice has been criticized as selfish and un-Australian, with many parents and beachgoers questioning the entitlement behind it.
• A couple, Michael and Emily, encountered the trend firsthand at Noosa’s Main Beach, where they found several abandoned cabanas, leading to outrage over the lack of consideration.
• Similar behaviours have been spotted in parks, with people wrapping shaded huts in cling wrap to reserve spaces, further fueling the debate about selfishness and inconsiderate actions in public spaces.

Has this behaviour gone too far? Is it just part of the modern beach culture?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Rhondda@Benji]

What a selfish and dangerous thing to do. I suppose when these entitled people arrive they just rip this plastic off and leave it on the beach so it ends up in the ocean to be swallowed by the turtles, dolphins and all the other sea life. The local councils should just take the WHOLE THING AWAY. If these self entitled people have more money than sense then anyone coming to the beach should just use these cabanas and if the owners don't show up by the end of the day they should take them home.

 

[tekkac]

If they are left, they should be removed by Council

 

[Annna]

If they are set up and left, a logical conclusion would be that they've been abandoned.

Any of these PLACE SAVING ITEMS at a beach/park at say 9am that are simply set up on the site with no owners present can then be deemed abandoned.

The right to confiscate should stem from the abandonment.

Those with authority on beaches/at parks should impound the items for quick online public sale with all proceeds going to the funding of public works at the sites.

Owners subsequently identified or those attempting to claim the items should be fined for littering (with a fine equivalent to time spent by authorities in taking down and impounding the items).

 

[Chris P Bacon]

Due to pressure over the past 3 years, our local Council Rangers arrive at beaches early in the morning and remove these.
From what I've seen these are mostly our arrogrant entitled imports.

 

[Toni Wrinkles]

I thought beach umbrellas and these cabanas we banned from the beaches back in the 70's and 80's because they were too dangerous when a wind blew up

 

[Rosi Gordon]

If they are left, they should be removed by Council

If nobody is around then it's abandoned and free for the pickings to anyone who needs a new one

 

[Ittybitty]

If they are empty, fill them up. If someone claims it let them take it. No skin off your nose. They don't pay for the space so it is free for all

 

[Still Ebby]

If nobody is around then it's abandoned and free for the pickings to anyone who needs a new one

lt would serve them right if they did get pinched and l'm surprised they haven't been

 

[Zemo]

What's that? Nobody around? Last time I looked, there was no "RESERVED" sign on any bit of sand around. Guess it must be abandoned/lost/misplaced. "Finders keepers" used to apply to anything not obviously owned by anybody, so tough titties, owner. You want it back? Simply apply to the address I left on the patch of sand where I found it. Can't find my address? Aw gee, it must have blown away ...

 

[Towing]

They should not be left there if the owners aren't on the beach or swimming. Unless they actually sleep in them overnight, which a few people do genuinely do, after sunset or before sunrise. Some people swim early before too many people crowd the area close to the open sand area. Some beaches are very crowded in hot area. At times we have had to search for an area for a large family to sit on chairs (close together) and average size blankets. I reckon they should also ban vehicles being driven or ridden on the beach. There has been accidents caused by that. How many vehicles have been rescued because they got bogged, especially when tide changes. In a strong tide the rescue vehicle drivers don't want to put themselves at risk to climb under a car to hitch it up. They may not necessarily have the right tread on their tyres for that. I know some volunteers. Some of those drivers are volunteers. The salt also causes rust. I have seen a vehicle which has been driven in surface with salt start to rust within 3 weeks.

 

[Jest]

what is UNAUSTRALIAN? I bet most were probably like me had the operation. I could maybe bet that they were mostly Australians. take your pick. the word unaustralian is one I detest and is overused.

 

[MaccaMan]

Abandoned and unoccupied cabanas are a free-for-all I'd say

 

[Quietkate]

People get over yourselves the beach belongs to everyone if you want a cabana, have one if you want to beat them get there earlier, the trouble is that we have too many entitled people in this country that live in resort areas who believe they have the only right to be on the beach. The cancer council has warned people for years about keeping safe in the sun so at last people have listened and are making sure they and their children are not over exposed to the sun.
But that doesn't suit everyone so you are supposed to get skin cancer just so some fool can have 3ins more sand, remember everyone is entitled to do what they wish in this country we are not America yet.

 

[Macarj]

what is UNAUSTRALIAN? I bet most were probably like me had the operation. I could maybe bet that they were mostly Australians. take your pick. the word unaustralian is one I detest and is overused.

WHY

 

[Zemo]

They should not be left there if the owners aren't on the beach or swimming. Unless they actually sleep in them overnight, which a few people do genuinely do, after sunset or before sunrise. Some people swim early before too many people crowd the area close to the open sand area. Some beaches are very crowded in hot area. At times we have had to search for an area for a large family to sit on chairs (close together) and average size blankets. I reckon they should also ban vehicles being driven or ridden on the beach. There has been accidents caused by that. How many vehicles have been rescued because they got bogged, especially when tide changes. In a strong tide the rescue vehicle drivers don't want to put themselves at risk to climb under a car to hitch it up. They may not necessarily have the right tread on their tyres for that. I know some volunteers. Some of those drivers are volunteers. The salt also causes rust. I have seen a vehicle which has been driven in surface with salt start to rust within 3 weeks.

Not only that, if somebody trundled their 4WD onto a beach and started playing silly buggers on sand and all of a sudden developed that sinking feeling in the sloppy sand, I'd stand back and lead the cheer squad. Bugger 'em. I'm assuming most of them would have no experience at beach driving and why should others have to rescue them?

 

[Maccaroons]

This has very little to do with sun safety and a lot to do with “I am pegging out my particular piece of real estate.
I believe there should de allocated areas either left or right of the flags for cabanas or only at the rear of the beach and they should be required to purchase a ”day cabana permit”. of say $10 per day issued by the surf club. See how many see them as a “must have” then

 

[Veggiepatch]

what is UNAUSTRALIAN?

YOU!!

 

[Veggiepatch]

This has very little to do with sun safety and a lot to do with “I am pegging out my particular piece of real estate.
I believe there should de allocated areas either left or right of the flags for cabanas or only at the rear of the beach and they should be required to purchase a ”day cabana permit”. of say $10 per day issued by the surf club. See how many see them as a “must have” then

The Indian or the Chinese flags....

 

[Maccaroons]

People get over yourselves the beach belongs to everyone if you want a cabana, have one if you want to beat them get there earlier, the trouble is that we have too many entitled people in this country that live in resort areas who believe they have the only right to be on the beach. The cancer council has warned people for years about keeping safe in the sun so at last people have listened and are making sure they and their children are not over exposed to the sun.
But that doesn't suit everyone so you are supposed to get skin cancer just so some fool can have 3ins more sand, remember everyone is entitled to do what they wish in this country we are not America yet.

who are the entitled ones ? Me thinks the cabana owners