can spiral into chaos when grief, loneliness, and fear collide. What begins as a simple camping getaway with friends soon becomes a night John won’t forget—one

that forces him to confront not just the wilderness, but the emotional void left behind by Irene’s departure.

A Man Adrift After Irene’s Goodbye

John has been quietly unravelling since his best friend Irene left Summer Bay less than two weeks ago. Their bond ran deep, built on years of shared laughter, mutual support, and an unspoken understanding that neither would ever truly be alone. When Irene announced her world tour, John struggled to process the loss. He barely managed to say goodbye, almost missing her leaving party altogether as he sat alone in the Surf Club, weighed down by emotions he couldn’t articulate.

Although Irene tried to soften the blow with a touching farewell gift—a return flight to Paris and a promise that they’d reunite under the Eiffel Tower—John’s loneliness lingered. Her letter reminded him of the importance of looking after one another, but it also highlighted just how empty his days had suddenly become.

A Dinner That Revealed More Than Intended

Determined to reassure those around him, John hosted an uncharacteristically lavish dinner at Salt for Justin, Leah, Alf, and his ex-wife Marilyn. In a move that surprised everyone, he insisted on paying for the entire meal. Over dinner, he proudly shared updates from Irene’s travels, passing around a selfie from Cyprus and revealing plans to meet her in Paris in six weeks’ time.

Raising a toast, John insisted the dinner was simply about friends reconnecting. “You don’t need to worry about me,” he told them earnestly. Yet once the night ended and his friends drifted away, the cracks in his brave front became impossible to ignore. Alone on Salt’s balcony, John finally allowed himself to grieve, a single tear betraying the pain he’d tried so hard to hide.

Justin’s Attempt to Help—And a New Obsession

Justin quickly realised that John’s generosity wasn’t about celebration—it was about curing his crushing loneliness. In response, he organised a poker night at the Morgan house, hoping to provide John with some much-needed companionship. Alf joined in, and David later turned the friendly game into a real gamble, leaving John $300 poorer by the end of the night.

Despite Justin’s fears that the evening had gone wrong, John had a fantastic time—perhaps a little too fantastic. The next day, brimming with enthusiasm, he presented Justin with a copy of Coastal News Weekender, packed with “50 unique bonding activities.” Declaring Justin the group’s new social secretary, John excitedly suggested regular catch-ups, bowling nights, and even daily outings.

Justin was forced to gently rein him in, explaining that the group couldn’t realistically meet every day. The rejection stung, even if John pretended it didn’t. Molly, overhearing the conversation, stepped in to comfort him, only for John to insist he was fine, handing her the magazine and suggesting she find something fun to do with Abigail.

A Camping Trip Is Born

Inspired by the magazine, Molly soon hatched a plan of his own: a camping trip away from Summer Bay with John and Tane. For Tane, the escape couldn’t come at a better time. Life at home had become awkward after inviting Harper and baby Archie to live with him and Cash. Although tensions had eased slightly—Harper encouraging Tane to pursue Jo and admitting she planned to start dating herself—a break from the Bay promised some much-needed breathing space.

For John, the trip represented something even more important: proof that he wasn’t alone, that his community still cared deeply for him.

Paradise… With a Catch

As the trio set off, John was in high spirits, regaling his captive audience with stories from his Navy days. Upon arriving at the campsite, he declared enthusiastically, “Welcome to paradise!” Clearly touched by the effort his friends had made to lift his mood, John seemed more like his old self again.

But it soon became clear that his confidence didn’t extend to the wilderness. Despite years of tales about surviving at sea, John struggled to pitch his tent, providing plenty of amusement for Molly and Tane. The group bonded over playful pranks, including convincing Tane he’d accidentally eaten kangaroo droppings—an incident that had everyone in stitches.

For a moment, it seemed the camping trip was exactly what John needed.

When Night Falls, Fear Takes Hold

As darkness crept in, the tone shifted dramatically. Gathered around the campfire, Molly began telling traditional Indigenous stories—far more unsettling than John anticipated. Unknown to him, Molly was deliberately setting the stage for a prank involving the legendary “hairy man.”

The stories left John genuinely rattled. Retreating to his tent, he found himself unable to sleep, every rustle and shadow fuelling his fear. His imagination ran wild. Was something out there? Was the hairy man real?

By morning, John was a bundle of nerves. Cooking breakfast with shaking hands, he was desperate to pack up and leave as quickly as possible. To Molly and Tane’s confusion, John insisted they abandon the trip and head straight back to Summer Bay. Realising his prank had gone too far, Molly reluctantly helped him pack up, guilt written all over his face.

A Fright That Brings Clarity

While the camping trip may have terrified John out of ever wanting to sleep under the stars again, it achieved something unexpected. The ordeal reminded him just how much comfort and happiness he finds in the familiar rhythm of life in Summer Bay—and in the people who surround him.

After a night spent terrified in his tent, coming home never felt so good. Surrounded by friends, laughter, and community, John begins to rediscover a sense of belonging he feared he’d lost with Irene’s departure.

The question now is whether this unsettling experience marks a true turning point. Has John finally begun to heal, or was the camping trip merely a temporary distraction from deeper pain still waiting to surface?

One thing is certain: Home and Away has once again proven that even the lightest adventures can reveal profound emotional truths—and that sometimes, it takes being scared out of your wits to remember where you truly belong.