Fraser Island pt.1, the ferry to the island forest of ancient land, ancient people

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Fraser Island has been on our bucket list for the past 15 years, we kept saying one day we will do it. "Father Time" waits for no one and the years rolled by. Beautifully, there comes a time in our precious given days when we grab the stuff of impulse and high adventure to find ourselves, up on the way on the open road, with magic at our fingers. Such was this beautiful day when Bilbo and Basho drove to Hervey Bay, booked passage with Unique Fraser, a small but highly recommended little 4wd adventure company.

Two fully loaded 4wds, packed with great driver guides, a beautiful indigenous guide "Nova", a deli of great food, bubbly, beer and much cheer from the touros of the day including Bilbo and Basho. Our 4wd's boarded the ferry at the dock for the 30 minute sea passage to the eastern shoreline of the worlds largest sand island. Once off loaded, it was a fascinating drive on the sandy forest trails through ever changing arborial delights to Lake Mackenzie, our first stop for the day.

In a designated picnic area, not far from the lake, we were treated to a stirring "Welcome to country" ceremony inspiringly given by Nova. Performed in traditional loin cloth, white body paint and clap sticks, Nova genuinely welcomed us all to his homeland of the Butchullor tribe, with his inspiring and heartfelt songlines and dance in native tongue. He gave us an indigenous insight into how his people lived and related to their homeland for tens of thousands of years. Reading not from books, but from watching and reading the signs of the natural world that became their way of life and in part their Lore. Traditional culture and Lore, has been handed down from the elders to the young initiates who would learn it, live it and pass it on. How wonderful to experience this first hand, I couldn't help but think how much we could all learn from the stuff of life from a simpler time.

After Nova's "welcome to country", hot coffee, a well laid out spread of fine aussie tucker, and then a short forest walk to the shores of Lake Mackenzie, where we soaked our feet in the purest fresh water and took in the view of this large spring fed forest lake.

Back in the 4wds, where wide eyed Bilbo rode up front with Hans our guide, who knew the island and its colonial and ancient history like the back of his hand. The trees, oh! the love of trees, Bilbo had rick neck from peering up through the windscreen to the high canopy, marvelling at the amazing biodiversity of the great standing ones and absolute uniqueness of this high energy place. Here all the magnificence of Creation is abundantly alive, bristling with the energy of a truly sacred ground. We travelled through a vast array of forest types until we hit the western shoreline, to tackle the 75 mile beach highway. You will have to wait for Fraser part two for that., much love and good wishes from this special place B & B

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Comments

[Rob]

Love it
Well written dazz. Felt like I was there with you both.

[bilbobasho]

thanks rob&nessa
pleased you shared our adventure, with us, parts 2 & 3 are pretty (as bruce would say) special, will publish in the next few days hopefully, stay tuned,all the very best to you all for the new year, love dazz and tess