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Published: April 26th 2007
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G’day!
So, we last wrote just before we set off for Fraser Island.
Day one of our 3 day, 2 night self drive 4x4 tour started at 6:30am!!! We got up and were promptly put into our groups of 11, which happened to include some friends we met in Airlie Beach. We then chose a main driver, someone who would do most of the driving and also have the last say in arguments about what to do next etc, a team leader if you will. So guess who got the job, oh yes yours truly!!!! After that we all put in money for food and booze and our two elected food shoppers went off to get supplies. We then all headed to our vans, my first taste of driving the beast, and drove down to the hire company for a formal briefing where we were basically told how to drive the vans and what to do while we were on the island. By 10am we were on the ferry bound for Fraser Island!
As soon as we got off the ferry I had my first experience of off road driving and you could really feel the power
of the van! And if I do say so myself I think I did a pretty good job considering my off road experience is zero. After a bit of off roading we got to the east beach which is the main road on Fraser Island although there is actually no road!! Our first stop was Lake Wabby, after a 40 minute bush walk we came across this beautiful fresh water lake surrounded by high banked sand dunes and then proceeded to bathe in it for the next hour. Further along the beach was stop two, Eli Creek, a lovely clear river running into the sea which you could access at the top via a boardwalk and float back down with the current. Most people do this once but I think we did it at least 5 times!! After lunch we headed to stops three and four, which were, a washed up ship wreck and some colored sand mountains. We then headed to camp as we had to be off the beach by 4:30pm as that was when it would be high tide. At camp, after a scary talk about snakes and spiders etc with the camp manager, we set up
our tents, made dinner and then settled in for the evenings drinking games!! When it came to bedtime Verity and I actually ended up sleeping in the van both nights as one, it was a bit of a squeeze fitting 11 people in two tents and two, anyone who knows me well, knows I’m terrified of all things small and creepy!!!!
Day two and in the morning we headed to another lake which although was good as we saw fresh water turtles was on the whole, a bit of a disappointment. In the afternoon we headed to The Champagne Pools which were deep rock pools that you can swim in and as the waves crash over the water flows down looking like champagne. After that we headed to Indian Head, a look out point where you could see Stingrays and Tiger sharks. In the evening we had another nice meal and round of drinking games but this time we spent a fair bit of time being terrorized by a “wolf” spider!! We had actually seen the same spider the night before but had thought nothing of it as it didn’t really move all night. This night however some of
our group had been educated about such things as they had been taken on a bush walk and knew that this spider was not only aggressive but could also put you in hospital if it bit you. So when it decided to make its web from the ceiling of the eating area to the floor, the whole camp was going a bit crazy!! At one point it even landed on Stuart, a guy in our groups' head!! Luckily he had a cap on though. After a while though the ranger came down and swiftly killed it!!!
Day three saw more lakes, the best being famous Lake McKenzie which had perfectly clear water and white sand beaches and was our spot for the best part of the afternoon before we set off for our ferry back to Hervey Bay. In the evening, we were all exhausted but managed to drag ourselves out for a Chinese buffet.
The next day we parted ways with the group except for Steven (Sunderland), Steph and Chris (Middlesborough), who we had met back in Airlie beach. We all headed to Noosa, our main reason for this was the free bus ride we had been
Deadly Dingo!
There actually quite timid! told we could get to Australia Zoo which we had all booked for Monday. Although Noosa turned out to be a pretty cool place too.
Australia Zoo is Steve Irwin and family’s Zoo and was an amazing place where we got to pat Kangaroos, cuddle Koala’s, feed Elephants and watch amazing shows going on throughout the day, which included the feeding of Crocodiles and Tigers. It was also really sad as you could really feel the presence of Steve Irwin around the place and going there makes you realise how much he did for Animal conservation in Australia and how much he is missed.
The next day took us to Brisbane and was to be our last night with Steve, Steph and Chris our travel companions for the last ten days so we all went out and consumed a rather large amount of Goon (cheap boxed wine which all travelers in Aus drink).
We are now in Byron Bay and enjoying a few days of chilling on the beach!
Until next time,
G&V
xx
ps. On Sunday we reached the half way point in our trip! pretty scary as its gone so quick and
Verity, Gary and Leno the Koala.....
whom Verity later tried to run off with. now any time we have left is nothing compared to how long we've been going.
pps. more photo's to come!!
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