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Published: December 3rd 2008
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Goodday everyone,
I know it hasn't been all that long since my last entry or that is how it feels to me, but I have been very busy. After getting the coach from Noosa to Rainbow beach I had a briefing for the Fraser Island self drive safari, where we were told everything from cooking, camping to avoiding the Dingo's! So we got put into groups, sorted out the important things such as who the drivers will be and how much booze we will need, the rest of the evening was spent getting to know each other.
The next day was an early start as we had more briefings and loaded the trucks ready to board the ferry. This is where the fun started, we got off the ferry and that was it we were free to go where we wanted and do what we liked. In my truck we decided to cruise around Hook's point and up pthe beach to then drive into Lake McKenzie. This is where we stopped for lunch and a few hours to chill and enjoy the beauty of the lake. After the fun and games of lake McKenzie it was time to head back to
the beach and go north to our camping zone for the first night. This was my first time to drive on the island and it was great fun, we had the ipod plugged in and everyone was buzzing looking forward to our 1st night camping on Fraser Island. Our camping site was right on the sand dunes by the beach, so after dinner it was down to the sea to wash up and then time to check out everyone else's camps/parties! It was a great 1st night with a group of Irish having their fiddle, drum, banjo and accordian, so the party vibe was very much an Irish one.
Day 2 of Fraser was first stop Eli Creek, so we walked up that and back down through the water, but the highlight of the day had to be Indian head and the Champagne pools where we saw a shole of baby sharks and a turtle! This is where we had our lunch (which turned out to be lettice sandwiches as the Dingo's ate our ham the night before!) before cruising back down the seamingly never ending beach to Maheno shiop wreck. After having a look around and taking it all
in a game of footie developed against a rival truck, although we were playing on the beach this beach happens to be the islands equivalent of the M4, but it was still a good game despite the odd 4x4 interupting it.
Before the sun went down it was time to set up camp which was planned to be a few 100m away from the wreck, it turned out there were 120 backpackers with the same idea of camping on this sand dune! Tents every where, sun setting, steaks cooking and sitting on the roof of the truck having a cold beer, this is what life is all about moment like this.
The good times didn't stop there though as day 3 we walked to lake Wabby which was also beautiful but in a different way to lake McKenzie. We then had to bomb it back to Hook's point to get the ferry back in order to hand the truck and all the kit back. That night was the after party back at Rainbow beach before heading off to Airlie beach the next evening.
So we got the overnight 16hour coach to Airlie just in time to check in and
board the British Defender which was our Whitbread around the world sailing boat for the next 3 days. Having met back up with the boys as they did Fraser with a different company, we joined another 23 people on board and head off for the Whitsundays!
Most of us got involved by winching up the sails and things before we got to Ravens beach on Hook island which our snorkling site for the afternoon. After a good snorkle we mored up in Hooks passage for the night. That evening we all chatted and played drinking games late into the night on the deck under the stars, not bad hey!
After a few hours sleeping in a hot bunk we then made our way to Whitsunday Island and the famous Whithaven beach. We relaxed here for a few hours and I must have seen 6-7 sting rays inches from me! That afternoon we went snorkling again but this time it was off Border Island at Pittstop bay. It was the best snorkling ever, we saw a turtle and swam with it for over 10 mins, AMAZING! we then came back to the boat on a high and jumped and played around
for a while before heading back to Hook's passage and playing another boat at vollyball.
It was another nice evening on the boat only this time a few of us decided to stay on the deck and just sleep under the stars.
The next and final day was supposed to be spent sailing but the weather was too good! and there wasn't enough wind so I entertained my self by challenging someone to a swimming race (I lost!). Once back in Airlie it was much like Fraser island with an after party and some goon by Airlie's lagoon.
I've now got off another overnight coach and landed in Cairns where I'm about to head to the Great Barrier Reef for a couple days diving from a dive boat.
Sorry it was such a long one but i've done a lot! I hope you enjoy the pictures and things are good at home with you all.
Lots of love Tom x
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