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Published: February 10th 2007
We could not see the shuttle for the hostel we had booked and panicked a bit as the Greyhound had dropped us at an out of town shopping centre. But all was fine and we found the right bus after a phone call and some searching. The hostel we had booked was lovely: it was divided into self catering apartments. After we had dumped our stuff in our room we walked to the beach and took a stroll along it. This was the first time I have ever seen pelicans and as two of them swooped past us I did actually get a fright, they are massive and very impressive! We sat on the beach for a while just watching the pelicans and people walking past. While we were walking back along the beach we spotted some transparent jelly matter. Not too sure what it was we did not touch it. We did think for a brief moment that it was the stuff that whales sick up but after more consideration we ruled that out. We settled on the idea that it must just be a small jellyfish of some kind. We later asked some one and they confirmed it was
Me at Green Lake
I think that is its name, sorry if i am mistaken.most likely a jelly fish of some kind.
In the morning a bus came to pick up everyone that had to go down to the marina. We nearly missed this bus as we were late getting up and not really organised at all. However we did make it to the bus just in time. Once at the marina we had to sign in and get our boarding tickets for the ferry across to Fraser Island. We were both quite excited as lots of people had told us how great Fraser is, an adventure not to be missed..
The boat ride over to the largest sand Island in the world was fairly short and we were really quite excited when we docked. We then met our Ranger and the rest of the group. Back in Sydney when we booked our trip we had quickly decided to do the guided tour of Fraser. Not really sure why we decided this, think it was because it didn’t coast that much more and we thought it would be nice to be informed about the thing we were seeing. We dropped our bags at the fabulous cabins where we were set to stay
Green Lake
The water was so green due to the veg material on the bottom. and hopped on the bus. Well it is more like a lorry that has been converted into a bus. We had another guide with us, Craig as Greg was still in training, in fact this was his last three days before he became fully qualified. So we had two brains to pick about the Island.
After a very bumpy journey (along sand roads) we were at our first stop for the day. A lovely green lake which has dead vegetable matter at the bottom, cant remembers its name but I have a feeling it could be Green Lake on the other hand it could just be my brain making that up! It started to rain a bit when we got here so no one actually swam in the water but it was a nice sight. We then hoped back on the bus and Greg (the Ranger) dropped us off for a short walk through the forest. After a explanation from Greg about some of the wildlife and plants we were strolling through lush forest and followed a path along the river for a while. The water was so clear and sparklingly, you could see everything in the water. We
Hayley and Ian
On the beach at Lake McKenzie emerged out the forest on to the M5 where Greg was waiting for us.
Once on the bus we had another short ride to Lake McKenzie. This has to be one of, if not, the most picturesque lake I have ever witnessed with my own eyes. Not only is the water so clear and blue it is encased by trees and the sand surrounding it is pure silica sand, the finest sand the world has to offer. it’s the kind of sand that makes a scuffing sounds as your footprints make their mark. It was still fairly cloudy and not really hot but we couldn’t resist and had to go for a swim. The water was so soft. It was quite a busy spot though, with several groups turning up and leaving in the time we were there. We had decided to do a three day tour and were really pleased at this point that we had enough time to swim in the lake and not have to rush to do the whole Island in a day or even in two days.
That evening we had a meal made for us and a few drinks with the group,
Us
On the beach at Lake McKenzie, not that many people got in the water. we had a great group (it was great to meet you all if you are reading this). We finished off the night with a few drinks outside of our lovely cabin. We were really lucky and got to see some Sugar Gliders gracefully glide from tree to tree right outside! They are basically a squirrel with flaps from their arms to the body which allows them to jump long distances from tree to tree.
After a nice sleep and a cooked breakfast we were back on the bus and heading along the bumpy sand roads to the beach. Just as we turned on to the beach we saw a large male Dingo. Fraser is famous for the Dingo population and it is one of the things that attracts thousands of visitors every year. A lot of people had told us that while camping they got to see large numbers of them in the morning and at night just strolling around looking for food. We only saw the one but I can live with out waking up inside a flimsy tent with a wild dog just outside! We continued up the beach where our Ranger informed us we could go
Thommo with towel
showing the Aussie colours up in a plane to get a bird’s eye view of the whole Island. It wasn’t too expensive as the planes were just waiting around to take rich people back to the main land after their expensive day tours. So I jumped at the chance and with a few others from the group went up. I was even cheeky enough to ask if I could sit in the front alongside the pilot! The view was amazing and it felt so good to be up in a small plane again. After taking off from the beach (another first for me) we circled out offshore and went around the Island, it looks quite big from the sky. We could see sand blows and lots of lakes, even one that looks like a Butterfly.
We met back up with the rest of the group and saw the beached S.S Maheno. This was a luxury liner built to serve the trans -Tasman run. It was later used as a hospital shit in WW1 and at the end of its days was being towed to Japan for scrap metal when it was hit by a cyclone, the tow broke and it wreaked on the
beach of Fraser Island. It is still a lovely sight to see, even after it was used to target practice during WW2 and the sea has given it a good battering.
Our next stop along the beach was at Champagne pools. A rocky area where the sea piles in water with every big wave. There were lots of crabs and small fish around here. We then headed back down the beach to a point known as Indian Head. We walked up to the top to eat our packed lunches and look off the end to search for animals. We saw two turtles and a few birds. At certain times of the year you can see sharks and whales. It started to rain once again so it was back on the bus and up the beach to The Pinnacles. These are large sand formations where you can see the bandings of sand containing different elements. We then got to see the S.S Maheno again, this time with the tide coming in. The last stop on the beach was at Eli Creek Boardwalk, where we walked in the pristine water and watched a little boy trying to throw a ball to
Lake lunge
Had to pull one out! his Granddad. We then headed back to the main camp and said goodbye to the people that where only doing the two day tour. There was six of us left, with two guides! So we once again had dinner and a few drinks but most people were pretty knackered so we had a early night.
In the morning we first headed to the viewpoint over Lake Wabby. This is where a sand blow meets a green lake. It was a lovely view and we couldn’t wait to go there and have a swim to cool off. Greg had brought a body board with him, Thommo, Greg and Wally boarded down the steep slope to the water. Greg actually landed straight in the lake the time he went. I didn’t fancy it much as my back was sore so gave it a miss but I did go in for a swim with some rather big fish! After messing around we walked over the sand blow to Ocean Beach, where we met Craig. Then back on the bus to Lake Barribean. This lake it very similar to Lake McKenzie but is less popular. In fact the whole time we where there
Butterfly lake
Not sure if it is called that but i think it should be! no on else came to it so there was only 8 of us on the beach, our own private lake! It was still cloudy but we made the most of the pure sand and made some really crap sand things. Well Craig and Greg made an excellent bus, until half of it fell off! Thommo and I made a boat and named it H.M.S Dingo. After a few hours spent lazing and chatting on the beach we headed back to the marina as our fantastic time on Fraser Island had drawn to a close. We caught the boat back to Hervey Bay and said out goodbyes and thanks to Greg.
That evening we were meant to be getting an over night bus to Airlie Beach. However Wally and Ann Marie a Dutch couple on the trip very kindly offered us a ride all the way the following day!!! We asked at the hostel if we could stay another night and they very kindly put us in 8 bed dorm by ourselves. So we took the opportunity to sort our bags and get some washing done. Then it was off to bed with dreams of wrecked ships and Dingo’s running
Shore line
From the air it was even more impressive around. We had such a great time on this trip. I would highly recommend it to everyone going to the East coast. I think we would try the self guided tour next time, just for a change.
Next to Airlie beach and the Whitsunday Islands…………………………….
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