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Having arrived at our hostel in the middle of the night it wasn't long before we were waking up again to go to the safety briefing of our tag along tour of Fraser Island. After a couple of quick instructions one of our fellow travellers asked about driving on the Island and we were informed that the previous tour group had blown up the engine on the 2nd vehicle, and unfortunately all seven of us would consequently have to do the tour in the single lead vehicle. This wasn't the ideal start to the tour, but having only been awake a short while we just went with the flow and loaded up the 4x4 before heading to catch the first ferry of the day from Hervey Bay.
Once we were sitting in the passenger area of the ferry we were quickly surprised by the sight of an overweight ginger cat resembling Bagpuss scaling the bar partition towards us; Will was quick to seize the camera and grab a picture of the gravity defying display!
After engaging permanent four wheel drive as we drove off the ferry our guide Murray was soon telling us about the history of the island
and the type of flora we were driving through. Initially the island was named as 'The Long Sandy Straights' by Captain Cook when he sailed past, but in memory of Captain Fraser who died on the island after his ship sunk off its coast it was renamed in his honour. Depending who you believe he was either murdered by the Aboriginals or he died of illness according to his wife or a member of his crew respectively. Having a rich history in logging several varieties of trees including Tullawood, Brush Box, Turpentine and Black Butt have grown on the island to be used all around the world.
We weren't far into the dense Forrest when we came across a Ford Ranger that had over taken us as we drove off the ferry, although unfortunately for them they had become beached on the sandy tracks. After a quick inspection and an attempt to push the pickup back the way it had came, Murray dragged the Ford backwards up the track to a clearing. With the track clear we all jumped back in the Toyota before the driver had beached the Ford back in the same place again, but with a
queue of vehicles behind it we weren't able to offer much assistance so headed on our way slightly smug that out transport had increased ground clearance and off road tyres!
The first scheduled stop on our tour was Lake Wabby, so after a drive up along 85 mile beach (it's actually a lot longer!) and a walk through the forest past the Sandblow we found ourselves looking down onto the green tree lined lake. A few of the group braved the chill and had a swim with catfish before we walked back to the beach to meet Murray.
On our drive to the wreck of the Maheno we spotted our first Dingo quiet happily running along the shoreline, looking at us while trotting without any sign of fear. Although the sea looked quiet rough we managed to get some good pictures of the iconic island sight. Apparently she was built in Scotland and had a varied history of roles, ultimately ending up on the island because her last Japanese owners decided to toe her to the motherland with the propellers removed, so when the line pulling her snapped in an out of season cyclone, her fate was sealed
despite a couple of efforts to get her off the sand. Apparently during the Second World War the Australian Air Force used the wreck for bombing target practise without any success, and the secret Commando training camp used it for training missions, with square holes in the side of the wreck where they attached mines to practise sinking Japanese ships; as it was harder to plug square holes!
Next we drove to Camp Dundaburra (translates to Kookaburra in Aboriginal) to set up camp equipment for the night before heading further north along the beach to Champagne Pools; named accordingly due to the tiny bubbles that can sometimes be found on the surface when the water is calm. Unfortunately for us the bubbles weren't apparent with the large waves breaking over the rocks into the pool, so we kept our clothes on whilst whale spotting from our vantage point before heading towards Indian Heads. From there we initially thought we possibly sighted either the seasons first Pilot or Hump Back whales, but back in the car Murray suggested they where Killer Whales based on colouring; although we were a little sceptical based on them being individual sightings instead of larger
pods. Also whilst we were up on the head we saw an aerial display by Sea Eagles and Kytes as they hunted for dinner.
With the tide almost touching the sand dunes at times Murray demonstrated some of the required skills needed to drive on the island as we made our way back to camp and our tasty camp dinner of steak and chips.
Some time after we'd finished eating some of us began to question our own eyes as we were approached by what could only plausible be described as Santa! Although after a couple of quick hellos it transpired he was a fellow guide who Murray knew, and the appearance was used to help him attract the women for a picture so he could get them to sit on his knee! He wasn't shy in admitting to being a dirty old man, but he was sincere in his tactics, so we took up the offer of joining his group round their camp fire for a few drinking games before heading to bed. Unfortunately we weren't armed with a camera, but you can fill the void by picturing any picture you've ever seen of Santa and adding
a can of VB to the right hand, and a roll up cigarette to the left. He kept both groups thoroughly amused!
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