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Published: October 23rd 2006
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After a fantastic time in Airlie beach..we drove a mere 800km drive south to Hervey Bay. We were traveling with a (crazy) couple from London, who also had a camper, so spirits were high. Fraser Isalnd...oggy oggy oggy!!
After three long driving days (passing through Mackay, Sarina, Clairview, Malbourough, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg & Childers) we arrived. It was slamming down with rain, so yet again we waited 3-4 days for the weather to clear. Many people who went to Fraser at this time told us that the weather was seriously ferocious, some even experienced a tornado!! they couldn't leave the van, which also means they couldn't cook, trek, swim, etc..So it was a good call to wait for better weather.
During this time Ally von beavercatcher and I went Whale watching aboard the 'Tasman Venture'. We were off to see the massive Humpback whale. Each year Humpbacks migrate from the Antarctic to the sub-tropical waters of Eastern Australia and South Pacific Islands - where they give birth and mate during the winter and spring. We had arrived at THE BEST time to see them, as in August/September 7000+ whales migrate South (through Hervey Bay) to the cold Antarctic waters,
The Ship Wreck
..you stumle upon this beauty along 75mile beach by this time the newly born calves have developed thick layers of blubber, this will keep them warm in colder and deeper water - where the majority of there food is located.
It was a great morning as we saw many different pods, some active, others weren't so active. When a humpback whale breaches (i.e., jumps out of the water) the sheer size of these creatures is evidence, they is 'nuff nuff big' man!...and the splash they create is even bigger, apparently this behavior is believed to be a form of communication to other pods that may be hundreds of miles away! A humpback txt msg!
It was difficult to take good close-up pics as the water was incredibly choppy, and there were about seventhousandfourhundredmillion,eightthousandtwohundreandtwo Japanese tourists on board. And these guys always win the 'I’m gonna get a better picture' war!! lol!
The One and Only: Fraser Island
After the weather had cleared, we booked a 3 day 'self-drive' 4x4 adventure safari tour of Fraser Island, the largest sand Island in the world. You can see Fraser Island (the largest sand island in the world) from the mainland. It appears too green and lush
to be a sand island as rainforest and (200) fresh water lakes dot the island, but, at 120km long x 15km wide x ?km deep - Fraser apparently contains
more sand than the Sahara desert. But lets be fair, the Sahara is BIGGER than Australia, so I fail to see how this is true. Probably another:
'every thing in Australia is better than anything else in the world' fact.
The day before, we met the other eight people in our group, eight was a good number considering that in peak seasons the tour operators squeeze twelve people in one car...bugger that! At the meeting we disacussed safetly issuses, including how the car 'should' be driven, and how navigation around the Island evolves around the potentialy dangerous tides...thats right...the beaches are the only 'open' roads on the Island!! Apart from that, Its deep sand and muddy 4x4 tracks!! Mint!!!!!!!!!
After, we all went food & booze shopping, and then to the nearest bar for a 'group bonding' drink. It was a good night, everyone was sound (even the French guy)..bring it on.......
With an early start @ 5.30am - the three different groups (cunningly named A, B &
C) checked all the gear, i.e., sleeping bags, tents, Ice boxes, stoves, food, swill stocks, etc..Then I drove us to the Ferry terminal, the Toyota Landcruiser was a proper beast mind, absolutely massive!!
Once on the Island, Fraser (the biggest sand island in the world!) feels like a giant sandpit/adventure playground for adults. The forests where beautiful, with sandy creeks and rivers meandering through the thick, lush vegetation. It was such a beautiful,tranquil and beguiling place, until....we arrived!!! hahaha!!!!!
..We absolutely tore it through the tracks like maniacs...it was crazy, outlandish, zany and preposterous! - even the French guy smiled! People and belongings were thrown around in the back, it was probably the most fun everyone had ever had. The car, which, like the mean machine it was..devoured the difficult terrain like Rick Waller eats a chomp!
Some sand dunes stand up to 224m tall, it was an amazing environment, with beautiful swim holes and lakes. We drove north along 75mile beach to a look-out called 'Indian Head'. It was a difficult place to reach as the tide has to be perfect, plus, the sand is very deep. It was well worth the trip as you could
see lots of Tiger sharks, humpbacks, rays and turtles surrounding the bays. Swimming was forbidden as Tiger Sharks breed around the Fraser coast, and can be aggressive to us humans!!
At night we camped along the beach; I (the designated chef) cooked bangers and mash, beef and vegetable stew; we drank swill; sangs songs, etc...we had the time of our lives!
The next day we packed up and drove to the boat wreck (see the pics), it was cool. We were just heading for our next location, when, the crazy Londoner decided to plough the car over a bump at 120kph! The whole two tone car projected into the air (with 8 people in it), then nose dived into a ditch! In other words, we had a seriously bad crash, potentially lethal. The Scottish girls' head went through the back window, her arm was bleeding, and everyone was pretty shaken up. But, being Scottish (ie, hard as nails) she was absolutely fine...few!!
....so it was pretty clear that our minimum bond penalty ($1000) was 'through the window'. Until, I phoned a window repair bloke on the mainland, who managed to find us a spare second hand Toyota
window (for authenticity). He met us at the ferry terminal 45 mins before the car had to be back, and fixed the window for a mere $20 each!! We even rubbed sand all over it!!! It was an utter releif when the van was back in one peice and we all recieved our bond.. especially because we also fixed the dented wheel rim and broken door handle!
Fraser was quality fun, 'hello' to everyone in 'Group Disaster' as we appropriately named ourselves!
Lots of love to everyone at home, miss ya'll loads!
Love
Nick & Ally
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Cheryl
non-member comment
Was the glass guy from Novus?
Had to chuckle at your Fraser Island escapade. Lucky the windscreen repair guy could find a second hand glass! Fraser Island look stunning - makes me want to see it too. Keep well and safe.