The weather was clearing nicely and so, on Wednesday, I booked to join a tour group for a one day trip on Thursday. I'd initially hoped to hire a 4wd and go over independently but the cost was crippling. Having ruled out the 'big bus operators' I booked with a firm that takes 7 at a time in Toyota Land Cruisers. Right decision; great day had.
Having assembled the 7 of us by 8am, the day started with a 20 minute drive to the barge with (3 espressos that morning) Christine, our guide at the wheel. She was a hoot! After 10 minutes one of the 50 litre boxes on the roof, full of provisions for lunch, came flying off and scattered its contents across the road behind us. It was actually hilarious and solidified the group as we cleared the road of buns, plates, mustard, ketchup, salad and the like.
First stop on the island was the freshwater Lake McKenzie (with no tributaries it is only fed by rainwater).
It was a fabulous place for a swim (and was much warmer than it looks), followed by morning tea.
Then onto the Maheno shipwreck...
The ship was built in 1905 in Scotland and was a luxury liner, crossing the Tasman Sea, between NZ and Australia. She then served as a hospital ship in the First World War before returning to her former duties. In the 30's she was declared 'outdated' and sold to a Japanese company for scrap. They were towing her to Japan in 1935 when a cyclone wrecked her. Amazing that she's been there so long but current estimates give her another 7 years before complete decay.
We then did hair-raising speeds along 75 mile beach to see The Pinnacles (coloured sand; not that interesting) and then onto Indian Head.
... Whilst the weather had improved significantly and we were treated to a dry day, the clouds were still ominous! The whole island is sand and 75 Mile Beach is a designated highway (and runway which was interesting when we saw a light aircraft come in!)
It was pretty quiet but in the high season there can be hundreds of 4wd's on this 'highway'!
Indian Heads was our spot for lunch. Whilst the guides set up (what was left!) for lunch, we all climbed the Head...
This was where Cook first saw Aborigines and vice versa. He was mapping the coast of Fraser Island from his ship, thinking it was the mainland and the Aborigines saw a ship for the first time and amassed on the Head in War Paint, thinking it was something from the Spirit World.
Lunch was with the other Landcruiser, carrying an older party.
Our party, I have to say, was absolutely great fun. A very funny young Danish couple, two girls from Mexico (although one was an Aussie), a guy from Switzerland, a girl from Auckland and me! We had a very, very funny day of it with relentless laughs.
After lunch, we split from the other group and headed further north for the Champagne Pools. (these are at the top of the island and these guys are the only tour group to get that far on a day trip... We were never rushed but we were definitely breaking the 80kph speed limit on the beach!)
The ocean to the east coast of Fraser Island is one of the world's largest shark nurseries. (Apparently, flying over it on a clear day is mortifying!). They will beach themselves chasing fish into shore so even a paddle would be decidedly dicey. The pools, with their breakwater were a great place for an afternoon dip...
Then a good run back down 75 Mile Beach to Eli Creek and then the barge back to mainland.
Great day. Fraser Island is fascinating with an interesting history far too lengthy to detail here. One interesting fact is that the Satinay tree was logged heavily there and, for various reasons, it was used in the building of the Suez Canal and in the rebuilding of the London docks after WW2.
The group was tremendous and a couple of us continued the day's 'High Spirits', once back, at a bar, into the wee hours.
... Swiss Marco contemplating the day as we left.
I have just spent the day... Driving! Having loitered in many places so far I needed to catch up a little on the general northward movement!
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Location:Brooks Rd W,Sarina,Australia
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