Fraser

Our trip to Rainbow Beach was specifically chosen due to the popularity of excursions to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world and a designated World Heritage Site. It’s 700m from Inskip Point by barge that also happens to the shortest crossing.

Due to the sand, access is by 4WD vehicle only so self-guided tours consist of 3 days and 2 nights. Amber & I joined 6 others (Shona, Gill and Alison from Ireland, Mark from Brisbane and Ardit and Michael from Sweden) in one vehicle in a safety briefing about the island and what to expect.

Despite the warnings, it did claim one victim. The precious DSLR stayed on the mainland leaving Baby Canon to do the business else I could expect lots of problems with the lenses. I was gutted!

At the end of June, tighter rules and regulations surrounding tours on Fraser will be enforced so our trip would be one of the last in the current format. This meant that we could have more freedom to explore albeit following the detailed itinerary.

Extreme offroad conditions, the purest breed of dingos in Australia as well as the treacherous seas (sharks & jellyfish) may the group quite apprehensive but as soon as we crossed over, the fun and excitement took over.

The itinerary was incredible and full of sights that we’d hoped to see before we set off.

Lake Mackenzie, a freshwater lake so clean you could drink the water, and known for people to take home in a bottle, as well as the finest white sand that you can clean jewellery and clean your teeth with.

Indian Head, the rocky outcrop that rises 58m from the seabed and from which on a good day you can see humpbacked whales, sharks, turtles, sting and manta rays, dolphins and jellyfish. A solitary turtle was all we saw :(

  

Eli Creek, a freshwater creek that has been protected by the elements to form a waist deep channel down which you can walk and if you’re lucky see harmless river snakes and cane toads. Again, we weren’t but it was a lovely place to spend the afternoon.

Lake Wabby, another freshwater lake but this time rather than an expansive lake, was formed at the edge of a massive sand dune and at the bottom of a steep gradient. It sat in a natural bowl between the dune and the rainforest 2.5km from the beach that allowed echoes to be created. Equally stunning but on a different level that Mackenzie.

 

The Mahino Shipwreck, the famous wreck on the 75 Mile Beach.

One of the oddities about Fraser is the use of the beach as public highway and runways but at the perils of soft sand.

Boggings were commonplace so we all got used to digging sand out and the ‘ooofs’ and ‘ahhhs’ of bumps being taken at a little too high speed! The bogging did give us time to relax!

Mark, Michael, Ardit, Amber and Gill all had a go at the sand driving and from the looks of Amber’s face a good time was had by all.

 

Our basic camp was on a site owned by an Aboriginal family and we were hosted along with other groups from Rainbow and Hervey Bay, by two members of the family, Nick and Troy. They showed us how to play digeridoo (sp) and of spirits present in the area under the clear black skies and the roar of a campfire.

It was also the home of many dingoes so you had to become good at shoo-ing them away and not leaving bags unattended. Whilst we were there, one bag got picked and strewn into the bush!

Unfortunately our tent became the second victim of the sand with the poles disintegrating with the strain. On the plus side we can now recommend the back of a 4WD as a tent-alternative and let everyone know at the RNLI that the sleeping bag you kindly bought me is brilliant!

It was a magical place that epitomised everything that we’d hoped from our Australia trip. White sands, blue skies and seas, lush rainforests, wild animals, isolation and outdoor living with good people.