sand sand sand sand
ahhhh the famous fraser island the worlds larget sand pit and the toys to match. After leaving brisbane i spent a couple of days just chillin and reading before setting off to Fraser. Although this is shamelessly a tourist must do, its simply something that you must do. Fraser island is the worlds largest sand island and is covered in eucalyptus and rainforest as well as a number of unbeliveably clear fresh water lakes. At my hostel we were organised into groups of 9 to 11 and kitted out with camping stuff and a toyota land cruiser (of african cival war fame, only without the heavy machine guns). After a safety and rules briefing, DO NOT approach dingos (whoops), DO NOT drive excessively fast through streams and washouts (whoops), DO NOT lose or break camping gear (whoops and whoops) etc we piled in and set off. The first day we planed to make it up to the top of the island for sunset as this is the best time for seeing sharks feeding, which basically involves a 90 mile drive up the beach, which is the islands main road. however, after an hour of pottering along we thought it might be nice to take a 'scenic' drive to one of the less visited lakes. The scenic route required the 4x4 being put at 45 degree angles both length ways and side ways through dense rainforest, somehow we avoided rolling the thing and reach the lake relatively unscathed. It was deserted just surrounded by the forest. After swimming etc it was back on our way. by now we were hours behing schedual and by the time we made it back to the beach to continue north it was already 3.05 (DO NOT drive on the beach after 3.00 pm). A dash up the beach followed, stopping for photos at a ship wreck sunk into the sand and then on. With the sea slowly but surely closing the road on our right as the tide rolled in we were forced to pull in and camp some 7km short of our objective. We made camp, i let the others fiddle with the tents whilst i prepared the most important thing, a bit fire!2nd day began at 5, (as we had decided to get up for dawn at the previous days objective) i duely decided my head was in no state and turned off alarm. Mistaking the Dingos raiding our rubbish for sounds of human activity i managed to drag myself up at 5.30. Back in the 4x4 by 5.45 (having decided to break camp later) we drove throught the soft sand (as sea still high) up to Indian head. Sun rise was a couple of minutes after we got there but unfortuneatly i didn't see any sharks just a few rays (shark spotting requires focused attension on the sea, something i found myself unable to pull off....). so yeah, after that walked to the 'champagne pools' where the sea crashes into rock pools to create a bubbling effect and then back south. Spent a good deal of time getting lost in the rainforest that afternoon (when i was driving thus relying on others navigation!!). Believe me, trying to 3 point turn a 15 foot 4x4 in a road 8 foot wide in sand 3 foot deep ain't easy. On the last day we made it to the more famous lakes. Lake Wabby is a deep, steep sided affair at with people pencil rolling down the dunes into the lake. Lake Mckenzie is an amazingly blue lake, the combination of totally crystal clear frest water and the clear blue sky. Having been instructed to leave the lake for the last ferry off by 1.00 pm at the latest we set off at 1.20 and made the two hour drive in 1 hour 5 minutes. There few things more fun that being propelled upwards from your seat into the roof of a land cruiser, craking your head then falling down to meet your seat just as the vehical hits another bump. Luckly med students were on hand to deal with the multiple compression fractures, slipped disks etc etc. Don't have many pictures of island unfortunely as left my camera on then accidentally used it as pillow on first night wearing out the battery, so this is going to have to be a 'minds eye' entry.
posted by justplainnigel @ 2:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home