All passengers loaded, all private 4x4's loaded, we set sail for Fraser Island. Not to much of a sailing trip, well, bit like the Woolich ferry really. The sea is like a mill pond with hardly a ripple, so Lin don't start feeling sick till we're almost there. Now when we got on, things looked a bit rough, not much more than a wide boat ramp coming out a car park, now we've got to the other side, things take a bit of a dive and the barge/ferry lowers its tail gate onto two sets of metal grids that are only half as wide. Still, I'm not worried, we're walking off, some poor buggers got to back a 4x4 off. We get ashore and are assigned to various monster 4x4 fifty seat coaches. Seems theres no roads on the Island.
Fraser Island is the biggest sand Island in the world (Ozzie bragging again....) and they haven't bothered to change it. All aboard and off we go. Now, this driver is either running late or trying to scare the crap out of us (and succeeding) or got a death wish cos he goes charging out the carpark like he owes someone money. As fresh air comes between bums and seats, the driver comes over the tanoy to mention things might get a little bumpy.... (see, some of these Ozzies can make jokes). The tracks are all sand, the ruts in it are about two feet deep and the dips and holes are a dam site sodding deeper and this joker's trying to break the land speed record all while attempting to give us a running commentary.
Most of this leg of the trips a bit of a blur, yer can't take in to much when yer trying to get yer seat belt on, while nodding in every direction known to man. Just as I get the seatbelt to go "click", the bugger pulls up at our first stop, 'Central Station' forty two passengers stumble off the coach, while this cheerful chap worbbles on about flora, forner, logging camps and streams. All I wanna do is get me ar*e down somewere that don't move and have a fag. Central Station done, its back on the coach for the next round. I did notice the amount of seat belts going on even before the engine started....
We're off again at the same breakneck speed, but cos me bums now been superglued to the seat via the seat belt, I can concentrate a little on what the commentary's about, well try to anyway. The driver might have his foot hard on the accelerator, but he's hanging on to that wheel like Lin holds me wallet, he's out of breath and and when he talks, it sounds like he's gargling at the same time.
Next stop, Mckensie Lake and if the driver haden't done it first, this place would take ya breath away. The waters fresh, crystal clear and cool, just right for a swim. Me and Lin dont need telling twice and in we go..... We've got forty five minutes here and spend most of it in the water. Time soon up and its back to the coach. We're heading for lunch now and I recon the drivers starving cos that foot still ain't coming off that peddle. Could be there ain't no peddle, just a stop/ go button....
Lunch comes with the tour, in an all you can eat buffet. As lunch's go, it was good... not one of the best but alright. Not going to go into detail cos I'll only make meself hungry. Needless to say, there was plenty there and after lunch we're driving along the beach, (nice and flat) so no need to hold back.
Lunch finished, its onto the coach and down to the beach. We're off to sea the wreck of the Mahahto ?......... and the beach has got a speed limit of eighty kmh, so that slowed the bugger down. The wreck was...... well a wreck. No matter what they do, thay ain't gonna get that thing to float again.
Next up, the coloured sand, Interesting, but in the end, its just coloured sand. Last on the tour, Ellie Creek, fresh water filtered by the island. You've heared the phrase "cool as a mountain stream", well, this is it, with the beauty to match......
Tour over, its time to head back home, so once more into the coach, buckle up, grit ya teeth and off we go. By now, everyone seems to be used to being bounced round the coach and I can even understand what the drivers saying, so it seems that a good day was had by all.
Heading out across the bay to Fraser Island....
The Captain... he had a good sense of humour ! when the people in the cars that were driving onto the barge did not return to them to board quick enough, he sailed the barge out into the middle of the water to make his point.... and yep! that worked they all got in their cars very quick and got into a queue... he had made his point !!!
Coming into land at Fraser Island..
Strangely, they all had to reverse off off the barge !!
Yes the 4x4 truck bus was flippin big...and some of us needed a leg up to get on (say no more !!)
The virgin rain forest...on Fraser Island..there between 100-150 actual permanent residents on this island..and its owned by the Australian people as a national heritage site, so nothing except tourists can be taken off the island..
This is Mckenzie lake, its waters are said to be magical. They say if you use the fine sand to clean your jewellery it makes them sparkle.... I tried that ... It works!, They say if you wash your hair in its waters it will be soft and clean...I tried that.. It works !.. They say if you use the soft sands form the bottom of the lake and exfoliate your skin it will soft and fresh... I tried that.. It works.. They say after swimming in the lake you will look and feel younger... I tried that... well it worked for me cuz I now feel like I am 21 again... cant say the same for John as he only feel like hes 56 now lol...But honestly this lake is and was beautiful.. and the time spent swimming in it was just not long enough...
Him diving for some soft sand to make us look younger lol...
Me waiting to become 18 again....
its probably gonna take a while...
A view across the lake..
Ummmm Americans ????
This is the road leading down to the beach and that grey colour is not a road..its the ridges in the sand...good job we were in a 4x4 and it was a big one ! And this is the trucks that make the ridges in the sand...
Looking down to the beach...and the track marks
This is the Mahito ship wreck...bought by the Japanese some years ago to sail back to Japan to cut up and use for salvage, but it got caught in a storm just off Fraser island and floated into shore there and was never able to be re-floated. So having spent millions of dollars buying it.. the Japanese lost there 'bootie' to the sea...
This is the Pinnicles of Fraser Island ( The coloured sands). It looks like rocks but there is only sand on Fraser Island... this is very hard sand and has accumulated over thousands of years...
This is one of several planes that use the beach as a landing strip and fly tourists around and over the island for a 15 minute flight that costs $75 (£50) per person...and yes i did take these...
More views of the Mahito
Whose that dodgy character looking out the ship porthole ???? lol .....
Bye for now... be back tomorrow... love to all xxx
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