Four Wheeling around Fraser

Just back from two days on the very magical Fraser Island. This beauty is the world's largest sand island, accesible only by 4WD... We decided to hire a very compact yet robust little jeep (well mini-jeep). Credit has to be paid here to James' driving skills. Move over Knightrider, James Dean, Michael Schumacher and The Fall Guy... The inland roads were more than just a little bumpy. Rocks, tree roots, sand dunes and creeks - you name it, we crossed it. Slightly more fun was the beach driving - think the red 4x4 in Baywatch and you'd be halfway there....

So, day one was spent initially getting to grips with the driving experience (and staying alive) before heading to Lake Mckenzie - a huge freshwater lake with white sands and crystal clear water. On a near par with Whitehaven... It was then on to Lake Wabby - this drive we later learned is usually saved for day two once the driver has had a chance to get used to his new mean machine... we ploughed on. The views from the lookout point were something else...

We passed the afternoon back down by the beach, past the Maheno shipreck and on to Eli Creek, one of the island's larger creeks that you could walk around and then literally float down as the current took you back to the ocean - freezing but brilliant.

Day two was slightly more off the beaten track. We decided to abandon the scheduled itinerary and set off for Indian Head (the peak of the island) with a group of energetic slovakians met at the lodge accomodation the night before. We set off early - it needed to be as you are not permitted to drive along the beach during high tide. For one you physically can't as the water washes away the hard sand road and secondly any salt water can get in to the engine and ruin it and/or rot the bodywork which incurs a hefty fine.

So we set off for the hour's drive, only to realise about twenty minutes into the journey that the fuel guage was on a quarter full... "Ummm James didnt they say in the induction not to let it drop below a quarter"..."Did they? Oh s**t".... Then as we continued to drive the tide seemed to be working to a tide limit of its own creeping up higher and chasing us along the way. We managed to reach our destination in one piece and with functioning vehicle. It was when we saw a mini-bus being pushed in vain by ten backpackers whilst the driver tried to reverse out of the soft sand that we decided to park up...

We spent a few hours whale and dolphin watching from the top of Indian Head and then once the tide had retreated made a break back to the barge terminal to catch the ferry home. (Boo)

Lots of fun and another highlight although realise that every entry has been described that way...

On to Byron Bay....