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Tuesday 8th April...................Fraser Island
Ok, I will start by explaining what Fraser Island is and what the 3day + 2night trip included! Here goes...
Fraser Island is the worlds largest sand island. It was created when the Glass House mountains (from the aboriginal stories) eroded and the sand then created these massive islands full of thick forest. Only 4x4s are allowed on the island and the trip was a three day, two night self drive safari. Being under 21 I was not allowed to drive but I still wanted to do the self guided tour as this still involved all of the camping and freedom!!
So tuesday morning we are up nice and early for our briefing, we watch two videos on safety and conservation of the world heritage island! My first concern is the DINGOS!! They are native to Australia and a protected species (why I do not know they are savage dogs) I was not too keen on coming across these dogs, as most of you know I have a huge fear of the four legged mongrels!! Next we were told that we had to keep food locked in the vans (never inside the tents as the DINGOS will chew threw them in search of the food...oh great!) And about driving safely!
Next we were put into groups, I was wit seven other gappies (gap year travellers) and two older people, Scott and Leanne. Leanne scared me at first, a huge goth, piercings everywhere and outrageous makeup!! Scott was from Ireland and seemed like a right laugh. Then there was Amanda, Sarah, Zoe and Hayley - the girls and then Ollie, Fred and Tom - the boys all from Seaford in East Sussex!! We were all the same age and from first impressions they all seemed a laugh so I couln't wait to start!!
Next we headed off to the camp base to pick up all our camping gear, tents, gas cylinders, and then on to pick up the food. The tour guides at the hostel recommended we spend $10-15 however the girls went crazy on chocolate and snacks so we ended up spending $40 ($50 with alcohol included) this frustrated me a little as I don't eat all the chocolate, cereal bars, muffins and cakes that they insisted on having but keeping the peace I kept my mouth shut! Then we headed to the barge!!
We had enough food to feed the whole island so the next mission was to try and pack it into our van!! With much difficulty we managed some but still had piles of food and luggage around our feet. After a 30min ferry to the island we were off! Following the advised itinerary we headed for the beach...and it was hilarious trying to get there! The roads were just deep mud tracks, the bumps were insane and us gappies were getting thrown around all over the place in the back!! It was so funny!! After 20mins of chaos we reached the 75mile beach and headed North to Indian Head, this was the highest point on the island and it overlooked the whole beach and the ocean!! We strictly forbidden from going into the sea as basically...WE WOULD DIE!! The currents are really strong and the sea was full of sharks!! We tried to see some when we reached the top of Rocky Indian Head but sadly there were no fins protruding from the water surface :(
Next we headed to Eli Creek, due to the tides you have to be off the beach at certain times otherwise the vehicles can be literally swept out to sea!! So we headed to the creek where we were to camp for the night!! Boys being boys (amusing for us to watch) evaluated the land situation and chose the perfect spot for us to camp!! So we all helped put us the tents, they were a canvas material and like teepees...you banged hooks into the four corners and literally stuck a metal post into the middle of it to hold up the ceiling!! So after that was sorted and the waterproof covers were on the boys took over the BBQ and prepared dindins!! An aussie BBQ, we had burgers, sausages, and potato and pasta salad!! It was awesome but just as we finished the heavens opended and down came the rain...and it really rained!! And with no light in the tents as it was by this time (7pm) pitch black, we decided to move into the van and have a party in the van!!
We moved all of the bags and food into the front two seats and squeezed all 10 of us into the back!! It was so so so funny!! We played drinking games and lapped up goon, and various other alcoholic spirits, we played the name game, Fuzzy Duck, I have never and others...we have such a giggle. Zoe spills most of her goon on the floor, Tom and Fred wander off, we all go in search only to find they passed out in their tent...and Ollie was devestated as he lost his bracelet. As the night dies down, Leanne and I chat about her out there side, her husband ran off with her best friend, and she has let loose on the world!! They all get stoned but I am not interested so I go and watch the stars with Zoe and Ollie! They were amazing and I saw two shooters!! Finally everyone is very drunken and stumble into our tents at around 12am...so not late!! haha!!
Day Two of Fraser Island.............
In the night, I experience the worst snoring of my life, Scotty is like a horse, I thought Dad was bad but Scotty was unreal! Being a drunken man when he got into bed, he takes the loudest and longest lasting snores I have experienced ever...I have to wake him up and turn him over several times in the night!! Also, in the middle of the night I felt something brush past me...instantly my heart beat started booming and I froze listening to something rustling in my tent, it passes me again and I grab onto Leanne and say, 'I think there's something in the tent'...only to find that it is Scotty, still drunk and lost his bearings and he is just trying to get out of the tent!! Ah that was the scariest thing I was convinced there was a dingo in my tent!! In the morning I am so thristy but don't know were the key is, I clamber out of the tent, the morning is gorgeous really sunny and hot, I go to our toilet chamber...kindly dug out by Fred and head back to bed to wait for the others to surface.
We all wake around 9am and have the left over sausages for breakfast...yummy!! And peanut butter creamy style, why have I not discovered this already in my travels??!! We have to wait for the tide to go out so we pack up our tents, it takes over an hour and I take on the cleaner job...cleaning all the sand out of the tent and packing all the sleeping bags away nice and neatly....I nearly cry when the boys make it all sandy again!!
At 12 we play...Daddy went to the Supermarket one day and bought...how cool are we...yes 10 adults playing silly kids games to pass the time!! losers!! We head off at 12:30 and reach Lake Wobby, its a 45min walk into the forest to reach the lake, so we decide to eat lunch before we leave, me being chief sandwich maker, Cheese and Ham, yummy! So eventually head off and start our 45min trek! It was qute hilly so defo worked the thighs, but it was so worth it!! The lake was gorgeous and net to it was a huge sand dune at a major angle to the water, so we decided to run down the hill and into the lake! Was such a laugh, and as the dune was so steep there was not stopping until you crashed into the crystal clear water!! We swam with the cat fish and Scott and I decided to swim to the other side...half way we started to freak ourselves out about Crocodiles in the water but we were half way so decided to go for it and swim the whole way across! We couldn't see the bottom so it was pretty scary!! We reached the reeds on the other side and pelted back giggling nervously as we swam...only to find there were sea snakes in the water!! Phew we were lucky!!
We sunbathed for a while and the girls are pretty girly so didn't want to get in, unlike me who as usual was racing the lads into the water!! Zoe and I decided to walk up the top of the sand dune and all you could sea was sand, it was a pretty cool sight I must admit!! The boy managed to throw Sarah into the water, she was not amused and the others were definately worried they'd be next!! After an hour or so we headed back, not enjoying the walk so much this time but we had crisps and cookies to keep us going!! We saw the hugest ants and spiders on the way, we probably should have worn shoes but we all went in bare foot!! So much for wearing boots and trousers in the bush!!
We hopped into the Van and made our way to Cornwells Camping Ground, for our nights stay, there were loads of surrounding vans, the other vans from Palace Backpackers (the same as us), Koala Vans and also Roving Backpackers!! The boys selected our spot as it had 'no wind' so was ideal!! Does it really matter, I think they were just trying to sound clever!! We set up the tents again and made a massive shield from the wind...I thought there was none, they did not find this too amusing!! haha!! Then we started dinner, I decided to be chef for the group tonight! We were having Spag Bol and as I had already cooked this (only once in my life EVER) I felt I was ready for the challenge!! So I set up my little kitchen, resting on the coolers and started chopping all the veg, onions and peppers and started to cook!! Cooking for 10 in s standard sized pan was a challenge...I gave Ollie the role of Spaghetti Man, and they put in siz pack of Spaghetti...yes we had enough to feed the entire camp site!! We needed three MAX but no we had six pack!! And because there was so much, they couldn't get to the bottom of the pan, so the bottom burnt, making the rest taste a little like carbon...but that was not my fault...I gave him the job...my sauce tasted delicious!! We all sat in a circle and enjoyed the grub and chatted like a real camper group!!
Then we cleared up and got onto the alcohol!! I still had rather a lot of goon so I was sorted!! We played lots of drinking games, starting with the Ring of Fire, and I have never giggled so much during this game! It was brilliant, we had rules that meant you could not call anyone by there first name, you could only point using your tongue and swearing was not allowed!! And it was so hard, Sarah and I were absolutely useless and we had to drink all the time!! And I unfortunately turned over the last King, so I had to drink the King's Drink, a bowl in the middle of the group which had been filled with Jack Daniels, Goon, Beer, Martini and Vodka...it was disgusting!! All I could taste was the whiskey!! Yuch!! Then we played the Vegetable Game, where you have to sing a song and when ever you speak you have to cover your teeth (me having big teeth found this a tad difficult) and as we were all pretty merry, we all found it hilarious, I was a carrot, and if you try to say CARROT with your teeth covered you will realise how much of an idiot you look!! And Zoe was so funny, everytime she tried to talk she twitched her hands, we were all physically rolling around crying...you had to be there ut it was a great time!! Whilst all this was happening we had people come in and out of our area telling us of a mass camper party just further up the beach so talking our alcohol with us...we all headed off!!
We found the other Palace people and partied with the Koala's. I saw Helen and Annabel which was cool, unfortunatey there was no sign of Ali and Rob. Taking in so much alcohol, we were weeing like a dripping tap, and at one stage, Hayley, Amanda and I ran to have a squat (you never went alone as there were so many DINGOs around) and we were mid flow when we realised that we had chosen to wee on a pathway! So a big group came by with torches and we had to yell at them to turn them off and wait a sec...it was so funny! We partied hard, blaring the music from the vans, and dancing with lots of other travellers. The girls left early with Fred, but the other five of us partied, playing silly dancing games and singing away!! At about 3am we eventually headed back to the tents...Ollie destroying the girls tent!! It was so funny!! They all came out screaming and swearing they were not happy!! Eventually we managed to put it up and crashed!!
Day three of Fraser Island...........
We had to be up at 6:30 so not a lot of sleep, we cleared up and packed away, grabbing some quick brekky! Then we headed in land to Lake Mackenzie - voted one of the top lakes in the World. It took us ages to get there, and at one point Leanne drove up the sand bank and we so nearly tipped over, the van was at a major angle the girls were screaming and to be honest I was crapping myself a bit!! Eventually, we arrived in one piece, parked up and headed for the Lake...and as you can tell by the photo!! It was amazing...the water is crystal clear its 1km across and it is just amazing!! The weather started to get a little cloudy which was a shame but I managed to get some good pics before it rained!! And I saw Ali and Rob so chatted to them for half hour or so!! We paddled and as the sun came out again it hammered down, I was so confused the sun glasses had to come on but so did the poncho! Haha!!
At about 2:30pm we headed back made some peanut butter sandwiches and watched a very grumpy Leanne...who had done nothing all trip, wash up the dishes!! She was not happy no one helped, I had done loads of cooking and cleaning so I wasn't going to!! We headed back to the barge, all smelly and skanky compared to when we arrived and we said goodbye to Fraser Island!! I snoozed on the ferry over and we had a quiet and sad journey back to the camp base!! We then went via Woolworths to get some grub for the evening. By 6pm we reached the hostel and I raced up to the shower and got in first...there was no light so it was a bit of a challenge trying to shower in teh dark...I then had some of Scotty's all you can eat Pizza and joined the other seven for homemade burgers, home made coleslaw and chips!! It was sooooooooooo good! We chatted and I got them all to write in my book, so we could swap photos on facebook!! It was an amazing trip, yes we were stinky and sandy...but it was definately worth the money!!
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