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Leaving the town of 1770 we are headed to Hervey Bay planning to go to Fraser Island and the much anticipated 4wd driving on the island.
Along our travels we stop at Bundaberg to get some information from the tourist bureau and also to visit the Ginger Beer factory. Loved the giant size keg that is the building shape and we enjoyed tasting all of the Bundaberg drinks of course you couldnt taste them unless you did the tour but it was a bit of fun as you will see in the photos.
We finally arrive at Hervey Bay pronounce Harvey Bay???? go figure and it is another very large country town. The next day we head off to do a bit of shopping, give the car some love with wash at the car wash and head to the visitors information centre to gather any further information on Fraser Island.
The much anticipated day has arrived and we head off to Rivers Head where we will board the barge and head over to Kingfisher Bay about a 45mins sail. Arriving we driving off onto the jetty and through the Fraser Island townsite, out through the Dingo grid which is electrified and a pretty serious gateway out onto the tracks we drop the tyre pressure to 20psi and then heading for Lake McKenzie. The drive is a very picturesque with forest trees that disappear into sky, the track at times is bouncy, tight and soft but it is great fun to be venturing off.
Arriving at Lake McKenzie we encounter the first seriousness of the dingoes as the eating areas are like playgrounds completely fenced and signs everywhere saying beware, dont feed and pack away everything.
The Lake is amazing and the clear cool waters are calling for you to come in, the water tasted so pure and we really enjoyed drying off on the beach without that salty feeling you get normally.
We next set off for Eurong which will be our entry track to the beach, Eurong is well established with shops, bakery and quite a lot of accomodation one of the many places that you can stay at on Fraser Island as we find over the next 48 hours.
Nearly 80 miles (125kms) of beautiful beach and coastline, sadly chopped up by the many other 4wdrivers, Tagalong tours and Tour buses that seem to all want to drive at 80kms per hour. There is a prolific amount of fresh water gutters that run off the land into the ocean and these ranged from small bumps to some 400mm big ones and very deceiving when approaching them. We drive for a while before we find somewhere to have some lunch at a spot called Gabala it is a very pretty spot and we are protected by a rocky outcrop, the rocks are black and very porous with fresh water dripping out of them and they are also very fragile when you touch them and dust like iron filings come off on your hands as I found out!!!
We cross the Eli Creek and pass the Maheno Wreck before we find our camp for the night, you think it would be easy but with so many possibilities we find a spot at Eugarie and have the whole campsite to ourselves. We enjoyed a beautiful night out with the stars and just before sunset in the distance on the ocean we can see the funnel shape sprays of water shooting in the air from a whale - doesnt get any better than this.
The next morning a very friendly Bungarro decides it will come for a visit and walks around the edge of our campsite but we still havent encountered a Dingo. I throw a line in to see if there is any chance of catching breakfast but too much weed really fine, first cast and I am pulling weed off for the next 15 mins, so we pack up and head off to see more.
We next head back to the Maheno as a cast of a 1000 were there yesterday and take in the history of this unfortunate wreck, it was undertow back for scrap when its final demise came as a storm struck and the tow line was broken, since then it has been used at target practise firstly with ZForce and then RAAF bombers.
We continued back up the coast where we encounter the Pinnacles, Red Canyon and the Catherdrals all unique and stunning in their own ways before arriving at Indian Heads, the view from the top is quite amazing, we drive around the back of the heads coming out back out to our two final adventures being Champagne Pool and Orchid Beach, we head to Orchid Beach first as a bus load of tourist have just arrived at the Pools.
Arriving to this very secluded part of the Island with a pristine beach we set up to throw a line in and not disappointed. I bought some bloodworms when at Eurong, yukky little critters to put on your hook have to thread them on but the fish but boy oh boy do they love them. We spend the next few hours of catch and release and have a blast.
We head back into Champagne Pools, called this because of the effervescent bubbling sensation you get when you sit in the beautiful pools and wait for the waves to crash over the rocks, and it is true a refreshing feeling.
A long drive back and we stop at Happy Valley overnight is a nice cabin, enjoying a Champagne Pool cocktail and dinner at the Bistro.
The next morning we head back to Kingfisher Bay taking a scenic drive back through some amazing forest areas, before boarding the barge and heading back to the mainland.
A must do Fraser Island - still didnt see any Dingoes :)
Where to next? - time is ticking and we need to think about homeward bound, so for now.
from the great outdoors
Alida and Mal
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