Phew, finally in an air conditioned internet cafe! So where was I... oh yes, Fraser Island.
We had a fairly short drive from Noosa to get to Hervey Bay, the main access point to Fraser Island, it only took 4 hours or so. In the evening we grabbed some food at the obligatory Irish Pub, and then went to just about the single worst club I've ever experienced, this place had a capacity of about 200... there were less than 20 people there! Our driver joined up for the fun as he's a regular there, he assured us that that was as busy as it gets! Still we had a bit of a boogie and then high tailed it out of there as we had a 6:00 start the next day to get to the 4x4 hire place. After a bit of food shopping and a few formalities, 10 of us were bundled into a Toyota 4x4 and set off to get the ferry across to the quite frankly awesome Fraser Island.
Upon arriving we started driving straight across the bumpy sand track that forms the island's roads to our first stop. Now I'd bee told great things about this place from one of it's biggest fans, so I was expecting good things, and that's what I got by the bucketload! Our first stop was Lake Wabby, we hopped out of the 4x4 and started a walk down a long and winding path down towards the lake, at then e4nd of the path we weren't faced with glistening water, but by a mountain of glistening sand. Hot and sweaty we slowly made out way up the slope, I was a little ahead of everyone which I'm rather greatful for now, as upon reaching the crest of this massive sand blow, the stunning Lake Wabby was revealed in all it's glory. I'd like to say that I stood there and took in the view few a few minutes... forget that... I ran down the slope the other side and got straight into the refreshing deep blue/green water, how wonderfully refreshing, a great reward for the walk up! With plenty to see before getting to the camp site at 4:30, and a fair bit of driving ahead we only stayed for about a hour, but it was long enough to know I loved Fraser! The next stop was Eli Creek, a wonderful creek that you can relax in as it gently pushes you back towards the beach.
Now I could go on describing the places we saw, the Champagne Pools, Lake Makenzie and many other great spots on the island, but I'm not sure words would do then justice. Hopefully once I'm back in Sydney with my laptop I'll be able to sort out my pictures and get them online, but I don't think anything can explain how special the place is, you just need to go there! We camped for 2 nights and were on the Island for 3 days, and rather unsurprisingly I bumped into Michelle again whilst there! It was odd to be completely out of contact with the outside world, no reception on the mobile, no pay-phones, and no radio. We become so used to be able to be in contact at the drop of a hat, it makes me wonder how many ancient forms of communication have been lost through time.
Upon arriving back in Hervey Bay, we were all so tired, we just grabbed some food and then hit the hay, we were all in bed by 9:30... what party animals! I also had the excuse of yet another early bus, 7:00 in the morning, that would be taking me to a Cattle station in Kroombit for the afternoon, and an overnight stay! For the first time our bus headed not straight up the coast, but inland through Sugar Cane plantations and old Gold mining towns, and to the isolated but charming Kroombit Cattle Station... and once again... no mobile, no payphones, no internet, I love it!
Now I'll start by saying the hours that made up the afternoon and evening are some of the most fun I've had in years, and make me pretty sure I was a cowboy in a former life! The first thing we got up to was jumping on the back of a horse, and herding up a load of goats spread across the massice cattle station. Now this was a lot of fun, I loved being on horse back, more than I imagined I would, and had no problem yelling and whooping at the stubborn goats to drive them into their pens! we were a nice small group of 6, but still we rounded up the tricky billy goats and nanny goats in pretty quick time, giving us the chance to go on a nice little trek through some of the rockier terrain surrounding us. In all we were with the horses for a good couple of hours, and it's certainly something I'd like to have a go at again!
Next up was a goat rodeo! Well, just a couple of team events, first we had to get in the pen with all the goats we'd just rounded up, catch ourselves a nanny, milk it, and then drink the milk. It was a fun little team event, although it was a little worrying having the head of a very lively goat clamped between my thighs! The second event was a "branding" exercise, with a fake brand naturally! we had to catch and brand yet another lively wee critter! With some effort we succeeded in our task with the best time! Good stuff. Now next up was clay pigeon shooting, we only got 5 clays each, and our driver bet us a beer that no-one would be able to beat him, he shot first and hit only one of the clays, so as you can imagine we were all up for at least getting 2 clean hits... not that any of us had ever even held a shotgun before! Still I waited in line watching the other newbies having a go, it swung between great success of hitting 2 clays, and what I was expecting, hitting none at all! Finally it was my time, do I stepped up to the shooting position, and after a quick bit of guidance popped on the ear defenders ready to take my first shot... "Pull" as the bright orange clay was flung into the air I tracked it and pulled the trigger... poof it turned into dust... beginners luck I was sure. After a cheer from the guys behind me and a quick reload I was ready to go again... "Pull" once again I got a hit... and again... and again... and again! 5 out of 5, I came away beaming... and a little worried that I'd performed quite so well! Maybe I missed my calling in life!
After all that was over and we'd taken a little drive, we all relaxed with roast beef from the station, a few beers and an evening of whip cracking, bull riding, and game playing with the staff. A lot of fun was has and we were all a little sad to say goodbye to this fantastic place as we boarded the bus to Airlie Beach.
And Airlie Beach is where I am now, having a quiet couple of days before I set sail round the Whitsunday Islands on a Maxi class, race winning Yacht. Should be a lot of fun, but until Saturday which is when I set sail, I have some washing to catch up on, so I should go!
Much love to you all, take care, and I hope all is well wherever you are.
We had a fairly short drive from Noosa to get to Hervey Bay, the main access point to Fraser Island, it only took 4 hours or so. In the evening we grabbed some food at the obligatory Irish Pub, and then went to just about the single worst club I've ever experienced, this place had a capacity of about 200... there were less than 20 people there! Our driver joined up for the fun as he's a regular there, he assured us that that was as busy as it gets! Still we had a bit of a boogie and then high tailed it out of there as we had a 6:00 start the next day to get to the 4x4 hire place. After a bit of food shopping and a few formalities, 10 of us were bundled into a Toyota 4x4 and set off to get the ferry across to the quite frankly awesome Fraser Island.
Upon arriving we started driving straight across the bumpy sand track that forms the island's roads to our first stop. Now I'd bee told great things about this place from one of it's biggest fans, so I was expecting good things, and that's what I got by the bucketload! Our first stop was Lake Wabby, we hopped out of the 4x4 and started a walk down a long and winding path down towards the lake, at then e4nd of the path we weren't faced with glistening water, but by a mountain of glistening sand. Hot and sweaty we slowly made out way up the slope, I was a little ahead of everyone which I'm rather greatful for now, as upon reaching the crest of this massive sand blow, the stunning Lake Wabby was revealed in all it's glory. I'd like to say that I stood there and took in the view few a few minutes... forget that... I ran down the slope the other side and got straight into the refreshing deep blue/green water, how wonderfully refreshing, a great reward for the walk up! With plenty to see before getting to the camp site at 4:30, and a fair bit of driving ahead we only stayed for about a hour, but it was long enough to know I loved Fraser! The next stop was Eli Creek, a wonderful creek that you can relax in as it gently pushes you back towards the beach.
Now I could go on describing the places we saw, the Champagne Pools, Lake Makenzie and many other great spots on the island, but I'm not sure words would do then justice. Hopefully once I'm back in Sydney with my laptop I'll be able to sort out my pictures and get them online, but I don't think anything can explain how special the place is, you just need to go there! We camped for 2 nights and were on the Island for 3 days, and rather unsurprisingly I bumped into Michelle again whilst there! It was odd to be completely out of contact with the outside world, no reception on the mobile, no pay-phones, and no radio. We become so used to be able to be in contact at the drop of a hat, it makes me wonder how many ancient forms of communication have been lost through time.
Upon arriving back in Hervey Bay, we were all so tired, we just grabbed some food and then hit the hay, we were all in bed by 9:30... what party animals! I also had the excuse of yet another early bus, 7:00 in the morning, that would be taking me to a Cattle station in Kroombit for the afternoon, and an overnight stay! For the first time our bus headed not straight up the coast, but inland through Sugar Cane plantations and old Gold mining towns, and to the isolated but charming Kroombit Cattle Station... and once again... no mobile, no payphones, no internet, I love it!
Now I'll start by saying the hours that made up the afternoon and evening are some of the most fun I've had in years, and make me pretty sure I was a cowboy in a former life! The first thing we got up to was jumping on the back of a horse, and herding up a load of goats spread across the massice cattle station. Now this was a lot of fun, I loved being on horse back, more than I imagined I would, and had no problem yelling and whooping at the stubborn goats to drive them into their pens! we were a nice small group of 6, but still we rounded up the tricky billy goats and nanny goats in pretty quick time, giving us the chance to go on a nice little trek through some of the rockier terrain surrounding us. In all we were with the horses for a good couple of hours, and it's certainly something I'd like to have a go at again!
Next up was a goat rodeo! Well, just a couple of team events, first we had to get in the pen with all the goats we'd just rounded up, catch ourselves a nanny, milk it, and then drink the milk. It was a fun little team event, although it was a little worrying having the head of a very lively goat clamped between my thighs! The second event was a "branding" exercise, with a fake brand naturally! we had to catch and brand yet another lively wee critter! With some effort we succeeded in our task with the best time! Good stuff. Now next up was clay pigeon shooting, we only got 5 clays each, and our driver bet us a beer that no-one would be able to beat him, he shot first and hit only one of the clays, so as you can imagine we were all up for at least getting 2 clean hits... not that any of us had ever even held a shotgun before! Still I waited in line watching the other newbies having a go, it swung between great success of hitting 2 clays, and what I was expecting, hitting none at all! Finally it was my time, do I stepped up to the shooting position, and after a quick bit of guidance popped on the ear defenders ready to take my first shot... "Pull" as the bright orange clay was flung into the air I tracked it and pulled the trigger... poof it turned into dust... beginners luck I was sure. After a cheer from the guys behind me and a quick reload I was ready to go again... "Pull" once again I got a hit... and again... and again... and again! 5 out of 5, I came away beaming... and a little worried that I'd performed quite so well! Maybe I missed my calling in life!
After all that was over and we'd taken a little drive, we all relaxed with roast beef from the station, a few beers and an evening of whip cracking, bull riding, and game playing with the staff. A lot of fun was has and we were all a little sad to say goodbye to this fantastic place as we boarded the bus to Airlie Beach.
And Airlie Beach is where I am now, having a quiet couple of days before I set sail round the Whitsunday Islands on a Maxi class, race winning Yacht. Should be a lot of fun, but until Saturday which is when I set sail, I have some washing to catch up on, so I should go!
Much love to you all, take care, and I hope all is well wherever you are.
Just so you know, we are reading these. Jealously.
:D