Fraser Island - Sand, low range and beach driving

Fraser Island

It was not a really early start as the ferry to Kingfisher Bay from River head wasn't leaving till 1230 but we had to put the vans in storage. Luckily Shaz's sister Ann and hubby Phil have quite a bit of space and allowed us to store them there for the 3 days for which we are very grateful. As it turned out it took us very little time to drop them off so we all headed for River head (Phil, Anne and Craig included) for coffee before departure. Loaded on the ferry and a very uneventful 50 minute trip to Kingfisher Bay saw us on Fraser Island. Lunch at Kingfisher Bay lower the tyre pressure and off we go. Our accommodation was in Eurong which was on the other side of the Island. Its only around 20kms but is all 4wd sand, narrow roads with speed limits of 30 km hour. Still we made good time and arrived at our base for the next 3 days around 3 ish. For the next 3 days we are staying in a house called Reid's Place in second valley Eurong.



Its a little dated but was clean and reasonable comfortable and I think everyone enjoyed it. The rest of the day was spent unpacking and settling in. Driving on Fraser Island is an experience many of the roads are single lane width, cut through the surrounds, blind bends and no where to get off the track to allow other cars to pass so great care is needed. This is a first for Shaz and Gaz as neither have been to Fraser before.

Our barge awaits

New day dawns and after a leisurely breakfast we head up the beach. We travelled up as far as the wreck of the Maheno. Thing that strikes me this time around is the number of sections of the beach which have been allocated for planes to land. Last time we were here there was only one or two now there dotted all along the beach. After sometime looking over the Maheno wreck we headed back to Eli Creek and Happy Valley for a coffee and look around. We were doing pretty well with the tides so next stop at Eli creek was fantastic. Last time here I got bogged to the axles this time round no probs. I love this place and as usual it was well patronised by sightseers.

Crew at the Maheno

Eli Creek

The water is incredible clear and flowing, but pretty cold. Happy Valley hasn't changed much from our last visit and coffee was not bad. Apparently the original owners of the facilities and eco resort went bust and the place has not long reopened. From there it was a run across the island Urang creek, then back to via the central station track back to Eurong to sit back and relax. Our picnic lunch at Urang crk was interrupted by sand flies and midges. The continued changing landscape provides an interesting back drop to our travels around the island with the contrast between the huge trees and thick under brush to the less dense rain forest almost blurred between on corner and the next. And the number and size of grass trees has to be seen to be believed. Fraser is still a very popular place and the interest in coming here has not waned. The problem is the number of people doing stupid things a ruining it for everyone.

Day 2 saw us head south along the 75 mile beach to Dilli village then inland around the lake district to Lake Mackenzie. We stopped off at a number of the lakes for a rubber neck. The white sands contrasting with the crystal clear water in the shallows and deep blue of the deeper water is always a pleasurable site. There were a number of camp areas around the lakes which looked really good except for them looking like compounds with 6 foot fences around them. I guess its as much to separate the humans from the Dingoes and protect the dingoes from humans. Which brings me to the dingoes we haven't seen one since we have been here and the consensus seems to be that its breeding time and they are all in their lairs. We did, however, have a visitor during the morning a large monitor lizard sunning itself on the shed roof. Probably about a metre long and not overly interested in anything much. Last night on the island so we decided on dinner out -  the pub was the first choice except it doesn't serve meals. So it had to be the Eurong resort – Aussie BBQ night. Not a bad fair but some interesting dishes for an “ Aussie BBQ meal”.

Day 3 Off the island. Today we head back to the mainland and our ferry isn't till 2pm so it is a bit leisurely. A bit of house work and pack the cars and we are on our way heading across the island. Today we will call into central station, which is the old logging area of the island and coincidently is about the centre of the island. This is a really nice spot with relics of the logging days, amenities, camping area and board walks along the creek. The first time Di and I visited here it took us sometime to realise that there was actually water in the creek  - its was so clear and still. Because of the rain it was running a bit harder but still exceptionally clear to the point we could see an eel and catfish scrounging for food. We arrived in Kingfisher Bay with plenty of time for a look around and a bit of lunch before boarding our ferry. We ended up doing nearly 220km on Fraser over the 3 days a lot of which, for me anyway, was 4wd low range. Not much is happening for the rest of today just pick up vans overnight Hervey Bay and then down to Tewantin (Noosa) to see Brad and the grand kids for a few days. Gaz and Shaz are staying and extra night with her sister so will catch up with us in a day or two.

Grass trees in abundance

Fungi

Lake McKenzie

On the road again Northward bound - into the rain again

Finally on our way after a few ordinary months and a busy couple of weeks. 
Friday saw as in Melbourne to see "we will rock you" at the Regent.
Dash home early Sat morning pick up the van and we are off heading for Narrandera 
and points north.

Our setup


Way side stop on the way up

We had a pretty good trip with Wendy following on her first major trip with the JPod. 

As it turned out we met up with Gaz and Chaz at Finely for a bit of lunch. 

The bakery has new owners and they were great and the food was pretty good, 

including the snot blocks (vanilla slices)

 

Next stop was our Narrandera for the night. The caravan park was small but the owners were 

great and accommodated us. A number of the sites had been closed due to the rain and 

the wet conditions. The number of vans on the road is incredible and has surprised us a bit.


Sunday morning saw us leave Narrandera and head up the Newell Hwy for Dubbo. 

The road conditions varied but its fair to say the rain has caused a bit of havoc. 

Many of the dams, rivers and paddocks were under water or over their banks. The road 

conditions had deteriorated with lots of areas down to one lane on the highway. We had 

heard the highway between Narrandera and Parks had been closed with a 40km detour. 

It seems luck was with us and the road was open albeit at reduced speeds.

We had intended to stay 2 nights in Dubbo, however, with the wet conditions and inclement weather we decided to continue on. 


Next day we departed early as this was to be one of our longer days heading for Goondiwindi.

Wendy has been doing pretty well towing the pod for the first time on these longer trips and 

seems to be settling in pretty well. Again road conditions weren't the best but I am very 

happy with the van and its capabilities. It is travelling pretty nicely and is handling the rough 

stuff well. Overnight Goondiwindi and a short hop to Kingaroy - or it should have been but 

the roads went backwards a bit and was a winding narrow road for some of it so we slowed a 

bit. Still made Kingaroy by mid afternoon. In the main, although a bit slower, it wasn't a bad trip 

and getting in just after lunch allowed us to have a bit of look around. The weather again was 

a bit “iffy” but we soldiered on regardless. Couple of highlights were the nut van and the biscuit 

factory. The Peanut Van originally began its life under the name "Murrumba Star" in the late 

1960s. It was a simple van outlet for a firm called Kingaroy Toasted Peanuts 

(which no longer exists) and it operated on weekends at a Kingaroy service station.

A few months after it started operating, the van was shifted next to Lions Park at the main 

entrance to Kingaroy (the site it's occupied ever since).

And when a decision was taken to extend it to a 5-day-a-week operation soon after that, 

the founder Ruth Davis was hired on a 20% sales commission to staff it. She began working 

in the van on the 28th December 1969.

The biscuit place has been going since around the early 1990's and was set up by the 

Endeavour Foundation ( http://www.endeavour.com.au/) and is mainly staffed by intellectually 

handicapped and was such a refreshing place. We were fortunate to have a personally 

guided tour by one of the workers and to see the smiles, joy and enthusiasm of the people 

involved who clearly enjoyed being involved. Funny note: they have an xray/metal detector 

which all the product goes through and our guide was trying to get us to guess what it was. 

Her explanation something something that men don't wear. Di “ a bra” wrong answer jewellery 

apparently was the right answer but our guide cracked up.


With Kingaroy in the mirrors we headed off on a short hop to Hervey Bay, our base for

 the next couple of days. It is our first chance to really have a break and relax for a couple 

of days and we have nothing really planned other than just “chillin” before we head over to 

Fraser Island for 3 nights. We have finally found somewhere new for Shaz as she has 

never been there. We did however have a wonderful evening with Shaz's Sister Anne, brother 

Craig and Anne's hubby Phil. An enormous seafood spread cooked by Craig which everyone 

thoroughly enjoyed even me as Craig prepared and Gary cooked fillet mignon for me.

A very enjoyable night had by all.
A few friends in Fraser Lodge Caravan Park

Well the next trip is planned and we are looking forward to heading off. We have an addition this time with Wendy now having her own rig. More to come when we leave so watch this space. A few pictures of the new van.

Birdsville or Bust

Well our next trip is fast approaching and planning is pretty much finished.
We are head to Mungo NP then up to Birdsville via Broken hill. From Birdsville we go down the Birdsville track to Maree and then Farina Station finishing up at Rawsley Pk Station in the Flinders ranges.

Can't come soon enough for me except I have a bit of work to do to get the trailer ready. And guess what last time we went up here it was green. This time it will be green again so much for desert. But Lake Eyre will be full!!