Fraser Island

Posted by Matt

Posted on June 15, 2008

Jonny has asked me to blog this week for him so I will do my best to explain a superb week which started with a five hour bus ride from Noosa to Hervey Bay. As explained by Jonny Noosa was a haven, picturesque spot and we were sorry we couldn't have stayed longer but unfortunately Fraser Island was calling!!! For those who don't know Fraser Island, it stretches over 123 kilometres along the southern coast of Queensland with an area of 184,000 hectares. It is the largest sand island in the world, dotted with off road tracks and beautiful fresh water lakes. We booked ourselves on a 3 day, 2 night self-driven camping trip with our very own 4x4 vehicle.

We arrived from Noosa in good time for our pre meeting where we were broken down into 2 groups of 10 and 11, it's fair to say we were happy with the group we got which consisted of an English and Irish couple, me, Jonny and Four girls from England Taiwan, Germany and Denmark. After watching the safety video and running through the huge list of do's and don'ts, as a group we went shopping for 3 days worth of food and amenities for the trip. This was a great way to get to know our new group mates and yes we also stocked up on a few alcoholic beverages.

Next day we were up nice and early to collect our vehicle, sign for our camping and cooking equipment and load our vehicle, ready to board the ferry over to the island. Jonny volunteered himself to drive the first leg and off we set expectations high and the mood humorous. As soon as we arrived on the Island we knew we were in a for a special few days and the endless paragraphs I could write would not do it justice. As they say a picture paints a thousand words so all I will conclude on was Fraser Island is that it is a must do experience on the East Coast with some amazing and exhilarating views. Nothing quite beats sitting round a camp fire by moon light sharing stories and jokes with a cold beer amongst great company. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as Jonny enjoyed posing for them!!

After Fraser Island it was back to Hervey bay for a night and as a group we said goodbye to Connor and Edel, the Irish couple, and the rest of the group descended on the local nightclub (Morocco's) for an excellent night out and no we didn't hit the Jega bombs (they had none!).

Next stop was 1770. 1770 was not part of the original plan but as we have enjoyed surfing so much we decided to stop for a couple of days to catch some waves. We headed there with two of the girls we had met on Fraser Island, Sarah and Anna, and we have also arranged to meet back up with Pete and Rebecca (the English couple) and May the Danish girl in Airlie beach to do the Whitsunday's Islands. 1770 was another unexpected haven and we stayed in what has to be the best hostel so far, called Cool Bananas, and we were all sorry not ot have had longer here to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the place. We got a mornings surfing in and a few of us then heading off to watch the sunset with a few beers in the late afternoon.

So we now find ourselves in Airlie Beach eagerly awaiting to meet back up with the others and do the Whitsunday's tour which is basically 3 days, 2 nights sailing on a Catamaran around the Great Barrier Reef, I know it's a hard old life but after 6 months of working in Sydney we certainly are enjoying ourselves and I personally don't think I could ask for anymore.

In conclusion, an excellent week again full of laughter, breathtaking scenery, lifelong memories and some fast tracked friendships made along the way. Hope you enjoy the blog and pics and tune back in next week for week 3's update which should be full of more pics and some stories from Whitsunday's.

Meech

Matt & Jonny on the ferry to Fraser Isand

All the gang

All the gang after a good camp fire feed

On the beach

Matt in the 4x4

Posing at the Maheno wreck

Matt & Jonny getting the group lost

Running up the sand dunes

What goes up...

Setting up camp on the beach on the second night

Camp fire on the beach

Lake Mackenzie

All the gang get in the 4x4 for the last time

Sarah, Matt & Chris

Surfing take two!

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