Originally Posted by Outlaw
Reply With QuoteFraser Island Pilgrimage 2013
Yes I know I must have been cleaning the car for a long time - I had to as it was a borrowed car - as this report seems to have been delayed in its completion. Thanks for the reminders Presto et al. We had a great group of people at this year’s trip with a nice cross section of vehicles. The beards were in force.
Tonic – Defender
Manchild – Defender
Grimace – RRC
GuyG – RRC
Outlaw – P38 RR
TimJ – D3
Mid October saw the GCLRO head off to Fraser Island for its annual Beach holiday. We all met (apart from Outlaw and Tonic) at BP Caboolture close to the designated time, admittedly Grimace did phone to advise he was running late, but as it turned out he was only a couple of minutes behind me. Which is better than my attempt last year having slept in and missed the convoy altogether. Leaving there about 15min behind schedule towards Rainbow Beach in a reasonably paced convoy we stopped near Gympie for a leg stretch, pit stop and to make a phone call while I still had coverage.
Once in Rainbow Beach we caught up with Josh and Tom who had stayed at Noosa Heads the night before. Fuel consumption comparison between Caboolture and Rainbow with the 2 RRC’s, Grimaces 37L but with bigger tyres and trailer, the RRC I was driving 27L – so about 12.9L/100km – sweet. Once fuelled up and fed we headed to Inskip Point to catch the Manta Ray Barge for the crossing to Fraser Island. Just before leaving the bitumen we aired down to make it easier in the soft sand, well it made it easier for most – Grimace got bogged just at the beginning of the sand track. Outlaw thought we should just get the barge and leave him there. If you manage to get out without assistance are you still bogged – YES – the car did fail to proceed, he did have to get out and have a look – we have photos. There were a variety of reasons given – I forgot CDL, the tyres weren’t low enough, I braked heavily to change into low range and couldn’t get going again. All are valid reasons/excuses. He did comment that he could hear the stauns hissing as they went round on the tyres. George went to have a look but Grimace was determined not to get a tug from George so early in the trip.
Once on the island we headed straight to camp collecting a few Pipi’s along the way to use as bait, although Grimace did collect a few later in the weekend for human consumption, yuk – bait only for me. There was the possibility of rain so I thought it best to get to the campsite while it was still dry and be setup prior to the rain setting in. Tonic was already setup at the campsite having spent a few days at the Eurong resort prior. There was a bit of rain on the first night but nothing too bad and if anything it made the tracks slightly easier ie less powdery. Once everyone was setup we headed back to the beach for a fish. A few little fish were caught but nothing exceptional. A bloke just down the beach caught a tailor about 60cm long and a sting ray – which provided quite a bit interest for the passersby.
Saturday as planned we headed to Sandy Cape via the Orchid Beach shop for an Ice-cream. Reports were that people were getting through Ngkala Rocks bypass although it was still quite soft. There was a vehicle and camper bogged on the north entrance to south Ngkala, their mate got through and was waiting for them, luckily they were about to reverse out of the way and let us through. We all got through north bound without any dramas, then proceeded up to the Sandy Cape and around to near the entrance track up to the lighthouse. A couple of people made the walk up to the lighthouse and then down to the grave sites while the rest of us chilled out on the beach. No fish were caught. George and Jnr stayed near the Sandy Cape tip to fish. I don’t know if they caught anything, they certainly didn’t keep them if they did. A few turtles were sighted. Having had lunch we started to head home. Most people got through Ngkala heading south without dramas, however there is a quite large bump just before the left hand corner of the entrance track off the beach. Tims D3 had its first bogging of the trip on this entrance but was able to reverse out, possibly with assistance of pushers/diggers and made it on the next attempt. Josh/Tom’s RR decided that speed was needed and apparently got some good air over the bump – I didn’t see either of these as I was at the other end. The rest made it through.
From here we stopped in at Ocean Lake where George Jnr made use of a rope swing into the lake. Next, Waddy Point via the shop for fuel/ice-cream for some, having climbed both north and south headlands of Waddy it was time to head back to camp before we were tackling too soft a sand with the incoming tide. South Waddy headland is considerably higher and therefore better views than North Waddy, but it has only been cleared with the recent back burning. I briefly stopped in a Waddy Lodge to catch up with the new Caretaker, before heading back towards camp. The inland track north of Champagne Pools was worse heading south than it was in the northbound section. The only track than was worse was between Eurong and Central Station. We were warned of this prior to going but didn’t think it was possible.
Now, if you were to take your boat to Fraser surely you would check that the trailer is up to the trip prior to leaving. I’m not sure whether this group did or didn’t but I’m aware that accidents happen, however if you had an axle snap on an inland one way track, what would you do. Oh I know we’ll launch the boat onto the track, thus blocking it for all other users and put the broken trailer in the bush beside the track. Then using a snatch strap we’ll attempt to drag the boat along the track thus destroying/damaging the track as you move the boat maybe 50cm at a time. I don’t know how impressed the 20 or so other car loads were that had to wait while this group took the first boat up to Orchid Beach unloaded it and then brought it back to load the second boat onto working trailer. Surely they could have parked the broken trailer with boat in the turning around spot thus leaving the track free for everyone else to use while they sorted the other trailer out. This was all in the first couple of hundred metres of the track from Middle Rocks to Orchid Beach.
On returning to the campsite we were greeted with another family that the NPWS had advised to set-up camp in the group campsite. They apparently asked the rangers where they were supposed to camp and because they were in a Land Rover Discovery and group of 3, ie a family, they were directed towards our site. After all the paperwork etc required to book this site and not being able to use it by club members outside of the main booking period etc it was disappointing that NPWS just directed unknowns into our booking area.
Sunday a couple of us went to the Knifeblade Sandblow and Lake Allom to view the Turtles. There is a walk around this lake however it is underwater due to increased level of the water table which was a good excuse not to do it. From here we went to the Maheno Wreck and then to Eli Creek for a swim and what can only be described as a fantastic water fight. It must have looked quite spectacular, gave a new meaning to throwing a bucket of water – most don’t let go of the bucket.
Monday George and Jnr headed home while the rest of us went up to Indian Head and then Champagne Pools for a swim, some had a bit of a fish along the way. This is where Josh claims to have caught the tailor seen in pictures – the jury is still out as to whether he caught it on the island or brought it with him. No-one actually saw him catch it. There is now sand back in the Champagne Pools as opposed to only rock, for young kids to play in and people to sunbake. We left here at different times and there was a bit of confusion as a couple of us were going to head to the shop for lunch but realising we had enough food headed south and found a nice shady spot on the beach between Middle Rocks and Indian Head, thus unfortunately someone went to the shop thinking we were there – oops, sorry about that. At least we can confirm that the boat and trailer were gone, although they did make the track worse than it already was. From here we headed back to camp fishing at a few spots along the way. Tony tried his luck at fishing, but someone came in beside him and caught his fish and then another...then a bird was sighted – how rude
With a late afternoon low tide we were able to pack up slowly, head back to Eli Creek for a bit, from here we split into two groups as those who hadn’t been to Fraser prior to this trip were able to head into Central Station and then do the Southern Scenic Tourist drive past all the lakes, while the others stayed at Eli for the tide to drop and then headed home. We were aiming to catch up at Rainbow and head home in convoy, but the inland tracks took a bit longer than expected. Grimace, Tonic and Outlaw stayed at Eli while GuyG and TimJ headed south and inland. NPWS had mixed information regarding the status of the inland tracks, one report was track closed and the other was to proceed with caution. Luckily the track was open, but there was a section where if there had been rain, it would have been a considerably deep crossing, that I probably wouldn’t have done in my fathers’ car. Tim had a couple of failure to proceed moments south of Central Station and had to air down further – was it 2 or 3 times, think I got blamed for causing one as I slowed to look for a map just we hit some powdery sand, which I was able to get through but he sank. Simple solution was more speed and lower tyre pressures. Luckily there weren’t too many more spots like this.
We got back out onto the beach and made the 4.45pm ferry back to the mainland. However we decided to continue down the beach from Inskip Point to Rainbow rather than staying on the bitumen. I always try and stay on the beach as long as possible when heading home – and that’s exactly what we did
Most of the attendees had previously been to Fraser so this year we had a bit more of a chilled/relaxing trip while still managing to see as much as possible. Tims father Tom and Gus, an American touring Australia in a Series, had not been to Fraser before joining the trip. Hopefully we covered enough of the island to give them an idea of what a great place it is. The only spot we didn’t get to was Lake McKenzie however we saw quite a few of the other lakes which are equally beautiful if not better.
apparently not bogged but he was out clearing sand
Bookmarks