Ok, I have finally managed to get the report done
Fraser Island 2014 – Trip Report
So the theory was to leave Brisbane at lunchtime on the Thursday and head to Rainbow Beach with enough time to go see Carlo Sandblow, maybe next year. I met Josh at BP Caboolture at about 5pm for the convoy to Rainbow. Shepp was just ahead of us as he had forgotten to stop. We just arrived in time to order Pizza from the local Sports Club. FYI – 8.30pm is kitchen closing time.
Friday morning we all met ready for the days’ adventure. We headed to Inskip Point to catch the Manta Ray barge airing down just before entering the beach. Due to the reasonably early low tide we were able to have a choice of either heading straight to camp or do some exploring of the Western side of the Island. I suggested that those towing larger vans/trailers etc head straight to the campground and the rest follow to see the Western side of the Island.
The group split at Dilli Village. A few went straight up the beach to camp, while the remainder went NW across the island on Dillinghams Road to see Buff Creek, Deep Creek, Ungowa and South White Cliffs. There are 2 ship wrecks able to seen from a distance here. The first which is visible is the ‘Ceratodus’ Wreck located just south of Ungowa on the beach - best viewed from Buff Creek. The second ‘Palmer’ Wreck which was a little more difficult to find is located up Deep Creek. There are a couple of photos looking up Deep Creek with a Log Dump on the right hand side, further up the creek just above the mangroves this wreck is visible.
The next split of the group after Ungowa as a couple went directly to the Dundaburra Camp site via Central Station. Paul and I went to check out the Wanggoolba Creek outlet/barge landing – there really is nothing there apart from a corrugated road and an airstrip. We caught up with some of the others at Central Station before heading onto Lake Mckenzie. From here we went to check out to McKenzies Jetty, then onto Kingfisher Resort for lunch. Again we arrived just as they were closing the kitchen, however this time they did take the orders. FYI – 2.30pm is last orders for lunch. I topped up with fuel – ouch $2.18 for unleaded 91.
Another group split – Josh and Tom headed to camp, while Paul, Ben and I went back across the Island via Cornwalls Break taking in the sights from the Lake Wabby lookout however we didn’t stop at the Stonetool Sandblow - before heading out onto the beach after the high tide and arriving at Dundaburra just before 6pm. Pretty much as I thought we would.
As some of the group were heading home on Monday I changed the days explorations around a bit so that those who hadn’t been before could see most of the popular attractions. Saturday morning we headed up to and climbed Indian Head, then onto the Champagne Pools or should be called puddles at the moment due to the little amount of water in them. From here we proceeded onto Waddy Point with a regular stop at the Orchid Beach shop/servo (more fuel for the RRC – only $2.12 this time for 91 unleaded) before heading back to camp assisting a couple of bogged backpackers along the way.
Sunday saw the trip to Sandy Cape, after a quick stop at the shop we headed north with plenty of time to enjoy the smooth waters at the top of the Island. It’s about an hour drive from Dundaburra to Orchid Beach – important for planning the return trip with regard to the tides. Well, Ngkala Rocks bypass lived up to its reputation of being quite soft and difficult for even experienced drivers. I got through and proceeded down onto the beach and called the next vehicle through. Not enough speed and Tim became stuck. We created a considerable back log of vehicles and their drivers, when we had a convoy of 10. Max Tracks, shovels and a few other recovery tracks did very little to move the D3 sitting on its belly spinning its wheels.
After several attempts Tony came to the rescue, sort of, yes he did eventually pull him out, but had to air down further himself and use the recovery tracks also. Part of the problem was he needed first low range to get the D3 moving but changing into second lost momentum causing the Defender to get stuck and slow the D3 which was moving. Some of our group decided to head back to Waddy Point for the day instead of risking it. The peanut gallery was in full force that day. After about 2 hours all who were heading to the Cape had successfully made it through. Although a little Vitara snuck through also getting stuck behind Tim – didn’t help that he put it into H2 instead of L4. I think they were about to get left there before I advised that they were also now with us.
We eventually made it all the way to the Cape only to find that there was considerable weed covering the sand. Josh thought he’d drive on it only to discover why they advise against it. This is a common issue on the Western beaches on the Island. It may look quite hard but there can be layers of weed under the sand allowing the car to sink. The light house is being refurbished and closed possibly until Xmas time. Shepp and kids had a go at fishing but the weed made cleaning the line unpleasant.
A couple of people walked to the bunkers/graves, while others climbed the sand dune, before heading back to camp. Well we weren’t the only ones having issues at Ngkala Rocks. I was able to get mostly through until I found a tray back towing a tinny with normal little trailer tyres. They had already unloaded about 9 jerry cans from the well over packed tinny, removed the trailer and spun it round just about clear of the track and were trying to get themselves out. Luckily they did, and there was enough room between the tinny and dune to squeeze through. I was calling people through until some random decided to stop and pull the tinny out, surely considering they were on channel, they’d advise what they were going to do or at least wait for the extensive back log to clear before stopping and reversing back. They advised me what they thought on the way through – wow. Then back to camp via the shop for another ice-cream and you guessed it more fuel for the RRC. I stopped in briefly at Waddy Lodge to catch up the current caretaker.
Monday, for something different, we headed down to the Pinnacles where we crossed the island all the way through to the western beach via the Woralie Road. The club has camped over that side of the Island a few times in the past. Quite a nice spot, but no facilities and the fact that you have to cross the Island twice a day to get anywhere are its main draw backs. We stopped for a swim and relax here for quite a while. From here we drove north on the western beach crossing Bowarrady Creek and Awinya Creek outlets onto the beach. I had to stop and ask some campers where the Awinya Creek track was. I knew from talking to the ranger and previous research that it was through the campground.
The ranger advised to only cross at low tide as it is a tidal creek and to be aware of the holes – head upstream from the track as there is a hole directly in the middle – we all walked it first, the hole was chest deep. I didn’t want anyone to have any issues or be uncomfortable crossing it. I was the marker for the edge of one of the holes and for everyone to go around me – except for Josh who thought he’d run me down – have you replaced the number plate yet Josh? Everyone successfully made it through with only the Vitara needing some assistance up the bank on the other side.
From here we headed in and south along the Awinya Creek track back to the Woralie track. There were a couple of interesting sections that most did with ease. At the turn off to Allom Lake the Dave and Greg in the Vitara headed for home and the rest of us headed into Lake Allom for lunch before going down to watch the Turtles. Josh and I completed the circuit walk around the Lake, before heading back to camp via Cathedral Beach for supplies and an ice-cream.
Tuesday was the usual pack up camp and head to Eli Creek awaiting the tide to drop enough to head for home. There was a group next to us that had setup a sun shade with a side panel. We were expecting it not to last, it didn’t but we missed seeing it flip.
I’d love to say that lots of fish were caught, but I didn’t even take the rods off the car, bit like the kayak – it’s well travelled. We covered pretty much everything that I was aiming to see. Unfortunately the wind and weed made the fishing unpleasant but in the end there wasn’t enough time for that.
As I said in the first post – it was another excellent trip.
98 Harvey the tractor - 300 tdi Defender Wagon
84 Alfetta GTV
Originally Posted by The ho har's
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. I reckon the young fella did an outstanding job. I was proud to be able to help with such great driver training for him
. In all he clocked up over 3hrs and nearly 100km of sand driving!
and I managed to stay up till 2230 one night
! Tom's mate Noel is especially welcome back next year, but only if he accepts the cooking duties once again.
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