Thread: Fraser first timer - advice needed

How much time do you have.
Its an island, much like the mainland we live on but much smaller.
In 3 days you will have seen most parts anbd probably like to stay in favourite place a bit longer.
Its been too long to remember where I stayed but we met up with others and joined in and tagged along a fair bit.
Interms of gear to take, shovel, aircompressor and fridge should cover it.

Just go and see where the tracks lead you.

Lucky you!

Little ones will enjoy Lake McKenzie & Eli Creek. Take an eski with for Lake McKenzie as it is a bit away from the parking. Remember, tour busses rule the beach.

The biggest issue on Fraser is the tides. You won't be able to travel on the eastern beach near high tide. Of course all the inland roads are accessible but it is a pretty long and bouncy trip to travel much north and south through the inland tracks. If you can get a house at Happy Valley or Eurong it is not too bad since you can get to Central Station and Lake Mackenzie at any time. If you are further north say at Orchid beach then everything is decided by the tides. Cathedral beach is the same, can't go anywhere if the tide is up.

Standard recovery gear is needed, snatch strap, compressor, shackles and all that sort of stuff. Run your tyres down as low as about 18psi depending on load and you should be fine.

Hope that helps a bit .

TimJ.

Hi Andrew,

A few months ago I took my stock standard D4 SE 3.0TD to Fraser for a week. I bought a set of Maxtrax but they never came out of the package...neither did the snatch straps. Originally had the 19's down to 18psi but was concerned about getting a puncture after hitting a few exposed roots on the inland tracks, so I put them up to 22psi. Never came close to getting bogged but then it wasn't super dry.

On the beach I had everything turned off and inland I went into low range with the Sand selection on but I recon I could have done it fine in normal with sports mode just to keep the revs up.

I stayed at a house in Happy Valley. There is heaps to see and do.....but even just driving around is great fun. Creeks, lakes, rock pools, ocean scenery...all great. The change in vegetation is incredible too. The Sand Blows are surreal....looking at a forest of 100+ ft trees being swallowed by sand.

However, my warning, as I discovered the hard way.....watch the creek wash-outs on the main Eastern beach (gazetted 80kph zone). They're structure can change everyday and what was a very smooth creek crossing one day can have quite steep banks the next.

I ran straight over one at speed, as you couldn't see it until right on top of it. 4 buckled wheels and a few other bits and bobs. The D4 was still OK to drive but would have been expensive to fix if not for insurance. It could have been a lot worse and I'm constantly hearing stories of others that were less fortunate.

Of course, the Dingos can be an issue with kids the age of yours too.....but you just have to be vigilant and keep them close.

It's a great place.

Enjoy.

Regards,

Kev.

we did it a few years back in our Rangie Classic (3.5efi V8 Auto), never aired down as i didnt have a pump to pump back up and never had an issue. As mentioned, always slow down for the creek run offs, many tourists have been seriously injured with these. i reckon i did it back in 2003 and as we were driving off of the island, i looked in my rear view and saw a brand spanking new Rangie following me, i wished we could have swapped!
its an awesome place, definately want to go back one day

Hi all

Thanks for the replies. The 130 is getting prepared as we speak. A 20 litre air tank and second air compressor were installed over the weekend. New suspension went in last week and the week before that it was the timing belt, p gasket and water pump. So the truck is more then prepared. I have heaps of recovery gear - everything from the 9,000 warn winch all the way down to a shovel. No max trax. Although I don't have much sand driving experience behind me in the 130 (I prefer dirt!), I have driven on Moreton and Stradbroke heaps of times in my old Rangie.

A mate of mine runs the Fraser Island Taxi Service and he also has a few rental houses so I see what he has available.

The only issue I am struggling with at the moment is getting to Inskip from Brisbane. It would be a 3 hour drive via Gympie/Tin Can Bay and I am guessing a same time from if I drive up Noosa North Shore then take the Freshwater track to Rainbow???


Cheers
Andrew

Orrrr you can go up the Cooloola Way

We find the beach far more scenic that the highway....Is leisha track still impassable??


Have a great holiday

Mrs hh

Here is a link that will get you heaps of info of all parks and tracks.

have fun.,
B

https://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks/iaparks/gds/