Fraser Island 2012

[GuyG]

The trip leader didn't quite make the starting point but did catch up before the Noosa River Ferry at Tewantin.

In brief:

The group site worked well once we sorted/found the key and advised the Rangers we had booked in. Great group. Excellent weather - first night was a tad chilly. Only a small amount of rain one morning. Clear skies. Nice fires - fire ring at camp ground - once we got some wood. Saw plenty of wildlife - dingoes, sharks, whales, dolphins, birds etc. Covered the full length of the island. Don't want to think about how much fuel was used but I covered 580miles. Only one fish that was caught was big enough to keep and was tasty. Didn't see many people catching fish. Everyone drove well. Toyotas are not unbreakable. Some drivers are twits. Tour operators in general don't like having to reverse and get off the inland tracks when confronted with a convoy of 9 cars. The sand dune at Waddy is extremely steep. Didn't want to leave - which is a sign of a good holiday. Double Island Point is a lovely spot for lunch on the way home.

Plenty of pics were taken and some videos.

Will complete detailed trip report later in the week.

Good news - Jess managed to get home in time for the Netball finals and their team won - congratulations

[Timj]

Yep, great trip again. I've been to Fraser so many times now, once a year for about the last 17 years I think, and yet it is still different every time. The Maheno gets less and less every year but still attracts the crowds. I don't know what Guy is talking about though, I caught two fish, they were at least 10cm long, probably would have had a bite or two on them .

Some photos -

The coloured sands between DI and Rainbow on the way up.



How to camp in a SWB Series 3, the front part of the bed is removable so the seats are usable when not using the bed.





This is why you don't swim in the surf on Fraser, just north of Orchid Beach.



Landrovers in their right element while we were taking photos of that shark.



The northenmost point on Fraser looking to the west.



Ocean Lake which is one of the brown lakes just north of Orchid Beach.



Fishing at sunset on the beach in front of the campground.





The Maheno wreck.







Plane landing on the beach.



Dingo at Central Station.



Then we found out what it had been up to just before.



Climbing Indian Head.





View to the south.



View to the north, Waddy Point is the furthest point.



Looking down, people actually get around to these rocks to fish.



A whale off the point.



The Maheno again, on the way home.













Dingos at Eli Creek, they had just chased a large goanna into the creek but lost it under the water.











We actually rescued the goanna that they had chased into the creek because it was sitting on the bottom acting like a stick right where cars were going to be driving through.

Sea Eagle.



And that's it, they are probably the best of my photos. Didn't take any of some of the places we went as I have lots from other trips.

Thanks for leading Guy and thanks to everyone else for making it a great trip. Good company makes it fun.

Cheers,

Tim.

[WhiteD3]

Thanks for another great trip Guy.

As per last year the trip up to Sandy Cape was the high point. Such a great place, scenery, etc. The climb to the lighthouse was bad enough on my old legs but then Matt dared me to climb that damned dune...........a near death experience but I was glad to have got up there. Great views.

The camp itself was good and IMHO the best spot we've tried to date.

Andy (on his learner's) did about 10 hours driving. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement to Andy; he really appreciated it but was a bit embarrassed too. He was not happy about getting stuck at the north entrance to the Ngkala bypass but the exit at Orchid Beach (1st attempt failed, 2nd met a car and had to reverse back, 3rd was successful) made up for that.

Here's some pics.

I think this is the northern entrance to the Ngkala rocks bypass.










The crew at Sandy Cape




Grimace on top of the dunes, Sandy Cape


Tony & Guy



Tony & Jason's daughter (Yes, I'm hopeless with names!)


The crew at the Maheno


Guy with Jason's pet Dingo at Central Station


Andy at the wheel on the way back from Sandy Cape.
Andy driving Fraser Is part 1 - YouTube

[tonic]

Well, great trip, great group, great sights, great guiding thanks Guy. Having someone who knows there way around the island as well as Guy made the trip very relaxing for the Browns. The only thing we had to concentrate on was the driving and looking at the scenery.

The driving was great with a few little challengers at some bypasses which we all handled well including the learners in the group, not one recovery required for the whole 5 days. I can report that Prado drivers can hold you up for ½ an hour though, take it from here Guy.

I was also forced by a Cruiser driver to veer left in soft sand going down hill as he decided there was room for him to come up past me at a one car spot, the ruts had us heading at each other with the resulting maneuvers costing us momentum and we both got stuck. I reversed up and got around him. He remained stuck and I hope he is still there. Must be something about Toyota drivers.

The camp site is great and well located to be able to get to all the sights on day trips as Guy proved each day. The facilities were also tops with great hot showers and washing up areas for those traveling light.

The group site is the way to go but I have been told this requires much more organising with exact numbers required at booking time, I for one would hate to see us lose this so if you want to go next year, please get in early to help the organizers.

The barge wait



On our way



Catching bait



What a day



Entering Rainbow Beach



Coloured sands



On to Fraser



Heading to camp



Orchid Beach here we come, this is what most of the inner tracks look like with only the odd soft spot to watch out for.



A bypass off the beach, this one was on the way home and very easy.



Sandy Cape



Come on dad, lets go to the lighthouse



And we made it



Champaign pools, and I still don’t know how you can get those fish home Grimace, big ideas happening in the background.



Eli Creek



Heading home, Tim met a new friend on that barge



The end

[Presto]

Can't wait to see the pics Tony!! ...looks like your links are broken!

[tonic]

Can't wait to see the pics Tony!! ...looks like your links are broken!

Might have to get Josh round to show me how to do it properly, just took me 1/2 an hour to get them up. I can see them on my own post. I dont know how to make them smaller in kb, that is probably the problem.

[Ralph1Malph]

One of our best trips so far!
Thanks to all for the excellent camping, driving and company.
We'll definately be back next year as the last time I was on the island was over 20 years ago and don't want to wait that long again.
Highlights for the Smiths included Sandy Cape and Eli Creek.
Special thanks to GuyG and Grimace for all their efforts and the rest of the crew for superb company.
On a personal note, my boys had a particularly good time after not being so keen initially.

Photos to come once I go through them and weed out the poor ones and duplicates.

Ralph

[djhampson]

Looks like a great trip guys!

And how lucky is Andy to learn to drive in a D4 on Fraser!

[Grimace]

And how lucky is Andy to learn to drive in a D4 on Fraser!

As TimJ pointed out... the best highway in the world...

The drive to the sandy cape is IMHO one of the best Australia can provide.
Not challenging but such a cruise.
Andy got to do this on his Learners

I have some photos and videos on the camera, nothing as fancy as the current lot.
Not had a chance to get them onto the PC as yet. Will attempt to have some uploaded tonight.

[Timj]

Well I just worked out my fuel consumption, 17.7 l/100 over the whole trip. A bit disappointed with that as I got 12.5 l/100 on the way up to Rainbow on the Friday. Amazing how much difference slogging through soft sand and sitting on 110kph on he way back makes.

Cheers,

Tim.