Our Trip to Fraser Island.

Howdy!

We had our trip to Fraser Island today and it was great fun! So pleased that we made the decision and effort to go.
Took the Manta Ray Barge across from Inskip Point (near Rainbow beach) to the Island. From there it was full on! straight off the ferry onto the Sand! The car that got off in front of us bogged itself as soon as it was off, so that was a little warning to us about the conditions ahead! Once we got going and stuck to the hard sand we were on our way! It was rather a long journey (with Flick screaming in the background at times) up to our first stop at Maheno Wreck. The views along the beach were so beautiful that I was pinching myself at times. The ocean so blue, sand so almost white looking and the waves rolling in and out! The wreck itself was good to see, a little smelly and just about all rusted away - not all that much left of it. We stopped here for a while and the kids had a run and a snack before we got back into the car and drove back down the coast line. We were more relaxed about the sand driving this time. You could do up to 80km/h and all road rules applied as you would driving on normal roads. We also saw two planes over our heads which landed almost right in front of us on the beach as we were driving along! The kids thought this was great.
We drove to a place (once we found it) called Cronwells Inland Road Entrance. This road was a 4WD track along the Central Lakes Scenic Drive. OMG! It took 3 hours to cover 30kms! It was classed as a Minor 4WD track but we felt very different. I think the Mummy's Toorack Tractor now has a few more battle scars other than the shopping trolley marks! The old cruiser might be old but she got us through. It was very bumpy and rough at points - the kids loved it like that. Flick and Maurice managed to have little power naps through it which was good, but their heads were rocking from side to side that's for sure!
 The track covered mostly tall blackbutt - satinay forest but opened into scribbly gum and banksia woodland. Rather amazing the contrast of the different areas so close to each other. We stopped at a place called Central Station for lunch at a picnic area. We didn't get time to look at the Lakes, as we needed to be back on the beach before the tide was too high! We also stopped at a place called Eurong for an Ice cream and drink before heading back to the sand along the beach. As we were driving along we noticed just how quickly the tide was coming in and Trent really had to move us along. Saw a Dingo in the distance as we were going flat stick, so didn't get a chance to go over (sand too soft) and check him out. It was probably best we stayed away anyhow, they say they like kids!!!! As we were getting closer to where the barge was to collect us from the sand was getting softer and softer. Trent had the accelerator flat to the floor and we weren't going all that far, except closer to the water!!!! My heart was in my mouth, I thought that I may have had to swim out of the cruiser and of course Flick was laughing in the background at this stage and Pheobe and Maurice weren't all that sure. Anyway, we got through it without having to take the inland track to the barge (this would have cost us more time and the barge stops at 5.30pm). Once back on the barge my heart slowed down and I asked Trent how he was. Trent said he was a little concerned but OK. I think if our car was more equipped to do things like this I would have felt more at ease. Also, seeing that first person stuck straight away I guess didn't help knowing that we were travelling alone!!!
Overall a great experience for us all and it's a place that we would like to go back to one day when the kids are a little older and then camp and cover a few more of the tracks and see some of the lakes.
I will try my hardest to get some pics up soon of our day at Fraser Island. We are moving on tomorrow, heading towards Hervey Bay - providing that we don't get side tracked. Hope you are all keeping well.
Cheers,
The Guye Gang. xo