Plains which consist of beach terrain, desert terrain and rainforest
terrain are a UNESCO certified national park. So not only is this a
chance to see three terrains in one it is also completely unspoiled
following the banning of logging in the 80s and bar a few well
concealed beach resorts. The best way to see this stunning place is by
hiring a 4x4 which brings me onto my top 5.....
1. 4 Wheel Driving - when I say the island is unspoiled I really mean
it. There are no roads on the island at all and you have to make do
with unbelievably bumpy inland tracks or driving on the hard sand on
the beach. Therefore, you need a 4x4 to get around. We hired a two
seater Suzuki which although it had 130,000KM of Fraser Island terrain
on the clock did the job in impressive style. It really is impressive
how much a 4x4 car can take considering your average car's reaction to
the slightest bump. Not only did it do the job but it made driving
fun. Don't get me wrong I do like a nice drive but it can, after a
while, get a bit boring. This never happens on Fraser Island. How can
it when you are concentrating on avoiding the tree that has fallen
across the road or making sure you don't drive into the sea? It was
like a real life computer game and made the driving more than about
getting from A to B and more part of the whole fun experience.
2. Lakes - we went to 3 lakes on the island, all of which were
beautiful. Lake Wabby has a real wow factor as you come upon it all of
a sudden after clambering up a pretty steep dune. The lake is a
beautiful green contrasting against a pristine yellow sand dune which
stretches a far as the eye can see. Breathtaking! Good for a swim too,
plenty warm enough.
Lake McKenzie is the most famous of the island's lakes due to its
white sand beach and crystal clear waters. It is also the busiest of
the lakes but we still had plenty of space for a swim and to find a
spot on the beach. Lake Birrabeen is much less well known but is
similarly white and crystal so is a good choice for a quieter swim.
However, McKenzie still edges it for me due to the fact that it has a
sand island in it which you can swim up to and lie on the bank in a
couple of inches of warm, clear water and bask in the sunlight. There
was no one else on the island when we first arrived. Amazing!
3. Champagne Pools - at the north end of the Eastern beach these pools
provide a rare opportunity to swim in the sea which you can't do along
much of the beach because of sharks, jellyfish and other stingers! Not
only is it a beautiful spot with pristine, warm waters protected by a
rocky barrier from the dangerous marine life but it is a fish
paradise. Luckily we had goggles with us so we had a great show from
the local fishes of all shapes and sizes who didn't seem at all put
out by us splashing about in their waters and taking photographs. The
best 'wild' marine life experience of the trip so far...
4. Eli Creek - another pristine water experience. Walk along the
creek, find a spot to jump in and let the current carry you back to
your starting point. Very relaxing - nature's own water slide!
5. Rainbow - the photos are already on the blog. I have never seen a
full 180 degree rainbow with such bright colours over the ocean
before. An unexpected, life affirming moment.
As usual there was not enough room in the top 5 to cover the full
amazing experience, which with camping on the beach, our tent being
inspected by dingos and trying to avoid 3ft Goanna lizards was a
really authentic Aussie experience, which I would recommend to anyone.
It is also the only place where you could really feel totally
isolated. We did our walk through the enormous Rainbow Gorge (named
after the many different colours of sand in the area) on our own,
watched the stars in our campsite on our own and spotted the rainbow
on our own. Scary in some ways but very rewarding.
By the way if I look like I have a black eye in some of the photos
that is because I do. The result of me failing to catch a fast flying
frisbee on our first evening on the island. Ouch!
Also a quick word on Brisbane. We weren't there long enough for a top
5, but the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) does deserve a mention for the
excellent Asia Pacific Triennial exhibition which made me nostalgic
for the Asian part of our trip.
On to the Whitsundays now which I hear will top even Fraser Island.
We'll see....
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