Thank Goodness For Fraser Island

 

Lake McKenzie

Fauna on Fraser

Three days spent scattered across the coast of Australia I was in pretty haggard condition and ready for a proper shower and warm mattress. I left 1770 headed back to Noosa Heads to catch a crew headed for Fraser Island.

 

Jellies in the sand

Great Sandy Island was the name at the beginning, which seems fitting since it claims to be the largest sand island in the world. Because of a certain species of fungi living in the sand the island is abundant with plant life. It looks like an extension of tropical Queensland coastline.

Riding dirty- they would not stop looking at us :)

Riding the ferry from Rainbow Beach
to Fraser Island

Fraser Island got its name after a woman who shipwrecked on the beach. Shipwrecks are a common tourist feature on the island.  A quiet island inhabited with 200 people, each place I stopped was calm and serene.

Our guide Wayne was wrangled looking character with one of the strongest Aussie accents and sun-ridden skin. He walked everywhere barefoot- normal for the down under. 

Death Adder Snake chilling 

Getting tipsy not crabby

Two land rovers filled, it was time for some sand dune driving along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Swimming was not encouraged since a variety of sharks and salt-water crocodiles were friendly to this area. 

Shane knows how to party

Swift greetings from the dingoes as our convoy pulled up to the beach of Lake McKenzie. The thin string of pure silica sand is sparse as the water level is high around this time of year. The water temperature is also on the nippy side.

Wayne leads us next onto a nature hike. This is the only place in the world where tall rainforest grows out of sand. Fraser Island is home to nearly 900 species of plants.  After some meditation in the trees we headed back to camp.

My favorite part was when we all watched the sunset together. The filters of color in the sky mesmerized me.  The bold warmth absorbed into the skin making you feel as if you were apart of the sky.

 This night we had a shindig, enjoying each other's unique perspectives and backgrounds.  We had nomads from Sweden, France, Canadian, German, and American to name a few.

A rough awakening expected, the wreck of S.S. Maheno matched our vibe. Rusted and strung out across the sand, waves of sand and sun pounded its side. I am talking about the wreck, yes. It was built in Scotland, and on its way to Japan after being sold.  A strong cyclone stopped it in course and 80 years later it still remains on Fraser Island.

This trip within my road trip was a huge high for me. I met friends, ran into old ones from the last sailing trip and got to see another amazing place Australia gets to call home.