2 Crazy Sheilas

I swear I am getting SO sick of these early as starts! I am beginning to feel like an old woman, waking up so early and going to bed so late has really caught up to me, and I’m starting to get tired at nearly 8 p.m.! I know I know, I’m young right? I feel a little bad for my parents, I have a felling that when I return and spend a week at home they’ll actually want to spend some time with me, I’m just afraid that once I fall asleep, especially in my own clean bed, I might be put into a coma and not wake up for days! Well I guess we’ll see if they read this, because at least they can’t say I didn’t warn them !

Ok so guess what? I’m still traveling down the coast and yesterday and today I spent some time on Fraser Island. If you have read the end of my last entry you will find that I have already told you a little about Fraser Island, and quite frankly I am not going to repeat myself so you all can scroll down

We woke up early and hopped on the 4WD with the others travelling with us on the two day, one night tour. We drove south from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach where we picked up a few others and where Miranda and I dropped off our bags and booked our hostel room for the following night. After some reservation making we hopped back on the 4WD and headed to the coast of Rainbow Beach, boarded the farry and were taken across the ocean (or straight, or sea??) and landed on Fraser Island. When we grove off of the ferry I quickly learned that there were no paved roads on the island (only sand) and that the only highway was along 75-mile beach, an unswimmable beach on the east coast of the Island. We learned that the waters were practically unswimmable of you had any brains at all due to the large population of Tiger Sharks, and inhabitaion of Jelly Fish, and due to the current northern migration of Humpback Whales bringing Great White Sharks into the area as well. The two words, shark and jelly, were enough of a warning that there was no way I had even wanted to put my feet in the water! 

Along our drive to the north of the island to check out Indian Head, a rocky cliff suspended 60 meters above the sea level, making a great look-out for marine wildlife, we saw jelly fish and even some migrating humpback whales (which is what I really wanted to see, and let me tell you it was REALLY amazing!) Along our way to Indian Head we also learned about the dingoe population on the island, which was the largest in Australia, and learned that we were not to feed them and what to do if they get agressive, as there have been maulings of children and even deaths on the island that were completely due to dingoes. After being a little worried about the dog-like animals we got out first glimpse of them just before we arrived at Indian Head. They just look like tan dogs, but looks can be decieving as I already mentioned, they can be very dangerous.

Before Indian Head we made a quick stop and had a hike up through huge sand dunes to Lake Wabby. Lake Wabby, being a freshwater lake and surrounded by sand dunes was as green as ever and played home to many catfish-like fish swimming beneath the surface. When we got to Indian Head we immediately hiked up it and got a beautiful view of the ocean below, where we got to see sharks, stink rays, turtles, whales, and diving birds at an arial view, amazing huh! On our way back down the coast we stopped at the Pinnacles to see the different colors of sand in the rocky sliffs above and learn the aboriginal story behind it. Ater quick photo we headed south again and made another stop at a shitwreck on the beach, the ship which was named Mohina, and it made a home on the shores of Fraser Island years before. The heat of the day brought us to Eli Creek, a freshwater creek that leads to the ocean with a strong current. Miranda and I quickly hopped into the freezing water and walked our way up to the point where we had to listen to the signs and turn around and head back down. Along the walk we saw many grey fish below the clear waters surface and enjoyed the view of the ferns, palms, and trees that surrounded us.

Erong Island Resort was our home for the night and Miranda and I had a relaxing (and early) night after we stuffed ourselves with the Mexican buffet.

This morning we woke up, had breakfast and hopped back onto our 4WD truck and headed inland to a rainforest walk in the central station of Fraser Island. On our way there we learned that Fraser Island had previously been mined for sand and was the spot for logging as well. Central Station, being the hub of the old mining families homes, also has a few really nice hikes around. We went on a mile hike through the rainforest and got to view lots of plants and creepy crawlers. We got to see a King Fern, which is apparently really rare for the environment, and saw that it really was a king, as its fronds cound get as long as 5 meters long (15 feet)! The ones that we saw were about 4 meters long, and still huge!

Wer made our way throught the trees and saw that our 4WD was there waiting to take us to famous Lake Mackenzie. Lake Mackenzie, being a completely freshwater lake and having sand made from perfectly round quarts crystals, was so beautiful, especially under the cloudless sky. We were given a lot of time there to lounge, take pictures, and have a dip in the freezing water before we were to return to the truck eat lunch and make our way back to the mainland, Rainbow Beach. Along out bumpy ride back to got to see some more wildlife, learn about the Island and its name and even see a rare Swamp Wallaby! Our tour guide told us that in the two years that she has worked on the island she had never seen a Swamp Wallaby so it was an exciting sight, especially when it dove into the ocean to get away from our snapping cameras! 

We arrived in Rainbow beach this afternoon and Miranda and I have been lounging ever since. Having a cleansing shower, doing some laundry, painting nails, and writing blogs. Tomorrow we have to catch the Oz bus at 6:45 a.m. and head down to Brisbane so I’m assuming that we’ll have a pretty quiet night as well.

Not to sure whats the plan for Brisbane, besides the glorious Sunday Markets (Miranda and I are market crazy these days) so I will let you all know about my adventures. The days are dwindling down, only a week left in Aussie…I can’t believe it…at least I still have three weeks left of traveling!

Until next time…

~Claire