I started a Blog last week to tell you about our trip up to Harvey Bay to go on a 4x4 bus tour of the island but got carried away and told you about a bush walk I did up there several years ago instead. Well I am back with the account of our latest trip to Fraser.
We went up to stay with a friend, John; we were both Sappers in the army back during the Vietnam War. John and Tess had invited us up to come with them on a day tour of Fraser Island and as it is a long drive from Tamborine Mountain we were to stay with them for three nights.
We arrived on the Monday night to enable us to be on time for the 7.30 am tour on Tuesday. The bus took us down to the car ferry at Rivers Head for the trip across the Great Sandy Strait to dock at the mouth of Wanggoolba Creek where we were met by a very large 4x4 bus. We climbed aboard and set off at what appeared to be very fast but in fact was not as the track is very narrow, sandy and the overhanging branches tend to give that impression. We were then informed that we would not be going to Lake McKenzie as the glossy tourist brochure had promised, it was closed for restoration work so we would be going to Lake Birrabeen instead.
Lake Birrabeen is very nice and not as touristy so we did enjoy the visit. Crystal clear blue water, white sandy beaches and surrounded by pristine heath lands, a perfect example of a perched lake on a sand island. Back on the bus for a tour through rainforest, past the old Central Station and down onto the beach at Eurong for lunch.
Part of the tour was a buffet lunch at the Eurong Beach Resort and we could happily say that this was the best lunch we have ever had on a tour, not that we take many tours but it was very good. The tour than proceeded north along the 75 mile beach, this beach is the road on Fraser Island and has been the scene of many horrific traffic accidents so the speed has been lowered to 80 km and all road rules apply. 
We had been offered a plane flight at extra cost which nobody seemed keen to take up so the bus pulled up next to a six seater aircraft parked on the beach and the pilot climbed aboard the bus and explained the proposed flight to us. Sounded good so Wendy, John, me and two other passengers got off the bus and boarded this tiny aircraft for the flight of a lifetime. We took off up the beach then out over the ocean before turning for a flight over this magnificent island with its rainforest, numerous lakes and sand blows. Then back down along the beach, over the Maheno ship wreck to land on the beach at the Pinnacles where our bus was parked.
We only had a short time to look at the Pinnacles, made of different coloured sand deposits that are being weathered and shaped by the wind, before we were back on the bus and heading south along the beach for a stop at the beautiful Eli Creek. The water in this creek is so clear it appears as if it is just a bed of pure white sand with fish swimming in it. Then back along the beach to Eurong where the driver washed the sand and salt from under the bus before our journey back through the rainforest to our next stop at Central Station.
Back in the days when the island was logged for its timber Central Station was a small sawmilling community that even boasted its own school. It is almost criminal to think that such a magnificent island was once used for logging and the mining of mineral sands. We owe a lot to the small band of environmentalist who worked so hard to save this island so as we can all enjoy it today.
We did a slow walk along the banks of Wanggooalb Creek; this is the same creek that empties into The Great Sandy Strait where we landed with the car ferry. This creek is very similar to Eli Creek, crystal clear water with a white sandy bottom running through rainforest.We all clambered back onto the bus for the trip along the sandy tracks to the car ferry for a late afternoon cruise back to the mainland just in time for Wendy and I to book a seat on a whale watching tour next day.
We were up bright and early for the drive down to the boat harbour at Urangan to board the “Spirit” for our half day whale watch. What a trip, we would have seen at least 75 different whales doing just about everything that whales do apart from breaching. The boat is only a few years old and was only half full so we had a fantastic morning on a wonderful boat.
Lunch was fish and chips on the foreshore at Harvey Bay before driving back to John and Tess’s house for a lazy afternoon with a few beers and a wonderful BBQ that night to top off our visit. Then the long drive back to Tamborine Mountain next day.
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