During our time in Rainbow Beach we tried to organize a 4×4 jeep. (You are not allowed to drive with a normal car on Fraser Island and would get stuck anyway.) As rental cars were 250$ per day (this didn’t include permits, ferry tickets and gas) we booked a guided self-driving tour to explore the island.
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and a must see in Australia. Wild dingos, rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths – it’s all there. We went swimming in Lake McKenzie (white beach and crystal clear water) as well as in Eli Creek and the Champagne Pools. Waves crashing onto the rocks create millions of small bubbles, giving the pools its name. They are – so to say – a natural whirle pool. The water was freezingly cold and the wind and rain outside were not better but nonetheless it was a wonderful experience.
Our camp for the  two nights on Fraser Island was K’Gari an aboriginal site still run and operated by them.
As there were many wild Dingos around walking alone at night had to be avoided and everyone got his “Dingo Buddy”. The wild dogs may seem harmless and are really cute but they in fact can be quite dangerous for humans. Like wolves they live in packs and if you see one cute doggy five others may be hidden in the dark behind your back. So grab a stick at night, be aware and don’t run (its a sign of weakness and the will probably attack you) if you stay on Fraser.
The other days we visited the Maheno Wreck, hiked to Indian Head, swam in Lake Wabby and got refreshed in the black coloured Lake Allom. But the best thing about Fraser Island is driving on the beaches and the inland tracks with your offroad vehicle… just awesome!
Watch the short Youtube clip of our sandy discovery trip on Fraser Island:
Our next stop on our way to northern Australia was Agnes Water and the Town of 1770 (Cptn. James T. Cook wasn’t very creative when he set foot on this part of Australia in the year – guess what – 1770.) We arrived there after a short break in Bundaberg, a quiet town famous for its rum distillery. Agnes Water and 1770 have great beaches which are perfect for surfing. And that is what I did while David explored the surroundings. Being on the board again after almost a year felt really good and the waves couldn’t have been any better.
Exhausted but very happy  we arrived Airlie Beach, the starting point for our 2 days sailing trip
to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays are famous for their beaches and reefs. Whitehaven (one of them) is in fact one of the whitest in the world. Its silicon sand can even be used for cleaning jewelry…
But also paradise has it’s downsides. For swimming in the turquoise blue water wearing a stinger suit is a good idea as there are many jellyfish around. Most of them are harmless but there are some ugly ones, too…
The next morning, May 8, a little birthday cake was waiting for me at breakfast. With candle!! 🙂 A big thank you to Laure, one of the crew members, for this lovely surprise! The rest of the day we spent snorkeling and sailing back to Airlie Beach.
Check out our newspaper article about Fraser Island:2012-08-18 Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
“Eine Insel wie Garten Eden”
page 11 ‘Reise’, full page article
www.nachrichten.at/ratgeber/reisen/art119,945472
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