Fraser Island

We (all four of us) have done the obligatory trip to Fraser Island.

The island, now a world heritage site, has long beaches, lakes, creeks, and different types of forests. Fraser Island was formerly used for wood harvesting, but now the big business here is tourism. The roads can only be used by four-wheel-drive cars. Unfortunately all offered trips to the island are pretty expensive, which is why we went for the "cheapest" option ($160 per person), a day trip in a 40-seater bus. The bus is 4WD too -- probably suitable to cross the Sahara desert.

A "normal" bus picked us up from Hervey Bay and took us to River Heads where we got onto the ferry. 40 minutes by boat to the island. Then onto the 4WD bus and a rough ride (seat belts must be worn) to Lake McKenzie, which is a very clear freshwater lake. Then to a place called Central Station where they had built a comfortable walkway for the tourists along a crystal clear creek. Then to a resort where we (and a few busloads of other tourists) had lunch in a big hall.

And then after these rough rides came the better part. We drove in that bus onto the "Great Sandy Highway", in other words right on the beach. Up to 80 km/h speed, a wide beach and no lanes. We stopped three times to look at a creek, a shipwreck, and at a place where 15-minute cessna flights were being offered for those who wanted the extra. We did not see a dingo or a whale.

I think we would all have enjoyed Fraser Island better if we had had a chance to escape the mass tourism and explore the island by ourselves in a hired 4WD. But the hired cars are so crazy overpriced here that we had given that idea up. Too bad. Fraser Island is nice but I don't think it was really worth spending that much money.

In Hervey Bay we stayed for two nights in a youth-hostel-with-attached-caravan-park named "Colonial Village YHA". That place is recommendable. They are friendly, great value for money. And even have a free breakfast(!) there, which I have never had in a caravan park before.