Dingos, wrecks and swimming in a lake

The day before we just lazed on the beach, soaking up the lovely warm rays of the sun. We did walk along the beach as the sun started to drop and had a cold beer at the beach bar just along from our camp. Then it was off to get fish and chips, that we ate out of the paper wrapper sitting on the plastic chairs outside the shop, people watching.

Today we had booked a full day‘s tour of Fraser Island, the world‘s largest sand island. We had an early start with a pick-up at 7.30am to take us to the ferry. It was, however, really warm and as the day progressed, it got pretty hot. Once docked at Fraser Island, our tour was on a 30 seater 4WD bus and during the day this vehicle had to navigate steep sandy hills, very bumpy sandy ‘roads’, go across the 75 mile beach ‘highway’ and pass through the tropical rainforest. Regarding the beach ‘highway’, this really has been classed as an official road and all the rules of the highway are enforced by the police; this was to stop the joy riding and all other motorised shenanigans on the island. So you could be stopped for speeding or drunk driving! We walked through the clear cool water of Eli Creek, then saw the shipwreck of the Maheno, which was a luxury liner built in 1905, that has been stuck in the sand since 1935 following a cyclone. We took an impromptu air plane ride in a 7 seater that took off from the beach and had a fantastic view of the island at 1000 feet. In the air we saw a lake shaped like a butterfly - this lake is totally inaccessible to man. We passed a beautiful eagle that was just lazing on the beach, before spotting some dingos, who didn't really care less that we were watching them. Then finally, up to Lake McKenzie, a perched (which means it contains only rainwater) lake with pure, white silica sands. The sand is so fine, that you can rub it into your skin and it is a perfect skin scrub; even made Keith's skin like a baby's bottom! The water was chilly, but once you started swimming, it was so refreshing. We took the ferry back as the sun set and, as we alighted the bus at our stop, there was a French restaurant, Aegean Waters, right in front of us, so we went in and had a really typical old fashioned dinner of French onion soup and lamb cutlets, washed down with a peasant red wine. Great end to a great day.