Fraser Island

11th August Saturday

Off to Gympie today for last shopping before going to Fraser Island tomorrow. Didn't drive into town as found a Coles at Goldfield Plaza. Stocked up and just had a wonder before getting back to camp lunchtime. Slowly put tent down over the afternoon and put the awning out as we intend to sleep in LRover tonight, makes it easier in the morning to just get up and go. Had a walk round memorial and took photos.

 Didn't chill down as quickly tonight with only a few clouds about. Spent the last evening talking round campfire again and saying our goodbyes.

12th August Sunday

Woke before alarm, showered had breakfast and left camp at 8am. Marion rang they were just aproaching Gympie. At Rainbow we were in rangers office getting permits when Laurie rang, Ronnie has blown a tyre on his trailer and they are at Standown Pk changing it. Went and had a coffee to wait for them. After getting their permits and filling up with fuel and water and food for their tummies drove up to Inskip Point to catch the barge

 to Fraser Island($100 return) we had already put down tyre pressures. It seems the low tide is quite high and is already on it's way in. It took us over 2hrs to get to our camp site for the week and the tide was very challenging in places

, had to make a few detours inland

 to get round the rocks,

 water washing under the vehicles as they drove along. We saw a big shipwreck on the beach.

 The wind made it very difficult to put the tent up but it's supposed to calm down tomorrow. Finally got everthing sorted just after 3pm,

 now the clouds are rolling in, feeling very tired. Lightening storm out at sea for several hours. Not a late night for anybody tonight.

13th August Monday
Warm night but very windy and rain. When we got up we had a swimming pool in the awning, Laurie gave us some mats to put over the top so we didn't have to paddle. It is still raining, at times the sun tries to peek through. The sea and sky are grey. Laurie says it should clear up today. The men spent time getting the fishing rods ready while the women sat around reading. By the evening the weather has improved tremendously. Going fishing off the north of the island tomorrow.

14th August Tuesday
Barely a wind and sunny start today. Laurie cooked us a fried breakfast before hitting the sand(road). Drove up the beach to Indian Head

 before taking an inland track to Champagne Pools,

 where we saw Wales blowing in the distance as we walked the boardwalk. We then drove back inland to Orchid Beach, no fishing done as other fishers seemed to be packing up their gear. The scenery all along the drive is as always, stunning.

 Decided to head back after an ice cream and the boys might try fishing off the beach by the camp. Laurie spoke to someone who said fishing is not good at the moment and to perhaps try further down the beach towards Cathedral. It has turned into a hot sunny day, such a contrast to yeaterday. Fraser Island is managed by QLD Parks and Wildlife Service and is a World Heritage listed protected area. The coastal waters are alsoprotected to protect the wildlife and habitat. Everyone so full after nibbles at Happy Hour,

 didn't have any dinner. Spent evening chatting with the surf going in the background.

15th August Wednesday
Warm night, Laurie already out catching fish,

 2 Tailor, Ronnie got his waders on and joined him

 and was soon catching fish. The rest of us just sat on the dunes with our cuppas watching. They had just packed up their gear when a dingo

 came along the beach, it saw us on the dune, then Laurie started using his catapult and it headed off into the bush behind our camp, we watched it climb the hill and circle behind usbefore dropping down onto the next beach further along. Except for Marion, who is having back trouble, we all headed off to Indian Head and climbed to thetop. At the top you can see the beach towards Waddy Point

and on the otherside towards Corroboree Beach.

Whilst there we saw Manta Rays

 in the sea, they must have been quite a size for us to see them so far out. We wnjoyed the walk and views. Back at camp after lunch the men drove off down the beach to do some fishing, not biting so they came back and tried their luck by the camp, success Colin caught a fish called a Tailor,

 Laurie cast out for him but he is still learning, the other 2 caught fish as well but we have the first fish we can actually eat. Ronnie and Laurie continued fishing till nearly dark, as were a lot of other fishermen along the beach. Good day.

16 August Thursday

Laurie and Ronnie already up fishing when we woke up.  Another lovely sunny start.  Very easy alow morning, late morning piled into vehicles and drove down to Cathedrals at Fraser for and ice-cream.  Passed tour buses stopped at the shipwreck and a small plane

which had landed on the beach.  Cathedrals is set back from the beach and is a private camp with fuel and a small store, we then drove to Eli Creek

 and walked the boardwalk along the creek into the forest,

 very pretty.  Back at camp Colin checking vehicle when 2 Rangers stopped and would you belive it one is a Land Rover nut, don't think they even checked our permits.  Ronnie and Laurie

 have gone back down to the beach to fish leaving Colin to look after us girls. Ronnie and Laurie arrived back after dark with bucketfuls of Tailors, they will go back to the same spot tomorrow morning.

17 August Friday

FRIDAY FACT - FRASER ISLAND IS THE BIGGEST SAND ISLAND IN THE WORLD

Lot of condensation in the tent, everything is damp and dripping.  Ronnie and Laurie already left to go fishing.  After breakfast pulled all the bedding out to dry in the sun.  Roonie and Laurie returned with a good catch, now to gut and fridge them all.  The rest of us just chilled.  We saw a white headed sea eagle over the camp, Laurie tried to tem[t it down with a fish but it wasn't playing, lovely sight.  Rose helped Laurie cooked dinner of crumbed Tailor and chips, scrummy.  Laurie went back out at dusk and caught a few more.