Fraser Island

6-8.06

Let's start by explaining a little bit more about Fraser and the trip I'm on.

So Fraser Island is the largest sand Island in the world. When it was first discovered, they though it was part of the mainland. There is no sealed road on the Island, but it doesn't made it impossible to have the east coast registered as State Highway. There is around 40 fresh water lake on the island, the most popular being Lake McKenzie. It's only possible to drive on the east coast, the west being too exposed to the weather and too dangerous to drive on sand.

I'm going with what they call a tag along tour. There is four cars, the first one being driven by our guide and the three other one by whoever have a licence and want to drive. Luckily for me they don't know about my last adventure behind the wheel and they let me drive, probably would have say no if they did ;)
We where divided by car, and each car was responsible to cook their food. We had a meal plan with everything we needed for it. I have to say, when you are 8 peoples that you just met and you have to cook together and everybody want to do it a different way, it makes it interesting. Let's say that after the first day, I decided that my contribution was to clean the dishes...
We camped at a permanent camping area, no need to put up our tent every night. Easy camping ;)

For the driving, I wasn't feeling too confident with my past and having 7 persons in the car, felt a little stressed. But everything went well. I drove the easy part, along the beach at low tide, perfect!!

I had a good time, happy that I changed my mind and went. 

Car number two (the blue one) is the best!!

6.06

Din't took us long on the Island to see a dingo

Lake Wibby

The Maheno 

7.06

Champagne Pools, only place around Fraser that you can safely swim in the ocean

Indian Head

Eli Creek

Fraser Island Highway

That is used as an airplane runway too!!

8.06

Lake McKensie

Back on the Ferry to the mainland

See ya Faser, it was fun :)

Rainbow Beach

5.06

Since the trip from Airlie Beach to Rainbow Beach is a 14h ride, I did it overnight, so I wouldn't lost a whole day sitting on a bus. Well, let's say I didn't have the best night of sleep... A least the bus wasn't full and everybody get two seats for themselves.

I was hoping that there would be something to do here, being a little bored in Airlie, but when I arrived, I quickly realized that it was going to be a long day. The main street is one block long, with one bar and two café, a small supermarket and that's it. There is the beach, but I had enough of that the last two days...

The only reason people go to Rainbow Beach, it's because the different trips to Fraser Island starts from there and you can definitely tell.  

I have to clarified something there. From early on my trip, I've been saying that no, I didn't wanted to go on Fraser, to much of a party thing for me. But guess who is going now?? 

So since I didn't sleep to good on the bus, as soon as I've been able to check in and have a bed, I took a nap. 

Late afternoon, we had the information meeting about our time on the island. Info about the driving, dingos, what to pack, etc and meeting our car mate.

Let's get ready, tomorrow I'm on Fraser for three days!!

Rainbow Beach

Airlie Beach

3-4.06

The bad thing about spending soo much time on a boat is that when you’re back on land, it feel like the ground is swaying. 

It usually disappear quickly, but after a few hour i was still feeling that way and even starting to feel sick :(

I tried to sleep a little, but it didn’t help. It’s when I saw my face in  mirror than I understand that I might have had a little bit too much sun (on a reddish shade, not really burnt but not too fare from it), and probably a little bit dehydrated too. 

I stayed in the shade and got some water and finally started to feel better. 

The next morning, I was still feeling sick, but it was better than the day before. I wasn’t leaving Airlie before the evening, but no tanning for me (like I would have done that anyway), but trying to stay in the shade and hydrating. I did go for a walk, starting to feel really bored reading and having nothing else to do.

Airlie Beach is really nice, but I’m happy to leave and go explore new places :)

Whitsundays Ilands

1-03.06

Pretty exited about my next three days, I'm going to spend them on a sailing boat, going around the Whitsundays Islands. Sailing is an other of my kid dream. When I was younger, I wanted to learn to sail, buy a boat and sail around the world. So it's a little bit of dream come true!!

The Whitsundays is a groupe of 74 Islands. Most of them are National park and some are privately owned with really expensive resort on them.

I choose one of the smaller boat, didn't wanted to be on one of the big party ones, not my thing ;)

We were 7 passengers plus 2 skippers and a guy learning the drills. 
Unfortunately, with the time we had we couldn't sail all the time, we would have been to slow to go to all the places we were meant to visit :(. A little disappointed about that, but a least we had a goo sail the last day to go back to port :)

We stopped at three different spots for snorkeling, which where as nice as the ones I've done in Cairns, went to Whitehaven Beach, know for it's white sand, and had a surprise visit of a sea eagle. The skipper made friend with him, and when he goes by where he lives, he whistles and the eagle comes and receives some food. You can pretty much do anything with animal when you give them food, but it's still impressive the way they interact. And two Brahminys kite came to join the party, one of the best moment on the cruise.

And during the sail back home, we've been able to "drive" the boat. I loved it!! After those three days, I definitely want to learn to sail, maybe make my whole dream come true one day :)

Our intinary

Sunrise on a boat :)

Whitehaven beach

Baby yellow fin shark, the were a few of them

Our boat

Sea eagle

Brahminy Kite

And it's already time to go back to port...

Airlie Beach

31.05


Et une autre matinée dans le bus!! Mais pas malade cette fois :). Destination Airlie Beach, point de départ pour les croisière autour des Whitsundays Islands. 

Airlie Beach c'est une petite ville au bord de l'eau et à part des restaurants, bars et magasins de souvenirs y a pas grand chose. Donc après être passée à l'office pour confirmer ma croisière de 3 jours sur un voilier, journée tranquille à la plage. 

Magnetic Island

30.05

Visite de Magnetic Island!! 

C'est un des endroits sur la cote est ou il y de forte chance de voir des koalas, et j'ai eu la chance d'en voir un, trop contente :)

Il y a plusieurs plages pour snorkeling, mais j'avais plus envie de faire de la marche, ayant plusieurs chemins permettant de traverser l'île. 

Magnetic Island c'est sympa, mais un jour c'est assez pour visiter. Ou peut-être c'est parce que la plage je l'ai à la maison que j'en ai vite eu assez...
Dans tout les cas, ça vaut la peine d'y faire un tour :)

Townsville

Horseshoe Bay

Rock wallaby

Can you see it??

My first wild koala :)

Horseshoe Bay