So, on from not so sunny Childers we made our way to a not much warmer Rainbow Beach where our Fraser Island trip was to depart from. Even with the weather being a bit pants we still went to check out the beach and it got a bit scandallous when we decided to join the thousands of other people that had done the same thing and carved our names in the soft black rocks on the beach (will try and put a picture up). That evening we had to meet up with the rest of our Fraser Island group and we got given a quick briefing on the Island and all that we should expect - sharks, dingos, deadly creeks! not really, it was just a quick briefing on obvious things, don't feed the dingos, don't swim with sharks and don't drive your 4x4 into a creek! We were instantly really pleased with our group, 8 of us in total, and we all chipped in and went to the local supermarket to get kitted out with burgers, sausages and plenty of bread rolls to keep us going for the next few days.

Next morning was an early start, we got given help with loading up the 4x4 and then Rachel and Andrew (the drivers) had a very quick lesson of 4 wheel driving. As we were left to own own devices we drove away and we looked at each other with the expression of 'ok what??' - we figured it out eventually though after a few questionable gear changes.

We had to get a ferry across to the island and then we really were on our own with the poxiest map ever and very unclear set of 'safe times' to drive up and down the beach in terms of the tide. We hastily drove up the beach and although it was stressful because none of us knew where we were or what we would do if we got bogged in sand, it was amazing! Picture this, golden beach for as far as you can see, blue skies, no other people apart from the other occassional 4x4 passing by, tunes blasting (me and alyx enforced a bit of Take That to everyone's delight!) a truely unforgetable experience!

So we drove to one of Fraser Islands hotspots - Lake McKensie. One of the most stunning places you will ever see with the clear turquoise water and whitest sand. we spent a few ours there and then headed into the unknown to fing somewhere to camp. After much deliberation, with me and alyx wanting to stay at one of the designated camp sites on the island and literally everyone else wanting to stay on the beach we had to settle for the beach. In the end, it was a great experience and was a true camping adventure. We got some unwelcome visitors looking for a free meal as we were joined by a few (rather large) dingos. (wild dogs for those of you who didn't know!)

The next morning we headed up to Indian Head which is a large rock at the end of the beach and a great look out point of the island, we got to see some whales and dolphins in the distance and much close to us we saw some stingrays and a reef shark. After Indian Head we went to Lake Wabby which was so spectacular, basically you could think you were in the middle of the desert with the amount of sand there and then in slopes down in to a really gorgeous green lake.

That night, me and Alyx got our way and we went to one of the campsites! Where I saw the biggest spider I have ever seen in the ladies toilets.

The next morning we had to head back to the mainland. We had the best time on Fraser, luckily we had a great group and the weather turned out to be perfect. Although it was nice to be back to civilization and have a nicely cooked meal and not crunch on sand with every bite!!