Hi Guys

I have just got back from Frazer Island, What an experience. I did a self drive tour. We got up really early and it was like a millatery procedure, i thought what have i got myself into. We were put into goups of ten and given our 4WD, soon as we got to the Island i thought oh my god how am i going to survive this. I meant literally i thought we were going to crash. One of the girls drove first and i was petrified driving through sand, wheels skidding everywhere, front end of the car hanging off like cliff tops. Then on the beach there are like massive dips in the sand and she was going sooooo fast if we had of hit one of them the car would have tipped over. Once the driver changed i was suited and felt safer lol i loved driving the car it was ace. I wanted to do hand break skids in the sand lol the group were all lovely and to be honest the other two vehicles were always where we were so basically 30 of us together all the time and everyone got on really well. The camp was good we set our own tents up laid our sleeping bags out ready for a good night sleep after the days tours. Did we get any sleep? did we heck as like, the ground is well hard. It was great fun though. On the first night we saw snakes which was great. At one with the wildlife we were haha there were spiders, iguanes, dingos, and loads of snakes. We had a chart so we could tell if they were poisonous as there are three deadly snakes that live on the island. On an evening all the groups that toured with beachs were in the cooking area, is was a right laugh everyone drinking and having a good time. The lights all go off at 9pm so everyone headed to the beach with torches, it was a proper camping trip with loads of people.

Now on to the site seeing. I am rubbish at remembering the names of places but i will give it a go. I have actually taken pictures of the signs on this trip so i know where i have been haha The first day we went to a lake or creek (cant remember the name) we had a swim in there and had a few beers was really nice. We then went to this other massive lake that apparently is fab, It was rubbish it was brown and boggy and just didnt look nice at all. The second day we went to this view point up a cliff. This was brilliant we saw sharks swimming when you looked down. You can not go in the sea on Frazer Island as it is shark infested waters. You almost want to just get in the water as you think they cant come in this close to shore. That is until you look from bird eye view. They were mainly in shallow water and these sharks will attack. From the view point we headed to Champagne pools (see how i rememberd that name) lol We decided we didnt want to risk the soft sand in the vehicle as loads of cars were getting stuck for hours. So we walked, this would have been ok if the sand was not burning our feet off and we had water to rehydrate ourselves. Basically we ran out of water and so had to share one bottle of water between 10 of us. I had drunk my portion in about 10 minutes. It is so hot out here and you just need to drink all hte time. Tredding through the soft thick sand was hard work and we all needed a drink badly. We didnt realise how far the champagne pools were from where we were and luckily i had suncream on me, we were all getting burnt. Eventually we got to the pools and the walk was well worth it. It is kind of like a pool off the sea, the waves crash over the barrier and into the pool making it look like bubbling champagne, hense the name. We stayed there ages cooling off. I bumped into my mate Brian and he was on an organised tour. I got him to ask his driver if we can catch a lift back, He said what will i get if i give you a lift back, i said i would sing the twelve days of Christmas to the bus if i didnt have to walk back lol Fluttered my eyelashes put on a pathetic i will die if i have to walk back and he agreed to give us a lift haha BONUS. He even gave us some dinner as well chicken tikka and salad haha it pays to be female haha. On the last day we visited loads of lakes. There is only one i can remember lake mackensie, gorgeous lake with pure white sands surrounding it. It is almost like the beach except it it fresh water and not salt water. The lake before this was exactly the same except quieter and alot of us prefered this lake. The lakes started off with a light blue colour then a little further out turquoise and then dark blue (obviously where it gets deep) It was beautiful. I am so glad i did Frazer Island i had no idea what to expect and it was brilliant. Before i came away i looked into all the things i could do when i came out here and reading other peoples blogs everyone was doing the whitsundays and Frazer Island and although i had no idea what to expect i just had to do them from what other people were writing about them. I now totally understand why everyone does these tours they are so different from anything you will every do anywhere else. These are a must do if you come to Australia you can not miss them out. When we got back from Frazer yesterday we were all wrecked and releived we had survived haha we took on the snakes and spiders and dingos and most of all the biggest threat was the vehicle lol

I will get pictures on when i get to brisbane, i head down there today until the 2nd Jan so i have plenty of time to get them on. Not looking forward to it they take hours lol

lots of love Gem xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx