So...from Airlie beach we hopped on the bus for a short 14 hour journey to Hervey Bay, luckily we were prepared with our sleeping bags, water and very sleepy heads from the night before! On arrival they kindly brought our Fraser Island trip forward by a day, and thank goodness they did because we got to share the experience with the best group. Three days with 7 Irish lovelies and Frank and Becky a cute couple from Watford. Our group was so relaxed about everything we got on like a house on fire, and although we were 'team C' in our eyes we were definitely the A team!! After team A's van was replaced all three teams left in convoy but unlike teams A and B we didn't follow them into the broken van garage and nearly miss the barge...plebs! We being sooo cool managed to navigate our way via the most amazing desert, rainforest and lakes to the beach. Lake MacKenzie and Wabbi were great fun and we were like two kids let loose to run around in wide open spaces and push each other down the huge sand dunes. On the beach we set up camp and it was like poetry in motion...tents up, food cooked and all packed away from the lurking dingoes and eagles before dark. Wel done us! We have to add our tent was up first of course, and yes it did stay up! After forming a nice smug circle on the camp mat to begin our nights festivities, it started to rain so we relocated to our not so comfy and yet somewhat cosy 4x4 van to continue the antics. In our rebellion against the itinery in order to get nearer to the next mornings destination, we camped nowhere near any toilet facilities, the dingoes were still lurking making us slightly fearful of straying out alone. There was only one answer...wee as a pack! We had to make a rule that communal weeing only took place in the dark! Up bright and early at 6am we woke up the rest of the camp so we could beat the tide times driving up the beach, which is the main road on Fraser, so as not to get stranded. First stop Indian Heads, where the water was so clear we could see sting rays, turtles and a whole school of sharks. We left the other 2 groups who were obviously following us, at the top of the mountain (who later got stranded for 5 hours- idiots!) and sped off to Lake Allom for a breakfast BBQ. After our cooking and washing contributions we headed to the lake side with our tin cups of tea to sit in the sun and watch a whole family of playful little fresh water fish. On to Lake Garawandara for a well deserved nap, especially Cheryl who had been driving all day. Drivng on Fraser Island is no mean feat. For a start the van is very top heavy with everything piled into a little section in the roof, plus the 'roads' are actually sand/dirt tracks with humongous pot holes at every turn. Liz nearly had heart failure sitting up front and expected Cheryl to get out and shovel the road flat before driving over it! It only occassionally felt like we were going to roll over which was easily rectified by all passengers sitting on top of each other on one side of the van to counterbalance gravity. Cheryl just closed her eyes and carried on driving. Well...we live to tell the tale! Driving on the beach was much easier especially when reversing at 60km/hr to see the giant turtle someone had spotted climbing out the water. Hmm...night 2 was quite amusing. Cheryl wasnt feeling well after being infected by Liz's germs so was sneakily playing drinking games with sprite. Liz obviously felt she had to drink both shares and shall we say was on great form! Although to be fair she was so rubbish at the games that she got picked on thus heading into a downward spiral. But wait there is more...we went over to the other two groups who were playing some rather distasteful games, which Liz felt she had to comment on very loudly. If that wasnt enough she managed to flatten one of their tents before being dragged back to camp and put to bed. I wuv you too Liz!!! Feeling all laked out we went to Happy Valley for a civilised breakfast and toilet facilities. A nice long drive to find somewhere to pump our tyres back up, we arrived 2 hours early for the ferry. We didnt mind, it had been the best trip ever. Definitely shot to the top of our favourites list.