Here we are again, Sam typing so excuse my typos and inability to type 'the' in the right order. I'm in charge of letting you know all about Fraser Island. Our trip was from the 14th March to the 16th March, which meant that it'd be the first time I would be spending my birthday on an all sand island (and very possiby the last time too). Anyway, we got up early to be introduced to our very own 4x4 (which would be carrying the 11 of us for the next 3 days) fingers crossed for one that looked good. So up and checked out for 9am ready and waiting to go. We were all shown which cars would be ours and then were told we were going to learn how to pack them, after doing an equipment check. Cue tent pegs everywhere (is there 48?), cooler boxes being crammed full of ice (the lid won't fit on!) and general shoddy checking (well, 2 tents look alright, i'm sure the other 2 will be fine too). And then to the packing. Not being allowed to shove everything on the roof willy nilly (in case we unbalanced the car and ended up sideways) we started to pack all 4 cars at once following our instructions. One person was to get on the roof and then we started handing things up. It was a lot less chaotic than I was expecting and after about 40 mins we were packed, canvased up and ready to go. Yey! Only we weren't. The garage didn't want us yet and we'd packed quicker than they'd expected so it was time to amuse ourselves for an hour first. Oh and I'd already eaten my cream bun birthday cake so couldn't even do that.

On to the garage....basic course in how to drive a car which possesses 2 gearsticks. Learning what H2, H4 and L4 meant and when to use them and our itinerary. And then we were off! Dan was driving first and with due caution he eased out from the garage, so far so good. And away we go. Down the road, first left and right past the next turning onto a dirt track with not much space to perform a 5 point turn to actually get to where we're meant to be. Second attempt we make it to the beach and onto the barge for a very quick crossing (about 5 mins) to Fraser Island. Very bizarre driving on sand, almost feels like ice when its deeper as you drift quite a lot. Before the beach driving can really get going however we're onto a dirt track to get to the Eastern side of the island which has the main beach/ highway to get anywhere - we're not allowed to drive on't other side of the island. The track was like driving over a cheese grater, incredibly corrugated and bumpy. So we're all bouncing around in our tin can 4x4. Our car was missing a few luxuries, like 2 sets of locking hinges on the back door and completely solid floors that you can't see the road through. But all added to the fun really. When we finally bouned of the 18km track (it made the roads in Kenya look smooth) we were on the beach and heading to our first lake, Lake Wabby. On inland tracks and some serious abuse of 2nd gear later we were there. This is the deepest lake on Fraser and hows the contrasts of the island well. On one side the lake is fringed by thick forest which makes the lake appear a relly dark green, and on the other side there is a massive sand dune, as high as the trees on the other side. You can struggle to the top and then it looks like a mini desert, just a lot of sand. Still with trees in the background however, but still strange how it manages to be in the middle of a large forest. And this sand blow is encroaching on the lake, gradualy swalling it up so that eventually there won't be a lake there anymore. We climbed up teh huge dune anyway and then had fun racing back down it and slamming to a stop just before the lake, or not, in some people's case. We went for a swim and saw some very inquisitive catfish too. Amy tried to take a photo but she might have missed them, we'll see. From here it was back to 'camp', wherever we decided that might be. We were given thorough instructions - just camp somewhere on the beach in the permitted zones. Great. That'll be where then? So, onwards we go. We find a spot and 2 cars decide to stay put, however one goes up the beach in one direction, the other goes the other way and we don't see them again for 2 days. So much for travelling in convoy. Oh well. It's getting dark by now and we need to set up our tents, luckily we don't have to move them for our 2nd night but unluckily it starts to rain while we're putting the tents up. We manage but we're all a bit soggy by this point and it's dark too. Our dinner for the night is a bbq which is pretty successful considering. We did have a group with 4 moaners however who couldfind anything to complain about and we're very good at deciding that they'd done their share (we cooked, others must wash up....well, thanks you for giving us the choice of whether we'd like to cook or not). It was kind of obvious that other people wouldn't mind washing up but they always felt it their job to decide who must do what job immediately after they'd decided what they were doing. So a little frustrating. But they were pretty useless so soon everyone else did stuff and they did what was left. After dinner we all sat in a group chatting and watching out for dingoes (they're pretty quick and sneak up to see if there was any food left hanging around). Everyone sang happy birthday to me and we played a few drinking games. Very difficult trying to explain the rules lol. We also had no toilets as we were camping on the beach, so when it came to needing a wee you had to go in pairs or larger groups and find a spot of the beach to go. Fortunately no one needed the shovel which was good. But it was a bit weird. And very dark. And there were dingoes. Which is very offputting.

Day 2, We set off for Lake McKenzie and spend some time there. Very beautiful and crystal clear at the edges leading to a deeper blue in the middle. The sand is silicia based too so doesn't get hot no matter how much the sun shines on it. We also walked round to teh 2nd beach which didn't have anyoe on it and found an goanna walking up a tree. They're pretty big (about 2 ft long). We played around in the water anyway and had an impromtu handstand competition with some boys who'd shared our room in the hostel, I won...yey! It was really lovely anyway, the pictures don't quite do it justice but you can see when they get Facebooked.

From Lake McKenzie we drove (Amy) to Central Station where we went for a rainforest walk along Wangalooba Creek (the waters are so still and clear) up to Basin Lake. It was a bit of a trek but worth it. I managed to catch a tadpole too so I was quite impressed with myself. We trekked back down from here and I drove back to camp. Realy good fun driving on inland tracks but slightly scary when the track is lopsided and you feel like you might tip over if you lean any further to which ever side.

Dinner tonight was pasta with vegetables (very difficult to cook ona two burner stove hob thing) for 11 people. The water pretty much refused to boil but eventually the pasta cooked and I think was well worth waiting for. Another night spent chatting but an earlier night this time, everyone pretty tired (we were up at quarter 2 6 in the morning) and had walked a long way during the day too. SAnd everywhere in the tent. A downside to the island but can't be helped. Amy had less of a hissy fit the 2nd night but I had to be sanded down before being allowed in the tent. Honestly.

LAst day and we we on the road again, both Amy and I drove again (we were getting good now) and we were going to Lake Birrabeen. Not much else to say about the lake, it was beautiful etc, but I've said all that. WE played some Frisbee which was fun and had lunch there too. Th emargarine had melted and reformed into this tasty and nutricious looking margarine mousse. It was very nice. Lol. From here it was back to teh barge and a race against time...I might have mentioned the shoddy maps, not very specific. Well, the timings weren't either. So Amy behind the wheel we got onto cheese grater track and bombed along (sorry parents, cruised nicely) at 50kph (not fast but too fast over a continuous cattle grid). We popped out the other end, shook up but all still there (oh....on teh tracks around teh island we lost various cutlery and a k*** for the cooker, but surprisingly retained everything on teh bumpy road). A credit to Amy's driving I think. But, too late, the ferry had left! Duh duh duuuuh....it's okay, it came back for us since there were about 5 cars waiting. SO no drama there. Back to the mainland and a de-sanding of everything. Back to the hostel and a nice burger, yum yum (veggie of course) and a well deserved jug of cider. Or two. Or three. In fact 4. But very nice all teh same. Then pool and table tennis. AMy and I both lost to another girl from the trip. Somewhat gutted.

So that's Fraser Island for you. Sandy, dingo infested, lots of fun and very sandy.

My fingers are dropping off now. So my stumps and I will type another day. Toodle pip xxx