We arrived in Hervey Bay at 7am this morning after leaving Airlie beach (Whitsundays). After checking into our room we headed out to explore Hervey Bay. Its a really small town with a beach and thats about it. Its a shame we weren't here just 2 weeks earlier as then we could have watched the whales as they migrated south.

The next day we woke bright and early for our Fraser island briefing. I still can't believe they gave us a half hour briefing and then packed us off 10 at a time into 4X4 vehicles none of us have ever driven before and then expected us to survive as we crossed a massive sand dune! Anyway we ended up in a nice group, another mixed bunch, a french couple, an english couple, an english girl, a swedish guy, and a german guy. There were 5 cars of 10 people in total going on the trip. Our first stop was to go to the supermarket and get all our food and alcohol for 3 days...without killing eachother! We had heard stories of how people had already fallen out with their groups at this stage! Luckily we managed to get it sorted and soon enough we were on our way to the ferry to Fraser island. Tom was the first of us to drive the beast and he did really well. Saying that he never had to go into 4 wheel drive as he drove all the way on the road. I was the unlucky one that had to start off the driving in the same and oh my god it took a while!! I bascially had to drive a huge 4x4 through massive peaks and troughs of sand without getting stuck or toppling it over! I was going 10KM an hour and it took us an hour and a half to get acroos the island to the long 75km stretch of beach (see photo) we were set to explore over the next few days. The poor b*****s in the back had severe bum ache by the time we got there! The beach looked amazing as it was so long and so unspoilt. Fraser island is uninhabited and the only way out of there if you have an accident is to get flown out! The sea is pretty vicious being the home to man eating sharks and deadly jelly fish so we steered clear. For a swim we made our way to an amazing fresh water lake called Lake Mackensie and spent a few hours there before we headed to our first campsite of the trip. I say campsite but i just mean patch of sand. We were the first of the 5 groups to arrive and as we got there it started to rain! What is it with me, camping and rain!!! We had a mad dash to get everything sorted. The other 4 groups arrived in dribs and drabs and by the time they had put up their tents we were already cooking! The rest of the evening was spent chatting and having a few drinks. Some canadian dude from another group came over with his guitar and strummed along for a bit as we attempted to sing along. This is one of Tom's pet hates, travellers with guitars, but he was well into it...if only i had a photo!

Day 2 didn't start too early but sleeping in the tent was pretty unbearable so we got up and made our way to the second sight on the island a shipwreck. as the tide was high, too high to drive, we had to walk along the beach for a fair way in the blistering heat. By the time we got back it was lunch time and time to hit the road again. gareth drove on the beach and it was much easier than my drive the day before so he was hitting 40KM an hour! We drove to a place called Indian Heads and walked up a hill for the most amazing view of the island. if you looked one way it was an amzing strech of beach and the other side was massive sand dunes. The next stop was a place called Champagne Pools but to get there we had to cross an area of sand that was so deep and soft even huge 4x4 buses couldnt get through so we decided against it! Onward we went to our second night of sleeping on the beach.

Day 3 had to start early so we could make our way inland and have enough time to spend at lake Mackensie before we got the ferry back home. Its was our birthday!! It was really strange to be away from home and have a birthday. we really missed you all. I drove inland again. the same roads as i drove on the first day except this time i was driving at 25kmh...how slow was i going on the first day! it was so much fun...until we hit a stretch of sand that was really soft and we got stuck. Sooooo stuck. we were there going backwards and forwards for about 1/2 hour trying to get through. I was starting to get worried that we'd have to turn back and go a whole new way when tom jumped in when everyone else was out of it and put it into 2nd gear and just razzed it out of the sand. I couldnt watch as the car looked like it was going to topple over but he drove off round the corner and saved the day our heroe!! Looking back it was quite funny and all part of the experience but at the time it was a bit scary! Thanks to Tom we got to the ferry in time and got back to the hostel where we had a really nice evening with our group.