Saturday, June 30, 2007

AU2007 - Fraser Island 4WD: Day 3

For an early start, we had a buffet continental breakfast at the Dingo Bar…

 

Cruising Dingo Bar buffet area

 

… with interesting toilet signs.

 

Mutts Vs Bitches.. which toilet will you go to?

 

We then start our 4WD adventure again through the Snake Alley, a place famous for all sorts of snakes. Our challenge for the day was to spot for snakes.  

 

Snake Alley

 

Within minutes, our eagle-eyed ranger-guide spotted one.

 

Can you see it?

 

There you go..

 

Moving on, we arrived at the Seventy-Five Mile Beach, the world's most amazing beach driveway. Running along most of the east coast of Fraser Island, it acts as both highway and runway.

 

75 Mile Beach

 

Aircraft often land or take off on the beach and the highway rules state that vehicles must give way to aircraft if they are oncoming. Here, travellers get to hop on spectacular scenic flight with Air Fraser for $110.

 

Air Fraser taking off

 

Noted for its beauty, the beach also connects to a number of highlights such as Eli Creek, Maheno Shipwreck, The Pinnacles, Red Canyon, Indian Head and Champagne Pools. If you are lucky enough, you will also get to spot a dingo or two.

 

Can you see the dingo?

 

Here you go again..

 

Next, we arrived at Eli Creek, a great spot for a refreshing dip with its own unique and varied wild life! Again, since its winter, no one took the challenge. Besides, we were told that Tiger Sharks are known to inhabit the sea in the area.

 

Eli Creek

 

Being the largest creek on the east coast of the island, it flows 80 million litres of water per day.

 

Eli Creek boardwalk

 

Then we arrived at one of Fraser’s essential photo stops, the Maheno Shipwreck. Originally built as a luxury passenger ship, it served as a hospital ship in the English Channel during the First World War. After being declared outdated in 1935, it was being towed from Melbourne to Japan for scrap metal when it was caught in a strong cyclone. A few days later, it was washed ashore and was beached on Fraser Island.

 

Maheno Shipwreck

 

It also served as a target bombing practice for the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. Since then, the ship has been severely rusted. 

 

Maheno Shipwreck close-up.. Severely rusty

 

Driving further north, we arrived at another photo stop called the Cathedral Coloured Sands, also known as The Pinnacles, filled with vibrant rainbow-coloured (just the reds really) sand cliffs.

 

The Pinnacles

 

A few metres down the road, we also stopped at the Red Canyon, a much redder version of the Pinnacles. 

 

Red Canyon

 

At the end of the drive, we arrived at Indian Head, where we climbed to the top of this rocky headland for awesome beach and ocean views. Another challenge for the day was to look out for sharks, rays and humpback whales.

 

Views around Indian Head

 

Although we didn’t managed to spot sharks and whales, we saw a huge manta ray.

 

Can you see the ray?

 

Here you go again.. although not very clear

 

Our last stop for the day is at the Champagne Pools, where we get to chill out in these bubbling ocean rock pools.

 

Champagne Pools

 

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