Now we really feel as though we are on our way out of Queensland. From all great adventures in northern Queensland, we are now getting towards the end of what has been a fantastic time in this state. We are really looking forward to coming back and having a further good look around.
From Rockhampton our first stop was at Lake Monduran for a couple of days. This was a bit off the highway and we did think it was going to be next to a lake. The camp ground is actually a little distance from the lake that is really a dam. It was quite nice though we probably wouldn’t rush to go back. It was definitely a fishing place if you had a small tinnie. One interesting part of the dam were the steel irrigation channels that went from the dam into the surrounding farm area.
After Lake Monduran it was a little further down the to a small park just out of Rainbow Beach. We were told of a small place called Standown Park that was run by a Vietnam veteran. It was a well kept and very neat park. We were staying for one night before leaving the van here and heading over to Fraser Island for three days. It is only a short drive to Rainbow Beach for the Fraser Island ferry and leaving the van here was no problems at all and very secure. They light the camp fire every night and you can sit around with all the Vietnam vet’s and have a good old chin wag. They have a very nice memorial near a man made lake that is nice to walk around and reflect on those that have served our country as well.
After a nice stay it was up early the next morning to a very wet and miserable day and packing ready for Fraser Island. We put the van up the back of the park and then headed off for Rainbow Beach. The weather was a real change for us as we hadn’t had many wet days up until now. At Rainbow Beach we bought our ferry ticket then drove to the beach to catch the ferry across to Fraser Island. The ferry actually leaves from the beach so you are advised to drop the pressure in your tyres as the beach landing on Fraser Island is quite soft when you drive off.
As the weather was so wet when we drove off the ferry onto Fraser Island we decided that it may be best to drive to our first camping point straight up as it was about an 80 kilometre beach drive to get there. We were glad we did this in the end as the rain didn’t let up and it really wasn’t sight seeing weather anyway.
Our first camp was at Waddy Point which was one of the most northerly camp sites you could go to. We were lucky to find a big level site and then waited for the rain to let up so we could set up camp. The drive along the beach was pretty good to Waddy Point and the sand is very firm with only a few soft spots. You do go over a lot of fresh water creeks running into the ocean which was a surprise to us. We didn’t think that Fraser Island was going to be such a wet and diverse island as what we were about to discover. One thing to make sure of is to have full fuel tanks before going over to Fraser. I’m glad we did as diesel was $2.05 a litre which was about 80c a litre dearer than we paid before crossing over.
The next day was a much better day with the sun shining and the weather on the improve over the next couple of days it was all about getting some miles into the car and seeing a much as we had planned of Fraser Island. From Waddy Point we drove back along the beach and stopped of a various points along the way. There are some remarkable sights to see on Fraser Island. They are lucky to have a shipwreck right on the beach that you can drive to and walk around. You do have to compete with all the tour operators around the place but that’s just the way it is. The wreck is the Maheno and now is just a rusting skeleton on the edge of the surf.
From the Maheno we drove a bit further down the beach then took some of the inland tracks to the lakes that are inland on Fraser Island. These lakes are all fresh water and each one is so different to the other in such a small distance it is very stunning. Lake McKenzie has such white sand in the shore and the bluest of water the contrast is stunning. Apparently the water in Lake McKenzie is so pure some of our native species cannot drink it. There are lots of signs everywhere warning about dingoes and to be aware of them but we didn’t see many at all. A bit disappointing as Fraser Island is supposed to be famous for them walking everywhere, or so we thought. The density of the bush on Fraser Island was also a surprise to us both. The thickness of the bush and the amount of tall trees when you go inland was very unexpected by us. You almost forget you are supposed to be on and island as some of it is as thick as in some of the rain forests we have seen.
After a horrible first day on Fraser Island the remaining two days were absolutely fantastic and we would definitely go back again for another few days again. We were quite happy with only going for three days and felt that we had seen all the good bits in this amount of time. After getting off the ferry and pumping up the tyres it was back to Standown Park and to the van. To our disappointment when we arrived back to the van it had a flat tyre. This was our first puncture for the trip so cant really complain. I was glad it happened while the caravan was parked and not while we were driving.
After our nights stay we were on the road again and heading towards Brisbane. Kaye was flying home for a week to help Renae who was having her wisdom teeth removed and I was going to have a great time on my own in the city. You know the saying – when the cats away. I had a few things planned with #1 being the Brisbane Caravan and Camping Show that I was really looking forward to as there were some very needy things that I had to buy. Although it was a nice week just bloking around it was good when SWMBO came back to pull me back into line. Brisbane was nice but is still just a capital city and besides Melbourne was the only one we have spent any time in.
From Brisbane it is out of Queensland and into NSW. We have had a fantastic time in Queensland and cant wait to come back and keep looking around, not sure when that will be though. We really need to give the other states a good going over as well.