East Coast - Day 6

What an incredible week so far! The Australian experience has really picked up a notch, Queensland-style. On Thursday we arrived at Hervey Bay at the Palace Backpackers Hostel (which was the best so far, with our own kitchen, common room, and a dorm pretty much to ourselves). We had the afternoon free, so we grabbed some lunch at the nearby Woolworths grocery and then headed out to the beach for some fishing and frisbee. Didn't catch anything unfortunately since the tide was low, but had a great time anyhow, and talked about our travels to a few of the friendly locals.

The next day kicked off a trip to the best destination so far: Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, and a world heritage site made of 95% sand with rainforests and heavy vegetation growing on it. We made it to the island by ferry and began our Cooldingo tour on a 4WD bus. The ride was a thrill in itself; with steep hills and rugged sandy trails, the rocking and jumps we felt could be easily compared to a roller coaster ride! We headed through the bush to a clearing called Makenzie Lake, one of the largest perched sand dune lakes in the world. The cloudy weather slightly cleared enough for us to enjoy the bright white silica sand and go for a dip in the clear blue water. It was spectacular, but there was so much more to come.

In the afternoon we went on a bushwalk through a temperate rainforest, taking in the lush and diverse vegetation and blue lakes. We then settled into our cozy lodge dorms, ate at a buffet and hung out with the other travelers at the bar playing pool and cards. The next day was cloudy and rainy, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the exhilarating ride along the 75 Mile Beach. We waded through a crystal-clear creek and marveled at the coloured sands. My favourite places on the island were the Champagne Pools and Indianhead with nice rock formations and a beautiful view of the ocean, whales and sea turtles from a 60m high cliff. The day ended perfectly with a stunning surprise sunset from an outlook.

Yesterday we arrived in Agnes Water and the Town of 1770 (named after the date Capt. Cook landed in Oz). Our driver insisted we try out Scooter-Roos, which looks pretty much like a small Harley chopper. We figured, why not? In the end, I'd have to say it had to be one of my all-time favourite experiences. We rode on these mini bikes at up to 80kph through forested areas, the towns, and along the beach at sunset. What a blast it was!

I'm now on the bus headed for the Kroombit Cattle Station with country tracks and hilarious Aussie folk and drinking songs playing. The driver tells us crazy stories about his drunken friends and unfortunate mishaps with kangaroos. No sign of civilization anywhere. It's awesome :)

Cheers,

Sean