We caught the Fraser Dawn across to Moon Point on Fraser Island, this was a beach landing and the bus then drove onto the ferry to take us off on our exploration of the largest sand island in the world. We went through rain forests, which I found strange, as I didn’t think anything grew on sand, apart from grass and weeds that is. We continued on our tour down a beach highway, where the speed limit is 90km, but I’m sure our driver was going faster than that as when he reached the police station he slowed down! We could not go to the north of the island de to the fact that a storm had washed all the sand away exposing the coffee rocks, which aren’t really rocks but compressed sand, but were still impassable, he then drove us to a lake, where Gareth and Eleanor took a swim, I watched from a safe distance, though I did paddle.
We then had two days driving ahead of us with an overnight stop just north of Rockhampton, which was an experience for Eleanor as although clean there was no outside door on the loo block, so after we had tea in the restaurant attached to the campsite, Eleanor decided to visit the loo she came back stating that she wasn’t going in there, the frogs, lizards and beetles were huge – no I didn’t go and check!!
We finally arrived at Airlie Beach and booked into a nice campsite, we then had time to relax before catching the last bus into Airlie Beach to get our tea.
Another early morning, this time to catch the ferry (its called a ferry, but it was a huge catamaran) to the Whitsunday Islands. The first island we visited was Daydream Island a very nice relaxing Island with a rainforest walk, which we did, but it took longer than we thought and we nearly missed the ferry to our next Island which was Hamilton Island. We didn’t have long on Hamilton Island, just long enough for a walk along the front and a cold drink, before we boarded again for a nice Barbeque lunch. Whilst we were eating the ferry continued to its next destination, which was the beautiful White silica sand of Whitehaven Beach. To swim in the sea we had to wear stinger suits, which made us look like tellytubbies (yes there is a photo, and no, your not going to see it), but although we all looked stupid the suits had the added benefit of protecting us from the sun, which believe me was very hot indeed. The idea of the stinger suits is to stop you from being stung by small jellyfish, but my daughter being my daughter after an hour or so in the sea got fed up with her hands being in the mittens took them out, and just as she was on her way out from the sea, yes you guessed it she got stung, but due to the efficiency of the boat crew, and a bottle of vinegar no nasty side effects.
Our last day in the camper van (hurray), not that I dislike camping, but I just couldn’t seem to jell with this van. After leaving at 7am and travelling 630km, we arrived in Cairns at about 3.30pm so not a bad days drive. We checked into our Hotel, which really feels like heaven after that van!!
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