Australia Update #5: Monday, January 15, 2007

Day 7 and this morning, breakfast brought us back to reality post haste. Cyndy and I returned after a full weekend of 4x4 off-roading on Fraser Island. We couldn't wait to have a meal with the group!! The remaining hearty adventurers bumped around the area in their Thrifty Rent A Wreck.


On Friday after work, Kaz dropped us off in Maryborough an hour from Cherbourg – (on the Mary River) on her way to her home nearby with Jane spending the weekend. They are old friends from previous GV trips. Cyndy and I caught a bus for Hervey Bay (pronounced Harvey) an hour away on the coast – access to Fraser Island. The bus driver was a hoot and gave us lots of travel tips.


We had arranged an all day four-wheeling excursion on the island and were up to catch the ferry at 8AM for the 1 hour trip across the Bay. We quickly determined that this spot was a popular vacation place for Germans, Swedes, Dutch, and Japanese – get my drift!!! We picked a small tour group and did meet one other south Australian couple who spoke English. Out tour guide/drive Kirk was tri-lingual and was a great "wheeler" and informative guide.



Fraser Island is basically a sand island 100 long and 25 miles wide with amazingly abundant vegetation in some areas. These Uni-Mog vehicles were really interesting and Kirk knew his stuff. Having been so dry the sand roads were very soft and we needed every bit of traction. We were also shoulder-belted in our seats – and learned VERY quickly to keep bucked up. There is NO question that you could end up on the ceiling without the belts. It was a blast.At mid-day we stopped for a "barbie" where Kirk became chief and grilled up rib-eye steaks and fish. There was also an ample supply of Australian wine and XXXX lager! We returned back to our hotel at 7:30 PM and enjoyed another non-geriatric dinner – though realizing that the clock was ticking until our return to The Team but thankful for our brief respite. Kas and Jane picked us up again in Maryborough and the four of us had a fun few last hours of company and conversation.