Fraser Island Feb 2018

[Alex86]

Just back from a blokes trip to Fraser. Crikey what an awesome place!

Let's start with the highlight of the trip. Pictures of why trying to cross Eli Creek anywhere near high tide is not a good idea! The 80 series got stuck about 45mins prior to high.
And no, it wasn't us! But we did help get it out.
And yes, strap over towball on the troopy I know. Also the 80 series had no recovery point, it had a towbar but no tongue not even a pin; all it had was chunky (but rusting) safety chain holes. You'd think a commercial 4wd tour group would have proper recovery points ready to go on all their vehicles but evidently not. Did the best with what there was to work with, and I tried to get people away from the vehicles for the pull (some don't want to listen though) - both cars would have been totally lost I think if we went back to our vehicles to get more appropriate gear.
It was a tow rather than snatch strap thankfully otherwise I would have been further away for the initial pull-out.












More pics of the trip to come later.

But I want to go back!!

Plus the view at Eli and Lake Mckenzie, it's very good!

[Pajshomoneroguntero]

I wondered what Russel Coit was up to.

[nj swb]

Yet another unstoppable Toyota that wasn't quite so unstoppable.

Is this just one more example of people not knowing what they don't know? They've been to Fraser once or twice, avoided any major dramas, and decide that they're experts who can charge others to show them how it's done.

[Pwoffey]

Great (and disturbing) pics. Excellent that the name of the company is clearly visible. From their web site:

"Prior to your amazing Fraser Island tour you must attend our compulsory pre-tour safety briefing held at KB’s Noosa Bar at 6:00pm the day before the tour’s departure."

The content of that briefing would be interesting. Maybe it shouldn't be held in a bar

[Alex86]

The guide took the other vehicles in the convoy through afterwards rather than letting the backpackers drive. Smart move- probably should be the norm though in conditions like that. Inexperienced driver got stuck, that's fairly obvious. I get the impression though that all these sorts of companies aren't to concerned about events like this, especially when the cars are fairly old and tired.

However, another group pulled over and walked the rest of the way rather than crossing when they saw the 80 with the bonnet up and drying out.

Over the next hour or so about half a dozen cars crossed. Fairly brave I reckon; mostly for the salt content of the water at high tide! Waves run up Eli a long way and just because the main wave has receded doesn't mean that when you cross that that bit is back to fresh water!
Personally the crossing doesn't look that challenging from a technical perspective- The biggest thing is timing the wave. But would I go through it anywhere near high tide? No way in hell in my car; unless life depended on getting to the other side.

[Alex86]

More pics.


Beach at Waddy Point



Camping area at Waddy beachfront zone. A 6x3 and 2 3x3 gazebos gave us great cover of 6x6. More tents and swags out of picture to the left. About 7 cars and 14 people..



Looking from Middle Rocks (where Champagne Pools are) south towards Indian Head.



Champagne Pools. Probably better towards a lower tide than a high tide.


Lunch, and beach cricket, break on the beach just prior to the track around Middle Rocks.



Indian Head.



Some of the Maheno wreck.



Red Canyon area, I think.



Next two pics are racing the incoming tide. Not a lot of beach left...and in the 2nd pic you couldn't even escape onto a dune. Both approx 2hrs prior to high tide; hence why they suggest not driving the beach within 2hrs of high.