Fraser Island

Vic and I spent the day doing a tour of Fraser Island - this island off the Queensland coast which is basically just a big sand dune - it's all made of sand. Amazing, that it's so big (over 100km long) and has so much vegetation in the way of subtropical rainforest. It was really cool.

The day started with me being unable to sleep much. I woke up at about 5am and really couldn't get back to sleep, so I ended up going for a charming sunrise run along the beach. It was so lovely...I think I've decided that, in the long term, I have got to live by the sea. And have a dog. (I'm afraid I just want to turn into Vic...)

That set me up for the day but did mean I was somewhat sleepy at times. On arrival to the island (via a ferry ride which was beautiful and sunny but during which we sadly did not spot any whales or sharks, despite this being the most shark-infested stretch of coast, or something) we were initially somewhat disappointed to find that our tour vehicle, rather than a small, rugged, adventurous-looking jeep, was an enormous mother of a 4-wheel drive COACH. Eeek. It was a beast. I tend to feel slightly uncomfortable about taking tours like this one - it just seems so lame in an "I'll just stay on the coach", see Australia in air-conditioned comfort-type way. Basically I feel like the tourist that I always try to pretend I'm not, but hey...if you can't beat them, join them.

The tour was much fun, with the terrain really requiring a 4-wheel drive...it was mad, driving over sand dunes and along a huge stretch of beach. The island was uber-beautiful. We swam in a fresh-water lake, with exceptionally acidic water apparently (all my rings are now really shiny, score!) which was just amazing. We also did some paddling in a creek which was lovely but freezing cold.

Sadly I managed to trigger my sun-allergy again (it was REALLY hot and we forgot to bring hats) so the journey home was a bit of a feeling-sick nightmare. I feel better now after eating tons of Chinese takeaway, however. Woohoo. This was definitely a good little trip to do before we fly to New Zealand (thursday!)

(More pictures at www.photobucket.com under "victorialouise", then "east coast oz")