Paradise! The Perfect Weekend

I know you've all been patiently awaiting my next post (who wouldn't be) and I have so much to share!! Friday morning Jess, Nikki, Jourdan and I got up quite early and boarded a greyhound to Hervey Bay. Jourdan is from Pennsylvania but goes to Ole Miss. The bus left around 8:45am and was supposed to arrive in Hervey Bay around 2:30. We made a pit stop in a random town for a half hour stretch break/breakfast and I had the pleasure of taking a picture with Australia's biggest kangaroo, Matilda!

Then we got back on board and were off! We arrived in Hervey Bay (north of Sippy Downs on the coast 2.5 hrs by car) around 2:15 and got settled into our hostel. We decided to go out for a quick lunch and I wanted to see the beach! Being indecisive, we all chose different foods, I had fish and chips (fresh from the sea) and it was fantastic! Then we waled to the beach, gorgeous of course and quiet. Took some photos, then it started to rain...go figure...then pour...how unexpected!? After a few minutes we headed back to the beach and had the pleasure of seeing a lovely rainbow. I made them all follow me to the pier so I could see how beautiful everything was. We walked around the town a bit, got ready and headed to the 'bar' in our hostel for some cheap food.There is only one night club in Hervey Bay, right next to our hostel, so we had to check it out. It was sooo tiny and everyone was either 17 looking or 45 looking. So weird. We didn't last long, and went to bed!

Saturday we woke up early to catch the ferry to World Heritage listed Fraser Island. It is the largest sand island in the world and all the vegetation (rainforest and all) is grown on sand. (see dad! not only does our lawn grow well on sand, but a rainforest does too!) First impression- beautiful!! Not to mention, the skies were clear and it was hot out!! Finally the sun gods listened! Once on the island, we met our tour guide Chris and were off in our 4WD bus. There are no roads of course, all sand so 4WD is necessary. Some how Nikki and I got stuck in the back row and got to feel first hand why the first stretch of road was called "the roller coaster". Yikes, good thing there were seatbelts.

Our first stop was basin lake. A perched dune lake fed by rain only. There was no swimming in it because human oils change the PH of the lake, killing native animals and bringing about neutral water creatures versus acidic water creatures. It was beautiful.

Basin Lake

Next we were on to central station where we had a picnic lunch and were able to hike through the rainforests. Flowing through it was a naturally purified freshwater stream that we got to drink out of. Yummy! The water was so clear! We also got to see a tree that had been there 500 years and stretched 5m in diameter! It was called central station because up until 1991 the island was used for logging and previously inhabited by indigenous Australians.

Drinking out of the Purified Freshwater Stream

Our last stop of day one was the unbelievable, picture perfect, Lake McKenzie. Words can't describe the beauty of it. Green vegetation, white soft sand, dark blue and aqua clear water. So beautiful. We got to lay out and swim and enjoy the lake for a few hours. Then it was time for afternoon tea and biscuits and heading back to our lodge.

Lake McKenzie

Nikki, Jess, Jourdan and I

We stayed at Kingfisher Bay resort and lodge. Our tour had the cabins and the other, wealthy vacationers were at the hotel itself. a nice place in the middle of the forest and on the pacific ocean. We grabbed our cameras and walked to the pier to watch the sunset. Phenomenal. There were wedding photos being taken out there at that time and after we had taken our photos and relaxed, we met 3 of the groomsmen and were asked if they could take a photo with us! Why not? So, we seized the opportunity, and saw them a few random places after the fact and they were all excited!

Sunset <3

Oysters clung to all the rocks near the pier

We had a pasta buffet dinner and had a drink or so while meeting some other travelers. A group of people were on a Contiki trip and this one gal, Carly, was hilarious. She was telling us about two girls (nicknamed pink eye and dolphin) that were stupid and rediculous on their trip. We had a good time laughing and chatting with them all.

Stonetool Sand Blow

75 Mile Highway

 Sunday morning we woke up early again for our 2nd and last day of touring the island. First stop was stonetool sand dunes. We got to learn how all the sand is blown there and fights with the vegetation to stay. very pretty. After making our way to the other side of the island, we got to the 75 mile sand/beach highway. Unbelievable. Chris said that its actually 65 miles but fishermen must have named it because they always exaggerate. :) funny guy. He was very knowledgible about the history, vegetation and animals of Fraser. Took many beach photos and then decided to go up and take an aerial view of the island. no words can describe the excitement.

Lake shaped like a butterfly!

Rainforest

Maheno Shipwreck on the Beach

Our tour bus for the weekend

 Next we stopped at the Maheno Shipwreck on the beach and got to see how large it originally was. Very cool! The Pinnacles were the next stop along the beach. They are rock formations that looked like they should be in Arizona. Then off to Indian Head!

We pulled up along the beach and saw the hill we had to climb... flip flops were a great idea.... we climbed up with our friend John that we had met the day before and had some good laughs to make time go by fast. When we arrived at the top... I didn't want to leave... it was by far the most breathtaking 365 degrees of beauty I had ever seen. We took lots of photos, soaked in where we were standing, in awe, and climbed back down because it was so hot and sunny and we were sweating! We took a stroll through the ocean and cooled off.

View from Indian Head

Most AMAZING view I've ever seen!

We drove to a park place and had lunch again. Then walked down the path to the Champagne Pools. We weren't allowed to swim because of all the sharks, sting rays etc. so the water that went over the rocks creates pools of safe and protected water we could swim in ( the champagne pools). It was so refreshing and gorgeous. After soaking up the sun and swimming a bit, we were off yet again!

Champagne Pools

On our way to a creek, we stopped for a potty break and I got to see the biggest spider I've ever seen!!! Australia/Fraser is home to the #2,4 and 5 most deadly snakes if I remember correctly... scary. Then we got to Eli Creek! A freshwater, crystal clear creek flowing nicely out of nowhere. We waded in the nippy water and walked up the path so we could swim/go with the flow down the stream from the top. So refreshing and beautiful. Then we had afternoon tea and biscuits (cookies) and were on our way back to the lodge.

Biggest spider I've ever seen!

Eli Creek

Nik and Jess in the Creek

Finally, on our last stretch of beach we got to see a dingo! They are a wolf descendant but lots skinnier and they don't travel in packs. Fraser has about 350 of them, which is not a lot compared to the overall surface area of the island. We only got to see it from inside the bus, but atleast we didn't have to go home with out seeing one.

Wild Dingo (they're tagged so the conservation people on the Island can count how many there are)

We got back to the lodge, watched the sunset again and had Asian food for dinner. Then we relaxed until it was time to catch the ferry back to Hervey Bay. I passed out sleeping on the ferry and forgot where I was! Once back, it was late so we checked into our hostel, chatted with our Canadian roomie who was going camping on Fraser the next day and told him how amazing it was.

Sunset on Fraser Island

Monday we woke up super early for the greyhound and headed back to Sippy Downs. We got so lucky with how amazing and sunny the weather was all weekend. It sure made the weekend. Fraser Island, I'd have to say, is my favorite place in Australia so far and anyone visiting here has to see it before they leave or they'd be missing out on a truely phenomenal place. Theres a million more picture I could show you, but it would take forever to load them all!

This week I have been busy with lots of homework, and it has been gorgeous outside. Very difficult! Tonight I am going out with friends for my birthday and tomorrow, Jess, Nikki and I leave for New Zealand!! Can't wait to go on our tour and meet lots of new people! Unfortunately I won't be able to blog until the end of April because it is semester break and I will be traveling! I'm sure you'll all be itching to hear all about it :) and I will be excited to share it with you! Until then, enjoy the wonderful weather and I'll be thinking of you!

Cheers!