Fraser Island - Queensland

I was told no trip to Queensland is complete without a visit to Fraser Island. Fraser Island is an island located along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, approximately 200 kilometres north of Brisbane. Its length is about 120 kilometres and its width is approximately 24 kilometres . It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992. The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1840 km. It is also Queensland's largest island, Australia's sixth largest island and the largest island on the East Coast of Australia. The island hosts three resorts and a number of camping and picnic areas.

The island has rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths. It is made up of sand that has been accumulating for approximately 750,000 years on volcanic bedrock that provides a natural catchment for the sediment which is carried on a strong offshore current northwards along the coast. Unlike many sand dunes, plant life is abundant due to the naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi present in the sand, which release nutrients in a form that can be absorbed by the plants. Fraser Island is home to a small number of mammal species, as well as a diverse range of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including the occasional saltwater crocodile.

Fraser Island has been inhabited by humans for as much as 5,000 years. Explorer James Cook sailed by the island in May 1770. Matthew Flinders landed near the most northern point of the island in 1802. For a short period the island was known as Great Sandy Island. The island became known as Fraser due to the stories of a shipwreck survivor named Eliza Fraser. Today the island is a popular tourism destination. Its resident human population was 360 at the 2006 census.

My day started at 6am standing on the road outside Trish and Nick's house watching a wild turkey while I waited for the 4wheel drive bus from Nature Tours to pick me up.

After picking up the rest of the tour participants we drove for a couple of hours to reach Rainbow Beach where we would catch the 20 minute barge to Fraser Island. Since I was the first person picked up and a single I got to sit in the rock star seating beside the driver with a fabulous front view of all the scenery.

Rainbow Beach where 3 meters of beach has been lost due to recent cyclone

Black in sand are minerals

looking at Rainbow Beach from back of the barge

View if Fraser Island from the barge

Tick another item off my bucket list - 4 wheel driving along a beautiful sandy beach

The benefit of sitting in the front seat I could take these amazing photos

 

 

 

 

The beach is used as an informal two lane highway where you can do 80 km per hour as well as a landing strip for small planes.

One of the inhabitants of the island are dingos.

 

Dingoes were once common on the island, but are now decreasing. The Fraser Island dingoes are reputedly some of the last remaining pure dingoes in Eastern Australia and to prevent cross-breeding, dogs are not allowed on the island. According to DNA-examinations from the year 2004, the dingoes on Fraser Island are "pure". It is believed there are 120 to 150 dingos on the island. All camping and picnic areas are fenced to keep dingos out.

 

The geological wealth of the island lay in its rich deposits of rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite (used in the making of steel). The mining leases were first granted in 1950, and mining continued until 1977. Without public knowledge the Queensland Government granted mining leases to the American mining company Dillingham-Murphyores in the 1960s. In 1971, the Fraser Island Defense Organisation (FIDO) opposed the granting of more leases to the company. Despite more than 1,300 submissions that were made to the local mining warden objecting to new leases, the submission was granted. FIDO took the case to the High Court of Australia which overruled the decision noting that the public interest was not being upheld. Dillingham-Murphyores continued mining. The Government established Australia's first environmental impact inquiry which recommended that mining cease. Eventually Malcolm Fraser canceled the company's mineral export license which halted mining on the island (which cost the governament over $4 million in compensation).

Going off the beach making our way inland to lake MacKenzie

 

Logging on the island began in 1863. Blackbutt trees (Eucalyptus pilularis) and kauri pines (Agathis robusta) on Fraser Island were logged extensively as they provided excellent timber. The logging industry continued right through until 1991, and ceased following the concerns of the Fraser Island Fitzgerald Inquiry.

Lake Mackenzie

Fraser Island has over 100 freshwater lakes, as well as the second highest concentration of lakes in Australia after Tasmania. The freshwater lakes on Fraser Island are some of the cleanest lakes in the world (totally rain water). A popular tourist area is Lake McKenzie which is located inland from the small town of Eurong. It is a perched lake sitting on top of compact sand and vegetable matter 100 metres above sea level. Lake McKenzie has an area of 150 hectares and is just over 5 metres in depth. The beach sand of Lake McKenzie is nearly pure silica (used in the production of materials such as glass and concrete). The lakes have very few nutrients and pH varies, though sunscreen and soaps are a problem as a form of pollution. Freshwater on the island may become stained by organic acids found in decaying vegetation. Because of the organic acids a pH level of 3.7 has been measured in some of the island's perched lakes. The high acidity levels prevent many species from finding habitat in the lakes.

Some of the lakes on Fraser Island are window lakes. These form when the water table has risen to a point higher than the surrounding land. Most of the valleys on the islands have creeks which are fed by springs.Motor boats and jet skis are banned from the island's lakes.

We spent an hour relaxing around the lake and taking a dip in the fresh, warm water before having lunch.

This looks like a postcard but it is a real photo taken by me

Lunch was a choice of steak, fish or prawns (I decided on prawns), accompanied by sausages, 8 different and delicious salads, fresh fruit and your choice of beverage. What a delicious meal!

These were my prawns - much larger than the ones we get in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Another inhabitant of the island is the kookaburra. Here is one beside our picnic table just waiting to scoop down on any unattended meat.

 

On the road again and not to be a front seat hog I gave up my seat and went to The back of the vehicle - I think I was in the worst seat now as I was tossed around so much my lunch is now a milkshake in my stomach.

We drove to the rainforest area of the island. The sand is so deep it is like wading through snow.

The water here looks stagnate and mearky but once you get up close it is absolutely clear, running water with a sandy bottom. Fraser Island is the only place in the world where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 metres. The low "wallum" heaths on the island are of particular evolutionary and ecological significance, and provide magnificent wildflower displays in spring and summer.

 

Close up of the creek! You can barely tell there is water here as it is so clear.

notice the plant growing up the tree

After our walk in the rainforest the tour guide mentioned there are spiders, pythons and deadly snakes in this area - nice to know since I only had thongs on my feet!

 

Over the bumpy sand trails and back to the beach

A quick stop for afternoon tea before catching the barge back to the mainland.

 

 

After off loading from the barge our vehicle got stuck in the sand and was not going anywhere - luckily a vehicle from another tour company was able to tow us out of our predicament and we were on our way back to Noosa Heads. I was dropped back at Trish and nick's at 6:30 pm - a long but wonderful day and yes do not miss seeing Fraser Island if you ever visit the Sunshine Coast.

 

Noosa Heads - Queensland

Last morning at Mooloolaba

After picking up Gaille at the Sunshine Coast airport, it was off to Noosa Heads to stay with her friends Trish and Nick. Noosa Heads is one of the main centers on the Sunshine Coast. It is 136km north of Brisbane and has a population of 4,000. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and especially for surfing. However, to overcome severe beach erosion at Noosa's main beach a sand pumping system has been built. It operates when necessary during off peak hours, supplying sand via a pipeline built underneath the boardwalk. Noosa Heads is the home to a large koala population (unfortunately in decline) - apparently two male koalas (recently the female died) live in the park across the street from Trish and Nick's house. While I am hoping for a koala sighting, I am also hoping not to have a python sighting as they apparently also inhabit this area.

The first day Gaille and I thought we would drive to the Buderim Ginger Factory, Glass House Mountains and visit the Mapleton Tavern for lunch (a family friend owns the tavern).

Ginger was first grown in Buderim, Australia shortly before World War One, where the comparatively high rainfall and humidity combined produce conditions which are ideal for growing this unusual crop. Ginger production was interrupted in china due to world war II giving the Buderim farmers an opportunity to expand production of this crop in Australia. By 1980 there was a need for a larger location so the factory was moved to Yandina, Queensland. Today The Buderim Ginger Factory is a tourist attraction and working ginger factory which produces some of the finest quality of ginger and associated products in the world.

The boat ride on the factory grounds is similar to 'It's a small world' ride in Disneyland, except here you are looking for the gingerbread man as he makes his way around the world. Gaille and I had to go around twice to spot the gingerbread man in all the different locations.

 

Can you spot the gingerbread man?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The park also has a bee tour which was extremely interesting. Apparently females are the worker bees and males are the drones that do not do much except impregnate the queen bee! Why am I not surprised!

These bees come from Italy! Apparently they produce better honey or are they just better lovers!

Gaille on the train that goes around the park.

We were starving after our ginger tour (samples were not filling), so it was off to the Mapleton tavern which was about a half hour drive from the ginger factory but on route (so we thought) to the Glass House Mountains.

Mapleton is a small town located near Obi Obi Road in the Blackall Ranges (pop. 2000), so it was not difficult to locate the tavern as it was the largest building. We were very excited to try some country cooking - unfortunately the lunch did not live up to our expectations. It may have been the worse meal I have ever eaten. Let's just say the salt and pepper calamari were like rubber bands dipped in donut dough and over deep fried minus the salt and pepper. The tassie salmon must of swam from tassie through an oil slick and the French fries definitely were shipped by a slow boat from France. The good news is although we left the restaurant unsatisfied we found a lovely spot, Flaxton Gardens, a few kilometers up the road. Once a vineyard it now serves afternoon tea, so we indulged in delicious cappuccinos and wonderful scones with jam and cream - not to mention the fabulous surrounding views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too many scones for me, I needed a rest!

Off to find the Glass House Mountains. The Glass House Mountains were named by Captain James Cook as he sailed north up the coast of what is now Queensland in 1770 as part of his epic voyage aboard his ship HM Bark Endeavour. They were so called as the shape of the mountains reminded him of the huge glass furnaces (glasshouses) back in his native Yorkshire. The mountains are actually the cores of extinct volcanoes. The mountains are located in a national park but we were led to believe there was a good viewing point in this area without driving into the national park. Well after following several conflicting directions we were given and driving past the Mapleton Tavern five times from different directions we realized it was getting late in the day and we should perhaps put this off for another day.

We did find a lookout with a covered area that a Rotary Club built to commemorate Rotary's 100th anniversary. However, the club should replace the sign on top of the covered area as it has been bleached by the sun- maybe the new sign could mention what the view is from this lookout as we have absolutely no idea. But it was pretty!

 

 

This Rotary sign one could read!

Girls just want to have fun!

Queensland

My second night in sydney and off to the Keith Urban concert at the olympic stadium. What a night! Until I recently watched him on American idol I did not know much about Keith Urban other than he is married to Nicole Kidman. I thought he was a country singer and was not sure I would enjoy two hours of him playing country music. Much to my delight he is much more of a rocker than a country singer and is extremely talented, not to mention not hard to look at! The two hours flew by - he did an incredible show and even came out into the audience to perform a few numbers - he really knows how to put on a fabulous show no wonder they love him here.

 

Next day we were off again as Marianne was treating me to a few days on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. First we arrived at the airport for our flight and were treated like royalty, helps when you know the staff, we even spent time enjoying a lovely complimentary lunch in the Jetstar lounge - flying with Marianne is a real treat.

Marianne rented an apartment across from the beach in Mooloolaba which is on the coast of the coral sea, what a view! There is little evidence of the cyclone that ripped through here a week ago. The weather is slightly overcast today but the last three days have been brilliantly sunny hovering around 30 degrees - I am browning nicely! Mooloolaba is 97 km north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast with a population of 7000. It looks a lot like Waikiki with the same laid back, tourist ambiance. As you might have guessed Mooloolaba is an aboriginal name meaning snapper fish. As I struggle pronouncing all the aboriginal names I now have empathy for our visitors trying to pronounce Qualicum, Cowichan or Coquihalla.

View from our room

 

We rented a car and visited the little town of Emundi on Saturday for the markets. I must be shopped out as I did not buy a thing. Although most of the stuff comes from Asia and is marked up quite a bit. Interesting given how close Australia is to Asia.

Some of the best places to eat on the sunshine coast are the surf clubs. These are beautiful facilities on the beach for lifeguards. They are funded by the government but in order to raise additional monies they open to the public, serving liquor and delicious food as well as having casinos on site. The first one we visited was the Alexander surf club and I enjoyed a delicious steak sandwich. Yesterday marianne had to fly back to sydney to go back to work (keep working marianne i love the companion travel benefits), so I went to the surf club in Mooloolaba for a late lunch and had the best beef salad - while I looked over the ocean and listened to a live band that plays on Sundays.

Last night after it cooled down I went for a long walk along the ocean to Marychodore. A popular pastime here is to come to the beach with a picnic andwatch the surfers - great free entertainment. It is interesting to see how the life style here is really geared to outdoor living. Very evident with the number of covered picnic areas on the ocean featuring free public gas bbqs. Lots of covered playgrounds for kids to enjoy and plenty of options for takeaway food.

 

The water is lovely and warm but I still have a fear of sharks so I will sick to the pool

 

This morning i got up at 7am and took another long walk the opposite way from yesterday, along the ocean out to the breakwater where the sea meets the Mooloolaba River. Today Gaille is flying up and I will pick her up at the airport this afternoon (yes I am driving on the opposite side of the road again, on the opposite side of the car using a standard - it is easy to drive here except the dam turn signals are on the right hand side of the steering wheel so every time I go to make a turn I end up turning on the windshield wipers). While I wait for her arrival I will get in some pool time.

Gaille and I will be staying with her friend Trish until Saturday. I met Trish in 1991 when she visited Gaille who was living with me in Canada - it will be great to see her again. Gaille and I will keep the car to do some touring and I plan to take an excursion to Fraser Island one day. So stay tuned and I will try to give you a taste of the Sunshine Coast of Australia - a beautiful place and a must see if you are in Australia.

 

Australia part III -2013

Well I decided it was too cold and damp in Victoria so I booked a flight and headed off to Australia. My flight from Vancouver to LAX cost as much as my staff travel flight on Qantas from LAX to Sydney. Apparently i was to be seated in the middle of row 58 with people on either side (not that i would complain), But luckily marianne's sister (who also works for qantas and was keeping track of this flight from sydney) saw this she got me moved to an isle seat with a spare seat beside me - i am one lucky girl. So two tylenol and one gravol later i slept for 8 hours of the 14 hour flight. Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe were in first class on my flight (although I did not get to see them as economy people and first class people do not mingle). However I saw her on TV last night and she was complaining about the lack of sleep with having a 2 and 4 year old with her - she forgot to mention the nanny that was accompanying them. Oh well had she visited me in economy I could have given her some good drugs that would for sure knocked her out.

After Marianne and Brian picked me up from the airport we headed of for a cappuccino at cronulla beach and then in he afternoon we went back for some lunch and a lovely walk lane the beach with Marianne's friend Cathy.

 

 

Marianne's sister jenni (the one who works for Qantas) joined us for a dinner of green salad, potato salad, BBQ lamb chops and fried halloumi cheese - yummy!

Tonight we are off to the Keith urban concert at the Olympic stadium - maybe there will be a Nicole sighting. Then off to Queensland tomorrow - apparently the cyclones have stopped and the weather is in the low 30's.

 

 

Australia part III -2013

Well I decided it was too cold and damp in Victoria so I booked a flight and headed off to Australia. My flight from Vancouver to LAX cost as much as my staff travel flight on Qantas from LAX to Sydney. Apparently i was to be seated in the middle of row 58 with people on either side (not that i would complain), But luckily marianne's sister (who also works for qantas and was keeping track of this flight from sydney) saw this she got me moved to an isle seat with a spare seat beside me - i am one lucky girl. So two tylenol and one gravol later i slept for 8 hours of the 14 hour flight. Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe were in first class on my flight (although I did not get to see them as economy people and first class people do not mingle). However I saw her on TV last night and she was complaining about the lack of sleep with having a 2 and 4 year old with her - she forgot to mention the nanny that was accompanying them. Oh well had she visited me in economy I could have given her some good drugs that would for sure knocked her out.

After Marianne and Brian picked me up from the airport we headed of for a cappuccino at cronulla beach and then in he afternoon we went back for some lunch and a lovely walk lane the beach with Marianne's friend Cathy.

 

 

Marianne's sister jenni (the one who works for Qantas) joined us for a dinner of green salad, potato salad, BBQ lamb chops and fried halloumi cheese - yummy!

Tonight we are off to the Keith urban concert at the Olympic stadium - maybe there will be a Nicole siting. Then off to Queensland tomorrow - apparently the cyclones have stopped and the weather is in the low 30's.