Thurs, 16th Nov, 2023 Central Station Campground, Fraser Island National Park to 48hr RV Park, Maryborough, Qld

Another warm night and morning though the wind is flowing through the top of the trees.

Loaded the camper back onto the truck and headed back to the west side to wait for our barge at 11.30am. Made it through some softer sand - different to when we had first arrived. Didn’t meet anyone either which was good. Steve pumped up the tyres back up.

Dan and Fran have the keys to their new home in Gordonvale. Looking forward to making it their home and the arrival of their little girl next year. They sent through a photo of them outside the front door.

Very windy still and overcast.

Got a text from Wendy. They are heading to Eurong now then will head down the east side to their barge and back to their camper they left at a van park. Will catch up with them again in a couple of days.

It was a great trip and all the better to share it with David & Wendy but we won’t miss the march flies and the soft sand patches. We have covered 546 km up and down the sandy tracks and beach.

Had a cuppa and waited in the camper as the wind blew.

The barge arrived on time. Some trucks with gas supplies and a few campers came off the barge.

We backed on. We had to wait for one other person but they didn’t arrive to we headed out. The captain turned the barge around in the creek then we headed across to River Head.

We sat in the lounge area as it was too windy to be outside. Steve checked on the camper as the barge rocked and rolled but it was all good. The chap said the captain has been doing this run for 20 odd years as the others don’t like doing this landing spot with its narrow turn around etc.

It is a bit brighter at River Heads though still windy. The chap asked us to get ready as the captain said he won’t be holding the barge on the ramp for too long. We got in the truck then drove off and parked in the car park to make lunch.

Sat in the picnic area again and watched the barge to Kingfisher Bay load up with the wind pushing on the barge. One chap had a small caravan and was having all sorts of trouble trying to get it to back in. It was a full barge too but they got it sorted and headed off.

We drove around through Hervey Bay and filled up with diesel at the cheapest place, $2.095/L. The grey sky has followed us - forecast for a storm this afternoon.

Found a car wash and gave the truck another good clean as it got a bit of sea spray on the way over.

Back to Maryborough for some fruit & vegies. Had a wander for a while. Got our permit to camp from the Info Centre then found the ‘Cistern Chapel’ around the back of the building. We hadn’t seen this and unfortunately we are too late for a guided tour of the toilets! Luckily they have good photos on the sign. Will have to come back and check it out in person.

Walked around the block and found some more info about the church and bell tower.

Across the road was the ‘Mary Ann’ Steam Rail Museum (closed of course) and next to that the old Station Master’s House (est 1878).

Headed to Dave & Amanda’s. Love all the old homes in this area.

Joined them for drinks and catch up on what Ella is doing. She and her best friend are having fun in Brighton, England - trying to find accommodation and a job now.

Back to the RV park for the night. (Forgot to take a photo of camp!)

8pm - heard thunder then Steve saw flashes of lightning through the window. Some big long strikes too. Slowly the storm came over but only a light bit of rain.

Wed, 15th Nov, 2023 Central Station Campground, Fraser Island National Park, Qld

Warm night, min 23 degrees - maybe because it had changed direction. The wind is shaking the tops of the trees. I hear a few squawks of black cockatoos but can’t see any.

Headed to Eurong to meet Dave & Wendy - hope they didn’t get stuck in the soft area but the buses have probably been threw and flattened it out again.

As we crawled along with the windows down I heard the flying foxes and this time saw them hanging in the tall trees.

Onto the two way track. The sand is getting softer as it dries out and more traffic over it.

Into Eurong with the strong westerly wind is blowing the loose sand back own the bitumen to the beach. Sent Andrea a sympathy text as her Mum’s funeral is today.

Steve walked down to the beach, I waited as Wendy text they were nearly here. The waves a rolling in as it is just after high tide but not very high so lots of vehicles already on the beach.

Looking back up the street to the Resort area.

Dave & Wendy had arrived so we had a cuppa and a yummy treat from the bakery.

Onto the beach - the tide is going out and there is enough room to be on firm ground so we headed northward. We let Dave go first as he will zip along quicker than us.

Up the beach, took the bypass around Poyungan Rocks.

Continued on to Yidney Rocks. Found a bypass track but met a line of vehicles coming south so we had to get off the track to let them pass. Through the accommodation area then along to soft sand and back down on the beach again.

More rocks along the beach.

One of the houses at Happy Valley.

Up past Eli Creek - full of cars again. Across the creek.

Passed Maheno Wreck which is being bashed by the waves. Better photos of the coloured sands.

Not stopping to check out things yet but I took photos as the sun is behind us. The Pinnacles.

Looks like a popular spot for views from the top of the hill on Cathedral Beach. The water is clearer here. Nice camping spot too.

Someone’s hopeful of catching some fish for lunch. More coloured sand hills around Dundubara.

Caught up to Dave and Wendy - Wendy’s turn for a drive. I’m not going to bother.

More creeks to cross and more colour sand hills. A fishing group were parked up.

The hills are further inland now - just low shrubs as we continue along Corroboree Beach.

Arrived at Indian Head where there is bypass around it to the beach then along the Champagne Pools at Middle Rocks. A chap had driven up the access track too slowly and got bogged. The wind was howling around, whipping up the loose sand and sandblasting our legs. We watched them get out then a car came down as one went up - busy place. They are going fast and bounce around a lot. Steve walked the track and decided not to push it with our truck as we are leaving tomorrow.

Dave & Wendy decided to give it ago to get around to Champagne Pools so off they went. Up and over all good though they were getting bounced around a bit.

We moved the truck closer to the rocks so we could get away from the wind.

Got out our lunch and sat on the rocks as a bus came down then a big truck loaded with bags of something thumped its way up through the sand and ruts.

I walked down to put my feet in the water which was lovely and clear up here. The wind and waves nearly blew me over.

Three vehicles arrived towing camper trailers and headed straight up the track following each other. The last one stopped so we went over to the dune for a look. All three were bogged. Well, a bit of entertainment for us and that confirmed we weren’t going up.

A chap came zooming up around the first two cars and angled across to the next one and crashed into the sand bank but kept going to then park up beside the top on. He tried pulling him out but no luck. Lots of tyres deflating and trying recovery tracks. Dave & Wendy returned and as it was soft the whole way he was keeping his speed up so when he came over the rise he saw the gap between the two vehicles and came down through then around the other two. Luckily he is only a small car so it was all good.

Another car arrived and slowly turned up and quickly bogged then another one but he got back out. Steve went to the first chap’s aid. He was in low range so Steve told him what to do. He did have new recovery tracks at least. Dave came over to help too and they got him out.

David said it was good we didn't go up as it was soft the whole way and they got bounced around a lot.

Another chap rolled up the slope and promptly got stuck. He just sat there churning the sand.

After they had got the first guy out and were putting the tracks back in the car, their blow up tube was whipped out by the wind and disappeared along the beach to the dune. Good Sarmatian Steve took off after it. He eventually appeared, he couldn’t get back over the dune and had to walk along the back till he got to the track again.

The top car managed to get to the top of the rise. The ute came back down and nearly smashed into the bottom car as the sand took control of where his wheels were going. He tried pulling the last camper trailer backwards but got bogged himself. Once he got out he tried pulling the other chap out and eventually got him out of the way. Then they pushed the last camper and truck backwards on tracks and got it free. He unhooked his trailer then joined with the other chap and got the next guy out. Now they have to try all over again to get up to where they are booked in to camp for a few weeks (looking at all the food loaded on the roof) at Orchid Beach. It was interesting watching it all and glad it wasn’t us. There was enough hands on deck so we left that to it.

Wendy had taken some photos of Champagne Pool and Indian Head from the other side.

There are vehicles everywhere as we headed southward again. Then it was all clear and plenty of room as the tide has gone out.

Stopped to check out a creek I saw people having a dip in on the way up. Nice little spot - I got in to wash off all the sand and salt off my legs. The creek runs along the base of the hill for a while before it heads down to the sea.

Stopped at the other ‘tourist’ spots on the way back. Red Canyon.

Good gutter to fish in.

Dundubara is another accommodation place and national park camping ground with dingo enclosure. Some of the beach camping area are closed at the moment - same with the Sandy Cape ones.

Along Cathedral Beach but I didn’t see any outstanding sand formations as mentioned in the Discovery Centre info.

The Pinnacles.

Stopped at Eli Creek where another dingo was having a wander.

Dave & Wendy decided to head back so they didn’t have to wait at the road works. We said farewell as we will head straight to the barge in the morning. They will come across to Eurong and head down the beach to the bottom barge and back to Inskip Point and their motorhome in the afternoon when the tide is lower. We made a cuppa then went for a nice long float (didn’t take the camera this time). 

Another dingo as we headed back to the truck - this one has a tracking collar.

Around Yidney Rocks via the beach this time.

A Fraser Island Tow Truck is heading north - someone’s holiday just went bad.

Up the bypass though at Poyungan Rocks.

Back to Eurong and through the car wash to get the salt off it ($10.30 but worth it).

Back towards camp. The tracks are getting softer and more churned up since we arrived. Time to leave. Also next week is Schoolies Week so not a good time to be on the island. Can’t imagine what it would be like during the school holidays.

All the tracks we have been over, a few we went over many times. Still lots to explore on the next visit.

More campers are here today but all quiet.