Brisbane via points various...
... or more specifically Rainbow Beach - so called because of the rainbow colours adorning the surrounding beach. Unfortunately we were disappointed to find that the "rainbow" sands consisted of varying shades of yellow, orange and white rather than the red and yellow and pink and green which we had (perhaps foolishly) been expecting.
Our hostel in Rainbow Beach also has the funniest signage in the word - which included this gem (amongst others):
Anyway, we were soon on our way to Fraser Island - the world's largest sand island and one of only a few areas (possibly the only one) where rainforest grows on sand.
Our tour got off to a bad start - we had to wait on a connecting bus from further south which eventually turned up 20 minutes later. We were all crammed onto a bus which seats 40 and packaged off to Fraser Island.
Luckily the tour improved - our tour guide was funny and the scenery breathtaking. Driving along the beach we passed a pod of humpback whales swimming just off the coast, making their way north to the Barrier Reef.
Unfortunately we were dragged back to reality with a chaotic tea break (two tours of 40 people lining up to get themselves tea and a muffin - eek!), a debacle that would only be duplicated during the lunch break later on.
Regardless we were determined to enjoy the tour and the sights of Fraser helped in this endevour. We saw a rather impressive shipwreck - the Meheno which was cast ashore in the 30's due to an unseasonable cyclone, ancient king ferns in the rainforest and the incredible Lake MacKenzie.
Our indomitable guide supplied interesting facts and stories throughout the day and, for me, saved the tour from becoming remembered for the wrong reasons. One of the more interesting tales was of Eliza Fraser (after whom the island was named) who was shipwrecked there in the 1830s. After rescue she painted the locals - who ultimately were responsible for her survival - as inhuman savages. She realised that the more shocking the story, the more money she would make in book sales and public speaking engagements and so aparently she may have embelished certain parts of the story while omitting other parts - like the parts where they shared food and suchlike. This is how Mark the tour guide painted the picture anyhow.
Unfortunately we only had a few hours on the island and before long it was time to return to the mainland. It's a shame we have such little time left because it would be great to go back. Maybe next time...
In the meantime, there just a couple more things to note from here in Brisbane:
1. We'll be heading over to New Zealand on the 24th of July - leaving us about a week and a half left in Australia. Expect further msuings on this subject soon - but we're going to drop by Port Macquarie again and try to catch up with some of the koala hospital vollies before we go and also drop by Sydney to see Louise again.
2. We're hoping to go and see Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo tomorrow. Crikey!
Our hostel in Rainbow Beach also has the funniest signage in the word - which included this gem (amongst others):
Anyway, we were soon on our way to Fraser Island - the world's largest sand island and one of only a few areas (possibly the only one) where rainforest grows on sand.
Our tour got off to a bad start - we had to wait on a connecting bus from further south which eventually turned up 20 minutes later. We were all crammed onto a bus which seats 40 and packaged off to Fraser Island.
Luckily the tour improved - our tour guide was funny and the scenery breathtaking. Driving along the beach we passed a pod of humpback whales swimming just off the coast, making their way north to the Barrier Reef.
Unfortunately we were dragged back to reality with a chaotic tea break (two tours of 40 people lining up to get themselves tea and a muffin - eek!), a debacle that would only be duplicated during the lunch break later on.
Regardless we were determined to enjoy the tour and the sights of Fraser helped in this endevour. We saw a rather impressive shipwreck - the Meheno which was cast ashore in the 30's due to an unseasonable cyclone, ancient king ferns in the rainforest and the incredible Lake MacKenzie.
Our indomitable guide supplied interesting facts and stories throughout the day and, for me, saved the tour from becoming remembered for the wrong reasons. One of the more interesting tales was of Eliza Fraser (after whom the island was named) who was shipwrecked there in the 1830s. After rescue she painted the locals - who ultimately were responsible for her survival - as inhuman savages. She realised that the more shocking the story, the more money she would make in book sales and public speaking engagements and so aparently she may have embelished certain parts of the story while omitting other parts - like the parts where they shared food and suchlike. This is how Mark the tour guide painted the picture anyhow.
Unfortunately we only had a few hours on the island and before long it was time to return to the mainland. It's a shame we have such little time left because it would be great to go back. Maybe next time...
In the meantime, there just a couple more things to note from here in Brisbane:
1. We'll be heading over to New Zealand on the 24th of July - leaving us about a week and a half left in Australia. Expect further msuings on this subject soon - but we're going to drop by Port Macquarie again and try to catch up with some of the koala hospital vollies before we go and also drop by Sydney to see Louise again.
2. We're hoping to go and see Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo tomorrow. Crikey!
posted by Iff at
11:25 pm
1 Comments:
If you go to Steve Irwin's zoo remember what to do to the crocs.....
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Anonymous, At
7:58 am
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