Fraser Island by Megan

Today (16/12) we went to Fraser Island. Surprisingly the coach was early, so we got to the ferry at 8am. We boarded the ferry and set off. We sat at the top, and could see for miles. When we got off the ferry, we got on a special 4x4 coach, as Fraser Island is the world`s largest sand island, and the roads are all made entirely of sand, which makes it very bumpy!! We set off to our first destination on the island; a place called central station , where the loggers who used to live on the island lived. We went on a board walk in the surrounding rainforest, which was full of wildlife. At first I was very scared, as the guide said that there could be dingoes and snakes with life threatening bites!! He said that the snakes attack blurry movements, so if you see one, stand still and it will carry on going past you. He also said if we saw a dingo we must stand up tall to show them who is boss, and that children should get onto an adult`s shoulders. When we had finished there, we got back on the coach and drove along the BEACH!! The beach is the highway on Fraser Island, and has signs for the speed limits; ha ha ha!! Our driver got stopped by the police and breathalised. We stopped at a huge sand dune made up from different colours of sand. It was massive!! Then we drove a bit further down the beach until we came to ship wreck called the Maheno. It was very old and had barnacles growing on it. The boat had been washed ashore during a cyclone years ago, and had been too expensive to refloat.

Once we all got back on the coach, a pilot came on and asked if anyone would like an aerial tour of the island on a 7 seater plane; we said YES!! We got on the plane, and the pilot asked if my Dad would like to sit at the front with him. Dad got to wear some headphones.

The view was amazing! There were loads of trees that looked like brocoli, and the water colours were beautiful.

We swooped over the island, and think we saw a mantaray in the water. After 15 minutes, it was time to come down, and we got to land on the beach!! We then spent some time at Eli creek, which is a freshwater creek that pumps water into the ocean (although given the lack of rain recently, it wasn't really pumping!)

If you walked up the boardwalk at the side and got in, the current brought you down to the ocean where you started. After that we went for a quick lunch then headed to one of the lakes on the island; Lake MacKenzie. In the 1800s, when there was still logging on the island, some workers named the lake (where they liked to swim to cool down) after their boss, as he was very nice to them and treated them well. We couldn't put sun cream on before we went in the lake, as the tour guide told us it would pollute the lake. The water was very warm, and it didn't take long before we were all in. I stood on my Dad`s HEAD in the water!! We had loads of fun.

When it was time to leave, we got back on the coach. A hop, skip and a very bumpy ride away, the ferry was waiting for us. Fraser Island is very unique, and I am glad i got to visit it.