For those who know and love the island (Just got back last night)
1.
Eli creek has broken through
the beach and now empties directly into the ocean in front of the boardwalk area. Consequently it is faster flowing and much shallower.
2. Dundaburra
campground is almost fully fenced and the new shower/
toilet facilities are almost complete. Hot showers 50c for 3 mins.
3. There is no firewood available at Wathumba Ck. Take some from the other side before you go across. No hot showers and no
drinking water.
4. The new beachfront campsites at Waddy are open and look pretty good. Hot shower 50c for 3 mins.
Campground is fenced.
5. All camping is forbidden at
Indian Head. Too many backpackers leaving empty beer cans and little white "daisies" around (
toilet paper and associated human waste).
6. Backpackers Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!
7.The new
Central Station campground is great with new facilities, individual campsites and
dingo fence all around. Hot showers $1 for 6 mins.
8. "The Fraser Is Co." now owns all of the resorts shops and tourist traps on the island including the Inskip barges (everything except the Manta Ray and the
shop at Orchid) ACCC monopoly???
9. A lot more signage ("closed for rehab" etc)
10 Fuel - diesel $1.36 at Cathedrals (Fraser Is Co.)
$1.24 at Orchid (independent) Sorry, don't have a petrol vehicle.
11. Backpackers Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!
12. Only "Streets" ice creams are available anywhere on the island. (conspiracy??)
13. Barge fare on the Manta Ray - $60
14. Mudlow Rocks at
Rainbow (lotsa rocks exposed) - just about impassable even at dead low, impassable 1/2 hour after the low.
Late model Prado in deep do-do on the rocks when we were there. (we had to head all the way back to Freshwater to take the bypass)
14. Currently most cuttings have a firm base and the inland tracks are very firm so the "lowriders" can say Fraser is a breeze. 2WD just about everywhere actually. Still saw a 100 series bogged though (40 PSI I suppose).
Cheers
Oskar