trip to Fraser Island.

The only pitfall I see is to beware of driving south of Moon Point on the western side of the island. There is a boggy muddy section that gets covered with sand every time the tide comes in. It's a trap for many people as the tide come in here at a great rate of knots and can easily over a vehicle at high tide.

There are many photos of vehicles that have come to grief here. From memory it's not signposted either.

We based our camp ay Waddy Point and travelled from there to most parts of the island.

Have a great time

Pat

JB,
4 days eh, better than not going at all but you could easily spend a week there and still not see everything.
Brush up on sand driveing, if its been dry a while the inland tracks can be very soft, so can the beach near high tide.
Compressor,tyre pressure guage snatch strap, shackles, shovel are essential. You'll only need them if you didnt take them.
Air down your tyres to 20psi, every booged vechicle Ive come across was still running highway pressures in their tyres. Youll get up the hard pack on the beach ok with highway pressures but the soft exit tracks catch a few people out.
Be very aware of what the tides are doing, its easy to get distracted sight seeing at one end of the island and you find youve got a 2 hour beach run back to camp and the tide is rapidly comming in. The tide ALWAYS comes in faster than it goes out, or so it seems:))
Keep to the posted speed limit or slower on the beach, washouts and undulations can appear without warning, you dont want to hit them at 80kmh.
Beware backpackers in rented troop carriers, they know none of the above.
If there is a blind corner ahead there will be a rented troop carrier full of backpackers comming the other way, generally as fast as that troopy will ever go, or a 4x4 tourist bus.
Fuel was $1.50 + a litre for diesel back in april, you will use more fuel than usual,
food and ice are available at the "towns" but it is more expensive than the mainland.

Must see destinations? its all good, the lakes, Maheno, Eli creek, Champange pools, Central station forrest, the coloured sands, the Z force camp on the western side of the island.
Good camping spot behind the dunes about 7km north of Eurong, just past the turn off to the road to Lake Waddi. You will need to BYO everthing, water ,showers, toilet etc, and take everything out with you as well, dumpster bins are on the beach at most major settlements.
Give your vechicle a good cleaning and polish before you leave home and spray underneath with Lanox or similar, will help keep the sand/salt off and make it easier to clean when you get off the island.
If you havent got them already some Sand Grabber type matts for the car are essential, especially if youve got carpet. Your car has a sand gland and will remind you of your trip as you will find sand for the next year regardless of how often you vacuum it :)).
Be prepared for midgies and sand flys, they like the island and you as well.
Some dingos are still a bit of a problem, there are new rules for camping and interaction with them, you will get a brochure when you pick up your permits.
The whole place is spectactular its well worth the visit.
Some of my comments may seem a bit negative, theyre just some tips Ive learned on 5 trips to Fraser, dont be put off, the Island is just magic.

Hi JB,

We did the trip in 2003/2004 and had a ball. Trip report can be seen here on my website. My recomendation is to spend a day or going to some of the less travelled areas that involve the history of the area and the rest doing the usual lakes etc. Some of the tracks we travelled are rarely used but took us to some amazing places.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

Regards
David

Just back from a five day visit to the island last week.

Conditions really good. After all the recent rain, the tracks were very firm. But conditions do change quickly.

Four days will only give you a taste of what the island has to offer.

The people travelling with us were from europe and were travelling in rented troopies - they had no trouble negotiating any of the tracks.

Caution - the buses always have right of way.

We watched whales from the top of Indian Head - as well as all the other usual sealife.

With only four days on the island I would suggest camping two nights somewhere like Central Station while touring the central lakes area, and then moving further north to Waddy or Dunduburra to see the middle area of the island.

Any talk of beach conditions now would be a bit premature if you aren't going there for another couple of months. Just be cautious - conditions can change dramatically overnight.

Camping during school holidays get very busy in places like Waddy and Dundubbura. If conditions are good, and you don't mind lack of facilities, try camping on the beach in the 'Maheno - Dundabbura' area.

Nice overnight camp area at Lake Allom - small clearing in the rainforest. Love watching the turtles swimming around in Lake Allom.

Beware of the new campfire rules.

in line with the spray your car thing. there is a car wash in/near mermaid beach (just ask a local) that is brushless(dosent touch your car) that sprays an oil mixture on your car for when you go beach driving. it even sprays up under your car. i used it and would recomend it.

just my 2cents worth!!

JB,
We've been to Fraser a few times now.... last time was last ANZAC DAY. It's a beautiful place! There is some good advice on the above posts about camping and "must-see" spots....... although I think you'll find Champagne Pools has been closed, it was in April and wasn't mentioned on the map even.

The one thing I will stress is the "kit" that comes with the permit.... read it thoroughly and stick to it! We always have and have NEVER had a problem with the wild life. (It's not just dingoes, but the monitors and the crows etc as well).... we have been camped adjacent to people who haven't been so 'tidy' and they usually wake up complaining that the "dogs" have raided their camp!

The inland tracks are great driving, even when dry and soft... tyre pressures are the key and our preference is to drive in low range on them, our Patrol chugs along nicely in low 3 or 4 along these tracks! (Someone above mentioned taking their trailer??? we took ours and drove it on the tracks around Happy Valley as a "learner".... no problems!)
I agree with the "Don't-Drive-On-The-Western-Side" rule!!! Good chance are it will be "Good-bye-Fourby" if you do!

There are some absolutely beautiful lakes, not just Mackenzie, as beautiful as it is... check out Wabby, Birrabeen, Boomanjin, Allom, Garawongera.... heck, All of 'em!!!

Have a great holiday, 4 days isn't enough but it is a start. And remember to leave it cleaner than you found it!
;-)

A friend of mine who kept getting bogged in his Xtrail, was told some good advice, that is take a piece of carpet as this will help your tyres get traction when bogged in sand and help get you out.

If you forgot to bring some you can always use your floor mats :(.

But you can usually get cheap stuff and use them in the tent when your not driving.

cheers & good luck.