Fraser Island Barge

Begs the questions,
What sort of vehicle do you have?
What sort of serious damage did you do in the first 20k's?
How'd you do the damage?

Good to see there are still helpful business's in this world.

Geoff.

yeh I have the same question what happened in the first 20k's. We just got back from being over there for our first time, did notice the sand near the barges was quite deep in places and I too honestly thought that if mark was going to bog for a first time, that it would have happened there.

Hi Geoff I have a 60 series cruiser with a 1hz motor I was towing a Jayco off road camper and hit a wash away where the fresh water washes into the ocean it was about 2foot deep and there was a log in it it broke the thermostat pipe off and I lost all of the coolant not knowing it had done any damage and my temp gauge didn't show it was getting hot it has cooked the motor and at the least it has done a head gasket or maybe worse its in the shop now being looked at ,what a trip cheers Scott

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes.

Those fresh water washaways catch a lot of people out.

I usually travel keeping one eye on the dunes for signs of fresh water coming out, and you will find that they spread and are therefore shallowest near the surf.
But still can be deep!! As you found out :-(.

I suppose you were getting past too just like I do when I sit on 75 to 80k on the good sand.

Hope the trip home was uneventful.

Scott sorry to hear you had a bit of trouble. Mate those blokes on the barges have been cutting each others throats for years. How things have changed now they help you on and off the barge. Scott I see it every year damaged vehicles trust me there is an art to beach driving and reading the beach. Letting down tyre pressure also gear selections, different diesel to petrol. Reading the wash outs and believe me ive seen them deeper than 2 feet, it’s not a matter of following a white line and owning a 4wd, good luck next time dags

Sounds like one of our camping trips! ok this time round it was just the battery and that got sorted and wasn't a major issue.. unlike our christmas 2004 holiday adventure, and our 2004 camping adventure...
As horrible as it is that this one holiday has now cost you a fortune, at last you guys made it out ok!

Jo
"yep...Pajero country..."

i think opp lock sell some gadget that sits in the rad hose i think that sets an alarm of in the cab if you lose coolant flow.

i read about it somewhere maybe on this site i cant remember

gra

Thanks GRA and EDDIE that is one thing I will look into and will be getting some type of warning light or buzzer I couldnt believe that I would cook a motor as I always take notice of the temp and oil pressure gauges but like Ive been told if you drop your water all of a sudden then your temp gauge will not read mine was still sitting on a quarter that was normal for my cruiser and look what happened the head is cracked that bad that it is a throw away job,thanks fellas cheers Scott

Back on topic....

The Manta Ray Barge.

As talked about b4 on other threads, Kingfisher bay resort now owns all the other barges. Kingfisher also own the servo on the left on the way into Tincan Bay. There they will gladly sell you a ticket on the Kingfisher barge as you pay for fuel. Dont be blind guys. GO WITH MANTA RAY Get your ticket at the barge.

Kingfisher Bay = Japanese owned
Manta Ray = locally owned

The next time you travel to Fraser Island, PLEASE remember the name MANTA RAY.

http://www.fraserislandbarge.com.au/default.htm <---cut n paste this.

RS

Hi Scott

Been there myself, but i was before the manta ray, didn't even make it to dilly village and collapsed a wheel bearing. cost a fortune on the other barge.

Since the Manta ray started, we are huge supporters of the crew.

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Hiyah Scott,

Well it could have been worse....

You could have been female, there on Fraser camping with your 3 kids, fighting with a useless husband who remained back at the house in Brisbane...Lucky I had car travel (pajero - gear problems while travelling on a high tide up past indian head) while camping with my best girlfriend who also was fighting with her useless husband, he too stayed at home and she was camping with us also, with her 2 kids...ie 2 females in their 40's, 5 kids between the ages of 8 & 12, 1 trailer, 1 pajero, 1 tarp, 2 large tents, 1smaller tent and 1 landcruiser.

But the fantastic bush mechanic at Eurong got us going again... We did have to stay an extra night, and one day was spent hanging around Eurong and its beach pub....and then I had to pay some extra money that I hadnt budgeted for...(but I believe I still am infront considering Im not paying big bucks for accommodation in expensive hotel/apartment buildings)

but its all just part and parcel of the challenge and adventure of camping with kids and fighting with husbands....

It will be better next time - although mine wasnt that much better, as I caught a really bad virus and then hit a heap of kangaroo travelling around 110k. (kids were worried more about the kangaroo and wanted to go back and pick it up to take it home and nurse it better-mind you front bull bar is damaged along with damaged bonnet)

cheers.