Firewood on Fraser Island???

Chopper, we're tossing up between Fraser and Corner Country in the July school hols. Unfortunately the NSW hols coincide with QLD hols this time so we'll all be fighting for the same "secluded" spots.

I've never been to Fraser at this time of year before. What's it like, in terms of weather and crowds? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

Be good, or be quick.
Rohan (Sydney)

It's never really that crowded (except for easter w/end).

The trick is to get to places like Lake McKenzie early, before the backpackers who usuallyvisit the lake as their last stop before leaving the island.

Even better, go to Lake Birrabeen, beautiful lake, you can park close, shady trees, and much quieter.

Whichever way you go, have fun.

I'm off to the snow in June and July.

Thanks. Its been a "few" years since I was last there. Back then we found Birrabeen was an excellent alternative to Mckenzie, but the white sands, blue water and turtles (tortoises?) will demand a visit for the kids.

Can you still get to Wabby and roll down the dunes into the lake?Be good, or be quick.
Rohan (Sydney)

Hi Bonz:
Thanks for the tip .. got a guy travelling with me who can't get by without a fire for cooking. He even tried to get one going when we were fishing up at Grafton recently .. in near monsoonal rains ... he even got it started (momentarily) !!!! Some people can't help themselves : )
Jack

Jack, he's not the only one. I was at Woko NP, near Barrington Tops in NSW last week. It rained solidly all week (except for Thursday) and I was amazed at the number of folk with a bloody-minded determination to get their fires going. One group of several caravans and campertrailers turned up in rain on Friday afternoon and proceeded to chainsaw fallen trees and collect wood, in the rain, and light their fire, in the rain. They weren't the only ones though. Virtually all the campers there had their fires "come hell or high water".

It seems camping means fires for some folk. We even got one going one night (the only one it didn't rain) for the kids to roast their marshmellows, so I guess we're not immune to the attraction either.

A worse experience (than the lovely chainsawing mentioned above) was during January in the high country, in the midst of the fires and total fire bans, we still wittnessed fellow campers lighting fires in the NP. One group even left camp (packed and gone) and left their fire smouldering. Some neighbouring campers and I had to extinguish it and clean up their mess.

BTW, I guess not many folk visiting this site come from the norther beaches of Sydney, but those that do will have seen today's local paper's front page declaring "Off-road Drivers Bash Bush to Death". Irresponsible behaviour by the minority always ruins it for the majority.Be good, or be quick.
Rohan (Sydney)

Hi Rohan:
Thankfully, my mate, even though he loves his fires, is careful. He digs holes deep enough to hide bodies in when he is preparing fires. And he is fastidious in putting the things out. Gotta have some saving graces I guess.
"Off-Road Drivers" .. yeah, a few fools tend to spoil it for the many. I think we will not be too far from the day 4WD registered clubs will seek access to various tracts of land, have to post a bond + insurance, and only members will be able to use it. I am a 4WD club member, but it seems a shame.
Safe Travel ....
Jack