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3 day self drive safari 4X4- Absolutely Wicked !

Beaches Backpackers for a 3pm briefing where we were divided into 3 groups of 10. We were group C, 4 Brits, 2 Canadians, 2 Swedes, 1 Norwegian & 1 Northern Irishman -undoubtedly the best group! Here we were briefed on the trip, the rules and the vehicles we would be driving then had to decide what food to buy, how much alcohol to buy and who we were gonna send to do the shopping!! Thanks Vanessa & Chris! That evening we bonded as a group over pizza before retiring in readiness of the 7am check out the next am.

We were all in the bar at 7am with fry ups to prepare us for the trip, then loaded up our Toyota Land Cruisers and off to the 4x4 hire place for a very scary briefing. Here we counted every fork and tent peg and were given a big list of vehicle repair costs we would have to pay if we broke anything. So a very cautious Group C headed off to the ferry terminal with our named licencee Ricky driving!

We had been provided with a good suggested itinery and voted to stick to it so when we landed on Fraser Island the biggest sand island in the world Ricky put the car into 4wheel drive and off we went to Central Station. This is a boardwalk through a gorgeous part of the rainforest and we were taking in the view when the heavens opened and we realised why rainforests are so called. A very bedraggled 10 people climbed backin the car praying this would be the only rain of the trip. Off through the bumpy inland tracks to the main road aka the Beach. The rain stopped and the scenery was to die for we couldn't beleive we werehere.

We made our way to Lake Wabby, it was a 20min trek through the rainforest which went on so long we didn't think there was a lake but then we saw it - the deepest lake on the island being engulfed by a giant sand dune. It was beautiful we tried to climb to the top of the dune but it just kept going on and on so the boys rolled down it into the lake (yes this was prohibitted). Time pushing on as we had to be at camp by 2.30 we steamed on to the Maheno Wreck, a ship wrecked on the beach it was ugly and rusted but breathtaking. Here we caught our 1st glimpse of the dead horses on the beach(driftwood) and the maddness set in!

We got to Beaches Basecamp 2hrs late - no dramas and set up camp then off to the beach for footy - where Greg's dirty tackle put Ricky on the bench for the rest of the trip and some beers. A BBQ for dinner and some drinking games "to the Queen" "Dingoes" meant that by 11pm when we had to be quiet a very drunk group took the party to the beach.

Despite the late night we were all up at 6am trying to find all the mugs and stuff that had been abandoned last night and having breakie. The no shower pact meant we were ready by 8am and headed north along the beach to Indian Head. This cliff juts out into the sea blocking the beach, we climbed up and could see Tiger Sharks, turtles and Rays from the top- lots of photos were taken then off to Champagne Pools.

We had to drive inland round the cliff nad the soft sand made this difficult but Vanessa did great. The Champagne Pools are rock pools where the sea crashes over the rocks and makes bubbles like champagne. We spent loads of time in the water having fun and the lads all flashed their bums for no good reason!

Lunch took us to Eli Creek and more soft sand where I got stuck and Ricky had the joy of getting us out. We ate Cheese Sandwiches the staple diet of the trip and watched as a couple of dingoes came to see what all the noise was about! Eli Creek is a freshwater creek with a strong current so you can just float down it - loads of laughs and fun was had here! We had to head back to Basecamp but not without some serious deadhorse spotting! Back at camp we had to go beer shopping as the group polished off our entire supply of 72 beers and 8 litres of wine the night before.

Chris our resident chef managed to make budget pasta sauce into a gormet meal, much needed after the cheese sandwiches and a good base for all the beer we now had to drink. Again we had no trouble finishing the beers with a little help from a game of "double 11s" and a late night beach party!

7am came and time to break camp - not so easy with a hangover and a game of frisbee calling but we managed and even located tent peg no.20 that had obviously got up and walked off on its own and gone to help keep up that tent over there! We packed up the car and had to sacrifice 3forks and 2mugs as Lake McKenzie was calling.

We set off and only stopped to take photos of the original deadhorse!Lake McKenzie boasts one of the worlds most beautiful beaches but this just doesn't do it justice. It is breathtakingly gorgeous! A huge freshwater lake with water so clear it looks like it came out of a tap and sand so fine and white it can clean your jewellery! We spent ages here sunbathing, playing frisbee, splashing Helena & Linda (the Swedish girls) long enough even for the boys to dig and create Fraser Island Grand Prix circuit. They were so proud of it!!!

Finally we went back to Central Station to see the rainforest without the rain and of course for some more cheese sandwiches! Then back to the ferry for a quick game of frisbee before Ricky had to drive the car into the tightest space on the ferry and back to Hervery Bay. The 4x4 hire people didn't charge us for our missing mugs so we went back to Beaches tired but happy for a much needed shower.

Group C aptly renamed 'Deadhorses' were barely recognisable after showers and with clean clothes. We had a celebratory pizza party - yes Murdoch I think 10 pizzas between 11 is plenty! Then into the bar for trivia night where our team name "you can't polish a turd" won us a free jug of beer- the perfect end to and awesome trip with a great group of people.

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