Excited, I rose at 6:30 am, anticipating the start of my 3-day tour on Fraser Island. After a quick hair fix using the car mirror and a refreshing gulp of water, I prepared to hit the road. Although the gas station attendant had suggested parking in front of her house on her lawn, I chose not to leave my car unsecured for the two days, heeding my granduncle’s warning about car thefts in Australia. Opting for secure parking, I paid 18 AUD at the Rainbow Sands Hotel, receiving a key to the fenced parking area located beside the hotel. The secured parking fee of 9 AUD per day seemed reasonable for the peace of mind.
A Morning Stroll at the Beach in Rainbow Beach
Once I parked my car, I lingered at the nearby gas station, which served as the designated meeting point for our Fraser Island excursion. Observing the surroundings, I waited until 8 am, witnessing numerous young people embarking on their Fraser Island adventures with various tour companies.
After observing numerous tour companies depart, around the tenth or so, my concern grew, prompting me to contact my tour organization, Drop Bear Adventures. The woman on the line informed me that the departure time was scheduled for 10 am, not 7.30 am as I had mistakenly thought. Realizing my error, I facepalmed in embarrassment. Without delay, I headed to the hotel to charge my phone while making the most of the extra time. I then took a leisurely walk to Rainbow Beach, where I enjoyed the fantastic weather for a while.
Following my meditative stroll on the beach, I went back to the hotel to retrieve my smartphone. Around 10 am, the four-wheel-drive vehicles arrived at the gas station. Simen, a guy with long blonde hair and the epitome of a typical hippie backpacker, approached me and inquired if I was joining the tour. I confirmed my participation, shared my name, and he directed me to follow him to the vehicle. Simen would be our tour guide for the upcoming journey.
The ferry from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island
Upon reaching the vehicles, I encountered a few fellow travelers—a UK native named Joe, a French guy named Romain, and an Italian girl named Selena. Initially, I mistakenly assumed Joe was part of the Drop Bear team since he was driving our car, but I later discovered he was not. The journey from Rainbow Beach to the ferry took only fifteen minutes. Once at the ferry terminal, we disembarked from our car and awaited the arrival of the ferry.
On the ferry, there was a raised platform offering a splendid view of the surroundings. While on the platform, I struck up conversations with other passengers from different cars. I met a lively South Korean girl named Seul-ki (pronounced Silky), who had recently left her job in Brisbane, where she worked in a laboratory with a focus on chemical engineering. Alongside Seul-ki was Romain, the French guy. The three of us engaged in conversation, and it was evident that we would click well and stay in touch during the upcoming three days. As our friendship blossomed, I arranged to meet Seul-ki in Gold Coast, her place of residence. We shared laughs and jokes during the short ferry ride, and in just fifteen minutes, we reached Fraser Island.
A Drive on Fraser Island’s Beaches
At Fraser Island, Joe continued to be our driver. Upon arrival, he accelerated and drove with exuberance, displaying a clear passion for driving in this environment. There were four cars, each carrying approximately six people. Throughout the drive to the camping site, we exchanged gestures and jokes with the occupants of the other cars. It was only then that I realized Joe was just one of us on the tour. He even executed a humorous overtake of one of the cars ahead of us. In the midst of this, I managed to capture a photo of Seul-ki in the adjacent vehicle. Our guide, Simen, led the caravan in the first car, signaling the others to slow down whenever we approached a small water stream flowing toward the sea – remnants of the tidal waters.
After another 30 minutes, Joe sped through a small river, causing water to splash everywhere. When Simen noticed this, he exited his car and approached us, visibly displeased. The once cheerful and fun tour guide now appeared deadly serious. Simen expressed strong disapproval of Joe’s driving, particularly the overtaking and splashing. He sternly instructed Joe to follow behind him and stick to his tracks. Simen emphasized that if salty water were to enter the engine, he would be the one responsible for fixing it, a task that could take up to two hours or even longer. It became evident that Simen’s seriousness and frustration stemmed from likely prior experiences with such issues.
Drop Bear Adventures’ Campsite
From the entrance of Fraser Island, the journey to the campsite consumed an hour. Upon arrival, I realized the substantial size of our tour group, comprising approximately thirty individuals, with a notable presence of Dutch participants. The prevalence of Dutch travelers was a recurring theme throughout my Australian journey, particularly evident in the past few days. Among our group were two Dutch girls (Mariska and Roos), two Dutch guys (Ron and Ron), and two individual Dutch solo travelers – a girl (Marieke) and a guy (Michiel) – along with myself.
Other tourists hailed from the UK, including a Swedish girl, a Japanese guy named Toshi, a South Korean guy named Jeong, and, of course, the South Korean girl Seul-ki whom I had met earlier on the ferry. Unfortunately, I forgot to capture images of the campsite, but at the site, Simen outlined some guidelines regarding driving with four-wheel-drive cars. Simen still seemed displeased about the previous incidents of overtaking and splashing.
Furthermore, he cautioned us about the dingoes, advising that we should use sticks or throw objects at them if they ventured too close. It was essential to instill fear in them for their safety and to keep them away from the campsite. Additionally, we were instructed not to store any food in the tents; all edibles had to be secured inside the cars with the windows closed. Simen had one final deterrent for those who disregarded his instructions: anyone caught breaking the rules would be required to consume a spoonful of vegemite. Vegemite, a repulsive sandwich spread made from vegetables, is known for its intense saltiness. My grandaunt had made me taste it during lunch, so I was acquainted with its unpleasant flavor.
A Bush Walk to Lake Wobby
Following that, we commenced our lunch. Our tour guide had arranged wraps with an assortment of ingredients including cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and tuna. Each of us could customize our own wraps to our liking. It was a pleasant lunch, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While we ate, Simen briefed us on the day’s agenda. Initially, we would drive for ten minutes to the beach adjacent to Lake Wobby, followed by a 30-minute walk to reach the lake. After lunch, we all pitched in to clean the dishes, ensuring a swift departure for Lake Wobby.
During the 30-minute walk, I engaged in conversations with some of the Dutch participants. The journey proved lengthier than anticipated, and the heat became quite intense. The refreshing sea breeze that accompanied us earlier had dissipated in the bushy surroundings, leaving us exposed to the relentless sun. Many regretted walking barefoot, as the sand beneath our feet turned scorching hot. Additionally, numerous small branches and sticks were scattered along the path. Fortunately, I had my unattractive sandals with me, sparing my feet from the discomfort. Drawing on my past experience in Indonesia, I knew my feet were somewhat delicate. Memories flashed back to my injury in Padang, where I had to use a needle to reopen the wound and remove embedded dirt. It took a week for the wound to heal, resulting in daily bandaging rituals after each shower.
A Fun Afternoon at Lake Wobby
After a 30-minute hike, we reached the sandy dunes, but unfortunately, Simon had prohibited us from running over the expansive sand hills. The lake lay 50 meters inland, and being among the first to arrive with a few others, I carefully spread my towel on the warm sand. I placed my wallet, camera, sunscreen, and t-shirt on it, ensuring no sand would interfere with my camera. With caution, I waded into the lake but unexpectedly found myself submerged up to my shoulders after just one meter – the lake was surprisingly deep so soon! The water’s temperature was perfect, providing a refreshing respite after the lengthy, sweltering walk. Just what I needed.
About 10 people were already swimming in the lake when more from our group started to arrive. A Scottish guy, sporting red hair and very untanned white skin, impulsively ran into the water from the small dune next to the lake. With great speed, he created a huge splash into the lake. It was quite amusing to watch until we sensed something was wrong when he angrily started swearing. Suddenly, he retrieved his soaken mobile phone from his pocket and, with an incredible throw, it tumbled through the air, landing in the sand dune next to the lake. He roared angrily in disbelief. He had forgotten to take it out of his pocket. Well, sometimes, accidents happen. We all felt sorry for him, of course.
Unexpected Challenges
I relished the water and observed others arriving at the lake. The Japanese guy, Toshi, joined me in the water. Toshi’s friend, Jeong, approached us, not anticipating the lake’s surprising depth—something that had caught me off guard earlier as well. It was too deep for him, and he stumbled, moving his hands around him with his head intermittently submerging. At first, I thought he was playfully pretending to drown and joking around, but after 5 seconds, I realized it was no act. Toshi swiftly grabbed him and helped him back to higher ground. ‘What the heck is happening here?’ I thought. Jeong couldn’t swim, damn. We were only 5 minutes into the water, and this happened—quite a shock. It could have ended badly.
In the afternoon, I engaged in an hour-long session of volleyball in the water. Following that, Simen gathered our group for a briefing on Lake Wobby. Post-lecture, he extended an invitation for a brief hike to a scenic viewing platform, prompting many to agree to the proposal. Some opted to remain at the lake. The forest hike lasted 15 minutes, leading us to an incredible viewing platform that certainly justified the short trek. Upon reviewing this blog post in 2021, I successfully retrieved all pictures from our group’s activities on March 15-17, 2014, accessible through this link. In the event the link becomes inaccessible, a backup of the zip file containing these pictures can be downloaded below.
Following our time at the viewing platform, we lingered around the lake for approximately 30 minutes before our departure. Walking barefoot back to the car, I sighed; unfortunately, after just 15 minutes in the forest, I inadvertently stepped on a pesky little twig that pierced my foot. While it caused some bleeding, fortunately, it wasn’t anything too serious.
Barbecue at the Campsite
Back at the camp, I engaged in conversation and got to know the French guy, Romain. The tents at the camp were designed for three persons, and Romain and I opted to share one. Having lived in Australia for an extended period, he was working his way around. Post-Fraser Island, his plan involved three months of farm work to secure his next working visa.
In the evening, we organized a barbecue. The food was delicious, but my enjoyment was hindered by the pain in my right foot, thanks to the nasty twig encounter earlier. It was throbbing now and needed some care. I approached Simen for antiseptic and plasters since I had forgotten to bring my own. After cleaning my foot with water, there was still some sand embedded. Nevertheless, I applied a plaster and resumed my dinner. Personally, I felt there wasn’t enough food, and I wished for a more substantial portion.
After dinner, Romain and I enjoyed some goon on the beach. According to popular opinion, goon was this inexpensive and somewhat inferior Australian wine, priced at 10 AUD for 4 liters—a favorite among backpackers. In Australia, beer is considered a luxury item, costing around 7 AUD for a single glass in a regular bar. Personally, I found goon to be drinkable, although it might be because I rarely consume wine. Romain cautioned me about a potential hangover tomorrow due to the goon. Our conversation covered topics like travel and Asian cultures, leading to many interesting and amusing stories about his adventures in Australia. The day concluded with bedtime at 11 pm, anticipating a long and fantastic day ahead.
