Today on Fraser Island, our main destination was Lake McKenzie. I awoke around 6 am, courtesy of Simen, who roused everyone by playing his massive didgeridoo in each tent—quite a wake-up call, haha. After a 40-minute breakfast, we departed from the camp. Since it was our last day, an early start was essential, providing us with more time to enjoy Lake McKenzie.
This time, instead of heading north along the beach, we went south. After ten minutes, we turned right, leaving the beach. Despite traversing soft sand, our journey was somewhat bumpy. It didn’t bother me, but I could imagine it might make some people nauseous. Forty-five minutes later, Simen parked his car in the heart of the forest, and all groups followed suit, parking and disembarking. Simen was about to share some information about this forest, home to enormous trees. I was intrigued.
Lake McKenzie
Following Simen’s enlightening explanation, we proceeded for an additional five kilometers to reach Lake McKenzie. However, the journey took around 30 minutes due to our average speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Upon arriving at Lake McKenzie, I observed that there weren’t many tourists present. Simen guided us to a secluded, secret beach where no other tourists were in sight. It felt wonderful to have the entire place to ourselves.
The pristine sands of Lake McKenzie boast a captivating white hue that not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also serves a crucial role in water filtration. This natural process contributes to the lake’s exceptional purity, rendering its waters crystal clear. Lake McKenzie stands as a perched lake, uniquely characterized by its exclusive reliance on rainwater. The presence of an impervious layer, formed by organic matter and the distinctive white silica sand, prevents the water from flowing out to the ocean or seeping into the lake’s bed. This geological phenomenon adds a layer of intrigue to Lake McKenzie, creating a habitat where the minimal presence of life further emphasizes the purity of its waters.
We spent a total of two hours at Lake McKenzie, engaging in a game of volleyball with Romain and Jack (the driver of our car that day). Simen introduced us to a tiny Fraser Island short-neck turtle, a species unique to Fraser Island. I seized the opportunity to capture a cool close-up of these incredible creatures, reminiscent of my diving adventure in Bali.
Lakeside Laughter
When my interest waned in volleyball, I engaged in a delightful conversation with Toshi and Jeong, discovering their friendly and sincere nature. In a playful gesture, I teased Jeong, inviting him to join me in swimming across the lake to the other side, despite having learned at Lake Wobby two days prior that he couldn’t swim. Seizing the opportunity, I decided to offer him an impromptu swimming lesson, and Romain graciously carried him while Jeong tested his newfound swimming techniques. The experience was filled with laughter and enjoyment. Later, we gathered for group pictures in the water, attempting the challenging ‘legs-only’ pose with Marieke, Jeong, Toshi, Romain, and myself. Seul-ki kindly captured these memorable moments for us.
The two hours swiftly elapsed, leaving me yearning for an additional two. Reluctantly, Simen called us back to the vehicles as it was now time for a picnic at Central Station.
Lunch at Central Station
After a 45-minute journey, we reached Central Station. Prior to our lunch, we embarked on a brief hike through the forest. Simen delved into the significance of Eli Creek for the aboriginals, highlighting its sacred nature as it was used for the christening of their babies. Additionally, he shared that the Central Station rainforest was unique in its ability to thrive on a bed of sand, though he left the details unexplained, leaving me intrigued. Lastly, the presence of a rare species of king fern plant, Angiopteris evecta, added to the distinctive charm of this forest.
Following a 30-minute hike on the picturesque boardwalk, we concluded our excursion and retraced our steps to the rainforest entrance. Today’s picnic featured wraps, a choice I particularly enjoyed. Simen humorously remarked on the uniqueness of our group, emphasizing that we had a hearty appetite. It seemed our gathering comprised predominantly of hungry, sizable individuals. I couldn’t help but recall a few nights ago when I retired to bed with a gnawing hunger, as the dinner portions had been rather modest.
While strolling through the rainforest, I engaged in a delightful conversation with Jack and Cathy from the UK, who happened to share our car. They embarked on an impressive 8-month journey and anticipated extending their stay in Australia until December, contingent on their budget. This morning, Cathy, in a straightforward manner, asserted her authority by reassigning Ron, a Dutch lad bearing an uncanny resemblance to Avicii, to the rear seats. I appreciated her candid communication style, eliciting a good-natured chuckle.
Transitions and Farewells
After our meal, Simen departed with some individuals heading to Hervey Bay. Our group, scheduled for a later departure, needed to make our way back to the camp before proceeding to Rainbow Beach. Another segment of our group would later head to Noosa. As Simen left with the first group, we patiently waited for 40 minutes until his return. Upon his comeback, we commenced our journey to the campsite, a 40-minute ride. Following a brief stop, we continued for another hour towards Rainbow Beach. During our stop, I bid farewell to my newfound friends, assuring Toshi and Jeong that I planned to visit them in Noosa the next day. We exchanged Facebook addresses, and I encouraged Toshi to reach out to me.
An hour later, we reached Rainbow Beach. After three days of swimming in rivers and living on beaches, I felt somewhat unkempt. My immediate plan was to take a shower, but I first needed to charge my phone and laptop.
Returning to the Rainbow Sands hotel, I found the same man from last Friday on duty. As expected, he reassured me that it was fine to charge my devices in the hotel. After completing this task, I drove my car out of the secured parking and positioned it in front of the hotel. I informed the man that I would return for my devices in about an hour. The Rainbow Sands hotel proved to be quite accommodating, and I was content with utilizing their secured parking service.
Worst World Journey Shower Award Goes to…
Subsequently, I strolled toward Rainbow Beach and made my way to the playground. In the vicinity of the shopping street, adjacent to the beach, I spotted a building with showers, and my intention was to avail myself of them. Just beside the playground, there stood an abandoned building, and my assumption was correct—it housed showers. As I entered, however, I swiftly retreated, repelled by the appalling condition of the facilities. The public showers were woefully neglected, featuring a malfunctioning small shower, along with spider webs, litter, and grime pervading the space. ‘This is unacceptable…I won’t be showering in here; it’s even worse than Asia,’ I thought.
I exited and boldly ventured into the women’s shower area. With no one in sight, I proceeded without concern. The showers in the women’s facility were equally unappealing, yet, fortunately, one of them was operational.
For the first time on my journey, I decided to keep my sandals on even while in the shower. In Asia, I hadn’t encountered such conditions, largely because I carefully selected accommodations through online research after my first night in Banda Aceh. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera once again, making it challenging to convey the sheer horror of the experience. My friend in the Netherlands would have found this amusing, though!
Last Night in Rainbow Beach
Following my shower, I went back to the hotel, gathered my belongings, and departed. I decided to revisit the same restaurant I had explored last Friday, as it offered free Wi-Fi. Taking advantage of the connectivity, I uploaded some pictures to Facebook, browsed the internet, and eventually dedicated time to type up blog reports. Additionally, I checked my bank account and made a few financial decisions.
In the evening, despite the prohibition, I parked my car in front of the hostels and spent the night there. Falling asleep proved challenging due to the lively atmosphere created by partying backpackers. The interior of my car became uncomfortably warm, prompting me to take action around midnight.
I started the car and drove a few blocks to allow the engine to warm up for the air conditioning. After a 10-15 minute drive, with the engine sufficiently warmed up and the air conditioning functioning, the temperature inside the car began to drop. I continued driving until the environment inside the car reached a tolerable level. Once cooled down, I parked the car again in front of the hostels and settled in for the night on the back seat. The following day, I had to wake up and depart at 6 am.
