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| Day 5: November 4 -
Fraser Island |
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The day dawned in villas a little later than normal. The sun was still up at five, but for once it
was not streaming through the windows. The plan was to have breakfast at 7:30 and get going with our hike by 8. We didn't miss by much - we were hiking by 8:45.
The trail took us through the lower forest up to Lake Mackenzie. Hiking was tough going at times because there were four wicked uphill sections and the entirety
of the hike was on sand. We covered the 11km to the lake in a little over two and one-half hours. Everyone was pretty much gassed at that point, so a swim in
the lake was welcome.
Lake Mackenzie is a natural formed lake that has
filled with rainwater over the millennia. The water
was amazingly clear and not quite as cold as the
swim hole on day 2.
After everyone dried off, we hiked out to the 4x4. It was a Toyota Land Cruiser with some extra suspension options. We all piled in and drove to Lake Birrbeen
where we had lunch. After lunch, some swam, some napped, and Howard took an intent interest in watching two pigeons walk about our picnic area searching for food.
Shortly after the swimmers toweled off, we stacked
ourselves back in the 4x4 for a trip down the rutted
sand roads to the Eastern Beach. Once on the beach
we ran the 4x4 down to the Maheno shipwreck which
was a former trans-Tasman luxury cruiser which washed
ashore during a cyclone in 1935. Very cool wreck.
Most of the stern is buried in the sand or washed
away. You can still make out the main cabin where
people likely dined or passed the time. Winches
for lifeboats and the smokestacks are still in good
shape. We were able to get right up to the ship
and touch it but not enter it.
It was a long painful journey back from the beach to Kingfisher Bay. Dinner is on our own so we will probably get some pizza. No new news on the cast of characters
except for the faxed arrival of Maureen's dive papers. She managed to leave them behind in Sydney and since she is doing her open water certification on the boat, she
needs the papers.
Words/Phrases
brekkie = breakfast |
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Lake MacKenzie |
75 mile beach |
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Maheno Wreck |
A porthole from the wreck |
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