Notre derniere étape australienne fut l´ile Fraser. C´est la plus grosse ile sableuse du monde. Comment ça, ile sableuse? Eh bien toute l´ile (166 000 hectares, 123 km de long) n´est faite que de sable et rien d´autre. Les autres iles de notre planete ont aussi de la terre, riche, et des cailloux, pour soutenir les arbres etc. Ici les arbres sont enracines dans le sable verticalement et tres profondement sinon ils se coucheraient au moindre coup de vent. Sur ce site tres protegé, il y a des tas de phenomenes naturels interessants et uniques a voir dans un meme eco-systeme, et la plupart des gens la visitent en 4X4 sur trois ou quatre jours. Nous, on avait seulement l´option "journee", donc on a pas moli et on essayé de voir le principal. On est partis de la cote depuis la ville de Hervey Bay et apres une traversee en bateau, on a rejoint un bus avec des grosses roues crantees (photos 1 et 2). J´etais heureuse de ne pas etre venue avec ma propre jeep comme certains car les chemins sableux les enlisaient tous jusqu´au cou. Il a fallu qu´on en tire pas mal avec des cordes etc. Sur cette ile il y a apparemment pas mal de dingos (chiens sauvages) qui bouffent les pic-niques des touristes mais on n´en a pas vu. Le bus nous a emmenés en foret, autour des ruisseaux (qui ne contiennent que de l´eau non salee et tres bonne à boire) et le long de la plage principale qui n´en finit pas (on a conduit le long des vagues pendant une demi-heure sans aller jusqu´au bout). On peut dire que les australiens, ils savent ce que c´est qu´une vraie plage. Puis on a atteint une épave de bateau japonais echoué ici depuis les annees 30 (photo 3). La derniere partie de la journee s´est passée au lac Mackensie, plutot au milieu des terres; c´etait superbe, le sable etait tres doux et blanc comme Whitehaven Beach (voir plus haut) et l´eau tres pure, mais fraiche. Un endroit perdu au milieu des arbres, comme un oasis (photos 4, 5 et 6).
Voila, la fin du voyage australien est arrivé, nous sommes donc repartis sur Brisbane le lendemain, et on a repris notre avion vers la Nouvelle-Zelande.
Fraser Island just off the Queensland coast, opposite the mainland town of Hervey Bay is an island completely composed of sand. (By the way Hervey Bay introduced to me an invention which will help me make my fortune when I return to the UK: drive-through off licences, genius.) Aren´t all islands in hot places made of sand, that´s a fair question? The answer is no, they usually have rock and soil as well, Fraser Island doesn´t hence its uniqueness, and yet it does have an area of rain forest, yeah trees but no soil, now that´s amazing. You can travel independently to Fraser Island, if you hire a decent 4by4 and know how to drive it (we spent a bit of our time pushing stricken motorists out of the sand). Due to time restraints, cash restraints etc, we went on a tour which suited us fine. We went through the rain forest, strolled through the fresh water streams, drove along the beach (which is officially a part of Australia´s Highway 1, and also a runway for planes), saw a shipwreck and finished off with a dip in Lake MacKensie which was definitely the highlight for me.
Pictures:
1. Our sand transport for the day.
Pictures:
1. Our sand transport for the day.
2. Me acting a little gay.
3. Shipweck.
4. Us posing in Lake MacKensie, it´s better than the beach because there is no salt to get in your eyes.
5. Me burrying my head in the sand, again.
6. Frenchie, chillin´.
Final day in Oz was spent travelling to Brisbane to return our camper van, then we settled in a hotel in the suburbs because it was near the airport. Although for our tea we ventured out to the local bowls club, which was quite brilliant. My Auntie Jean had introduced us to what Ozzies simply call "the clubs" in Sydney and they are superb, every visitor to Australia must frequent at least one club. Their concept is simple, cheap booze, decent cheap food and everybody either has to be a member or sign themselves in. This is the clever bit, about a third of the space is given to gamblers, jazzy fruit machines really - and the money made from the gamblers subsidises the booze and food for the rest of us. So we had a great cheap night in the Bowls Club and as it was Friday even managed to witness the raffle, where prizes fell into three categories: beer (for the real man), meat (for the family man), or cleaning accessories (a little something for ladies) - yes Australia is a great place but, let´s just say that not all of it is as sophisticated as Sydney and Melbourne...
5. Me burrying my head in the sand, again.
6. Frenchie, chillin´.
Final day in Oz was spent travelling to Brisbane to return our camper van, then we settled in a hotel in the suburbs because it was near the airport. Although for our tea we ventured out to the local bowls club, which was quite brilliant. My Auntie Jean had introduced us to what Ozzies simply call "the clubs" in Sydney and they are superb, every visitor to Australia must frequent at least one club. Their concept is simple, cheap booze, decent cheap food and everybody either has to be a member or sign themselves in. This is the clever bit, about a third of the space is given to gamblers, jazzy fruit machines really - and the money made from the gamblers subsidises the booze and food for the rest of us. So we had a great cheap night in the Bowls Club and as it was Friday even managed to witness the raffle, where prizes fell into three categories: beer (for the real man), meat (for the family man), or cleaning accessories (a little something for ladies) - yes Australia is a great place but, let´s just say that not all of it is as sophisticated as Sydney and Melbourne...
