MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: McAbouts on February 06, 2012, 09:18:04 AM
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Hi all,
We are off to Fraser Island mid April and I wanted to ask a couple of questions. Do you need sand flags on Fraser? And are there places to fill a CT with fresh water on the Island or at Inskip Point before arriving? Oh and one more question. How do people go charging camera batteries when they are not 12 volt? Maybe I might have to buy another one which would make it three batteries all up. I can't bare the thought of not being able to take photos, I tend to act like the paparazzi and take as many as I can and of everything possible. Thanks everyone in advance for your thoughts.
Cheers
Louise :D
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Hi guys,
Sand flags aren't generally used on Fraser Island, there's no need to travel over the dunes as a rule.
There are water taps on the side of the road as you leave Rainbow Beach, just turn left near the hotel, if you turn left before then you will miss the taps. We've always used the fresh water in the creeks on Fraser if needed.
I use an inverter for 240volt power on low power items.
It's always easer if you travel a few hours either side of low tide.
Regards
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We also use a inverter. We got ours from Dick Smith store for $45, 150 watt which is heaps for us.
No flags needed on Fraser.
Heaps of fresh water on the island. If you have a 12 v pump you can just fill up your tank straight from the creek, or use a bucket.
Don't forget to lower your tyre pressure on your vehicle and camper.
Watch the tides when getting off the ferry. The Manta Ray Barge is a locally owned company and we usually like to support them.
Wish we could join you. It is a perfect place.
(http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3A%3C3%3Enu%3D6%3A%3B%3A%3E598%3E24%3A%3EWSNRCG%3D339%3A96636933%3Bnu0mrj)
(http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3A%3C7%3Enu%3D6%3A%3B%3A%3E598%3E24%3A%3EWSNRCG%3D339%3A93874533%3Bnu0mrj)
(http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3A%3A9%3Enu%3D6%3A%3B%3A%3E598%3E24%3A%3EWSNRCG%3D339%3A89%3C5%3B433%3Bnu0mrj)
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You can go into Dundabara campground (between Cathedral and Indian Head) and use the toilet/shower facilities, you can also get fresh water from the taps there so all you'd need is a hose and fittings.
Not sure whether you can do this at other campgrounds on the Island.
Have fun, it's a magical place.
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All good advice, after several trips to Fraser we've never seen a sand flag. As has been said there is water roadside at Rainbow Beach which is pretty popular. If you're filling up tanks from a creek make sure you source it from us far up stream as possible ;D ;D ;D ;D, we usually fill jerries from the top of Eli.
Your in for an awesome trip, by the way good camper choice and your location ain't to shabby either :cup:
Cheers,
Disco Teddy.
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No sand flag required but a good tip if you are camping along the beach maybe a flag at the entry to the campsite just to mark it. (We drove past our campsite once or twice after day tripping hehe)
There are a number of camp grounds with showers toilets along the east beach. You have the two big resorts on the island to. The water in the creeks is ok but not spring feed. Id carry some tablets to drop in the water tanks if there hasnt been any rain fall recently to keep the water free. Thats just me but.
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The best creeks are the small ones you see bubbling up out of the sand. Dig a hole for some fresh water filtered through the sand dunes above.
On the big creeks like Eli you stand there thinking has that big bearded bikie bloke wallowing in the shallows been out for a piss yet.
Mind you I've drunk everything imaginable from all over the country and never been sick so I might not be the best judge. But if you are a little delicate in the stomach throw the tablets in.
Regards
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for fresh water we just go to Cathedrals shops and use the tap beside the petrol bowsers, there is a donation tin there you drop a gold coin in for use of the sand spear.
as mentioned alread, no sand flag required as you can't drive over the big dunes that are on the island, but a dune marker isn't a bad idea to help find your campsite easier.
The Manta Ray Barge is a locally owned company and we usually like to support them.
there is no other barge company at Inskip anymore, Manta Ray bought out the Kingfisher barges and only run their own 2 barges there now.
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I'll be over Fraser on the 20th of this month for a week so I'll do a trip report then and let you know the conditions
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The shop at Orchid Beach also has a tap for water. Never found it to be a problem. Enjoy, a great place. :cup:
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Last time we were there (Sept 2010) there was fresh water on tap just off the beach near the ranger station just north of Eurong. Fraser is a magic place.
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I'll be over Fraser on the 20th of this month for a week so I'll do a trip report then and let you know the conditions
You lucky bugger :)
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I'll be over Fraser on the 20th of this month for a week so I'll do a trip report then and let you know the conditions
Can't wait to see what you have to say. April can't come soon enough though we have plenty of work to do before then. Planning longish trips, even for a brief three weeks, takes some work.
Thanks everyone for your advice, especially the inverter stuff for my camera battery. Certainly knocking a few chores off my to-do list with your responses.
Hey disco teddy, love my camper and my town, wish we had some more Summer though.
Cheers everyone
Louise m :laugh: :laugh:
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Tides look good and most of the bigger highs are at night. April/May tends to dry out a bit so be prepared for softer sand and chewed up cuttings if it hasn't rained for a while. I did a quick weekend run up last weekend and it was all good and reasonably hard.
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Well, it's 7 weeks and 2 days to go. Can't believe it and still so much to do. Just had to put the countdown on.
Cheers
Louise
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Hey Louise,
Make sure you keep us updated on how the Fraser Prep is going. It may remind me of something I've forgotten getting ready for our turn in October. How good are these Canberra summers, most mornings the heater gets a run on the trip to work. We've only been here since Oct 2011, surely this is unusual?
Cheers,
Disco Teddy.
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Hey fellow MySwaggers,
I was there last week for work at Happy Valley, the resort at Happy Valley is partially open only the shop section so far.
Track from Kingfisher to the Lake McKenzie turn off is like powder, this section is right in the middle where the fire came thru in november last year and its like the track has never seen the sun before. Beach conditions were pretty good even with the king tides.
The march flies were the worst I have seen >:( >:(, we usually use bushmans, but found good old aeroguard way better.
Enjoy your trip when you go
Cheers Ryan :cheers:
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Hi disco teddy,
This is definitely unusual weather and I can tell you I'm not happy about it either. Winter is always so long here and to not have a hot summer is a killer as winter will soon be here again if not now. Usually aim for heater on ANZAC day. We had a 2 night trip to Buckrnderra fishing first week of Feb and nearly froze. Apparently 11 degrees in Cooma. Lucky I packed a beanie on the off chance. Still had 4 layers of clothes on though to fish. Don't fret, hopefully next summer will be hotter (usually it!s stinking hot in the high 30's).
Planning for Fraser so far has involved a lot of questions that come to me popping on this site. Have started planning the menu as need to be organized to get meat cryovaced at local butcher. He needs order a week in advance. Started building a drawer for camper that will have 2 drawers at one end where the food will live. Protection from dingoes. Bought a GMAT at 4wd show in Queanbeyan to reduce the sand load. Bought some solar panels there too. Have a battery in camper but unable to fit a spare in the engine bay of the model Prado we have. If we get time there are plans for a duel battery system in the camper or we have a second battery and just carry it separate. All permits will need booking shortly and have a list ready to go for that. Booked Frasers at Cathedral a few months back. Planning on 5 nights there to protect gear from thieves whilst we trip around the Island each day. Will spend last 2 nights beach camping and just plan to fish so can keep an eye on things. Going to do the Mantaray barge as recommended by many on here. Plan on staying at Inskip Point the night before so there's another permit. Bought a Korr lighting kit to add more light in camper as we are doing unpowered. Still planning trip up and trip back. Have a bit over a week on the way up and a week coming back. That's it so far, but will keep you updated.
Thanks Maca76 for your advice. Always handy to have as much as possible. First trip for us to Fraser so any info is precious.
Cheers
Louise :D
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Hey McAbouts,
Instead of staying at Inskip why don't you hit the beach at Noosa and stay either on the beach or at freshwater. You can then go through the freshwater track to Rainbow Beach and then onto Fraser. Gives you a little bit of sand driving time and confidence before you drive straight off the bitumen and onto the sand at Inskip and Fraser.
It's a much nicer drive than Noosa Gympie Rainbow.
Just goog le Noosa North Shore and you will get a fair bit of info.
Cheers
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Never had a problem with thieves last October when we were there. We beach camped the whole trip and did plenty of day trips. The barges are now owned by the same company so you have no choice there. We did lock our food and fridge up for the Dingos but never found them to be a problem. They came through camp on dark but kept their distance. The rangers did tell us not to keep food in the canvas part of the camper as they would rip their way in. A great place so enjoy. :cheers:
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Hey McAbouts,
Just checked when you are going and we will be there at the same time. We will be at Ochid beach working/fishing from the 16th of April for a week. Might see you around.
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Hey myswaggers ,
We got back from fraser yesterday , we went across on the Manta Ray via Inskip point , you have only got about a 2 hour window either side of low tide to get around the trees at hook point if you want to drive up the beach , we camped at Dundubara campground ( which is fenced ) due to having our grandkids with us for 6 days - hot & cold $1 coin showers, dish washing facilities , water taps ( take your own hose & fittings ) , I used our solar panels to charge our camper batteries , I had a few issues with charging due to the shady trees in the campground but i got about 4-5 hours charging the batteries per day , and as maca76 said the march flies were bad - some were as big as a stubby top - we started out with bushmans first then went to aerogaurd which way alot better , we did all the tourist stuff ie : eli creek , lake mackenzie , maheno wreck , champayne pools etc etc , we did about 1500 k's during our stay , the only track that was very dry was as maca said from lake mackenzie to kingfisher bay resort but nothing to hard that you'll get bogged (we used 2nd gear high range ) - try to avoid buying desiel over there as it's $2.05/litre at Eurong store & $2.10/litre at Cathedral store , I topped up both tanks on my patrol at Rainbow beach $ 1.55/litre and had 2 x 20 litre jerry cans which saw us through untill we got back to rainbow beach
hope this gives you some information which helps
cheers
waz
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you have only got about a 2 hour window either side of low tide to get around the trees at hook point if you want to drive up the beach ,
This is some of the best advice you'll get. Our coast line has been smashed over the last 12-18 months. Beach travel is still good, but sucks in some spots.
My advice would be, seeing as though you're travelling a long way, and need to do it again to get home, avoid the beach run from Noosa through Double Island Point to Rainbow Beach. The beach has been smashed lately, and there's a very good chance, that you'll get 80% of the way, then be forced to turn around and head through Freshwater Track. It's an easy drive, plenty to see and such, but if you've driven that far, skip it, stick to the bitumen and save your self a lot of wasted time, and follow the signs off the hwy to Rainbow Beach.
If you get to Inskip Point outside of a few hours of a big low tide, I'd suggest using the inside track on Fraser. It's rough as guts, but will bypass the most of the vehicle claiming area of Fraser Is, Hook Point. But in saying that, Hook Point is very negotiable. You may end up with salt water up to the sill of your vehicle, and you may not. But, if I'm a couple of hours outside of a big low tide, I avoid it. You can always run through Hook Point on your return.
When travelling the inland tracks of Fraser, always sit up the bum of a tour bus. There's heaps of them, so you wont find it a hassle to follow one. The tracks are single vehicle, with who ever gives way first, does so. 95% of the vehicles give way to the buses, so follow closely to them, as their power of the road, becomes yours as a tailgater.
Don't be terrified of dingos. I have been bitten by a few dogs, but never a dingo. Be aware of dingos, but not terrified of them.
Be aware of what the barge operators tell you. They'll tell what their mood depicts. Many times I hear "Old mate on the barge said such and such". He has a 12 hour a day job, dealing with tourists, back packers, rain, intense QLD sun and LOTS of stupid people. He'll tell you what ever the hell he feels like at the time, and smile convincingly. The ladies selling the ice though, they're good chicks, and won't tell you crap. If you need condition reports etc, these are the chicks to talk too.
Commercial fisherman are like barge operators, ie cranky, but their Missus' are usually great. Take advice from them, not the cranky old men.
Fraser Island is spectacular. Beach travel is too easy, no hills, no lights etc, but it changes from day to day. The internet report you may read when you leave home, may well be irrelevant when you get there. Be smart, be sensible and drive back home once you have finished this spectacular island. Don't become another photo on the wall of Rainbow Beach Hotel. For every hairy beach negotiation, there's an inland track. If it doesn't feel right, go inland.
Once you've seen Fraser, go home the scenic route, if the weather and tides permit. You'll see not much more than you've already seen on the island. You'll see some coloured sand, but I reckon you'll be sick to death of sand by that time.....
Fraser is one of the coolest places on this country. You'll love it I'm sure, BUT PLEASE don't rely on conditions reports from the net or the QLD Parks Rangers. PLEASE talk to the locals, especially their wives, they won't lie to you. Cranky old men will tell whatever the hell they feel like at the time.
It is a beautiful place. If you use common sense, listen to locals (not cranky old men), you'll have a ball. Remember this is Queensland, beautiful one day, cyclonic the next.
Shane.
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When travelling the inland tracks of Fraser, always sit up the bum of a tour bus. There's heaps of them, so you wont find it a hassle to follow one. The tracks are single vehicle, with who ever gives way first, does so. 95% of the vehicles give way to the buses, so follow closely to them, as their power of the road, becomes yours as a tailgater.
Don't be terrified of dingos. I have been bitten by a few dogs, but never a dingo. Be aware of dingos, but not terrified of them.
The ladies selling the ice though, they're good chicks, and won't tell you crap. If you need condition reports etc, these are the chicks to talk too.
Shane.
Agree totally Shane , we had no problems with traffic on the tracks , it's get a bit busy on saturday's and sunday's which is to be expected but on the week days you will have the inland tracks & beach to yourself most of the time ,
Don't worry about the dingo's as we had them come up to us while we were fishing and even with the kids didn't cause us any concerns ,
The ladies at the shops were an excellent source of information as there were a few spots on tracks that we were advised to be wary of that were washed away from the storm the previous night so we knew the conditions and drove accordingly
waz
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you have only got about a 2 hour window either side of low tide to get around the trees at hook point if you want to drive up the beach ,
this is a very general time frame IMHO, it depends on tide heights and wind conditions aswell, something not alot of people take into account when they go to Fraser Island.
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this is a very general time frame IMHO, it depends on tide heights and wind conditions aswell, something not alot of people take into account when they go to Fraser Island.
I agree Rumpig. One year we left cathedral beach approx 1 hour after low tide to head for Kingfisher via Cornwalls break rd. The on shore wind was so strong that it was pushing sweeper waves right to the top of the beach. We got as far as Eli creek and waited 6 or 7 hours for the tide to come in and go out again before slogging it again down to the turn off for Cornwalls Break rd. If you have to wait out the tide change somewhere it doesn't get much better than Eli creek.
:cheers: Macca.
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it depends on tide heights and wind conditions aswell, something not alot of people take into account when they go to Fraser Island.
Anybody who drives on the beach should do this anyway IMO
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Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm keeping an eye on what you have to say still. Of course my list is growing of what to remember, what to look out for and so on. Drawer build for CT continues and I tried ringing manta ray barge this afternoon with no answer. So will try again tomorrow morning.
Maca76 thanks for your advice on the aero guard, have already purchased. I will keep an eye out for you. I received my MySwag stickers today so will be on the lookout. We are staying at Frasers at Cathedral for 5 nights then 2 days beach camping so will be close to you (I think).
Waz65 I can't believe the k's you did, be interesting to see how we go.
By the way does anyone know if you pay for showers at Frasers at Cathedral? And how much?
Countdown is down to 6 weeks.
Cheers
Louise :D
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No you don't have to pay for showers when you stay at frasers . We are going to be there from the 29th of march till the 4th of April . I'll post up a report when I get back . One thing you might want to consider is putting long mudflaps on your car , I know I didn't and by the time we got to the camp spot the trailer was covered top to bottom with wet sand
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One thing you might want to consider is putting long mudflaps on your car , I know I didn't and by the time we got to the camp spot the trailer was covered top to bottom with wet sand
good tip , as i put big mudflaps on the bottom of the camper stoneguard but only standard mudflaps on the car and it still made a mess with wet sand
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Just an update on plans so far for those that are interested.
Hubby has nearly finished the drawer system for the camper. Just deciding on handles, need to put the marine slides on the bottom and give her a varnish.I gave her a sand today so feel I have contributed there.
Got onto Manta Ray last Tuesday. Booked the barge, camping and driving permits for Fraser from them and received passes/ticket Friday. Super efficient and friendly. Going to ring again and book Inskip point permit as I didn't realise they did that too.
Menu nearly finished and shopping list progressing
Went to ARB Fyshwick today and bought a fridge slide for car, awning for car and shovel holders for the roof racks as may need shovel driving around and we usually put this in the camper. Also had to get another roof rack bar for the car as we want to put the Maxx Trax on the car for general driving around. The awning we think will come in handy if pulling up anywhere for lunch and need a bit of shade. Was interested if they had a locking system for the Maxx Trax if the car is left alone but it seems they don't. Was happy with the service and the discount the lovely man gave me.
Next up is getting the car serviced and the air conditioning regassed. May need to do the timing belt so the money tree needs to grow.
Still trying to sort out dog accommodation, note to get permission for kid out of school, gas bottles refilled (this will happen after weekend away this weekend) and still need to sort out all the accommodation for trip up and back.
Found out from this great site you don't need a fishing licence in QLD (how novel??) so that's off the list for me.
Bought 2 8g SD cards for cameras today (Down to $18 at WOW for the brand I like).
Next up is a quick job on a drawer system for the car with plans for a better one after we get back. Just running out of time and hubby works 6 days a week.
Thinking about a blog site to cover the travels but not quite sure what I'm doing there so more research first. Also looking at one of those portable Wifi boxes, off to Telstra tomorrow for their opinion.
So far for trip up we are going to Bathurst for 2 nights to catch up with Rellies on the family farm. Then off to Dubbo for 2 nights to go to Dubbo Zoo. As suggested by another member we are going to go to the early morning feeding. Still need to book accommodation there and will probably get onto that tomorrow. Not sure what they will say about only wanting 2 nights over Easter. Than have 3 more nights to decide where to stay before 2 nights in Brissie with Sister-in-law then Inskip Point. Coming home still to decide but have heaps of places to look at as suggested from fellow My Swaggers. Pebbly Beach looks very appealing.
Sorry folks bit lengthy but I'm excited how well it's all coming together.
Countdown is down to a bit less than 5 weeks to go
Cheers
Louise :D :D
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Cant go wrong at pebbly beach.
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I agree Rumpig. One year we left cathedral beach approx 1 hour after low tide to head for Kingfisher via Cornwalls break rd. The on shore wind was so strong that it was pushing sweeper waves right to the top of the beach. We got as far as Eli creek and waited 6 or 7 hours for the tide to come in and go out again before slogging it again down to the turn off for Cornwalls Break rd. If you have to wait out the tide change somewhere it doesn't get much better than Eli creek.
:cheers: Macca.
How did the Hawk go on the beach and around the Island Macca?
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How did the Hawk go on the beach and around the Island Macca?
Hi Racer, all good. I dropped the tyre pressures on the Hawk to around 22 psi to increase the tyre footprint. The front boot got sprayed with sand but hosed off no worries. This years trip will have the stone guard fitted so the sand issue should be sorted. Also extended rear tyre mud flaps on the Hawk to protect the drop down jacks from the sand. I wasn't keen on dragging the Hawk across the Island so have changed plans to drive on and off at Inskip Point which seems to be the most popular barge for people towing boats and camper trailers. We'll be at Cathedral Beach with Createit at the end of June. I better get organised and order a Myswag spare wheel cover!
:cheers: Macca.