Dingo Day

Sods Law, me and Mrs B were wide awake before five this morning waiting for the alarm to go off. Must have been the excitement and anticipation of the day ahead. We were even up ahead of the Rainbow Lorikeets and their dawn chorus racket!

We were picked up at exactly 0555 as promised and soon joined 14 others on our 4x4 mini-bus trip to Fraser Island. These vehicles sit high on the road and can go almost anywhere. We were still half asleep when we disembarked our first ferry at the Great Sandy National Park. Within minutes we were hurtling along the open beach at 80kmph skirting back and forwards to avoid the incoming waves. I couldn't believe our speed and how close we were to the raging surf as the sun appeared in shafts through the early morning cloud and mist.

We made our way to Hook Point where we boarded a second ferry, which was more like a landing craft embarking and disembarking vehicles straight from and to the sandy shores. Once on Fraser Island, we joined other 4x4's all making their way up "Highway One", otherwise known as Seventy Five Mile Beach. The tide was still coming in as we navigated our way round piles of tree debris washed up by recent storms. Then we were speeding along at, or maybe slightly above, the marked speed limit of 80 kmph. 4x4's overtook each other and set an appropriate course to avoid the waves and vehicles coming in the other direction. The driver. Tim, kept an eye upwards as a couple of light planes had already landed on this highway, that also acted as a runway! As we drove along the beach, Sea Eagles soared above us on the onshore winds looking for some easy prey. There were also Wedge Tailed Eagles and a host of sea birds that took off from the beach as we approached.

Halfway along the beach we encountered our first Dingo, which simply ambled out of the scrub and walked beside our vehicle for a minute or so. It certainly didn't look as fierce as its reputation portrays it. More like an average dog or short haired fox as far as I could see. Anyway, we continued on our travels and arrived at McKenzie Lake where, following a swim in the crystal clear waters, we had a lovely BBQ lunch -now what could be more Aussie than that? From there we drove to the centre of the island's rain forest where we marvelled at the huge trees and giant ferns that have been around since prehistoric times. As we returned to the vehicle, our second Dingo of the day appeared and strolled up, before sitting down in the road in front of us. I have to be honest and say I have seen fiercer and more scary looking dogs on the end of a leashes held by a Glasgow ned! It seems to me to be down to reputation following the case of baby Azaria Chamberlain, who was allegedly killed by a Dingo at Ayers Rock in 1980. There are now only 60 left on Fraser Island, with many having been shot by the authorities to try and avoid incidents with tourists. Hopefully, a sensible balance between man and Dingo can be found! Our guide told me that he hadn't seen a Dingo in his last 10 trips to the island, so we were particularly lucky to have 2 sightings.

We returned to Noosa in early evening and were delighted to see several Kangaroos in grassy areas at the side of the road, our first sightings of the holiday.

Running out of superlatives to describe this holiday, so today was simply magic and one we will remember for a long time!