Rafting, Whales, and Broken Bones - Day #2

Day two on Fraser Island began at 7am when Muz drove into camp and honked us awake. Bleary eyed and dehydrated, we got up and began by brushing off as much sand as we could. Recognizing a hopeless endeavor, we turned to making breakfast. After eating and packing up again (leaving the tents set up), we took off for the day's adventures.
Our first stop was a freshwater creek where we walked along a boardwalk to the creek head, then just floated down to the ocean in the foot-to-metre-deep water. It was glorious. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, white sand flanked by multi-coloured sand cliffs and towering jungles as far as the eye could see on both sides. We played frisbee, sunbathed, splashed around, and had the time of our lives. Once again, we were there for longer than expected as Muz had to drive one of our group members to the hospital to deal with a deep cut on his thumb. No one minded this hold-up as Eli creek offered no end of entertainment and enjoyment. Slightly darker of skin, we drove off at noon to have lunch in one of the many small towns on the island.
Lunch consisted of delicious corned beef sandwiches and more goon. We rinsed our feet off under the freshwater taps (had the option of a hot shower if you had $1 coins and shampoo - I didn't), re-filled our water jugs, and experienced our third injury of the trip. Rich from Scotland had broken or severely sprained his foot during a game of frisbee at Eli, now it was my turn to join the list of casualties. Walking through the parking lot, I did not see a small stump peeking its wooden head through the sand. A stub and a crack later, I was on the ground with a broken toe. It swiftly swelled up and turned a lovely shade of purple, leaving me throbbing in pain and unable to walk properly. To understate matters, it was a bummer.
After lunch and injuries, we went to see the famous Maheno - a massive ship that wrecked in the 1940s and still lies rusting on the beach, a skeletal shell of the majestic luxury steamer it had been in its heyday. We snapped tons of photos, splashed in the tropical waves, and dug up clams before driving on again.
Our next stop was the Champagne Pools. Nestled on the tip of the island, the Champagne Pools are a group of large tidal pools that are wonderful to swim in. Fed by the constant crashing of waves over the rocks, the pools hold small fish, several shellfish, and the ever-present white sand. We didn't stay for long, but we had a lot of fun. Michaele and I sat on the edge of the pool and let the approaching waves sweep us back into it. This provided endless entertainment for the half hour we were there. It was also a great way to have fun without walking around.
The last stop of our day was Indian Head. Crumbling cliffs and the promise of shark and whale sightings makes Indian Head a must-see for all visitors to Fraser Island. On a good day, you can see Humpbacks breaching, tiger sharks prowling, sea turtles floating, dolphins frolicking, and mantas gliding through the ocean 20 metres below. We saw sharks and whales and were happy with that. After snapping more photos, enjoying the breeze, and marvelling over a spectacular whale jump, we made our way back down the cliff (Rich and I hobbling quite a bit) and into the cars.
Back at the campsite, we cooked our dinner of Asian stirfry over rice (served in wraps to save dishes) and poured out more goon. Sam taught us some fantastic drinking games and we stayed up until 3am laughing and crying over the increasingly hilarious games. I will never forget the great friends and fantastic memories made that night. We went to bed absolutely satisfied with our last night on the island.
With no regrets and a fantastic new tan, I'll leave you until tomorrow!
xoxo - Katrina