The long drive to the coast took a bit longer than expected. We did not accept the proposed route (we thought it was again a narrow road short cut) so we made a 53 km detour. In fact the main road is more bumpier than the smaller roads because of all the traffic (trucks) it gets. It was a pleasant drive over the rolling hills covered with patches of trees and high grass. In one place we saw cotton and, now we know what to look for, chickpea plants. At Hervey Bay (after checking in at the campsite), we walked to the bay and out over the 1 km long pier.

The tour bus picked us up early this morning at the camping and brought us back late afternoon. We were 10 hrs out and back to K’Gari Island. This large sand island lies just a few km’s off the coast. After the ferry we boarded a large 34 seater 4×4 MAN bus which drove us over the soft sand roads of this remarkable island. We crossed the forested hilly island to the ocean beach on the east side. After a 30 min 80km/hr drive over the beach highway we reached the first sight: A 1905’s luxury liner used as a WWI hospital ship which got stranded on the 75 Mile Beach in 1935. Parts of the lower decks are buried in the sand and the upper ones are rusting away in the sea water. Eli Creek, a fast flowing freshwater creek, flows over the beach into the sea. At this stop we walked through the fast flowing stream. After a buffet lunch we went to the old Central Station which used to been a small logging settlement (closed 1991) and walked along a clear water stream past giant Satinay trees. Some are 50 m high, 4 m in diameter and over 1000 years old (we did not see that one). After another bumpy ride over the sand road through the forest we reached Lake McKenzie for a refreshing swim in the pure clear water. This was the right time to visit the island. Not too busy (only 3 tour buses) and a cool sea breeze and low temperature (25 deg).