Fraser Island January 2012

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Hi all,

My wife has suggested we take the newest batch of kids up to Fraser in the new year.
It has been quite a few years since we went up there with the last batch of kids, and I have heard that things have changed for the worse a little.
I heard that some of the better spots.... Lake McKenzie, Champaign Pools etc were closed off for some reason, but are open for tourist operators.
It would give me the absolute $hits if we went up there and found that to be the case, so I would rather plan to go somewhere else if that is the case.
Last time we went, we camped at Dundaburra for a few days, but when driving on the beach, I was eyeing off the ad hoc camp sites just behind the dunes up that way. That is where I used to camp as a kid with my mates, and I prefer being away from the crowds (if this is possible in January).
Are we still allowed to camp behind the dunes on the main beach just south of Dundaburra camp ground?

Does anyone have any advice based on recent experience?

Thanks

Steve

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I'm also interested in all this, as looking to head up with the girlfriend for a few days over christmas/new years. I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread, Davros.
Is a few days on fraser enough?

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

Guys,

I was there in the first week of the September School holidays. We stayed at Cathedral Beach at the Caravan Park. We had a group of 7 cars, 14 adults, 15 children in 5 camper trailers and 2 tents. I have heard they are doing an upgrade to the park sometime in the future. When we were there we went to Champagne Pools, Lake Makenzie as well as some other lakes. We did not encounter any areas closed although there were some fires there the week after we were there. The best bet would be to contact the rangers or the barge companies for up to date information. The only place that was closed when we were there was Happy Vally for renovations.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

I go there every year almost and I'm only aware of Lake Mackenzie being closed last year for a few weeks for a re-dovelopment worth a few million dollars. We went just after they did it and it looks good. They added a new toilet block and completely changed the carpark for the better with more capacity and it's more structured than it used to be. It used to be if you get there after 10:30am during the holiday periods you missed out on a carpark. So that's improved. The old toilet block was removed and a new more direct walkway down to the lake has been created. They've also done some planting on the lake shore and fenced the plants/trees off with low retaining walls and tension wire.

Eurong is surround by fences now and you drive over rollers and electrified wire to enter or leave the township. Camping behind the dunes near Dundaburra is always open. I've never been aware of Champaign Pools being closed off recently unless they also did upgrades there. The Eli Creek boardwalk was closed for months due to upgrades but that was last year as well I think that was done. The return barge fair at Inskip Point may be $100 now. I seems to go up by $5 to $10 per year. Fuel over there is the same price it's always been... Too much. So carry all the fuel onto the island that you'll need if you can or have room. I always fill up both tanks and carry 50L of fuel in jerry cans when I go and that gets me up there and on the island for a week and back home into my driveway again.

But apart from that not a lot has changed. It's now the law for backpackers to be assigned an official tour group leader because of the accidents they were having in their overloaded troopies. The backpacker's troopies can no longer carry luggage inside the roof either as a result. We've been camping in Central Station a few times and quite a few backpacker's troopies have rocked up late in the arvo to set up and they've got an Australian guide with them who leads the group when driving and makes sure they cut out the noise after 10pm and generally makes sure they behave themselves.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

I'm also interested in all this, as looking to head up with the girlfriend for a few days over christmas/new years. I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread, Davros.
Is a few days on fraser enough?

Allow 4 days minimum if you can. That way you won't be too rushed in seeing things. 5 days is ideal as it's not too short and not too long and it'll allow enough time for two full days at Lake Mackenzie which is never a bad thing. Make sure you try one of the delicious pizzas at the King Fisher Bay day use area restaurant while you're there too. I'd recommend the Queenslander pizza... It's good! It's open from lunch to dinner. They offer a range of nice Fraser Island related cocktails which your girlfriend will like, such as the Lake Mackenzie, which is white on the bottom and light blue on top. I had a sip of it when my wife got it and it was so good I wanted to get one myself... But ended up settling for a beer due to a man's principles.

If you're camping I'd recommend camping at Central Station as like it's name suggests, is fairly central and the closest campground to Lake Mackanzie. Book a site very soon though as Fraser gets busy around the time you're planning to go. It's a really nice campground (big forested c'ground, heated $1 coin op showers, mostly shaded from the sun all day long due to the very tall tree canopy, relative privacy from neighbours) and you'll hardly be there during the day anyway. It's completely fenced from dingo's too. From there it's about a 45 minute drive to the eastern beach through Eurong. Be prepared for coming across a minor hold up on this track every couple of days though due to a slight uphill boggy section people continously get stuck in. Sometimes the cars can start to build-up if the recovery is a little slow.

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Keep me posted if there is a group going up. Ive never been to Fraser and the wife and I were thinking of heading up there after some time in Brisbane over xmas/NY's

[edgeyhill Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close edgeyhill]

I am soooo jealous just reading this... My parents took me up there as a kid in the early 1990's and we had an absolute ball! It's a shame that there are so many rules and regulations these days...

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Guys, their is still nothing really restricting u having a good time, if anything things have been improved for safety, but Fraser is still beautiful place like it always has been.

[TFPRDO Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TFPRDO]

Hey Davros,
We where on fraser last weekend and there was no issues whatsoever. Went to all the usual spots with no sign of any forthcoming closures. The only thing you may find different from previous years is the increased police prescence. Expect to be breathalised and they will have speed camera and radar on the beaches so obey the signs.
We had a house for the weekend as this time of year it's cheaper than camping, but I'm pretty sure the area near Dundaburra was all open. If not, there was still plenty of camping spots along the beach you can access.
Happy Valley was closed whilst we where there but spoke to a caretaker and they are re-opening for the Christmas period.
Enjoy your stay, it's still a fantastic place to visit.

Cheers

[Travelman1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Travelman1]

I've been up to Fraser fishing twice this year, in August and early October and didn't notice any problems with access. Mind you, we were mainly focussing on the beach from Eli Creek to Orchid Beach.
A couple of considerations, though. The march flies can be a curse in hot weather, so take some heavy duty insect repellent. They sting, but seem to prefer some people to others. A mate was up there a fortnight ago and reckoned there were more than 130 of them on the side of his blue bait Esky one day when he gave up counting. And be very dingo aware if you've got kids with you. We had them trying to scavenge in our camp (all food must be locked away in strong boxes, etc with straps around them), digging up the frames we had buried quite deeply on the beach, and coming up to the 4x4 with little concern for humans. The younger dogs appeared to be particularly game. If I was taking youngsters, I would only camp in one of the designated, fenced camping areas.
With good planning and common sense, though, I'm sure you will enjoy your trip.
Travelman1

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

We'll be staying at Poyungan Rocks from Jan 15-19. Looking forward to my first Fraser Island drive in the Prado.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I'm heading to Fraser on Wednesday, my first time, so I'm pretty excited.

[QbnPrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close QbnPrado]

I stayed on Fraser for 7nights back in October and found that the fuel was $2.06 in Eurong and $1.98 at Kingfisher bay. Everywhere was open and was beautiful to look at. What amazed me though was, when we stayed, there was strong Eastly's blowing and everyone that was camping on the beach had their tent doors opening towards the beach. Sounded like a good idea until you opened the door and the sand would blow in, lol.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Don't want to be a doomsayer folks but the place itself was fantastic 20 years ago now it is over-priced, over-populated with tour operaters, over-governed and generally over-rated. Still take it for what it is now and you'll have a good time.

See ya on the tracks, Richo. (probably not Fraser though )

[barkern Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barkern]

Driving up from Melbs for NYE this year, so excited! keep and eye out for a white VIC plated GXL accompanied by a blue Navara and come say hi....

I went last year and no where was closed to the general public so should be OK for this year.