On the Bus...
Noosa is a sophisticated beach town with outstanding natural beauty, classy restaurants and desirable riverfront properties. The small town is where yuppie encounters backpacker. Noosa isn't the cheapest of places to hangout, however the hostel prices are in line with the rest of the country so Backpackers aren't likely to feel much difference in their wallets. I stayed at the Noosa Backpackers Resort, (07 5449 8151), which have dorms, twins and doubles. The Resort is a little way out of the main drag so a good night's sleep in ensured. On the premises is a swimming pool, pool table, ping-pong and courtesy bus that runs eight times a day in and out of town. There are also a number of surfboard, kayaks and bodyboards for guests to use free of charge.

The national park at Noosa Heads was the first place I saw Koala's in the wild, along with bird-life and Goanna's. The beach has that touch of paradise and is clean and safe for swimming. Noosa is also pretty much the last place to surf if you're heading North up the East Coast. More than anything else backpackers come to Noosa to get to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand dune island.

Fraser Island
Fraser Island is a unique part of Australia. Sand carried by tides from the south and prevented from travelling north because of the Great Barrier Reef have, over thousands of years, created this, the world's largest sand dune island. The island is 160km long, sustains bush and rainforest vegetation, is host some 40 odd lakes and yours to explore in a number of ways.

I chose to explore Fraser with 'Trailblazer Tours', (07 5449 8151), that took eleven others and I to the best spots on the island over three days. The truck we travelled on was a big 4x4 with beefy wheels, well needed suspension and a guide with a catch phrase.

"Come on Everybody!", is what we heard from our guide Mark every time the truck door flew open. The phrase meant we had reached another part of the island that would make us say, "Oooh, ain't it lovely."

The good aspect of going guided means you get to hear what makes Fraser Island so unique. Like how the island was formed, the Aboriginal heritage and the island's eco-system. Our tour took us speeding along the beach, weaving amongst rocks, to Lake Waby over desert terrain and to the island's famous Maheno shipwreck.

Being home to a rainforest, you shouldn't be surprised to hear me say that it rained. But hey, I was there in winter, no rain means no rainforest and no rainforest means big eco-trouble. So go to Fraser, because Fraser is too nice to miss and go prepared to wonder at its serene nature whatever the weather.

Trailblazers have a permanent camping set-up on the island, a campsite with full amenities. The evenings spent around the campfire involved visits from dingo's, several casks of cheap wine and kissing-card games that were demonstrated so well by our 'Come on everybody' guide. As with any tour, it is the people who make it fun.

On the way back we cruised along Rainbow Beach, so named because of the 72 varieties of coloured sand in the sandstone cliffs. The final deed of our driver Mark was to give some of us a truly feet-first encounter with sinking-sand. We pulled them out by the time they reached their knees and learnt that it's advisable not to wear shoes you want to keep.

Alternatives
On Fraser Island there are a couple of resorts where backpackers can stay and catch resort buses to the lakes and forests. Accommodation is the same as what you'd expect from mainland hostels.

4x4-Vehicle hire is big business in Noosa and Hervey Bay. There are package deals where individual backpackers join four others (or so) to hire a self-drive vehicle. This is the most independent way to discover Fraser. However, you may want to consider that your travel partners may turn out to be a nightmare to travel with, arguments could erupt over who's driving and the prospect of getting the vehicle stuck in the sand is always a possibility. BUT, and it's a big but, it could also turn out to be a real adventure, with a real element of chance plus you get to drive a beast of a car and not a piece of Bitumen in sight.

Australian Saying
'She'll be right mate!"

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Pacific Insiders page.