Indefinite Leave

08/11/2024

Things you might not know about Fraser Island #4

On March 4, 2020 we arrived on the island to be Caretakers of 3 houses at Poyungan Rocks, about halfway between Eurong and here at Happy Valley. 🏖

There was this thing happening and was all over the news called Covid. 😢

Everyone at that stage was getting on with their lives anyway, not expecting what was about to happen. 😱

Guests were enjoying themselves when we arrived but that was all about to change.

By our first weekend it was announced Fraser Island was to be evacuated, no campers, no visitors, no guests. 🚙⛺️

By Friday March 13, just 9 days later, most people on the island had left and the following day on Sat the Island was closed. 🚫

There was even a 100m perimeter exclusion zone around the entire island for boats or other water craft. 🛥

On Sunday we watched as Police 👮‍♂️ and Rangers 🚓 scoured the entire Island for anyone who may have stayed on. They were then given a personal es**rt off the island. 🚔

By now only property owners, Caretakers and Managers were on the island. Probably about 50 people on the entire island.

For us, we weren't experiencing the madness of life back in Brisbane and the cities where shops ran out of essentials like toilet paper and shelves being empty

We were totally isolated from the madness that was unfolding on the mainland. We were hearing about it though.

Eurong township became a ghost town and after we took these photos below the police visited us concerned about looting so we removed the images. 🤭

In our interviews with media we asked them not to mention about the island being deserted and told them of Police concerns.

Sounds like a dream right, the entire island to ourselves. 🤷‍♂️

But nope, everywhere was gated off.

We were banned from Eli Creek, Champagne Pools, Lake McKenzie and everywhere else on the island. ⛔️

In fact we weren't allowed more than 500m from where we were staying and we too had to apply with "essential travel" Covid laws. 🤦‍♂️

The island changed, the Dingoes 🐕 were nowhere to be seen, all gone bush for food. Snakes would sunbake on the beach and crabs were easily found. 🐍

The beach though filled with rubbish. What many people don't realise is a lot of campers and guests collect rubbish and put it in bins.

Without visitors the rubbish washed ashore stayed there. 😢

With time on our hands we would do our best but we could only cover the area from Poyungan to Yidney Rocks and a couple of kms towards Eurong.

We didn't have guests but there was still work to do around the complex which we would have to complete on a daily basis.

We remember getting excited if we heard a vehicle go past and would run out looking to see if we recognised who it was. 🚙

We were locked on the island for 10 weeks but eventually we needed to go off for dental work and supplies.

But getting off proved a mission.

First off the barge refused to take us. They said the Police were at River Heads and without Fraser Island as our place of residence on our license they wouldn't let us back on the barge.

Eventually Maryborough Disaster Management contacted us to say we were right to go, they had organised special approval for us 👍

The media picked up on an article we wrote for our website and we ended up on:
Channel 9
Channel 7
BBC
and Numerous newspapers

Our story we wrote is here - https://indefiniteleave.com.au/how-we-ended-up-on-an-island-in-lockdown/

We have many more stories from our time here during Covid on Fraser Island but we'll save those for days around a campfire. 🔥

The island opened to day visitors on June 1 and a few weeks later campers and guests could arrive.

Our time finished on July 17. We got back in our Motorhome and headed north 😀

Visit K'gari - Fraser Island

08/11/2024

Tonight's sunset looks so epic 😍

06/11/2024

The Nissan Navara is getting close to being ready to come to the island. 😀

It's had a much more extensive overhaul than we expected but thanks to my legend brother it's now nearly completed. 🚙

Today he installed a new Turbo as the other one wasn't boosting and was no good.

Here's a list of what I can remember has been completed so far:

New turbo
Bull bar fitted
Spotlights fitted but need to be wired
Indicators in bullbar, need to be wired in though
New Bash plate
Full Rust proofing completed
An Over heating sensor installed but to be wired in
New Radiator cap
New Fuel cap
New tyres all round.

Basically a new front end with:
Replaced control arms
All new Ball joints
New drive shafts
New inner guards

Owen says its got a 140kw engine which he's impressed by.
Means nothing to me haha but after his test drive today he said it's got good power now 😁

My brother is well regarded in the racing industry. He builds racing engines for cars and big race boats like Stefan had and has himself built an LH Torana into an A9X replica which he sold for 100k.

There's not much he doesn't know about cars.
Plus he also has a Nissan Navara he bought for $1000 and rebuilt 😀

Looking forward to getting it here as the Triton isn't starting and the Jeep has an oil leak and I'm simply not driving it very far at all.

Matt is bringing back a fuel filter for the Triton. Hoping that is the issue for it.

It's Matt's birthday on Tuesday so we're keen to have him back here for that

05/11/2024

I hadn't seen a March Fly this colour before. 🤔

They've come out early this year so make sure you bring your insect spray when visiting Fraser Island this summer. 🌞

At the moment there's no breeze here at all, perfect days, but also ideal conditions for insects and bugs.

We recommend No Bites, it's all we use and it protects us from the March Flies. 🪰

We don't tend to get Midges or Mozzies here at Sailfish on Fraser too much but it'll protect you with them also. 🦟

Pick some up before coming over but if you run out or forget just drop in, we have supplies of it here. 😀

Back to this March Fly, it is a very dark colour with really bright red or organge eyes.

They are savage too, they just land and begin "biting". Usually they hover about a bit and wait a few seconds but not this one.

The little ones with green eyes that come out late afternoon are quick too.

Just another day in Paradise 😁

05/11/2024

We get so much great feedback from our guests 😀

Sailfish on Fraser is so perfectly located and has a number of benefits over other accommodation on the island. 🏖

From the apartment style living to one of only 5 or 6 places on the island with a pool, the only place with an underground carpark and its central location making it easy to visit wherever you want to go. 🚙

And we're fully fenced from the Dingoes 🐕

Thank you everyone for staying with us, we always enjoy meeting people.

It's just like travelling and happy hour at the Campgrounds lol 😁

05/11/2024

Another spectacular day here on Fraser Island 😍

03/11/2024

Things you might not know about Fraser Island #3

From the northern tip of Fraser Island it is a very short distance to the start of the Great Barrier Reef. 😀

One of the 7 Wonders of the World, The Great Barrier Reef is extraordinary.

It's the world's largest coral reef system and covers an area of almost 350,000km2.

It comprises 900 islands and over 1500 different species of fish.

So what has Fraser Island got to do with the Great Barrier Reef that's interesting?

The relationship between the two began around 700,000 years ago.

Did you know, if it wasn't for Fraser Island, there would be no Great Barrier Reef 😱

Over 500,000m3 of sand washes up the Australian coastline every year.

When it reaches the island, it sends the sand out to sea. 👍

If it wasn't for Fraser Island/ K’Gari then that sand would keep going north and cover the Great Barrier Reef.

You can read more about it here - https://theconversation.com/at-least-700-000-years-ago-the-worlds-largest-sand-island-emerged-as-the-barrier-that-helped-the-great-barrier-reef-form-192014

This island not only has an incredible and important history but it also has an essential place on the planet. 🏖

Just another reason to love Fraser Island 😍

03/11/2024

"...and the large number of dog-attack victims admitted to hospital each year in Queensland,” the Queensland government said"

This article outlines new legislation in Qld regarding pet dogs. 🤔

Why?

Because of so many pet dog attacks. 🐕

Next time there's a Dingo attack on Fraser Island let's keep it in perspective instead of the ludicrous calls for everyone to have to leave the island and let the Dingoes have "their home" for themselves. 🤦‍♂️

Or the Hervey Bay Mayor calling for all children having to be camped only in Dingo proof fenced areas when all the attacks have been on the beach for the last 5 years. 🏖

Or calls for the Dingoes to be shot and eradicated. 🚫

Does that mean all pet dogs should be put down too. 🤷‍♂️

Of course not, let's just keep calm and understand its no different to all the people living in the Northern part of Australia with Salt Water Crocs 🐊, you learn to co exist.

I feel much safer here with the Dingoes than on the mainland with the amount of pet dogs attacking people.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/its-wrong-gold-coast-man-fined-806-for-10metre-dog-walk/news-story/1df19a10cab01afbf3bcb1add236e3d9

01/11/2024

It has been an absolutely cracking day here on Fraser Island today. 🏖

Westerly breezes flattened out the ocean and it was so calm.

It also got quite warm today, Eli Creek and Lake McKenzie would have been the perfect spot. 🌞

Storms are active south of us and those clouds suggest they might be coming our way. ⛈️

We had some rain last night but the storm fizzled out again before reaching us.

The March Flies are about so if you do need some insect repellent we've got No Bites available here for $22.

We've always preferred it as we find it lasts longer, smells better, is deet free and Qld made. 👍

The weather predictions continue to look really good over the next 10 days.

Great time to be on the island 😀

30/10/2024

Our amazing friend is starting her cancer battle and this video is for her.

I woke up at 4.30am and thought of her and decided to watch the Sunrise in hope that today, a new day, would bring her some positive news. 🌅

You got this Elizabeth...

30/10/2024

A brilliant short video with some great tips on catching Whiting from Drew at Gardiner Fisheries Rainbow Beach :)

30/10/2024

Things you might not know about Fraser Island #2

We mentioned in post #1 that the Maheno was bombed by Commandos that lived here on Fraser Island. 🏖

The Top Secret Z Force Commando Training School was set up in 1943 to train army personnel for war. 🪖

Over 900 were prepared here on the island to fight the Japanese in deadly missions in WWII.

The rainforests on the island were used to simulate conditions they would face and Lake McKenzie was used for parachuting training during day and night.

The Camp was shut in 1946.

It is located 1.6km south from where Kingfisher Bay resort is now, just near McKenzie Jetty.

The buildings have all been removed but you can still see the concrete slabs where they were.

Other equipment, machinery and items remain there and there's a memorial for those that fought and died in action.

It's another part of Fraser Islands amazing history. 👍

You can watch a short video explaining more about it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWfZ0twJ4c0

Fraser Island Visit K'gari - Fraser Island

30/10/2024

We had such a huge response to our post about Fraser Falls.

This is the house we also look after with stunning views. 🏖

January, April, May, August, September, October and Christmas are booked for next year.

If you'd like to stay during the other months, I can highly recommend June, let us know. 😀

Bookings are a min 7 days from Saturday to Saturday.

Fraser Falls sleeps 8 people.

Cost is $2000pw off peak.

Contact us any time here or email [email protected]

28/10/2024

This morning I managed to get a chance for a morning session here on Fraser Island. 🎣

This video is a little longer than normal as I show you my fishing gear and setup. 👍

Some of the gear in the video I picked up recently at Gardiner Fisheries Rainbow Beach

The Tailor Are On still so I'll show you what I caught and where I was catching them. 🐟

Hope you like the video 😀

Visit K'gari - Fraser Island

27/10/2024

Things you might not know about Fraser Island #1 😁

The Maheno Wreck lays roughly half way up the islands ocean beach. 🏖

It came ashore in rough seas in July 1935 while being towed to Japan where it was to be scrapped 🛳

Because the Maheno had been bought by the Japanese it was technically in International waters. The ship had a lot of cargo and fixtures on board and so a customs officer was assigned to watch over it. 👍

Things still went missing, including the Grand Piano I've read 🤷‍♂️

The problem was the Customs officer was set to be married and had already twice had to postpone the wedding. 👩‍❤️‍👨

So they asked the Japanese captain of the ship if they could be married on board and it was approved.

The wedding party and guests had to climb a rope ladder to board the ship. 😱

Once the Maheno was abandoned tours began taking fisherman who would sleep on board in the rooms and then fish off the side of the ship. 🎣

For many years people would fish from the Maheno.

What we now see of the Maheno Wreck is only about half of the ship, or less.

During the World War the RAAF used the Maheno for bombing practice.

Also the Z Force Commandos who secretly lived and trained here on Fraser Island were sent to do explosives training on the Maheno.

The poor ship was bombed 💣 from the air and land.

And that's why half of it is blown to smithereens and we see the twisted metal and broken section of the ship.

The Maheno has been on the island now for 89 years, it's extraordinary anything is left of it at all. 😂

Let's hope it gets to 100

Fraser Island Visit K'gari - Fraser Island

27/10/2024

Once we have the Navara here on Fraser Island I'll look to organise a canopy for it.

This time I'll just be getting a Canvas canopy, much lighter, easy access, much cheaper and better fuel economy.

If anyone knows a good Canvas canopy manufacturer please let me know in the comments.

Preferably they'll need to be on Sunshine Coast up to Hervey Bay 👍

Thanks

27/10/2024

25/10/2024

We've got some great new tank shirts for summer.

These are a Stone Wash and they come in a soft cotton and are super comfortable.

We can get them in blue or black with any of our 4 Fraser Island designs. 🏖

Check them out 👍