East Coast of Oz 2005 – I Was a Dirty Backpacker

[mobs00]

So first I’ll show you our fellow passengers. Only one other guy on the boat besides us and the 2 crew men along with about 15 Swedes, excellent!

[mobs00]

Lots of Islands around but the main attraction is Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach. Here we are rounding the head towards the beach.

[mobs00]

Whitehaven is hands down the best beach I have ever been to. We anchored the boat on the other side of the head and had to hike over the top to reach the beach on the other side.

First was a walk up to a lookout where you can see down to the beach.

[mobs00]

We then took another trail down to the beach.

The sand is so fine it’s comparable in grit to talcum powder. It screeches loudly as you rub you feet across it. They said it has something to do with how the currents move around the island and break down the sand into fine particles.

[mobs00]

Hundreds of stingrays in the shallows so you really had to be careful where you walked.

[mobs00]

Back on the boat and it was time for a bit of snorkeling. On the way there a few dolphins decided to tag along.







Here I am sporting the latest is Australian beach fashion. The aussie’s are so progressive.

[mobs00]

Soon the weather started to turn and we had to race for shelter in one of the bays. Tons of other boats were doing the same thing.





Tonight was the last night of our Whitsunday adventure. we only got a bit of rain that night although I was hoping for something more exciting.



All in all a great trip and should definitely be done if you’re ever in the area.

[nedwalk]

did you manage to have a 'quiet ' drink at magnums? i have trouble going past airlie always get stuck there and they let me ride me bike through the hostel and park and twenty bucks a night i,m happy

[mobs00]

^ Honestly i can't remember. We did most of our drinking at our camps. The pubs were too pricey for us dirty BP's, besides we couldn't smoke in the pubs.....

[Johnny Longprong]

That's the way to do it mate. You really have to have wheels as the joint is bloody huge and there are so many side roads to explore. Thanks.

[patsycat]

Is it not around there that that English guy won the best job in the world?

[mobs00]

^ Yeah, it was Hamilton Island just south of Whitsunday Island.

[mobs00]

Finch Hatton Gorge and Eungella State Park

[The Fresh Prince]

How did you go with the Swedish chicks? there were a couple there that looked alright and a they didn't seem to mind getting their norks out.

[mobs00]

From the Whitsundays we drove south to Mackay then to the road inland out to the Finch Hatton Gorge. This place is magic, my favorite stop we made. There’s a bush camp out here run by an old bushman named Wazza.






Here’s his website: Platypus Bush Camp, Finch Hatton Gorge

[mobs00]

^^ Not well as they were all in a pack. I find that when there are a lot of chicks together none of them want to be "that" girl, ya know?

[The Fresh Prince]

True dat. I think you might have blown it though when you donned the ozzie bathing suit.

Great thread.

[mobs00]

The camp site was great. Reminds me of camping back in New England. Tall pines all around with the sites set up between them.






A stream runs right along side of the camp with a couple of places where you can go swimming.








This stream was home to the poisonous platypus but we never saw one.

[mobs00]

The shower is open on one side to the jungle. Great place for a wash. The water comes from a catch basin on the roof. Pure rainwater.





Don’t let the old style toilet fool you as it came complete with a washroom attendant.





This little bugger always slept right across from you in the upper right hand corner. Was a bit odd taking a dump with a spectator but you get used to it.

[Loy Toy]

This stream was home to the poisonous platypus but we never saw one.

Shame that as it is fun to Plat a pus!

Nice thread mate and thanks for taking the time to share you experience with us!

[mobs00]

^ Thanks.

And the Platypus. I mean what a fcked up animal. Has a poisonous toenail, webbed feet, a duckbill, lays eggs.

[mobs00]

Nighttime was amazing! So many creatures everywhere. Just before dusk the fruit bats would come down from the mountain and looking up just over the tops of the tree you could see thousands of them flying towards the valley to feed for the night.

There were big green tree frogs about animals moving around down by the stream bed and tons of insects. We had our little camp candle going and would just sit up and get stoned and watch all the crazy insects commit suicide. Like this giant pink Cicada.





Also had a few snakes in camp. Anyone know what this is?

[mobs00]

The Finch Hatton Gorge was just a 20 minute walk up the road. Some great trails leading up the gorge to some nice places for a swim.

[mobs00]

The trail led all uphill with lots of rapids and waterfalls along the way. I believe it is the same stream that’s runs along side camp.

[mobs00]

Lots of signs saying “No Jumping” or something like that. Whatever we’re in the middle of nowhere.

So we are having a great time jumping off the falls and this idiot of a tour guide with a hard on comes over and starts warning us that if he was a ranger he could arrest us for that, blah, blah, blah. Little man syndrome at its fullest.