The name says it all. The tour was a roundup of the highlights of the island. The island is all sand, so the buses are specially designed four wheel drive models. There was a video monitor at the front of the bus so you could see what was ahead. Since everything is sand, vehicles need to be modified and capable of handling it. We didn’t want to deal with all that — though lots of people do, and enjoy it — so we took the tour and let someone else drive!
Our first stop was Lake McKenzie, a beautiful perched lake. The water was refreshing and the sand bottom means easy footing.
There weren’t any facilities right at the beach and little shade. Many people brought their own shade. It was great to get in the water and cool off, and to not have to worry about getting back on the bus in a wet swimsuit.
There were toilets near the parking area and a fenced off picnic area. Dingoes — here’s one we saw later on the beach — are a real danger here. The picnic area is fenced to keep them out.
Our next stop was a lunch break at a small resort. The buffet had a good selection. Though bland, as buffets often are.
From there was turned onto the beach. A drivable beach stretches all along the outer coast of the island. We drove through the occasional stream and rocky outcropping, and saw people parked enjoying the day. There were a couple of spots that we had to detour off the beach due to rocks and/or tide. We didn’t experience any waits but our driver and guide said that during peak season vehicles can be backed up for hours.
For a (surprisingly reasonable fee you can take a 15-minute flight over the island. They take off and land on the beach.
Our second swimming stop was at Eli Creek. The water was just as clear as the lake, though colder. Most people brought inflatables to float down the creek. We didn’t have any, so we walked in the creek.
One common way to experience the island is as part of a “tag-along” tour. You drive your own 4WD vehicle and follow a guide. That might be what we saw here. Some include camping; others a beach house stay.
Our final beach stop was at the SS Maheno shipwreck. It was wrecked while being towed to Japan for salvage. At this point most of the old passenger luxury ship are buried in the sand.
After the beach we headed back inland and over to the opposite coast back to the resort. Most of the island is covered in forest of different types. They used to do a lot of logging here.
We stopped at the Wanggoolba Creek rainforest on the way. The creek is so clear it’s difficult to see the water. You have to watch for the glare. The walk here was done on boardwalks.
The tour was a great day out. Our guide had good commentary, good stories and lots of (good) bad jokes. You need to go through an extensive training program not just on driving but also on the history and nature of the island in order to be a guide. We were back at the resort in time for dinner.
