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  • 5 days ago
Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures - Season 18 Episode 8
Transcript
00:00G'day folks, Pat Callaghan here and welcome to the final episode in season 18 of the show and we do have a bit of a cracker lined up because we're going to a place that is on the proper bucket list of every Aussie four wheel driver and that is of course Garry, Fraser Island.
00:17Josh and Jess will be joining me on this episode with Josh piloting our Ranger Tremor and Jess learning the ropes in the Ford Everest Tremor.
00:26Now we're going to dig deep on this Garry Fraser Island adventure not only will we drive the rainforest tackle the challenges of Nagala rocks and visit the magnificent west coast we'll also check out a side of the island you may not have seen before indulging in bush tucker eco resorts brand new light shows plus we'll experience some incredible wildlife encounters and all of that only a short ferry ride away.
00:53Well Fraser Island here we come the adventure begins this is such an exciting time for anyone that comes onto the island.
01:02I've already lowered the tire pressures back in the mainland and now we drive straight up a nice timber little gangplank.
01:12We have hit paradise and that is essentially what Garry means that's the reasonably newly christened name of Fraser Island and it does mean paradise in the words of the butchela people which is pretty damn apt whether you're a four wheel driver a fisherman or just an Aussie to be honest.
01:38We're starting our day on the sandy tracks of Garry but before we roll out it's time for some driver training with Jess.
01:45So Pat now we're on the island I'm feeling a little bit out of my depth because I'm assuming some sand is going to come up what should I do?
01:53Oh yes we need to do a few things to your vehicle before we hit the soft stuff I'll come and sort you out.
02:00Copy that thank you.
02:02Okay Jess alright let's get into this.
02:06Well the Everest makes it pretty easy and if you actually grab this dial here and twist it around that's got all these different drive modes for different terrains and one literally says sand so you can simply dial it onto that and that's going to sort you out.
02:22And that's going to sort you out for 90% of sand driving so if you want to jump into that.
02:27So turn it any way?
02:29Yeah just have a look up on the screen and there you can just scroll through all the various different modes there.
02:37So slippery and sand.
02:39There we go.
02:40And that just shifts you into four high with the rear differential lock on actually so it will give you a lot more traction.
02:49The challenge that you have with that mode is because it puts the differential lock on you can't drive a bitumen on that and it will kind of impair your turning circle a little bit as well.
03:02You can only use that when you're actually on the sand so you just got to remember must turn it off before I hit these little bitumen stretches as I come into the villages and that sort of stuff.
03:12Another option too is if you didn't want to use that mode you could simply put the vehicle in four high and off you go.
03:20Conditions change a lot on Fraser too so we are here after a drop of rain.
03:25We've got pretty firm tracks.
03:27It's going to be fairly easy going because that makes the sand a lot firmer, more compact.
03:32So if I was here in the middle of summer and they hadn't had rain for four weeks I would be saying look let's possibly even go to low range and a diff lock because once you get out of here it's a very steep climb and you could really bog your vehicle pretty quickly.
03:50So for the moment I think let's just use the vehicles modes and see how we go.
03:56One of the first things that you will notice when you get out there onto the track is you will probably want to fight the steering wheel a little bit because you're in these big ruts and you'll try really hard to keep the vehicle straight.
04:09That's actually not what you need to do.
04:11The vehicle will generally find its way and the idea is to have light hands on the steering wheel.
04:17So yes you do need to guide it obviously you've got to make sure you stay on the track but you don't need to manhandle the car and try and keep it exactly straight
04:25because it will slip in and out of those ruts and that's okay.
04:29But there's your first lesson I'll let you get into it but I will be on the CB so give me a holler if you have any issues.
04:36Perfect thank you I'll let the car do all the thinking for me then.
04:39That's the good.
04:42You can most definitely come to Garry or Fraser in a standard 4x4 but if you are thinking of modifications what are the useful ones that will come in handy on the island?
04:54Well firstly I do see a lot of vehicles dragging their belly around this place.
05:00Often you'll get the wheel tracks and then you'll get a high crown in the centre and I have seen a lot of vehicles lose their factory bash plates and plastic bash plates and things on the island.
05:10So you could lift it up a little bit with some suspension.
05:14You don't have to lift it much higher than normal say 25 to 50 millimeters will be absolutely adequate.
05:20And you could also lift the vehicle's belly off the ground with tyres as well.
05:25So I'd recommend going up a little bit of a tyre size and that will just give you better traction, better ground clearance and it'll just minimise your chances of getting bogged.
05:36Particularly over those warmer summer months when the sand gets particularly soft and fluffy.
05:42The snorkel might come in handy as well because there are a few creek crossings.
05:47There's Awinya on the west coast and there's Eli Creek on the east coast.
05:51But if you keep an eye on the tide charts that product isn't really essential.
05:55You can get away without one as long as you do it at low tide.
05:59And one essential modification is recovery points.
06:03Make sure you've got them on the front and back of your vehicle and ensure that they are rated to actually recover your vehicle.
06:09And try not to mistake them with the shipping tie down points that come on some 4x4s.
06:15Because they're not rated for recovery and they can actually turn into a lethal projectile.
06:20That brings me to the recovery gear that you're going to need on the island.
06:24But we'll talk about that a little bit later.
06:27For now, let's enjoy the scenery.
06:33So Jess, your first few kilometres onto Gurry.
06:37How are you feeling?
06:38I'm feeling good.
06:39I'm so excited.
06:40I've never been here before.
06:42So I just can't wait to see what the island has in store for me.
06:47You're sounding pretty relaxed.
06:48I think these sandy tracks have been quite kind to you.
06:51Yeah, and confidence is key.
06:53So I'm just telling myself that I'm going to be good.
06:56You're going to be great.
06:58How about you, Josh?
06:59I'm ecstatic to be here, Patsky.
07:01It's always a good time when you're on the sand, I reckon.
07:04Especially on an island.
07:06And in your case, especially when you've packed the recovery gear.
07:09Yeah, and I've got two other vehicles to pull me out.
07:11What could go wrong?
07:13Our first stop today will be the beautiful Central Station.
07:17A great spot to camp or just to take in some of the many stunning forest walks.
07:30It's hard to get your head around the size and the growth of these trees.
07:34Palm trees are normally, I don't know, 5 or 10 metres tall on the mainland.
07:39But you come out here and they are massive.
07:42I'm talking 20, 30 metres high.
07:45Check out these guys.
07:46Still a skinny trunk, but they just go on forever.
07:51So guys, this is one of my favourite parts of the island because you look down there.
08:02We're watching running water.
08:04But what can you hear?
08:06Nothing.
08:08Nothing.
08:09Exactly, yeah.
08:10So this is actually known as a silent creek.
08:12Because not too often in Australia do you have a creek that's just purely a sandy bed.
08:17Normally you'll see rocks and all that sort of stuff.
08:19So we're used to sort of hearing that water flowing over.
08:22And there's quite a bit of water flowing down there, but it's making absolutely no noise.
08:25It's the coolest thing.
08:26It's so different.
08:27It's really funny that you pointed out.
08:29And when we were walking down, the water was so clear.
08:32I thought it was actually just a dry creek bed of sand.
08:35That's it.
08:36The clarity.
08:37Because I guess it's being filtered.
08:38I mean, some of the best filters in the world are sand filters.
08:41And what are we on?
08:43The world's biggest sand island.
08:45So it's beautifully filtered.
08:47So fresh, so clear.
08:49I think it will be very drinkable.
08:52But yeah, amazing.
08:55You visit Garry these days and it just seems like this pristine national park.
09:02But in the 1920s, there was some serious industry happening.
09:06And it centred on this part of the island, Central Station.
09:10And they weren't just logging native species.
09:13They would actually thin out the forest and run some pretty serious plantations here.
09:17Pine was the favoured species.
09:19They used to run slash pine, which was actually an import from the United States.
09:23And also cowrie pine and hoop pine.
09:26Some of which are still standing today.
09:28Our home for this evening will be something a little different than what we're used to.
09:33We're checking into Kingfisher Bay Resort for a very comfortable camp indeed.
09:38Well, there's some beautiful architecture here.
09:43We've got the nice curved roof.
09:46Pretty pictures and nice open plan here with Harvey Bay views.
09:58Well, you might think that four-wheel driving and resort stays are in opposition to one another.
10:03And to a certain extent, they probably are.
10:06But I can't tell you the number of couples that I've met over the years where one of them loves roughing it, four-wheel driving, getting right into nature.
10:15But the other one kind of loves the five-star effect.
10:18So you stay in a resort and you can kind of have the best of both worlds.
10:23While one partner spends the day exploring the island and bouncing over the tracks.
10:29The other one, well, they can spend it getting a massage by the pool.
10:33And then they can come together in the evening and compare notes over a lovely meal.
10:39Kind of sounds like a winning formula to me.
10:44So this is an eco resort.
10:47So it's probably focused less on high-end luxury and more on just integrating with the island itself,
10:55which I think is really nice because as you come in on the ferry and you can barely see,
11:00all you can spot is one or two buildings because they tuck them in so that only a few little windows are often showing.
11:07But when you're up here and just surrounded by nature, it is a beautiful feeling.
11:13And for me, who's used to spending the last couple of months in a rooftop tent, this is pretty good.
11:20Wowee.
11:21This will do nicely, won't it?
11:23Beautiful.
11:24Such a nice view as well.
11:26Yeah, and lizard views apparently.
11:29Oh, is he just having a little sun back down there?
11:31Yeah, he's just living the island life.
11:33Amazing.
11:34With a place like this, island life isn't so bad after all.
11:41And what could be better than an afternoon swim in a pool after being on the road for a couple of months?
11:47Dinner in a vibrant Asian restaurant.
11:50I reckon the only thing that could top that would be a stunning outdoor light show.
11:55Oh, hang on.
11:56They've got one of those too.
11:58After the break, we hit the tracks of Garry Fraser Island, explore some history and dive into its natural beauty.
12:10And later we'll put Jess through her paces at Nagala Rocks.
12:14There are many different aspects to Garry Fraser Island, but the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Mackenzie makes it a must-see natural site on the island.
12:26But there's one secret I'll share if you're coming to visit that will make your time here just that little bit better.
12:31I reckon there's an argument for Lake Mackenzie being one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful lakes in Australia.
12:43The water in there, it comes straight from the sky.
12:48It's not spring fed, creek fed, river fed or anything.
12:51Pure as the driven snow straight out of the sky.
12:55And that has its advantages too because it is fresh water.
12:58There's no sharks.
12:59There's no stingers.
13:00There's nothing that can hurt you in there.
13:02You can go in there and you can truly relax in one of the most beautiful spots in Australia.
13:10But look, as good as it is here, it's not perfect.
13:14Because it is so incredible, it does attract some pretty serious crowds.
13:19Bus loads of them in fact.
13:21But I might just have a fix for that.
13:23A short walk and a bit of a swim around the cove and you can have Lake Mackenzie all to yourself.
13:28Now that's what I'm talking about.
13:30We've got the same coloured water, same white sand, same gorgeous paperbarks.
13:35But there's one thing that's missing.
13:38And that's other humans.
13:40It's only Josh and Jess over there.
13:43And with crystal clear water like that, Lake Mackenzie makes a gorgeous spot for a swim.
13:50After our dip, it was back onto dry land and time for some tucker.
14:00But today we're in for something a bit different.
14:03We're hitting a bush tucker talk and taste tour at Kingfisher Resort.
14:08Evan took us through various origins, uses and fascinating stories behind some of the native bush delights found on Gari.
14:16And our bellies were certainly rumbling.
14:19Perfect. So we've already had a look at some of this really amazing bush tucker.
14:22I think it's time to go and have a go at our delicious tasting platter.
14:25What do you reckon, Pat?
14:26I'm in, mate. I'm in.
14:27Excellent. Let's do it.
14:28We sat down to a beautiful tasting plate of native delicacies,
14:32with Evan sharing his vast knowledge of the bounty before us.
14:37We quickly discovered, however, that hidden amongst those tasty gems were a few landmines.
14:43They're like hit and miss. One you'll eat and it's super spicy and then you'll eat another one and there's not much spice to it.
14:47Oh, it's got a delayed effect.
14:49Yeah, it's a very delayed effect.
14:50Is it really spicy?
14:52I'm worried about it.
14:55There's some water.
14:56I started pepper sprayed my mouth.
14:57That pepper very straight. That was hardcore. My mouth is still melting.
15:03That was something. Look, I can say I've done it and I'll never do it again.
15:08The wonderful team at Kingfisher Bay Resort have put together a collection of complimentary dishes to better highlight our native produce.
15:16From prawns with bunion nut and macadamia pesto to chicken with a bush tomato Napoli sauce.
15:23Now, most bush tomato species are actually toxic, are actually poisonous.
15:27But I'm almost certain, I haven't spoken with Akash, but I'm almost certain that we use non-toxic ones today.
15:32So we should be, should be alright on that front.
15:35Very unique flavour.
15:36We're going to end up on a podcast.
15:38Yeah.
15:39Well, hopefully those bush tomatoes won't be our last meal.
15:43But just in case, we're going to hook into a delicious beef with a rosella glaze.
15:49And no, it's not reduced bird.
15:51The glaze is made from the flesh of the rosella fruit, which is native to Northern Australia.
15:57Appreciate the introduction and the education. That was good fun.
16:00No worries at all.
16:01Thanks so much.
16:02What an indulgent way to spend an afternoon.
16:05So with full bellies and a full day of wheeling planned for tomorrow, it was time to check over our rigs and our recovery gear.
16:12So when it comes to your recovery gear, we definitely need a snatch strap.
16:18That is one of the most important things.
16:20And we also need those recovery points to actually attach things to.
16:25So you can use these ones, the more traditional snatch strap.
16:29They work a treat.
16:31They don't have quite as much stretch as the new Kinetic straps, but both of them will get you out of a bog just fine.
16:37These ones, a little bit more inexpensive than the brand new Kinetic straps.
16:41But make sure you've got the full kit.
16:43You've got the gloves.
16:44And make sure you've got the shackles, rated shackles.
16:48Could be soft, could be hard like these ones to attach to the recovery points on the vehicles.
16:53Hey Josh, jacking base plate, mate. Do you know where that is?
16:57Yep. It's in the back left of this one.
17:00Awesome.
17:01So folks, jacking base plates are really, really important because if you do get a flat tire and you need to use the jack on your vehicle to lift something up,
17:12keep in mind, sand does not provide a very safe or stable foundation.
17:17So if you just get your regular bottle jack that's been supplied with your vehicle or a scissor jack, you'll find that it'll just sink into the sand and won't be able to lift your vehicle up.
17:29So using a jacking base plate, it gives the jack a far more stable foundation and allows you to jack your vehicle up.
17:37Pretty common here on the island that you might roll a tire off a bead or need to change a tire because of a flat.
17:43So make sure you've got that jacking base plate.
17:46It'll make life so much easier.
17:48We've got the recovery boards as well.
17:50Exatrax is the brand that we use and we found them pretty good.
17:53They've got a scalloped end so you can use them as a shovel, but also pack a proper long handled shovel as well.
18:00That could come in very, very handy for you.
18:02And make sure your compressor is fully operational before you hit the tracks.
18:07And with Josh making sure the Bushranger winches were all running smooth, we were prepped for the run north.
18:13To finish up our day, Jess headed off for a little R&R while Josh and I enjoyed a nice stroll along the beach and a frosty bevy.
18:22as the sunset.
18:27Up next, beautiful beach drives, pools that pop and later a stunning sunset ride on the foil board.
18:35We're filling up the belly tanks this morning at the Sand and Wood restaurant.
18:39Then it was into the rigs to make a beeline to Garry's east coast.
18:45As you're heading across the island, it's pretty much a one lane track to cross it.
18:50But you've got traffic here and lots of it because particularly those areas around Central Station and Lake Mackenzie,
18:58everyone wants to go there, whether they're staying over at Eurong or at Kingfisher.
19:03So they tend to converge here.
19:04Now that means you've got single lane tracks and you have basically some collision opportunities.
19:10So keep the speed down, but also be ready to pull over.
19:14And there are lots of pull off bays where you can just pull your vehicle off to the side of the track and let other vehicles through.
19:22But make sure you communicate with those other people on the track.
19:25So if someone has pulled over to let you through, just pull up, wind the window down, let them know how many vehicles are in your convoy and then keep on moving on.
19:34Because that lets them know how long they need to stay for.
19:38And just in case you're unaware and you are a beginner four-wheel driver, it's a well-known fact that Toyotas have to give way to Fords.
19:48As you're crossing the island, you will come through Pile Valley and this is just a gorgeous forest.
19:55And it's a little bit of a mixture of Hoot Pine and these monstrous Satinay trees.
20:01Some of which have fallen over, but they fall over and they just tend to attract these gorgeous, bright, vibrant green mosses.
20:10And it is just a pretty drive.
20:13I'd really recommend that you cruise through here nice and slowly.
20:17Don't be in a rush.
20:19Wind your windows down and just sit there and listen.
20:22And you can hear the birds and it's just a beautiful, beautiful drive.
20:27Don't be in a rush to drive through here.
20:34And we have arrived at the East Coast and this little village is called Yurong.
20:40And it's also home of the Gari Beach Resort.
20:44So if you want a little bit of comfort, you can stay there.
20:48There's also a few services here.
20:50You can fill your vehicle here.
20:52They've got the bakery in town as well.
20:55So yeah, it's a great place to top up the belly tanks as well as the diesel or the petrol.
21:03It also makes a pretty good place for bird watching.
21:06But it seems like this little fella is more interested in watching us.
21:10Well guys, I think we have nailed it today.
21:15Welcome to the East Coast of Fraser Island on a gorgeous sunny day.
21:20They say that West is best, but so far I'm going to say the East Coast is pretty beautiful here on Gari.
21:28It surely is, Jess. It is turning on for us today.
21:31So a couple of things to keep in mind because you are a bit of a learner burner up here.
21:36It is an 80 kilometer per hour speed limit on the East Coast.
21:41Well, all over Fraser Island really except for in the little village areas where it's obviously less.
21:46Now as there are no lane markers up the beach,
21:48it's a good idea to use your indicators to show oncoming traffic which side you intend to pass.
21:53Another thing to keep in mind is even though the speed limit is 80,
21:57some of these creeks do create a little bit of erosion that come across the beach.
22:02So it's a nice idea to really take it pretty easy when you come up to those creeks
22:06because vehicles have been known to roll over
22:10and Fraser Island doesn't have a particularly good record when it comes to road safety.
22:15I think some people would be surprised to know that planes actually land on the same road
22:19or same bit of sand that we drive on.
22:21So they should probably watch out for that too, hey?
22:23Well, have a look at this, guys.
22:25We've got a couple of locals sitting here having a kip on the beach.
22:29Oh, wow. I don't know if you guys can see.
22:31There's a little baby Jingo, a puppy just up there to the left.
22:35No way. Oh, that's incredible.
22:37I've never seen the babies in the wild.
22:40That is crazy. How good. Oh, how cute are they?
22:44Super cute. So that must be mum and dad down to the right then.
22:48Better not get in between mum and dad and the babies.
22:52As cute as those dingoes are, you just don't want to be complacent
22:56when it comes to dingo safety because there's been numerous attacks over the years
23:00and if I was travelling up here with young children,
23:03I would most definitely only stay in those areas with fenced off camping.
23:08Places like Central Station, Orchid Beach,
23:11they have lovely big dingo proof fences all around them,
23:14so you're going to be safe as houses.
23:16And likewise in the resort areas like Garry Beach Resort and Kingfisher,
23:19you're going to be safe as houses there as well.
23:22Obviously never feed them and hey, if you do, you'll be up for some pretty serious fines.
23:29I have to say, driving the F-150 around Fraser Island,
23:33I am a little bit more comfortable than were I in another vehicle,
23:37not just because she's a beautiful vehicle to ride in,
23:40but it's actually got an aluminium body to it.
23:43So it's nice and lightweight and hey, you can't rust aluminium.
23:48It does still have a steel chassis,
23:50so a bit of rust protection wouldn't go astray,
23:53just to keep that frame very sorted.
23:56But certainly the panels on this,
24:00not going to have any problems there.
24:02So if you do live in an area that is proper coastal
24:05with lots of sea spray and beach driving,
24:08the F-150 is not a bad choice.
24:11As we cruised up 75 Mile Beach, we came across a relic from another time,
24:16the wreck of the SS Mahino.
24:20So clearly this is a shipwreck, but what exactly are we looking at?
24:24So this is the SS Mahino.
24:26So it was an ocean liner.
24:28It used to ply between Australia and New Zealand between 1905 and 1935.
24:35But when they were towing it back to Japan,
24:38Japan actually bought it as scrap.
24:40And they were towing it out the coast here.
24:42Cyclone hit.
24:43It broke the chain.
24:44And then it landed here.
24:46And it's actually had a pretty interesting life on the island
24:49because the Air Force used it for bombing practice actually.
24:54So it's been beaten up by bombs and obviously corroded by the ocean.
25:01But man, it makes a beautiful photo opportunity, doesn't it?
25:04Yeah.
25:05Not often you can park right in front of a shipwreck and snap a photo.
25:07No, that's right.
25:08Very popular spot this, as we can see by the buses.
25:11Yeah.
25:12Plenty of tourists, but it's definitely the biggest shipwreck I've ever seen.
25:15So I'm glad we stopped to have a look.
25:17With weather like this, I reckon it'd be madness not to go for a swim.
25:22Luckily, I know the perfect spot.
25:32Well, I believe it was a marketing genius that called this place champagne pools.
25:36It just sounds fancy and it's named that way because of those millions of little bubbles
25:42that are created as the water cascades over the rocks at high tide.
25:48Having said that, I don't think you need to be a marketing genius to market this place.
25:55You could call it vampire pools and I'd still come.
25:59Those beautiful crashing waves are mesmerising to look at.
26:03But off in the distance, I've spotted something even better.
26:07No way.
26:08Hey, Jim, grab the drone, mate.
26:12A beautiful humpback whale having a play in the ocean.
26:17What an awesome sight.
26:22Now, Garry Fraser Island can get a bit busy.
26:25It's a popular spot.
26:26But if you're in the mood for something a little bit quieter while you're on the island,
26:30you can head on over to Orchid Beach, a wonderful spot to fish,
26:35cruise along the beach or just pull up for some lunch.
26:38But as enticing as those gentle rolling waves look,
26:41swimming here is off the cards as the water can get a little bit sharky.
26:46I love it up here because a lot of the East Coast beaches are a little bit wild and angry,
26:53whereas up here it's just a little bit more protected just because of the way that the bay actually faces.
26:59Oh my goodness, look at those big pelicans.
27:02They're massive.
27:03For a second I thought you were talking about the two people in your rear view mirror,
27:06but no, the ones off to the left.
27:08Why is this beach less frequented than the rest on Garry?
27:12Well, I think, mate, the further you get away from down south,
27:15most people enter via Inskip Point or over at Kingfisher,
27:19and it starts to get a little bit of a hike to get up here.
27:22So I think the distance, the fuel, but personally I'd always head north.
27:26It is just better up here.
27:28From the looks of things so far, it's definitely worth it.
27:32You come to a place like Garry or Fraser and you prepare your vehicle,
27:38you buy all the accessories, you lower your tyre pressures,
27:41a lot of prep goes into place.
27:43But then you get here and you notice the reflection off that sand is just incredible.
27:49And that reflection is obviously UV rays getting bounced back up and hitting your skin,
27:55and it could be damaging your skin.
27:57So what I like to do is always wear some good quality sunnies,
28:01wide brimmed hat, long sleeves,
28:03and some pants that at least go down to your knees.
28:06On top of that, make sure you put on your sunscreen,
28:08but not just when you're heading out into the sun.
28:10Try and do it 20 minutes before you do,
28:12so it has all that time to absorb and be fully effective.
28:17And shade is incredibly important.
28:20If you can find natural shade, fantastic.
28:22But if not, like out here on the sand, make sure you bring your own.
28:27Unfortunately, two in three Australians will get skin cancer at some stage in their life.
28:33It's a horrible statistic,
28:34and I think it's even higher amongst people like us that love getting out,
28:38fishing and four-wheel driving.
28:40So make sure you don't just look after your Forby,
28:43but you look after your number one investment, and that's you.
28:47Up next, we break out the boards for a beautiful gurry sunset,
28:54and later put Jess through her paces at Nagala Rocks.
29:02We're making our way over to the west coast of the island now,
29:06to a place called Wathumba.
29:08And look, I would have gone to Awinya Creek or Worale Creek,
29:13which are a little bit further south, had I had the choice.
29:17But I didn't book my campsite early enough, so they're all booked out.
29:21And these were literally the last two campsites available on the west coast.
29:26But I have camped here before, and it's pretty damn good.
29:29You are camped a little bit further back from the beach than at Awinya or Worale Creek.
29:35But that's okay, because you can still get out there and access it.
29:39And what I love about the west coast is it is away from the wind and the waves,
29:45which is a really nice way to watch sunset just drop down into the water.
29:50To me, it's just a cracker of a spot.
29:53East coast is cool. West coast, I think, makes a better camp.
29:57But it does have one pretty bad side effect.
30:02And that is that you will be more likely to be eaten alive by midges or sand flies over on this neck of the woods.
30:10Not quite as bad in the central and northern parts of the island,
30:14but down on the south west coast.
30:16I will never camp there again.
30:18My entire crew got munched once upon a time and I'm not going back.
30:22With the sun setting and the beautiful Wathumber Creek before us,
30:29it's looking like the perfect opportunity to break out my favourite new toys.
30:37After a crash course, Josh was ready to rock and roll for his first jet board foray.
30:44Well, I opted to ride my foil board.
30:47It's powered by a jet motor and feels like you're gliding over the water rather than powering through it.
30:55OK, we are up and running, folks.
30:58Oh, wow. Sunset Fraser Island on a crazy looking flight board, my goodness.
31:06How gorgeous is this, folks?
31:10Wathumber at sunset.
31:12Just magnificent.
31:25But of course, somehow Josh had managed to get bogged.
31:29This is hard.
31:33That's fine.
31:36But you've got to hand it to him.
31:40He just kept getting back on the thing.
31:52I got up for like five seconds.
31:57Slowly but surely, Josh managed to find his line and then he was away.
32:06How'd you go, mate?
32:18Great.
32:19That is genuinely...
32:20I got up, I was looking at the sunset, looked back at you, and I was like, this is a core life memory.
32:25Like, that is seriously one of the best things genuinely I've ever done in my life.
32:28That was so much fun.
32:29And with that beautiful sunset rolling out before us, I just had to have a crack at the jet board too.
32:39Well, we appear to have gotten up now.
32:40Look at that.
32:41Oh, boy.
32:42Jari, baby.
32:43On a jet board.
32:44Up next, Eli Creek, fantastic feasts, and we put Jess to the test at Nagala rocks.
33:00But will she make it through?
33:02Those are so good.
33:03After a peaceful night at the Wathumba camping area, it was time to hit the sand once more.
33:08When you're driving on the island, you'll likely find yourself in four wheel high, which is great.
33:13That's exactly what you should be in because most of the time, that's what the situation calls for.
33:18But when you're in four high, there's one other thing you're going to want to do.
33:21And that's switch off your electronic traction control.
33:25When you're going through some soft sand, you might get some slippage on some wheels, some undulations,
33:30and the vehicle's going to think that something else is happening.
33:32It's going to think that something's going wrong and it's going to try to help you.
33:35So it's going to flick on some brakes on one wheel and lock up another one.
33:39And all that's going to do is make you lose momentum as you try to carry through whatever soft sand you're going through.
33:45So when you're on four high on the sand, flick that electronic traction control off.
33:52And a bit of a cruise up the coast, you can find Eli Creek, a popular picnic and swimming spot.
33:59With a boardwalk that follows the creek inland through Banksia and Pandanas.
34:04Swimming or floating down the swiftly flowing freshwater creek can be a rather invigorating experience on a winter's day.
34:13Well, Eli Creek's obviously one of the hotspots on the island, but a little tip for you.
34:18The water in there, it's pretty damn cold.
34:20So good idea to do what Josh and Jess have done and bring a little flotation device so you can just cruise on down this beautiful freshwater river.
34:29Now there's such a massive quantity of water coming out of here that at one stage they were actually talking about piping it back to Brisbane.
34:38Which would have been kind of crazy, but thankfully they didn't do it.
34:41It's all 100% natural and actually I'm missing my dip so I've got to go.
34:47Oh, this is a pretty cool experience folks.
35:02It's pretty shallow, but I think the flotation device is definitely the tip.
35:09The clarity of this water is just so beautiful.
35:12It's just a lovely experience.
35:16A lot of people just come here, have a puppy, spend the day.
35:20This is what we need to de-stress I reckon.
35:25Mother Nature at its best.
35:28After that swim, we freshened up with a lovely warm shower courtesy of our OzJ hot water system.
35:35And then it was time to relax and unwind at the fabulous Gari Beach Resort.
35:40They offer beachside rooms with a range of modern coastal inspired options to suit every budget.
35:47And if you're a foodie, Mackenzie's on 75 won't let you down.
35:52The next morning it was back in the rigs and back up the beach.
35:56Nigala awaits.
35:58Well, Jess, we have the obstacle that strikes fear into four-wheel drivers' hearts coming up ahead.
36:04Anyone that comes to Fraser talks about this one.
36:07It is called Nigala Rocks.
36:10Ah yes, the infamous Nigala Rocks.
36:12I have heard things about it, but I don't know what to expect at all.
36:16My little bit of advice here is in terms of preparing your vehicle,
36:21we definitely want that rear differential lock on.
36:23That's an essential for that obstacle.
36:26And one thing that a lot of beginners tend to do,
36:30when things get a little bit soft, they back off the accelerator on sand.
36:35And that tends to get them bogged because a little bit of momentum will often get you through obstacles on the sand.
36:41So don't be afraid of your accelerator.
36:44When you feel your vehicle slowing down, give it some throttle.
36:48But as soon as that vehicle stops, that's when you let off the throttle.
36:53And that's when we start our recovery.
36:55The beginner mistake that most people make is that once they get bogged,
37:00they just keep on revving and revving, and all that does is bury them deeper and deeper and deeper,
37:05and makes the recovery really, really challenging.
37:08So as soon as that vehicle stops going forward, you drop off the accelerator,
37:12and then we'll have a chat about how to best recover you, if it happens.
37:16And here we are rolling into the formidable Angala Rocks.
37:21Done it many times before, and I've got to say I've actually never been stuck.
37:25But that could be all about to change.
37:28What I'm really hoping for is that Jess gets through unscathed.
37:31Guys, I think the strategy here is I'll head through first and suss it out.
37:36Then we'll put Jess through, and Josh, if you can go up the tail, if we need a recovery to the back.
37:42Can do. Copy that. Thank you.
37:46With Nagala looking like the CBD during peak hour, we were going to have to wait.
37:51It looks like a vehicle had become bogged up ahead.
37:54It's worth noting that if you're going to tackle an obstacle like this,
37:58more ground clearance is your friend.
38:00A standard vehicle runs the risk of bottoming out in the sand.
38:05After the break, we tackle one of the toughest obstacles on the island, Nagala Rocks.
38:11Welcome back. You find us at Nagala Rocks on Nagari Coast,
38:16and after quite the wait, it's our turn to drive.
38:20OK, Jess, we've walked it. We've checked it out.
38:23What do you feel the most comfortable with driving?
38:25I think possibly send it up the guts, just because it is straighter and hopefully a bit less challenging for me.
38:31Good stuff. Let's get into it. OK, I'll go through first. You're next.
38:35Perfect. Good luck. Thanks.
38:38It always adds something a little bit extra to an obstacle when there is a crowd of onlookers.
38:45There is always a crowd of onlookers here.
38:47It just puts a little bit of extra pressure into the scenario, but we'll see how we go.
38:53I'm feeling for Jess right now.
38:57Windows up.
39:00Could be a bit of sand here flying.
39:03So you can hear those revs are reasonably high at the moment, and they're helping me to rocket straight through this area.
39:18It's reasonably firm, so we're OK.
39:22But you do have these little sneaky bends coming up halfway through, so you do need to keep the foot on the pedal as you come up to those bits.
39:31We're making some pretty good progress.
39:33There is a bend right near the end, a Y bend, and you do need to steer around to the right.
39:39And that's when you can start to breathe a bit of a sigh of relief as you start to go down the hill.
39:44So I think I will pull up here and pull Jess through.
39:50OK Jess, you can come on through.
39:52It does get a little bit soft on the second bend, so make sure you keep that accelerator planted to keep that momentum up.
40:00Copy that. I am coming through now.
40:03Good luck, champion.
40:05My heart is racing. Gosh.
40:09But this is so exhilarating at the same time.
40:12I just really hope I make it.
40:17So far so good.
40:19Oh, oh, oh.
40:22Oh my god, this is so fun.
40:24Oh, she made that look easy.
40:26Oh, she did well.
40:28I got teaser-wise, I am so proud.
40:30OK, doddle up.
40:33Wow, it feels like I'm ice skating on top of the sand.
40:38OK, all right, all right.
40:40I'm at the second bend now.
40:47Woo!
40:49This is awesome!
40:50Oh my gosh, I've made it through!
40:54Woohoo!
40:55I did it!
40:57Well done, well done.
40:58I'm shaking.
40:59Smashed it.
41:00You nailed it.
41:01That was so fun.
41:02First crack at Nagala Rocks and you smashed it.
41:03Awesome.
41:04Took that off my bucket list for sure.
41:05That's it.
41:06Great job, Jess.
41:07And with two down, there's only one to go.
41:08All clear to come through, mate.
41:09Don't let your missus show you up.
41:10I shan't.
41:11Here we go.
41:12So the trick here is for the bumpy stuff, not too much power.
41:14And then as soon as I get just past it, I'm laying it down.
41:17Nice, even throttle.
41:18And it really should just start to crawl now.
41:19You should need heaps and heaps of power.
41:20Just the right amount.
41:21You don't need to wring the neck of these things.
41:22Not even in the 2 litre.
41:23This is a simple drive, an easy drive if you do it on the right pressures, the right gear
41:47locked in.
41:48You'll even get a thumbs up from the crowd.
41:52And there you go.
41:53So I will tell you a little bit of a secret there.
41:56That was four low, no locker.
41:58I just wanted to make sure that the Ranger could do it.
42:01And it absolutely could.
42:03This is why we love four wheel driving, folks.
42:06It is that little bit of a challenge.
42:08And when you put yourself through that challenge, life is good.
42:11Even if you're not successful, you're learning as you go.
42:15And I think that's super, super cool.
42:17Just to see the joy on Jess's face today, that has made my day.
42:22Because she's achieved something that she never thought she would.
42:25This is a city girl who up until a couple of years ago had never been four wheel driving.
42:30She's hit the road with Josh and she has travelled Australia.
42:34And she's travelled with our show as well for a couple of seasons.
42:37And to watch her absolutely blossom in terms of going camping, off-roading, living a little bit rough and driving now.
42:46It gives me the greatest pleasure.
43:01Well, this is the end of a pretty epic journey for us.
43:04We have had an absolute ball on the island.
43:07Jess, big one for you.
43:08First time on Gurry and actually first time driving on the island.
43:12How was it?
43:13It was incredible.
43:14It exceeded my expectations for sure.
43:16But I think I'll walk away with the highlight of Ningala Rocks.
43:19That was just incredible.
43:20Oh, mate, you absolutely smashed it.
43:22Well done.
43:24Well done.
43:25What about you, Josh?
43:26Oh, Patsy, I've got two favourites.
43:28Scooting around on that electric surfboard at sunset, out of this world.
43:32Then another one, Jess, watching you tackle Ningala Rocks, that really pulled at the heartstrings.
43:36I was so proud of you.
43:37Oh, fantastic.
43:38That's beautiful, mate.
43:39For me, it was just the diversity of this adventure.
43:42I mean, we were eating amazing bush tucker.
43:45We were staying in eco lodges.
43:47Yet we also saw these beautiful dingo puppies.
43:50The whales turned it on for us.
43:52The sunsets were incredible.
43:54It was just so fun.
43:56I mean, I've come here a few times, but this was a pretty special one for me.
44:00I hope you guys enjoyed it too.
44:02We have had an absolute ball.
44:04Until next time, keep the shiny side up.
44:07I'm still right here.
44:08I'll always be right here.
44:09I'm still right here.
44:10I'll always be right here.
44:12The light is on, so when you're free.
44:14Come home.
44:15Come home.
44:21Come home.
44:23Come home.
44:28The light is on, so when you're gone
44:33Gone home, gone home
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