Fraser Island Things to Do Tips by pedroswift

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Communications on Fraser island are fairly primitive.
Lots of 4x4 drivers have UHF citizens band radios in their cars and the carriage of a hand-held UHF CB is a good idea if you are spending more than a couple of weeks driving during your visit to Australia.
There are public phones at a few of the villages on Fraser. We were told they are often un-serviceable.
There are a couple of post office letter boxes at the villages in which to mail good old post cards home to mum and dad. Stamps? What's a stamp? I'd buy some before going to Fraser.

There is an Internet Point at the Happy Valley Backpackers Centre just inside the pub/dining area.
The best of all worlds: eat, drink and surf the world wide web.
Happy Valley village is located about halfway up the 75 mile beach.

Another service offered by the hostel at Backpackers : Lockers and Luggage Storage have not used the service but imagine it could be handy for some visitors to Fraser!??

photo 1: public communications centre Happy Valley
photo 2: Internet point at H. Valley backpackers
photo 3: internet charges

Address: Happy Valley Backpackers

Directions: Find the pub...all roads lead to the pub. 200 metres from the beach.
Approx latitude/Longitude: 25º20;15.20"S; 153º12'02.00"E
Road to Happy Valley is well marked approx 55 kms north of Inskip Point ferry landing.

Phone: P 07 4127 9144

Website: http://www.fraserislandco.com.au/backpackers/

Go beach Fishing for Tailor

With the exception of overseas backpackers, the majority of visitors to Fraser Island are Australian recreational fishermen. Is that sexist? Sorry ladies: "fisher-folk"!
From time immemorial, there has been an annual migration of schools of Tailor fish to spawn around the headlands and rocky out crops of Fraser Island. (Tailor are called “Blue Backs” in USA).
In the past, fisher-folk would arrive with the migrating fish to kill hundreds of them by fishing in the gutters* along 75 Mile Beach and further north and around the headlands.
*Gutters are the channels parallel to the ocean beach formed between the beach and offshore sand banks.
During peak fishing times, July to November, it is not unusual to see up to a hundred fisher-folk standing shoulder to shoulder fishing the same gutter with the water black with thousands and thousands of Tailor ( and attendant sharks).
It goes without saying, lots of angst is involved in too many people all fishing together. Tangled lines, occasional physical contact with bodies by fishing poles , lures, baits, hooks etc during the casting process make the overall mellee even more “interesting”.
My advice to “new chums” is to stay well away and find a less populated gutter.

These days bag limits apply (30 fish : total – not daily).
There is also a closed season during August and September around the Headlands to allow spawning to take place.(see photo)
My personal bag limit is 3 fish in a session and I limit fishing to one session a day: typically at dawn or dusk & elect not to fish on some days or catch and release in the interest of long term sustainability of the resource.
The Tailor fish is great eating and a fine sporting fish but it does not keep well. It has to be bled and skinned as soon as it is caught to get rid of lots of dark bloody areas in the flesh. It is best eaten within hours of capture back at camp on the BBQ with a touch of lemon juice and washed down with an Australian Clare or Eden Valley Riesling.

Getting up before dawn to arrive at the beach to fish as the sun rises from the Pacific Ocean , fishing mates at you side. Hitting that first bite from a 3 or 4 kilo Tailor and then playing it on a light breaking strain line. Carrying it up the beach with sand between your toes to dispatch and bleed it before taking off the fillets and skinning it. Then heading back to camp for a BBQ fish breakfast. It doesn’t get any better than that for us hunters and gatherers.

photo1: Tailor Fish
photo2: Just the right number of fisher-folk in this gutter
Photo 3: Find the right spot where the 4x4's are parked at dawn or dusk
photo 4: No Fishing Zone Sign

Address: Ocean Beach Fraser Island

Directions: Likely gutters at dusk or dawn

Visit Indian Head

Drive north along the fabulous 75 mile Beach on the ocean side of Fraser Island and the first major headland you will reach is Indian Head at the northern end of the beach. Aboriginal name “Tuckee “( meaning: stone).
There are minor rock outcrops along the way best passed along the beach at low tide or via marked bypass tracks inland. Never enter the water to try to get past rocks.
Once you get to Indian Head (named by Captain Cook in 1770), you might like to climb to the top if only to work up a thirst. This is probably best done from the northern side by driving along the inland road that bypasses the headland.
It is a popular activity. Don’t expect to find yourself alone experiencing direct communion with nature. You’ll probably find a bus load of fellow tourists perched amongst the rocks both in the area designated for access and another half bus load occupying the “No Go” region designated on signs on the tracks leading to the top.
Please don’t fall off the rocks onto the foreshore below. It’s difficult to get blood off the rocks.
Time your visit correctly and you may see migrating whales passing the headland. July to October is traditionally whale watching season. However, if whale watching is your primary mission, you are better off taking a boat trip specializing in the activity at Hervey Bay while you are in the area.
Having worked up a thirst, you will find a very cold beer and a snack or two at the hotel/fuel stop nearby at Orchid Beach Village. (approx 8kms away).

photo 1: view of Indian head from the north
photo 2: nearly at the top of the head
photo 3: view of wave cut platform northern side of heads
photo 4: sign warning of restricted access area
photo 5: track to top is rough and steep. Normal fitness level required

Address: Northern end of 75 mile Beach

Directions: northern end of 75 mile Beach
parking on northern side of headland:approx Lat & Long:25º00'25.30"S; 153º21'27.00"E

Have a Beer at Orchid Beach Pub

Having worked up a thirst, by climbing Indian Head and Waddy Point, you will find a very cold beer and a snack or two at the hotel/fuel stop nearby at Orchid Beach Village. (approx 8kms away from Indian Head).
Hopefully you were wearing suitable footwear to climb the headland so if you put on a shirt you’ll meet the dress standards required to visit licensed premises in Queensland.
Arriving in bare feet?? There is a collection of footwear for those without stuff on their feet. No need to draw two black straps on the top of your feet with a felt pen. Take a left and right thong from the box. You may even find a matching pair.

photo 1: Orchid Beach Pub
photo 2: Footwear is essential to enter the bar. Bare footed? - grab some thongs from a box.

Address: Orchid Beach

Directions: inshore of the aerodrome landing strip
Approx Lat. & Long: 24º57'36.60"S; 153º18'52.00"E.