Tom Haynes

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Sandy
Adventure
Words | Tom Haynes Images | Rob Macdonald
Cruising along the beach as the rising sun sparkles on the ocean we scan the salty horizon for the headland
which marks the first stop on our sandy adventure, Double Island Point.
D.I as it is affectionately known is about
60 kilometres north of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and accessible only by 4wd. It
is a place of extreme beauty, teaming with
fish and home to some of the best waves
in Queensland.
DI is a place where uncrowded turquoise
waves reel over white sand. A place where dolphins, whales and turtles are seen more often
than not and a place to escape the daily grind
14 WHAT TRADIES WANT.
Empty waves,
excellent fishing,
extreme beauty and
plenty of sharks.
and get back to basics.
A destination unto itself yet no trip to DI is
complete without a visit to Fraser Island just a
stones throw away. The world’s largest sand
island boasts empty waves, excellent fishing
and plenty of sharks.
My guides, Tim Boulenger and Dave
O’Gorman are Fraser veterans and eagerly
anticipate the excellent spear-fishing and surf on
the island, as does shutterbug Rob MacDonald.
Geared up in a new Nissan Navara D40
loaded to the hilt, the headland of DI emerges
from the salty shimmer and anticipation mounts. 
WHAT TRADIES WANT. 15
DI in all its glory
FA C T U R E D
D e s ig n e d & M A N U
in A u s tr a li a
Built to protect.
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Adventure
Arriving at DI, the waves are
reasonable if not epic. There is
plenty of swell running and after a
4am start we are all keen to get wet.
Using the infamous rip near the rocks (which
has caught many an unsuspecting tourist off
guard) we are rushed out the back into the fresh
head-high breakers. It is mid-week and we have
the waves to ourselves. The craggy headland
looms on the left and the endless empty beach
stretches away to the right. A Sunshine Coast
thunderstorm growls in the distance as we trade
fun waves into the beach.
Dave and Tim are keen to sample the fruits of
the ocean and soon don their full-body camouflaged wetsuits. It is not long before they return,
Tim having snared a 5kg Tailor. Jokes are made
about sharks at Fraser Island, home to one of
the greatest populations of sharks in Australia.
Little did we know.
Next stop is a short drive to the other side of
the headland where in the right conditions waves
can peel in perfection for over one kilometre. This
however is a rare event and today is no different .
The swell is just trickling into the protected bay and
although perfect in form is lacking in size.
Trading turns on the longboard, we hoot
and scream each other into knee high waves
which peel endlessly down the line. “What if the
waves were bigger” crosses everyone’s mind,
yet the session is fun and leaves us in high spirits for the journey to Fraser.
Almost packed and ready to continue our journey, the threatening rain finally unleashes, thundering on the Navara. For some time we discuss who will be getting out to strap surfboards
r
DI perfection – If only it was bigge
to the roof before Dave takes one for the team.
A Queensland thunderstorm equals instant saturation.
Our journey to Fraser Island means a
10-minute barge ride from nearby the small
township of Rainbow Beach. There are two
ways from D.I to Rainbow, with most choosing the hour-long Freshwater Track through
the bush. Some brave the short but treacherous beach run where the ocean laps at towering sand cliffs and the renowned Rainbow
rocks which have claimed many a vehicle.
We choose the safer option and are relieved
we did when we see numerous photos at the
Rainbow garage of vehicles in various stages
of ocean submersion after being bogged during
this infamous gauntlet run. The Navara is made
of the toughest stuff but somehow I think Nissan
wouldn’t appreciate it going ocean swimming. 
Tim and his tailor
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The Freshwater Track
The northern side of DI
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16 WHAT TRADIES WANT.
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WHAT TRADIES WANT. 17
NAV0428
A friendly campsite visitor
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Early morning paddle
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Relax in the champagne pools or do
the opposite and surf in front of them.
Wetting a high-tide line
The crew at Fraser Island Barges
had agreed to escort us across to
Fraser and so the next leg of our
journey began.
Fraser Fun
Timing is critical when beach driving, with mid
to low tide being optimal and in some cases
essential as high tide can cover the beach entirely.
Hard-packed sand groomed by the outgoing
tide stretches out before us and the Navara
cruises effortlessly up the beach to our campsite
where we cook fresh Tailor washed down with
icy cold beers.
The morning dawns with rain a distant memory
and beads of sweat spring on everyone’s brow.
The smell of fresh coffee meant Rob was doing
his thing while Tim and Dave have been scoping
out a nearby rock outcrop for crayfish. “Last time
we came, we got our bag limit in half an hour”
Dave says. This time the crays are elsewhere
18 WHAT TRADIES WANT.
but the boys are stoked from getting really close
to a bunch of turtles
I sit back and enjoy my coffee and watch the
small swell trickle invitingly into shore. It isn’t long
before the ocean lures me for a paddle. Sharks
cross my mind but the beautiful morning gives
the probably misguided perception of safety.
”here sharky sharky
sharky”, and in the
waters off Fraser
Island there are plenty
to answer your call
It is high tide and we are unable to drive
anywhere so we laze around in the morning sun.
Cicadas chirp happily and a wallaby inspects
us from a safe distance. I wet a line but catch
nothing but sun. Soon we can negotiate a path
through the high-tide mark and while the sand
is thick and gluey, the Navara’s unbelievable
power makes light work of it.
Dave and Tim are keen to go spearfishing
at Waddy Point where Dave has seen some
good setups for big fish. Sharks come into the
conversation again as we discuss how the boys
dangle their prey on a rope some 10 metres
behind them as they hunt. To me, that says,
”here sharky sharky sharky”, and in the waters off
Fraser Island there are plenty to answer your call.
We leave the boys and agree to come back
in a few hours after scoping out the nearby
Champagne Pools, a spot renowned for its
beauty both in the form of nature and Swedish
backpackers.
Parking among the throngs of 4wd tourist
buses we set out on the coastal headland
pathway. We are greeted with a great little wave
reeling off the front of the pools. The sharkinfested Indian Head is only one kilometre
up the beach and we hesitate before seeing
another wave reel down the line. We are sold. 
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WHAT TRADIES WANT. 19
Indian Head. “Ahhhh zerr
iz a very big
sharkenhausen!”
Dave describing the Bronze Whaler,
not the Swedish backpackers.
The boys with their catch
Jumping off the rockpools into the ocean, the
first wave washes over me as I dive deep into
the crystal water. Rob is right behind me and I
think selfishly that there is now a 50 per cent
less chance of being victim of a shark attack.
Sunshine Coast surfing icon Brian Weir once
told me, “Sharks don’t want to eat you. You don’t
smell like a fish, look like a fish or taste like a
fish.” This I’m told, is why most attacks occur in
murky water or bad light. I remind myself of this
to calm my nerves.
The surf is far from relaxing. After seeing a
massive dark shape in the swells and backpackers pointing from the headland, Rob
retreats to the safety of the beach leaving me
alone with the waves. My every nerve tingles
from the adrenalin coursing through me. My
senses are overloaded.
I get my share of fun waves and even manage
to duck into a little tube but as the tide drops the
waves lose their form and I am happy to put my
nerves at ease and head in. We later discover
from a tour guide the dark shape was a manta
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ray and I feel a twinge of disappointment I had
not had a close encounter with a shark.
Yet just a few kilometres away, Tim and Dave
were putting new meaning to the term “close
encounter”. A three metre Bronze whaler –
one of the more aggressive species of shark
– attracted by the fresh blood from their hunt,
had come to inspect the scene. Dave recounts:
“I had just speared a Mangrove Jack
out of the depths in the form of the Bronze
Whaler. We managed a second shot on the
fish to stop it exciting the shark further which
hung around a couple of minutes before returning to the deep. It was at that point we decided to
call it a day.”
Stoked to have the boys alive and in one
piece we were keen to check out some sharks
from a safer distance. Indian Head is a stomp-
I had just speared a Mangrove Jack when the
shark charged at me. my spear was unloaded....
when the shark charged in at me. My spear
was unloaded so all I had was my knife as
the shark sized me out just feet away. I
brushed its nose with my fins but held my
ground and watched with relief as it slinked
away. Charged with adrenalin we continued our hunt, until Timmy shot an eight kilo
giant trevally. We knew something was up
when the injured trevally limped towards us
rather than fleeing. The reason soon loomed
ing ground for sharks and it did not disappoint.
Within minutes of our arrival at the summit we
spot a large shark cruising the waters below,
much to the delight of the many backpackers
on the headland.
With the tide rising, we make tracks back to
camp, engaging in a little wakeboarding behind
the Navara on the way. Back at base we prepare another meal of fresh fish. The beers are
nectar as we recount the day’s excitement. 
Navara-boarding
Adventure
20 WHAT TRADIES WANT.
WHAT TRADIES WANT. 21
Fraser Island Barges
www.fraserislandbarges.com.au
1800 Barge
Great Sandy National Park
www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/fraser
or /cooloola
Noosa
Fraser
Island
Our last day on the Great Sandy Island and we pack up early
to escape imprisonment by tide. We plan to hit the tourist trail
today, first stop being Eli Creek where crystal fresh water trickles through rainforest into the ocean. A short swim and a deep
drink and we move on to the infamous freshwater Lake Mckenzie. This is the largest and most popular of over 100 freshwater lakes on Fraser Island. Pristinely clear, its brilliant blues contrasts strikingly with the blinding white sand. As a gentle hum of
European accents fills the air we decide it is time to call it a trip.
Cruising out through the rainforest, we marvel at the wonders of The Great Sandy Island. Sharks, dingoes, turtles, wallabies, rainforests, pristine lakes, empty waves, great fishing
and if you go to the right place, not a person in sight. Fraser
Island and Double Island Point are a must-do for anyone with
a sense of adventure. Get out there!
Adventure
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Harvey
Bay
22 WHAT TRADIES WANT.
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