Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "American Reacts to Fraser Island - QLD - Australia" video.

  1. If driving the larger US pickups, you would find many 4WD destinations becomes difficult as the tracks tend to be best suited to vehicles more to say Toyota Landcruiser, and Hilux types, or the very many other 4WD vehicles, Nissan, Mazda, Isuzu, VW, Landrover, ,Mercedes, Ford, Suzuki, GM, etc The wider and longer US pickup trucks get very tight and cumbersome. Yes many places they are fine, and many trails are also traversed by firefighting light trucks, but even these tend to be narrower. A HUMMER is impossible in many places as it is too wide, in sme places height is also an issue.
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  2. Fraser Island needs several days at minimum to see and visit even part of its many sights. Sand driving experience and recovery equipment very desirable. Many changes since mid 1990s when I was there. But within the first few km on the island I used my winch to help a Range Rover that had been towing a camper trailer, get recovered. His vehicle was dugin to floor level, trailer already left behind bogged nearly 100m back. He was clearly inexperienced, and tried to avoid the sloped into surf waves moist edge of beach, but tried high up dry soft sand. After winching vehicle and then the trailer back to safer firm wet beach sloped edge used by other vehicles, the driver asked, " How much does fantastic GADGET cost" referring to my winch. Clearly a city Range Rover 4WD owner with no real knowlege about such off road conditions, I am certain he saw very little of the entire island, and certainly not to the outer tip and light house. That is a real adventure. Needs going all the way to the north east end, requiring passing around Negalla rocks ( not sure of correct spelling there) Do lookup some youtube videos, lots of people getting stuck. When I travelled that I was on my own, and that location needed climbing high above the rocks, these days the approach is very low down and continus to be storm erroded considerably. I had two rising sand ramps, to top of the sand dune, no signs. On charging up the right one, slightly less steep, I aborted, as all view was sky and bonnet (hood by US name). On getting out my front wheels were inches from a vertical drop to rocks below. Note the island is entirely sand accumulated on a few rocky peaks that become surfaced on eastern coast in a few, rare outcrops. From memory thogh even that rock os very ancient sandstone. Anyway, had I continued even one foot further I likely would be dead, and the vehicle a rusted away wreck on those rocks. On backing down, I dragged some branches and driftwood from the beach area, and put up a limited barrier to the entrace to that ramp to try to save anone else mistaking that approach and getting killed, as I nearly was On using the left one, it took 5 tries to get to the top, from which I had possibly 1km of driving the ridge of a dune, with several large side gullies that would have terminated any chance of progress, filled by soft wind blown sand. On finally seeing clear beach the trip continued down the steep dune slope and over soft sand to the firmer sand of high tide water washes area. Many km later I was end of the island, and while the lighthouse was back a short distance around that end, I took photos and ware of high tide due in zeveral hours made my way back. Oh my heck. That dune I came down was now a real problem. The soft stretch of beach took away any speed of run up, and then nothing available to climb the dune rise of quite steep form. Some 20 tries, no success. I again assembled some drift wood and dried seaweed. Tried stomping some firmer track space. Finally made it partly onto the steeper dune edge slope. Here used my spare wheel, buried over the dune top to which myself up the dune, then winched the vehicle by near 80deg to face along the dune. Packed my gear and proceeded back along the dune, and to camp at Waddy Point camp. A full day trip, back in camp at next high tide, having departed in the morning maybe two hours after previous high tide, so travelling over 9 hrs, given tides are twice per day, so 12hrs high to high, or low to low. Glad to be alive, and a very important lesson, never drive unknown trails where you can not see your way, walk it to check is safe. Vision blocked, stop do not proceed till checking.
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  3. Maheno wreck is a scrap ship that broke its tow to japan for recycling, in a storm, and then washed up on the island. It has been rusting away for a long time and should remain for many more decades
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  4. Fraser island is entirely sand. Hundreds of feet gigh with huge forest and many perched frsh water lakes (on sand) able to stay there by accumulated leaf layer on base. The digoes are numeeous, and have created some dangers to people. Surf fishing very popular. Great place, and very unique
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  5. Also check for some Inskip Point videos, where the southern end ferry to Fraser Island departs. It is amusing how many people get stuck in the sand before even getting to the island.
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