The Great Sandfly Straight

With a gentle southerly breeze Tuesday’s action was an enjoyable sail to Garry’s anchorage on the eastern side of Fraser Island. We ventured ashore for a walk at about 4.30 pm as the tide was approaching low. Not a good idea – feet sank into mud as we hopped out of the dinghy, though at high tide you would avoid this. Matey was excited, as always, to see her sweet but reluctant friends the soldier crabs running for cover. On the bank we were confronted by signs warning of dingoes, and crocodiles (hmmm, this far south?) Thoughts of swimming mysteriously evaporated. A short walk inland revealed we’d left it too late as mosquitos and sandflies launched a serious attack so we retreated to the boat and planned a walk for next day at high tide.


So, yesterday we rowed ashore not long before high tide and disembarked onto sand. An invigorating, long walk along a bush track revealed a range of vegetation, including imposing eucalypts. A cute green tree snake blocked our path but by the time Matey retrieved her phone it had vanished. Captain spotted some dingoes in the distance but myopic Matey missed them. Clearly the mosquitoes and sandflies here don’t respect the usual practice of a truce between dawn and dusk: we were assaulted by mosquitoes all the way and ravaged by sandflies too, apparently, as Matey still has bites revealing themselves in unfortunate places by the hour. Captain has been inspired by another yachtie’s fishing success here and has retrieved the reels. It’s a pretty spot here – but insect repellent is clearly essential for those brave enough to venture ashore …

Captain cracks up while fishing

A burqa would have been more sensible