Palace Adventures Blog

REAL Customer experience with Palace Adventures

2011-06-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

Around the world in Katy daze

(View the original blog here!)

13th May 2011 - 16th May 2011
Fraser Island adventures..

Friday 13th May 2011
After an uneventful bus ride we arrived in Harvey Bay and checked into our hostel 'Palace' early in the morning. We had a lodge like apartment to ourselves which was cool. It had its own kitchen/lounge area. We were all pretty tired after the journey so got a couple of hours kip before going out to explore. Me and Steph very nearly booked a sky dive for that very day but feeling tired from the travelling and realising it was actually Friday 13th we decided against it!!
I went for a walk along the beach that afternoon which was really gorgeous. A long stretch of flat golden sand with the occational fisherman waiting for his catch on the shoreline. I met a nice man from New Zealand walking his dog and we chatted for a while about Australia.
We were beginning our Fraser Island self-drive trip the next day so met the rest of the group that afternoon. After having a breifing about the trip we went to the supermarket to buy our food for the next 3 days. Me, Sally, Kelly and Steph were sharing with two Swiss guys and an Italian. We got an early night, as we were up the next day at 7am.

Saturday 14th May 2011
We gathered outside the hostel that bright Saturday morning and met our 4 wheel drive jeeps! Our groupleader, Jon, told us that if the wind changed direction this might affect our whole trip. It sounded adventurous but I didnt quite believe him! There were 7 of us in our jeep which Steph named 'The Beast'. We set off towards the barge that would take us over to Fraser. On the way everyone got a chnace to introduce themselves and we decided to make up nicknames! Kelly was 'Slinger', Steph inevitably was 'Lyons', I was 'Ginger', Sally called herself 'Wolverien'. One of the Swiss guys was an electrician so we called him 'Sparky'. His friend we called 'Sharky' as it rhymed and the Italian named himself 'Hiker' as he was a hitch-hiker! It was fun at the time...
Sparky drove the jeep onto the barge which took 40 minutes and once on the Island we parked up beside Jons jeep and the 3rd Jeep. We switched them into 4 wheel drive mode and joined the single file sand tracks that ran through the Island. The tree lined sand tracks were bumpy to say the least! Sparky was a good driver and navigated his way well up and over the often dune-like terrain.
We drove for 30 minutes, to Lake Wabby. We parked up grabbed our towels and made our way through the forest. After 10 minutes or so the trees parted to reveal a crystal clear lake with the purest white sandy bank. It was just so beautiful. It was a fresh water lake created by the rain. We were the only ones to be enjoying it that morning. The water was a little cold and was browned at the edges by the sap of the trees. We spent an hour there that morning, swimming and playing frisbee on the sand.
Back in the jeep we all swapped seats so everyone could get a chance at driving. This meant that I was next up! The off road track twisted and turned and lurched us up and out of our seats! it was such fun. The jeep was actually really difficult to control in the soft sand and often I would feel the wheels slipping and sliding aorund. I managed to get us to our next destination anyway. We parked up and enjoyed a half hour walk through through the forest beside freshwater creeks and huge trees. It was a beautifully sunny day. Jon and 2 others had stayed behind to drive the jeeps to meet us at the other side.
We enjoyed a lunch of ham sandwiches and apples before jumping back in the jeeps and heading off in the direction of the beach! The sand track we were on widened and a great long beach stretched out before us! It has to be the flattest beach I have ever seen. The waves ran up the shore a long way. We had to be careful now so as not to drive in the water or get too close to the soft sand on the bank as the jeep would flip over at the speed we were going! It was great fun as we drove down the almost road-like beach a good way.
We pulled up after a few more miles and climbed our way up some huge sand dunes. Once at the top another lake was revealed at the bottom! This lake was clear green with great black fish swimming through. It was so peaceful and quite. We made our way down and layed on the sand for an hour enjoying the scenary and deserted white sand. We hiked back to teh jeeps a different way which took 40 minutes and then began our drive to the campsite.
Before we arrived Jon stopped his jeep and beckoned for us to get out. He began to dig in the sand and pulled out what resembled a mussle. It was a Plimpy. We all dug up a couple each and Jon informed us he was going to BBQ them that night! Once at the campsite we grabbed a tent between the four of us girls before lighting up the BBQ with Sparky and Sharky! We enjoyed a tasty BBQ dinner that night and the plimpys which were ok, a bit like mushrooms but fishy. We played card games and drank the infamous Goon before going to the beach to star gaze and dance! What an amazing day it had been!

Sunday 15th May 2011
After breakfast we started the day with a long drive to the end of the Island, all teh way down the beach. We drove to India head and climbed the hill to the top. It's the begginning of whale season so we spent a hile looking out to sea but didnt see anything. We walked round the coast line to some lovely rockpools and paddled our feet in teh cool water.
We then drove back down the beach to stop off at a ship wreck on the way. It was sad to see the wreck and hear that all the crew members had lost their lives over 50 years ago. Thw reck was rusty and layed on teh sand with the sea washing up around it. While we were there a light 4 man plane landed next to us on teh sand and took off again.
We then drove further back down the beach and stopped at a freshwater creek. We walked up to the top and waded, some people floating back down the creek all the way to the sand which was amazing. We had lunch then before jumping back in teh jeep and heading inland to another lake. We parked up after a half hour drive and trekked for half and hour to the lake which was beautiful. The water was pretty dark but their were tiny baby turtles swimming on the surface coming up for air! I was the only girl to swim in the lake and thoughly enjoyed it. especially when a couple of baby turtles popped their heads out of the water right in front of me!
We trekked back through the forest and boarded our jeeps for the last time that day back to camp. We had another BBQ that night and danced a little more. A couple from the campsite next to ours came across to say hello and told us they had seen a snake. It turned out to be the 3rd deadliest snake in the world! A park keeper told us as he had also spotted it that night! It was called something like 'death adder'.

Monday 15th May 2011
This morning I got up early, 5am, to watch the sunrise from teh beach. It was beautiful as it rose over the ocean. After breackfast we made our way to Lake Makenzie. The most famous lake on teh island for its beauty. It was really pretty. We were the only ones there fo teh first half hour when two other groups arrived. But they were small and we enjoyed a game of frisbie and swam over to a little island in the lake. The water was crystal clear and the sand purest white, it was amazing.
We had to make our way early back as the wind was pushing the tide higher than usual. Everyone was exhausted so not feeling too tired myself I drove us back to the mainland and our hostel Palce. It had been a great trip but we were well ready for showers now as there had not been a shower or toilet block, only spade and loo roll!! We washed all our clothes and took showers before going for a nap. That evening we met up with our group and went for a rare meal out! It had been a great trip.

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Palace Notes: The 'Plimpies' Katy talks about, are actually 'pippies' found on Fraser Island. A natural and nutritious source of food, they were often eaten by the Aboriginal tribes on the island. They might look a little squidgy, and be a little slimey - but we definitely recommend you try eating some! Each of our guides will have their own special recipe.

Easter in Hervey Bay!

2011-04-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

It’s Easter in Hervey Bay! ... well, it’s Easter everywhere this weekend but if you’re in Hervey Bay you’re in for a real treat!

Saturday 23^rd April, 2011 is host to Hervey Bay’s ‘Easter Fun Day’, held at Scarness Park, just 500metres (or a 3 minute walk!) from Palace Backpackers Hervey Bay. The Easter Fun Day is packed with entertainment and market stalls – as well as a number of activities, fun and games.

Two sound stages will play host to a number of entertainers playing music for all ages, while buskers and performers will entertain along the Esplanade walkways. It’s a great day to get together and experience some of Hervey Bay’s local culture with lots of locally made arts and crafts available – plus games and activities for the kiddies (or young at heart!) such as egg and spoon races and sack races. If that’s not enough to tempt you, then maybe trying your hand at the free Zumba, Drumming, Hoop Dancing and Belly Dancing workshops might get your heart racing.

The day is also home for the Great Aussie Sausage Sizzle and some really great prizes up for grabs!!

And of course, what’s Easter without an EASTER EGG HUNT!! Sponsored by Cadbury (yum!) the egg hunt has 10,000 eggs to be found and is the highlight of the day so DONT MISS OUT!

Where: Hervey Bay Scarness Park – just 500 metres from Palace Backpackers
When: 10am – 3pm, Saturday 23^rd April 2011
How Much: FREE!

Accommodation at Palace Backpackers Hervey Bay starts at just $25 per person per night for dorm accommodation, and just $55 per night for a private double or twin room. Book early – Easter in Hervey Bay or on Fraser Island is the place to be!

Hervey Bay: The Adventure Capital of Queensland

2011-04-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Most people know Hervey Bay as the gateway to Fraser Island, but little do they know Hervey Bay is fast becoming the adventure capital of Queensland with so many daring activities on offer.

The traditional Fraser Island tours of both guided or self-drive variety can range from 1 to 3 days - but it's easy to fill up a week in this seaside capital that's fast proving why it's one of Australia's fastest growing cities.

1. Go Para-sailing! - Have the flight of your life above water in Hervey Bay, without getting wet.

2. Take an adrenalin filled day out on a Jet Ski Eco Safari!

3. Release your inner rev-head and tour the region on a fast 3 wheeled trike! - With 3 wheels and plenty of grunt, watch out you don't get addicted. Or, if you prefer to drive yourself at speed, hit the Go Kart Track and race your mates!

4. Skydive from 14,000 feet! - At 14,000 feet you can see the curvature of the earth, plus dugongs, turtles and dolphins in Hervey Bay's waters.

5. Learn to Kite Board! - It's an adrenalin rush mastering surfing the wind and the waves.

6. Go Paddle Boarding! - Celebrities aren't the only ones using a paddle board to look cool and exercise. You can do it to!

7. Dive the largest artificial reef in the southern hemisphere! - Over 63 different drops has built a thriving underwater haven for fish, coral and other sea creatures all waiting to be discovered.

8. See the Fraser Coast by air! - Be brave and let your legs dangle under a Microlite, or experience the vertical thrill of heading upward in a helicopter.

9. Reel in a big one with some world-class game fishing! The calm waters of Hervey Bay attract some big beauties, and delicious eating.

10. Wakeboard at Hervey Bay's newest Wakeboarding park!

11. Get a little country with Horseriding, Cattle Mustering and Moonlight rides at Susan River Homestead!

12. Paddle the reefs of the bay with Glass Bottom Kayaking! - See the protected waters and wildlife in their natural habitat directly below you completely untouched.

13. Go Whale Watching! - Hervey Bay plays home to Humpback whales between July and November each year. It's one of the only places in the world where whales actually stop and play, staying for up to 3 days at a time to mate and teach their newborn calves important survival skills.

14. Get humpy on a Camel Safari! - These local beasts know the beach pretty well, and tours along the beach are a must do at sunset.

15. Get wet! - Spend a day in the sun at 'Wetside', Hervey Bay's FREE water park. Or take a slippery ride down one of Hervey Bay's two Monster Water Slides.

And finally: Explore! - The best way to get adventurous in Hervey Bay is to grab a bike or move those feet and hit the Esplanade. Scattered with fashion boutiques, restaurants, cafe's, shops and resorts - you wont get far without something catching your eye and forcing you to stop again. Picnic in the gardens, visit the aquarium, see the impressive shark catchings of Vic Hislop with a real frozen Great White shark on display, or just utilise the free gym equipment set up by the beach.

You'll never be bored!

Hervey Bay: The adventure capital of Queensland!

Client Testimonials

2011-03-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, I'm burnt, bitten and (almost) broken after my trip out to Fraser - and would do it all again in a heartbeat!!! The trip was absolutely amazing - I knew Fraser would be good, but didn't think it would be that great!!! John was excellent too. As an ex-tour guide I was impressed at how he made sure that he went around the whole group, making sure they were ok and enjoying their experiences. If you or any of your staff are interested in coming down to our Mingle party on Feb 25 then let me know and we can arrange accommodation for them down here. Thanks again, and next you find yourself down this way I still owe you a beer! Cheers, Stuart John Rooms Duty Manager Base Brisbane Embassy

Hi, I took part on the 3days 2 nights tour over the weekend and wanted to say that it was amazing! Carlos our guide was brilliant and made it thge best part of the trip so far! It was worth the money and I will also be sending all my friends your way for the proper Fraser experience!! Thank you for a gret time and please send on my thanks to Carlos once again Laura Perry