The second day of our tour included inland driving to two freshwater lakes and a rainforest. The last thing I expected to find on the world's largest island made of sand is a massive rainforest ecosystem, yet I found myself walking for 30 minutes along the banks of a trickling stream in the shade of gigantic trees. The fern pictured above is 1,700 years old, and has remained relatively unchanged in it's biology since the age of dinosaurs. It grows 1 centimeter a year, and is apparently quite rare. It's one of the oldest living organisms I believe I've seen.
Neil cooked us a nice BBQ lunch which we enjoyed in the rainforest picnic area.
Our final stop of the tour was Lake McKenzie. It is special for being a big freshwater lake, and having very fine sand (silica) beaches. In fact, the sand is so soft you can polish jewelery (or you teeth) quite effectively. I saw it with my own eyes on a silver necklace and a coin. We all went for a swim, mostly hanging out in the shallower section (light blue) because we had some mental issues crossing into the deep blue abyss that lay farther out. Aside from a few turtles, there wasn't much life in the lake(s) due to a low pH balance.
While we were at the lake, a wild dingo made an appearance, quietly snooping around people's bags for food. You can incur a heavy fine if you intentionally (or unintentionally) feed the dingos.
After the lake, we headed back to Hervey Bay where I spent a quiet night at my hostel.
