David & Faye's Travels in Australia: Teewah Beach, Great Sandy National Park

WOW What an exhilarating but fearsome 4x4 adventure. We read about camping at Teewah beach and decided that's where we would camp whilst looking around Noosa. Naively we thought access to our camp site would be similar to those on the Rosebud foreshore. After obtaining a camping permit and taking a ferry across the Noosa River, we drove over a rise of sand to find a ramp leading onto the beach. It was then we discovered we had to drive along the high tide mark beside the surf for 30kms to reach our campsite. My heart was in my mouth as we slid on the wet sand and bounced our way through deep sand, avoiding the hundreds to other 4x4's returning from their weekend escape, until we finally spotted our site on the other side of a sand dune. Alas the sand was just too deep for the Musso to drag the Ultimate camper up and over the rise and we bogged. As we were digging ourselves out, one of the returning weekenders seeing 2 geriatrics in dire straits offered his assistance and hitched on to the front of the Musso and with both vehicles roaring their engines, the Ultimate was gradually pulled into place. Our rescuer made a hasty retreat, amid our thanks, as daylight was fading and he had a way to go to get off the beach himself. Thankful we were safely located we set up camp, had a light dinner, and went to bed.

Next morning we were having breakfast when we saw a vehicle approach us - would you believe he was delivering supplies! There are two vehicles that service beach campers (we're told there are 2000 sites along the 35kms set aside of camping). We bought some bread and firewood for our three day stay, it was like going back in time to have a "home delivery service". We thoroughly enjoyed the next three days. We watched dolphins and whales frolicking in the ocean, watched fishermen fishing in the surf, saw many 4x4s and one motorbike go by, and rode our bikes along the waters edge. A lone dingo approached our camp one night but moved on after having a good look and finding nothing.

At the end of our stay it was with some trepidation that we set off for our drive back to civilisation. Our worries were fruitless as although the drive back was not an easy one David did a great job of keeping the vehicle on track and we finally arrived at the exit off the beach. I then jumped out of the vehicle (too afraid to stay in it) to watch from the sideline, as David drove through the deep churned up sand. Thankfully he pulled the Ultimate to safety without a hitch. Believe me, after three days of dreading the return trip I cried with relief when we were back on bitumen. That was enough beach driving to last me a lifetime. We then went through an UNDER CAR wash to remove all the sand and salt we had accumulated on the vehicles.

Following are a few of the photos taken during the three days we spent at this camp.

We were lucky to see whales whilst we were here. It was wonderful watching them spurting, rolling around flapping their fins and rising out of the water in a high dive. One rose straight up out of the water nose in air exposing most of his mammoth body before sinking back out of sight - amazing.