The next day, day 8 and the last day of my trip to k'gari, I donated my crappy cooker and crusty billy to Vince, who needed it more than me and promised to give them a good home; and after a dip in Lake McKenzie, I wound my way through the bush to Basin Lake, and from there out to the ferry terminal. There I sweet-talked a Sydney couple into giving me a lift from the ferry to Hervey Bay, which they gladly did, and as I nursed my feet after their 110km of walking, I showered, washed my clothes and sunk back into the luxuries of the western world.
Fraser Island was one of the most beautiful walking experiences I've ever had, and I'm glad I didn't let the 4WD tourist façade put me off. It's almost always possible to get off the beaten track and see a lot more of a place than the tourists will see, and although it's fun to take three days zooming around the island in a grunting Land Cruiser, it's much more satisfying to do it properly and by foot. Shades of Uluru here, I think...