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Digging your car out of the sand

On Fraser Island, unless you are driving a moon buggy, you will get stuck from time to time. Your first option is to befriend a much better prepared fisherman who will take the time out from gutting fish and skulling beer to tow you out of the deep soft sand around the beach entrances to the inland tracks. Otherwise, take the time to learn from our experiences.

Step 1: Flip Flops

Flip flops are much better digging aids than shovels as they are much lighter and more versatile. As sand rescue involves digging out the engine block and chassis, flip flops (or thongs) are better able to get behind the wheel and remove the sand which gets in the way of pushing your car out.

There are two main movements used for the sand rescue –The Scoop and The Swoosh.

The Scoop

Firstly dig a hollow behind the wheels and clear the tyre. A lot of the sand surrounding the engine block will then fall into this hollow. Hold your flip flop at both ends and Scoop sand to the side of the track.

The Swoosh

For the pesky sand compacted around the middle of the car, The Swoosh is necessary to loosen it. Hold your flip flop at one end and move it from side to side in a sweeping motion. The sand will then fall into the prepared hollow ready for Scooping.

Step 2 –The Push

After digging around your vehicle, get your girlfriend and her friends to don their skimpiest outfits and push your 4×4 out of the sand with their superhuman strength. If at first you don’t succeed, they will attract helpful drivers with winches.