French tourists have made a costly mistake while attempting to cross a notoriously difficult beach pass popular with 4×4 enthusiasts.
The camping trip came to a horrific end at Mudlo Rocks at Rainbow Beach in Queensland’s Gympie region on Thursday.
Mudlo Rocks, located between K’Gari and Cooloola National Park, is a narrow rocky pass between the coastal town of Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point.
But drivers have to time the crossing as it depends on the tide, and if they time it wrong, their vehicle can be slammed into surrounding rocks or plunged into quicksand.
That’s exactly what happened to the French tourists and their two all-terrain vehicles at the dangerous location.
Images showed the vehicles almost completely submerged in the turbulent water.
“These two French boys didn’t make it over the rocks,” reads a Facebook post.
Lucas, one of the French travelers, revealed that all members of his group were unharmed.
One of the 4×4 vehicles that was hit by waves and almost completely submerged when French tourists attempted to cross the famous Mudlo Rocks in Queensland (pictured)
The vehicles were pushed against rocks and sunk into the sand. No one was injured (in the photo, the red 4×4)
‘Everyone is fine. Those are my two friends. We already cleaned everything around this morning at 3 am (sic),’ he wrote.
‘We called a tow truck this morning (sic). Thank you all.’
The traveler also added that he knows Rainbow Beach well, as he and his friends have gone there “every week,” but was pragmatic about the incident.
“Just because you know the place doesn’t mean it will always be good,” he wrote.
“We learned a life lesson the hard way, but it’s just material, no one was hurt.”
Australian 4×4 enthusiasts were quick to try to make tourists feel better.
Everyone gets drunk. “I’m sure these guys worked hard to get these vehicles ready for travel,” one wrote.
‘I feel very sorry for them. Poor guys,” said another.
A third wrote: ‘Eek! Poor kids. I bet you guys feel sick right now.
But other Australians were quick to blame tourists for not having the “driving skills” to be able to use the pass safely.
Mudlo Rocks, Rainbow Beach, almost three hours north of Brisbane, is a famous tide-dependent beach crossing. Many vehicles have been claimed in the area by the tide (Rainbow Beach file photo)
‘You need to learn how to use your vehicle before making extremely serious mistakes. Knowledge is king,” one wrote.
‘How do people get into this situation?’ added another.
The group of French tourists is not the first to have had problems at the site: many have been forced to declare their cars as “written off.”
Mudlo Rocks has become so famous for its tides and vehicle-washing rocks that even the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is warning drivers to take extra care.
‘Use extreme caution; “Only experienced drivers should attempt to cross Mudlo Rocks if conditions are good enough,” their website said.
‘Don’t let a trip turn into a tragedy. Please use Freshwater Road as an alternative route.
“Wave action can expose dangerous rocks at night.”
