Three GPS-loving Japanese tourists landed in cold water when they attempted to drive to Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island in their small hire car.
The low tide and a GPS navigation system lured them in to Moreton Bay at Oyste rPoint at Cleveland but they had only driven about 500 metres when the situation got sticky. The Redland Times reports that a firm gravel surface quickly gave way to the renowned bay mangrove mud and the Hyundai Getz was soon up to its axles. The incoming tide forced the trio to abandon the vehicle and seek help. A four wheel drive owner who saw the incident contemplated winching out the car, but abandoned any attempt due to the speed of the oncoming tide. No attempt was made to recover the vehicle and, within a few hours, the car was stranded in two metres of water.
The Tokyo students had wanted to take a day trip to Straddie and believed their GPS unit would be able to guide them there. The GPS forgot to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud between the mainland and the island.
Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and “it told us we could drive down there”.
“It kept saying it would navigate us to a road. We got stuck . . . there’s lots of mud.”
Yuzu and and her travel friends Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, were all looking forward to a day trip to the island, but headed back to the Gold Coast courtesy of a lift from the RACQ tow truck driver who was called to the stranded car.
The three students will fly home to Tokyo on Saturday.
The car was covered by insurance, but will cost the tourists about $1500 in excess charges.
