Sandy Cape Fraser Is - No Entry...

[harlie]

Not happy about this…


Not sure if this has been covered already so please shut me down if it has.


The bypass track around the back of Ngkala Rocks collapsed a couple of months ago and obviously is now closed. This has essentially blocked the only way to Sandy Cape - except on the rare occasion when the rocks are passable but you would have to have a lot of faith that they will remain that way for you to get home…


The only other way is via the Platypus track and up the western beach – but the western beach has been closed to the public (sth of Light House Gate) for some years now and will never reopen as it’s declared a nature reserve and there is a few species of rare birds nesting along it (I think that’s fair enough). However this route has been used by Nation Parks rangers and Volunteers to get to the Light House and other areas of the Cape since the collapse.


There is an old disused track – Hochimien Track - starts at Orange Ck just south of Ngkala (passing well west of the collapsed track) to Browns Rocks and north to Bool Ck. Parks are refusing to reopen it at this stage – I’m told it would be suitable but is severely overgrown to the point where it’s hard to find in some points. As time passes it may get harder for this to change as it is a World Heritage listed area, which prohibits new tracks – old tracks can be reopened.


As always some of the public like to make a scene and a few of the residents of the Island decided that "since they can travel the western beach so can we" and they have apparently sent letters demanding this right. Couple weeks ago the Marine Pk rangers, in their jet powered 34’ Cougar Cat, counted 13 cars on the closed beach – and the signage has also allegedly been removed (since found). Now there is a huge gate at the western end of the Platypus track and no one is allowed. They are going to deliver everyone and everything to the cape by boat. Seems funny that the EPA is now going to run huge boats burning absurd amounts of fuel through a marine park because some one doesn’t want the public up at the Cape.


So for the foreseeable future it seems that Sandy Cape is now a no go – I’m especially disappointed as we usually stay up there, away from the crowds…

[The Fish]

We were a bit disspointed with this as well. I was on Fraser for New Years and we could get through Ngkala Rocks with a steep drop down onto the beach on the northern side. When I went back at the end of February the bypass was closed and it sounds like it has been closed since. At the time I was told by National Parks that the bypass would be open in about 2 weeks. I hope it is opened again as I have never actually made it all the way to the top and was really looking foward to it in February.

[GuyG]

Pics from 4wd monthly

Why is Ngkala track on Fraser Island Closed?
well i know why as i've just come back from there on the weekend, i walked the track and took some pics to show you all why it's closed.

Entrance to track heading north

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/227.jpg

Rubbish washed into the track, waves must have been massive with the low pressure systems

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/228.jpg

Looking back from the entrance towards Waddy Point / Orchid Beach

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/229.jpg


About 30 metres into the track and you find this

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/230.jpg

About halfway along the track is another section nearly washed away

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/231.jpg

About 3/4 of the way along is the worst washed out section

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/232.jpg
__________________

[GuyG]

More from 4wd monthly forum:

The first exit onto the beach at the northern end of track

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/222.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/223.jpg

The second exit onto the beach at the northern end of track

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/224.jpg

The "beach" run to north Ngkala rocks

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/225.jpg

in short the track isn't able to be fixed, so another alternative needs to be found. i have heard talk about the EPA trying to get permission off of the Aboriginals to allow another track be put in place, but i don't know for sure if it's true or just a rumour. also not sure if they are talking a whole new track or reopening the old overgrown track that runs up the middle of the island bringing you out near the back of the lighthouse.

I've seen a few people asking can they just drive around the rocks at Ngkala, well let me know when you are going to do it as i'd love to watch. This is just a short section of the rocks, would only be about a 1/4 of the lenght of the track at the most.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/226.jpg
__________________

[Phoenix]

Those pics were posted on the overlander forum as well, and show very graphically why the track is shot. apparently there was tracks there shoing that somebody had driven it past the first 2 washouts, but the photos do no justice to the scale of the 3rd, and they turned back.

[GuyG]

Its just nature, the sand comes and goes. I have been to the Cape on most occasions when I've been to Fraser although I've never seen the rocks to that extend before the first entrance to the bypass track. There have been a few times when we have been able to drive around the front of the rocks. The bypass track was quite often the bit which limited numbers getting to the top end of the Island and was also one of the few remaining tracks which could be a bit of a challenge as it wasn't boarded like the rest of the island.

Hopefully there will be a resolution sometime soon that will allow us to get back to Sandy Cape.

[cal415]

damn i hope they sort it out soon, i have a trip planned for oct/nov this year and im planning on staying at the sandy cape for a few days!

[harlie]

damn i hope they sort it out soon, i have a trip planned for oct/nov this year and im planning on staying at the sandy cape for a few days!

I have some close contacts in Parks, From the conversations with them over the weekend - I'm sure that you won't be going that far. There is no plans at this stage to open anything up.

[4wd4fun]

Thats a shame I always go to the cape when on Island:(:(
There was an old track a few hundred meters in from the current track about 30 years ago we had to use it when i was a kid and dad always went to the cape it was a lot longer and was hard.
Took a bit of finding back then but I have looked for it 10 years ago and could make it out but had not worried since. you did acturally go in at the entrance but had to turn left over some dunes and then into bush behind dunes it came out about 1.5-2km up the beach from the current track exit past a lot more rocks that used to be exposed.
Dont now if its recorded on any maps or just a track the old fisherman made when the original buypass collapsed 30 years ago.
It's more then likley overgrown now and not able to be found.
Cheers Allan

[Xtreme]

Another disappointed member with a trip planned for late October.

[Newbs-IIA]

This is really dissapointing and slack on QPWS behalf.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF CONSERVING SOMETHING IF NO ONE CAN SEE IT??????

That old trac, Hochimien Track, sounds good - im just getting dad's old maps of Fraser which are about 20 years old so it should be on there. I will also compare it to my current HEMA map of fraser

[Captain_Rightfoot]

WOW. I'm really glad I went up there on our last trip in December. :)

[cal415]

wow, thats disappointing to hear, makes me want to find my own way there, im sure there are alot of disused tracks that would get around that point of the island NPWS would loooove that. From my previous trips i think the sandy cape is the best spot on fraser, i was hoping to make use of the beach camping area up there.

[samuelclarke]

That's no good. :( I can't wait to get to Fraser [live only like 1 hour drive from it!]...methinks I should do it ASAP before they shut down more of it for good! OK, that's kinda a joke...but it seems that almost every week I hear of someplace that's being shut down or given restricted access. Makes me wish I lived a couple of generations ago...

[harlie]

Ok – so the EPA has decided that no vehicles are allowed to Sandy Cape, and they will deliver personnel and supplies by boat.


I’ve received a message from the "personnel" on their way to the cape with the following figures.


Speed – 18kns
Fuel Burn 108 L/hr
Run Time over 2.5 hours each way.


So that’s over 540L of diesel each way – will be over 1100L for the return, and they have to go back and pick them up… 2200L of diesel through the marine park… What does EPA stand for – can’t possibly be Environment Protection Agency…


This is madness – where’s the environmental impact number on that! Just because some Nazi has decided that the public are not allowed at Sandy Cape – I thought National Parks were for the public…

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I'm very glad I went up there last time I visited.

Just to be precise though.. they aren't saying SC is closed to vehicular traffic. What they are saying is that the bypass is impassable at the moment, and you can't get over the rocks. See here. (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications/p01663aa.pdf/Fraser_Island_conditions_report_last_updated_3_Jul y_2009.pdf)

From what I understand what they are saying is they aren't going to repair the bypass (may not be possible) and they aren't going to create a new bypass. I too think this is very silly and will lead to vehicles being lost on the rocks when/if the sand comes back enough to attempt a crossing.

I agree this is silly. However the dunes are reasonably steep around there and I'm not sure where they could put another bypass. Thoughts?

[harlie]

Yeh you right, technically if you can get over the rocks then you can go – they are passable for an average of what – 3-4 days/year.


They can’t create a new track because it’s now World Heritage Listed but they can reopen existing/previously abandoned tracks.


In behind those big dunes is The Hochimien Track (disused from the logging days) - starts at Orange Ck just south of Ngkala and goes to Boul Ck. At the point where it passes behind Browns Rks it is 200-250m behind the beach – I’ve walked sections of it and it is severely overgrown to the point where it’s hard to find in some points, so it needs a good clean. That should be ok the EPA has tonnes of cash if they are using 2200L+ to get people up there now :D

[mark2]

I glad I made the effort to get up to the Cape last year - it may well have been the last time:(

It was a challenging drive in places (certainly the most challenging on the island) with some sections looking like the preceding photos. I wouldnt have wanted to do it on my own - we all got stuck at some stage and we saw only two other vehicles north of Orchid Beach.

[mns488]

Hi,

I'm going to fraser next month and I was looking at the conditions report and it looks as though the sandy cape is open again?

Has anyone been recently and able to detail what sort of condition it is in?

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/register/p01663aa.pdf

Any input appreciated!

Thanks

Matt

[Ace]

Havent done Fraser Island yet, very keen to get up there though and its a bugger to hear that there will be sections that I may never get to see, unless I walk of course :D