Thread: Sandy Cape Fraser Is - No Entry...

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

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.

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...

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…

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.

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?

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

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.

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