Weipa/Mappoon to Bramwell/OTT via Stones Crossing

EOTopo 2021 doesn't show a continuous driveable route and won't create that Trek, but if you choose walking or cycling it produces this. You'd need to drive it to get a track log to confirm the real alignment. Would be interesting to see how they compare.

Thanks Frank. I'll see how that goes in practice. I was hoping someone might have actually driven it since it was opened about 12 months ago, but I appreciate the input.

See the link from Ron & Viv Moons facebook site

https://www.facebook.com/MoonAdvPub

There has been a bit of discussion on the various Facebook Cape York sites. One of the first through on Quads marked the track. If the marks are still there I don't know because the property managers are doing everything possible to discourage users.

Also contact Cook Shire Council to see if they have they roar alignments.

Hi Bandicoot,

There is another “shortcut” between the Peninsular Development Road heading to Weipa, and the Bamaga (Southern By-Pass Road) that does not traverse through the Steve Irwin Conservation Reserve. It runs through Batavia Downs. We used this shortcut when we were coming back from our trip to the “Tip”. The road was in pretty good condition at the time, (2018), not sure what it would be like now. Given all the recent rain, and the fact that it crosses a pastoral lease it might not see a grader very often. I have looked on Exploroz Traveller, and cannot find it, but it is on Hema Maps.

Macca.

It is called Baravia Downs Rd and is on my EOTopo 2021 maps.
It runs from Sudley to Batavia Downs.
It also has a Exploroz Trek Cape York - Weipa using it.

The Stones crossing track remains controversial, but whatever the facts, it remains a difficult track, (certainly not suitable for towing anything, nor indeed for a vehicle like that shown at in the OP's signature) . It has been 'promoted' by a small group of self interested folk who have been keen for others to use it to 'open it up'. Recently Cook Shire council have indicated they see the track as as 'legal', but don't expect that the council (or anyone else) will have done any maintenance on it.

Be aware that the Wenlock at Stones Crossing is tidal, & the crossing itself is quite treacherous for folk unaware of the route which needs to be followed across the water to avoid metre+ deep car swallowing holes. Walking it is not without risk, there are large salties in that stretch of river, bull sharks too. I'm not sure if true, but I have also been told , by the person who originally pushed the track through years ago that the rocky base of the river at the crossing is 'hollow' ie. water caves underneath, which could collapse if too much weight were driven across them.

The track goes through Bertiehaugh Station, much of which is now the Steve Irwin Reserve, but not all of it, part of Bertiehaugh is still used to run cattle by the folk who had the Station before the Irwins. Neither they nor the Irwins are happy about the track being used.

My suggestion is that whilst folk will make their own decisions about whether to use this track or not , that perhaps they may want to consider whether, at this time, they want to do other's dirty work for them. The buggies, when they pushed through took, I believe, 12 hours from Stones Crossing to Bramwell Junction. A couple of wet seasons have been & gone since then, so all the track clearing they did will likely need re-doing.

Hi Bandicoot

If your on Facebook Messenger give Weipa Auto & Marine a message and they will give you a GPX file called Bertiehaugh.gpx of the exact route. Or you could ring them. Sorry don`t know how to share it.

Matt

Interesting article on the Bertiehaugh Rd in this weeks 6/6/22 Cape York Times by the editor.

https://www.capeyorkweekly.com.au/latest-news/comment-why-cape-york-needs-to-keep-loop-road-open?fbclid=IwAR1oiRU4Ffe9_pbzWmEb2CAwNVz_QtEmqqdrG2aeI5EG9EwKPHy5PbCq25E