Cape Melville
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 22, 2009 at 22:15
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Member - John S (QLD)
Just wondering if anyone has done
the beach trip to cape flattery. Apparently the track runs off the southern end of Starke HS and leads to
the beach. Once on
the beach, its a run to cape flattery at low tide. Is there a place to
camp once at flattery while waiting for the next low tide?
John
Reply By: PhilD - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 00:04
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 00:04
Was there in June.Track to beach is relatively easy once you find it. Track leaves road south of Mt Webb just after a
creek crossing about 35 kms (from memory) from Battle
Camp turnoff. You need to look for the wheel tracks in the grass. This is different to the trek notes in Ron Moons book. The only suggestion is to walk all crossings like you should as the last one is over the bonnet in the middle but ankle deep on the left.
Easy run for 19 kms along beach at low tide. Just before jetty you will see the track leave
the beach and it goes underneath the
conveyor belt through a concrete tunnel. You cross the headland and arrive on
the beach on the other side where you can
camp under the palms. Very nice place to
camp.
Sand is soft in
places so you should lower pressures.
AnswerID:
375774
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:46
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:46
Hey PhilD,
A mate of
mine used to work the cattle around Starke many moons ago. He says that he used to remember the local coming from Cape Flattery and hitting the main track
cape melville track North of Starke. Do you know if there is still such a track that goes to the coast instead of the one that you have described? Apparently it was much easier.
John
FollowupID:
643272
Reply By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 17:00
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 17:00
Steep sandhill at
the beach both when you first get to
the beach and when you cross over to the other side of Cape Flattery. You need to have low pressures to get up theseon a warm day. You will notice that there is lots of material placed on these hills as they can be quite hard to get back up when it is hot. Watch those
water crossings as stated above, a friend drowned a hilux there this year when he went through them a bit quick. Its a great place and there is a couple of photos on my profile. Cheers Tony
AnswerID:
375846
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 21:30
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 21:30
Hey Tony,
thanks for that. What do you reckon about towing a camper trailer up there?
John
FollowupID:
643243
Reply By: Les B (FNQ) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:51
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:51
Hi,
Sounds like another place we need to get out to. Are any permissions from QNPWS, stations or land councils required?
Only lived on the Tablelands for 5 years there is just so much to do here!
Cheers
Les
AnswerID:
375857
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 21:27
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 21:27
Gday Les,
We are on the Tablelands too. Where abouts are you?
John
FollowupID:
643242
Follow Up By: Les B (FNQ) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:27
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:27
Hi John
We are at
Ravenshoe,
Tully Falls Rd. Where are you?
Les
FollowupID:
643261
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:38
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:38
Les,
Thats why i havn't seen your Patrol around. We are in
Tolga. We used to go to
Ravenshoe a bit for AFL footy, and motocross. But now both my sons don't do either of the sports anymore, so we don't get up that way much. I used to have a VZ 800 (Harley look-a-like) and we used to go that way just for the relaxing ride. But alas, I have sold it and have moved onto boating and
camping.
Might see you around some time. Let me know if you are down this way.
John
FollowupID:
643266
Reply By: PhilD - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:15
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:15
John, according to my gps there is a track as you describe it turning off north of Starcke but I took the southern one and did
the beach run.
AnswerID:
375930
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:24
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:24
Thanks for that Phil. I'll have to do some research and pin point that track.
Thanks,
John
FollowupID:
643290
Reply By: Member - John S (QLD) - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:48
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:48
Phil,
do you have the coordinates of that track?
John
AnswerID:
375931
Reply By: PhilD - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 22:41
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 22:41
Leaves track north of Starcke at 15 00.434S 145 07.673E or very close to that
AnswerID:
376074
Follow Up By: Member - John S (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 05:17
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 05:17
Thanks for that Phil. We'll give it a go.
John
FollowupID:
643477