Re recent threads concerning the impending Defence closure of this track.
We did the drive down from
Grey to
Lancelin last week so as to get a last go before it’s gated off.
However I misjudged and came off
the beach on to the tracks just to the north of the southern Defence zone
gate. It wasn’t a problem tho, as the
gate was open, scungy as ever, and there was no hint of any new
signage.
In any case, unless Defence is going to put up fences to the low
water mark, there seems no reason not to keep the trek open as a beach run from Wedge down to
Lancelin provided people choose their tides.
Also, the drive on the track from
Grey to Wedge (north of the Defense land) is still the same as it ever was, either by cutting on to
the beach (recommended – it’s a great
long flat beach) or the existing track network.
We did the run between 1000-1200 after a low tide (.4m) at 0800. By the time we left
the beach nr
Lancelin the tide was starting to come in, and as
the beach was a bit softer and steepish at that time (and the southerly was howling) I decided to get out. However, at low tide, I judge it as very do-able and there are beach exits further south towards
Lancelin (or at least there used to be?).
There is a small headland just sth of where we entered
the beach at the
Grey end; however the main
beach access is a few 100 metres further south and bypasses the headland. We didn't take it because it was a bit 'slopey'. The small headland was easily passable but would be trickier at a med. tide. There is another bigger headland south of Wedge but the track goes around it.
Even tho the track/beach north of Wedge is only 2-4 kms from the new road, it still feels as remote as ever with plenty of rocks on the oceanfront to explore before hitting
the beach.
Cheers.