Camping western side of fraser

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Hey guys,

I have camped at Fraser multiple times over the years, always up the sandy cape end of the island. Last year we did a big day trip and crossed wathumba and decided to camp over there next time. My question is for those that have done this, coming from Brissy am I better off driving to hervey and catching the ferry to moon point? Can I drive the western side straight from here down to Wathumba area? Or do you have to go inland and then pop back out on the beach somewhere?

The other option is do I take the usual inskip ferry and drive across the island via orchard beach or happy valley?

I would have though moon point would be better as its really the same distance to hervey bay from brissy as opposed to rainbow beach and then its less driving on the island? Local knowledge would be great including names of the best inland tracks to use etc if anyone is an expert on the western side of fraser?

Cheers guys

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Have not been to Wathumba Creek for nearly 2 years, but to head south from Wathumba at that time there was quite a deep tidal creek to cross. Maybe there was a way around it further back from the beach but we did not find it.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

I've spoken to locals and they have said its doable from moon point, but towing a camper trailer adds a whole new element for me. Might just go to inskip and drive from orchid. will see if anyone else can offer advice. the beach over there was to die for when we last went, hence why i want to camp there

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

I may not be informed correctly, but Hema maps show the route closed from Towoi Ck to Wathumba.

[ScoticusMaximus Member Find all posts View Profile Close ScoticusMaximus]

You cant go from wathumba down anymore its too deep, you have to head across from just south of the pinnacles, then you can head north up to wathumba or all the way down to Moon point. im pretty sure the ferry from hervey bay doesnt run to moon point any more either as the actual moon point access track connection is overgrown now. Be wary, some of those creeks on the west have some decent quick sand and can be deep, we came across a van that had picked the wrong line when we were there last time.
If coming from the south it would probably be fastest to head in at Happy Valley and then across to moon point, the track is in better condition than the one near the pinnacles normally too.
The western side is pretty awesome, plus not many people venture across there so you often have large stretches of beach to yourself.

edit - just looked at the national parks map, you arent actually allowed to drive on the beach between Wathumba and Towoi creek anymore - so that is definitely out

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

You cant go from wathumba down anymore its too deep, you have to head across from just south of the pinnacles, then you can head north up to wathumba or all the way down to Moon point. im pretty sure the ferry from hervey bay doesnt run to moon point any more either as the actual moon point access track connection is overgrown now. Be wary, some of those creeks on the west have some decent quick sand and can be deep, we came across a van that had picked the wrong line when we were there last time.
If coming from the south it would probably be fastest to head in at Happy Valley and then across to moon point, the track is in better condition than the one near the pinnacles normally too.

The western side is pretty awesome, plus not many people venture across there so you often have large stretches of beach to yourself.

edit - just looked at the national parks map, you arent actually allowed to drive on the beach between Wathumba and Towoi creek anymore - so that is definitely out

Cheers, that answers that question! much appreciated

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Just watch the tracks and beach when you are driving. Storms bury leaves and debris and there can be patches of perfect looking sand with nothing much underneath, easy to get caught out. Some nice bits though and worth the drive.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Just watch the tracks and beach when you are driving. Storms bury leaves and debris and there can be patches of perfect looking sand with nothing much underneath, easy to get caught out. Some nice bits though and worth the drive.

yeah drive the whole length of the beach last year with no probs on the west and drove through wathumba from orchid/happy valley just wasn't sure about landing at moon point and driving up there but appears it cannot be done