Oystercatcher camping area – Cape Melville National Park (CYPAL) (CG)

Oystercatcher camping area is around 2 km long, this camping area has shady beach-front vegetation and is bounded by tidal creeks. By the beach at Bathurst Bay between Wongai and Granite camping areas use by high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle only to reach the camping area. The park is closed throughout the wet season every year from 1 December to 31 July (inclusive)—roads into and on the park become impassable for extended periods and are closed to public access. These dates may vary depending on weather and road conditions. This area is extremely isolated and remote.
Number of sites: open area without separately defined sites.
Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping beside your car.
Camp site surface: sand.

SITE ACCESS
All roads into and on the park are unsealed and suitable for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles only—they are not suitable for trailers, caravans, campervans or buses. Roads on the park are rarely maintained and can be very rough. Be prepared for corrugations, washouts, tidal creek crossings and soft sand. The road into Ninian Bay is particularly difficult and vehicles may be scratched by roadside vegetation.
Access to the park is either from the west via Kalpowar Crossing in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL)or from the south by the coastal route from Cooktown. These routes converge at Wakooka outstation, which is Aboriginal land and camping is not allowed.
Access via Kalpowar Crossing
It is about 70km from Kalpowar Crossing to Wakooka outstation, and an additional 4km to the park boundary. From here it is a further 35km to the camping areas at Bathurst Bay or 37km to Ninian Bay camping area. Sections of this road are extremely rough and it can take up to 5hrs to traverse.
Access via Cooktown
The coastal route from Cooktown is around 180km to Wakooka outstation, and an additional 4km to the park boundary. From here it is a further 35km to the camping areas at Bathurst Bay or 37km to Ninian Bay camping area. The road is extremely rough and challenging and can take up to 12hrs to traverse. The coastal route can also be accessed by travelling 66km from Old Laura Homestead in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (CYPAL) along Battle Camp Road to join the coastal route 45km north of Cooktown.

Please note: GPS Co-Ordinates are approximate and provided in most cases to get you to the entrance. Once inside the park there should be signs to the actual camp grounds. Failing this please check with National Parks for further directions.

FEES & BOOKINGS
Camping permits are required and fees apply. A camping tag with your booking number must be displayed at your campsite.
Fees for camping permits are:
$6.55 per person per night or $26.20 per family group per night.
$3.60 per person per night for students and accompanying adults on approved excursions.
FAMILY RATE. For camping fees, a family group is defined as one or two adults and accompanying children under 18, up to a total of 8 people. Children under 5 years of age are free. Read more about CAMPING COSTS & BOOKINGS

FACILITIES
There are no facilities on the camp ground.

RULES
Keep to defined vehicle tracks and walking trails.
Camp in designated areas to avoid damage to fragile vegetation.
Take rubbish home with you – if you carry it in, carry it out.

For more detailed information direct from the National Parks web site, please click on the relevant links. PARK ALERTS, RV’S IN PARKS, GENERATORS, FIRES & BBQ’S,SAFETY, CARING FOR PARKS

We are still in the process of obtaining more information about this site.

Data courtesy of: Department of National Parks, Sports & Racing Queensland
Updated: 02122018KT