Starcke Wakooka Track


The so-called Starcke Wakooka Track is a narrow 4WD track.

It starts at a turnoff not far north of Isabella Falls on Battlecamp Road and ends in Wakooka.


It is a great four wheel drive track and if you are on your way to Cape Melville, this is the slower but more fun alternative to the Lakefield - Cape Melville Road (which comes to Wakooka and Cape Melville from the west).


The track may be boggy in the early Dry and definitely requires a 4WD vehicle.

starcke wakooka road battlecamp

The track turns off Battlecamp Road after Isabella Falls and is first a reasonable gravel road.

starcke wakooka road

It goes past the turnoffs to Mt Ray, Elderslie, Glenrock and Mt Baird ...

starcke wakooka road elderslie mt ray

.. then crosses McIvor River and passes by the small Mt Webb National Park and the turnoff to Morgans Landing, (where you can continue to the beach and Cape Flattery).

starcke homestead

Further north it passes by Starcke Homestead and the turnoff to Starcke boat ramp, and soon after that the road gets graduallly smaller.

starcke

It goes along the eastern border of Starcke National Park, which is not accessible and has no facilities.

starcke wakooka road track

Next the road comes to the beautiful Starcke River

starcke river

After the river you come to an old outstation, and right after it to an old windmill.
  
starcke wakooka track outstation starcke wakooka track out station

The track has got gradually smaller, has some sandy sections,

starcke track

.. and is sometimes also a bit rugged but nothing too bad.

starcke wakooka track

And then it comes to Jeannie River - almost dry towards the end of the Dry Season.

jeannie river

UPDATE since about 2015 the northern bank of Jeannie River has become increasingly dug out and steep (this photo does not do it the justice).

starcke wakooka track jeannie river

There is another track on its left hand side but it is more washed out and consequently not better.

jeannie river steep bank jeannie river north bank

It is now hard to get up and unless you have diff locks you might not get up (from south to north) without winching.

jeannie river winching

Not long after the river you enter the southern section of Cape Melville National Park.

cape melville national park

The track continues, narrow and much the same,

cape melville road

... all the way to Altanmoul Section of the park, where it climbs up the hill and then down again ...


cape melville altanmoul

.. until after a bit of a drive and a lagoon with waterbirds, you come to Wakooka.
 
wakooka

Starcke Boat Ramp

Starcke boat ramp is in the southern end of the Starcke Wakooka Track and is a popular area.

starcke boat ramp

Whether you are taking your boat out or not,

starcke boat ramp

... you can also just enjoy shore fishing,

starcke boat ramp

... or just camping and watching crocodiles,

starcke boat ramp

... this is a great place to enjoy.

starcke boat ramp

There is plenty of camping space,

starcke boat ramp

... both on the river bank,

starcke boat ramp

... and away from it.

starcke boat ramp starcke boat ramp
starcke boat ramp starcke boat ramp

The full information about the rules is in the Destination Guide.

starcke boat ramp





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