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.
The track turns off Battlecamp Road after Isabella Falls and is first a reasonable gravel road.
It goes past the turnoffs to Mt Ray, Elderslie, Glenrock and Mt Baird ...
.. 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).
Further north it passes by Starcke Homestead and the turnoff to Starcke boat ramp, and soon after that the road gets graduallly smaller.
It goes along the eastern border of Starcke National Park, which is not accessible and has no facilities.
Next the road comes to the beautiful Starcke River.
After the river you come to an old outstation, and right after it to an old windmill.
The track has got gradually smaller, has some sandy sections,
.. and is sometimes also a bit rugged but nothing too bad.
And then it comes to Jeannie River - almost dry towards the end of the Dry Season.
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).
There is another track on its left hand side but it is more washed out and consequently not better.
It is now hard to get up and unless you have diff locks you might not get up (from south to north) without winching.
Not long after the river you enter the southern section of Cape Melville National Park.
The track continues, narrow and much the same,
... all the way to Altanmoul Section of the park, where it climbs up the hill and then down again ...
.. until after a bit of a drive and a lagoon with waterbirds, you come to Wakooka.
Starcke Boat Ramp
Starcke boat ramp is in the southern end of the Starcke Wakooka Track and is a popular area.
Whether you are taking your boat out or not,
... you can also just enjoy shore fishing,
... or just camping and watching crocodiles,
... this is a great place to enjoy.
There is plenty of camping space,
... both on the river bank,
... and away from it.
The full information about the rules is in the Destination Guide.
Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide
Get this 50 pages guide totally for FREE. It contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip. You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you should take, how to get there and get around, where to stay (general info), what will it cost.. and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.Plan and Bring
to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide
If you liked the books or this website, let others know about it!
Link to it from your website, your blog, your forum post... Share it on Facebook, Tweet about it...
Every link helps other travellers!
Thank you for doing the right thing and letting others know :-)
Custom Search
Get the FREE Pocket Guide:
Get the Big Destination Guide
Available
with the Big Destination Guide:
This site uses British English, which is the English we use in Australia.
Disclaimer : Although best efforts have been made to ensure that all the information
on this website is correct, this site is not to be blamed should there be a mistake.
This is the ORIGINAL Cape York Travel Guide run Locally on the Peninsula.
TM & © Copyright 2009 - 2023 Katrin Holmsten ALL RIGHTS RESERVED