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Cape Melville National Park

  • Nature, culture and history

    • Park alerts and park summary

    Getting there and getting around

    There are two access routes to Cape Melville National Park. The western access road enters the park via Lakefield National Park and Kalpowar Aboriginal Land. From Cairns, the journey to the southern boundary of Lakefield National Park (340km) takes about five hours, and from Lakefield National Park to Cape Melville (135km) takes a further five hours, as sections of the road are very rough. The southern access road enters the park north of Cooktown, via the Starcke coastal road. This road is a difficult 225km journey and can take about 12 hours from Cooktown.

    Access to Cape Melville National Park is by 4WD vehicle only. Caravans should not be towed beyond Lakeland Downs on the Peninsula Developmental Road, or Cooktown.

    Ensure that you drive to the road conditions and to your vehicle's capabilities.

    The park is generally accessible in the dry season, from June to November. During the wet season, roads become impassable and are closed to public access. Check with RACQ for road conditions (see tourism information links for contact details) and the Bureau of Meteorology for updated weather reports.

    Wheelchair accessibility

    There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities in this park.

    Park features

    This remote park is characterised by the massive, tumbled granite boulders of the Melville Range, the sandstone escarpments of the Altanmoui Range and inland dunefields. The park features a diversity of plant communities including rainforest, mangroves, heathlands, woodlands and grasslands.

    The isolation of Cape Melville National Park has given rise to a high proportion of rare and endemic plants and animals, which are found nowhere else in Australia. Most notable of these is the foxtail palm, now a popular garden plant.

    Features of the park's landscape are woven into a rich tapestry of Aboriginal traditional stories and significant sites, creating a living cultural landscape. The long Aboriginal occupation of this area, which is known as Othawa, is evidenced by shell middens, burial and rock art sites, and has contributed to the significant diversity of vegetation in the area.

    Camping and accommodation

    Camping

    Bush camping is allowed in Cape Melville National Park, behind the beach at Bathurst Bay. Facilities are not provided. Please keep campsites on the sand to avoid encroaching into the beachfront vegetation.

    Camping permits are required and fees apply. Permits can be obtained from the self-registration shelter at the Lakefield ranger station in Lakefield National Park or in advance from the Cooktown QPWS office.

    Find out more about this camping area

    Essentials to bring

    Make sure you bring:

    Camping facilities are also provided at Lakefield National Park.

    Things to do

    Walking

    Take a stroll along the wide sandy beaches of Bathurst Bay and Cape Melville, fringed by woodlands with a backdrop of the Melville Range, and enjoy the views of the Flinders Group islands. Wongai plums grow along the shore here. These trees have significance for the Traditional Owners — please do not damage or disturb them in any way. From the beach, a short easy walking track leads to the Cyclone Mahina monument.

    Please remember that crocodiles live in the waterways, along the coast and offshore of the park, so visitors must take precautions. Be croc-wise in croc-country.

    Driving

    Roads into and on the park are suited only to 4WD vehicles. Most roads within the park are simple bush tracks. Your vehicle should be in good mechanical condition. Carry plenty of fuel as driving on rough roads in low gear uses more fuel than under normal driving conditions. Also carry spare parts and basic vehicle repair equipment to be self-sufficient.

    Wakooka

    Wakooka is at the junction of the coastal track from Starcke and the Kalpowar road from Lakefield. Cattle yards, a windmill and an old hut mark the site of a historical stockyard and outstation (a temporary mustering and work camp), which were part of the old Starke Pastoral Holding. Wakooka is now Aboriginal land.

    Jones Gap

    The Starcke road winds south between the Altanmoui Range to the east and a mountain range to the west. The crest of the road between the ranges is known as Jones Gap. This site, which is associated with a creation story, provides impressive views to Altanmoui Range and across the Starcke plains. The Traditional Owners ask that you show respect for this powerful cultural place and do not disturb or damage any part of the landscape for your own safety and the health of the country.

    Boating and fishing

    All coastal waters surrounding Cape Melville National Park are included in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. The marine park is zoned to manage different activities. A National Park (green) zone, in which all fishing and collecting is prohibited, extends from Cape Melville south-east to Ninian Bay. This green zone also extends from south of Barrow Point along the coast to the Jeannie River. Bathurst Bay, west from Cape Melville, is zoned Conservation Park (yellow zone) which allows limited fishing.

    For detailed zoning maps and information for state waters, see Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and for Commonwealth waters, see Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Information is also available from the QPWS Cairns Information Centre and the QPWS Cooktown office. There are also zoning signs at Cape Melville, Ninian Bay and Murdoch Point for further details. Fishing is also subject to Queensland's Fisheries restrictions.

    Recreational fishing is allowed in all creeks and rivers in Cape Melville National Park but fisheries regulations apply. For details of bag and size limits for popular fish species, restricted species and seasonal closures, see Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

    Be aware that estuarine crocodiles live in the waterways, along the coast and offshore of Cape Melville. Be croc-wise in croc country.

    Things to know before you go

    Essentials to bring


    Opening hours

    The best time to visit the park is during the dry season months of June to November. At other times, during the wet season, the park, and gazetted roads within the park, can be closed to vehicle-based public access.

    Permits and fees

    Camping permits are required and can be obtained from the self-registration shelter at Lakefield ranger station or from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office in Cooktown. Facilities are not provided.

    Camping permits are required and fees apply. A tag with your booking number must be displayed at your campsite.

    Pets

    Domestic animals are not permitted in Cape Melville National Park.

    Climate and weather

    Cape Melville experiences a wet and dry season. During "the wet" (December to March) heavy monsoonal storms and rain depressions associated with cyclones influence the weather while in "the dry" season less than 20 percent of the annual rainfall is received and the temperatures are cooler.

    Fuel and supplies

    The nearest fuel, meals, toilets, showers, supplies and mechanical repairs are available from Cooktown, 12hrs drive (225km) south-east of the park or from Laura, 6hrs drive (180km) south-west of the park. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Staying safe

    Cape Melville is a remote national park and visitors must be well prepared. For your safety, please:


    Be croc-wise

    For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

    Looking after the park

    See Caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Park management

    Cape Melville National Park was gazetted in 1973. It was extended in 1996 with the inclusion of parts of the Starcke Pastoral Holding and again in 2005 with the inclusion of parts of the Kalpower Pastoral Holding. The park now stretches for 70km, from Cape Melville in the north to Jeannie River to the south, covering 171,410ha. Cape Melville has been successfully claimed under the Aboriginal Land Act (Qld) 1991.

    Sections of the park can be closed periodically for management purposes. Please contact a ranger for advice and observe road signage.

    Tourism information links

    The Gateway Discovery Centre

    For information on road conditions contact:

    RACQ (The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland)
    • www.racq.com.au (see Motoring>Road Safety>Road Conditions Report)
    • ph 1300 130 595 for 24-hour road reports

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see www.queenslandholidays.com.au.

    Further information

    QPWS Cooktown
    • 5 Webber Esplanade, Cooktown
    • PO Box 611, Cooktown QLD 4895
    • ph (07) 4069 5777
    • fax (07) 4069 5574
    • email cooktown@epa.qld.gov.au
    QPWS Cairns Information Centre
    • 5B Sheridan Street, Cairns
    • PO Box 2066, Cairns QLD 4870
    • ph (07) 4046 6600
    • fax (07) 4046 6751
    • email cic@epa.qld.gov.au
    EPA Customer Service Centre
    • Ground Floor
    • 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
    • PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
    • ph (07) 3227 8185
    • fax (07) 3227 8749
    • email csc@epa.qld.gov.au

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    Last updated: 30 January 2008