According to a small notice in todays' Morning Bulletin, the Rockhampton Council, at last Tuesdays' Council Meeting, approved a 6 month Trial for free-camping at Woolwash Lagoon, 5 K's south of Rocky.
It's not off the Bruce Highway. You have to go down Port Curtis Road to get to it.
Check at the Information Centre for directions.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 28th of September 2013 08:22:22 PM
Longreach said
03:48 AM Sep 29, 2013
Great news Sheba. Congratulations to Rockhampton Council for bucking the trend and inviting us to prove our commitment to the town and its services. Lets not disappoint them. Go, stay and keep the site immaculate. Clean up if necessary. We need innovative councils like this who can think independently of the lets charge em and close em lobby! If we deliver what we promise the site may well be available for extended periods.
Cheers to you
Rob
Happywanderer said
03:51 AM Sep 29, 2013
Will have to try it out when I get up that way, if I can find it.
Sheba said
04:02 AM Sep 29, 2013
I'm going to go and check it out on Monday Marj. Will give an update Monday night.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Happywanderer said
04:20 AM Sep 29, 2013
Great Sheba
brickies said
04:25 AM Sep 29, 2013
It going to 24 hour camp on 6 month trail , So just overnighter could be handy location for overnight
herbie said
05:07 AM Sep 29, 2013
Was up fishing near Rocky QLD this arvo,and decided to go have a look at this free 48hr camp.
You can access it from the Bruce Hwy, The road (Roope Rd) is to your right if heading north on Hwy about 200odd metres past the turn off to Grasmere Follow Roope rd for about 12ks and the camp area is along the side of lagoon to your left.To access from travelling south through Rocky turn east off Bruce Hwy 3.8ks south of Fitzroy river bridge (opposite info centre ) head down Port Cutis Rd for about 4ks and you will arrive at the lagoon. there is no facilities so would need to be very self reliant and lots of bug killer.
The locals were saying this used to be a free camp a few years back but due to over stayers ( free loaders ) it was closed.That is why it will be 48hrs.
Happywanderer said
05:16 AM Sep 29, 2013
48 hrs will be better than 24 hrs and plenty long enough to relax and rest up.
Is this the same one Sheba was talking about?
Sheba said
05:18 AM Sep 29, 2013
Thanks for that herbie. My info. was second-hand. Will look on Monday.
Cheers,
Sheba.
herbie said
07:17 AM Sep 29, 2013
Yes same one as Sheba was talking about, when I was there today the signs were still up around the area REGARDING THE NO CAMPING, GUESS IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO RE ERECT NEW SIGNS.
brickies said
03:31 PM Sep 29, 2013
In a press release by the mayor she state 24 hour stop over on 6 month tail
Hi, The road along the Woolwash used to be the original Bruce Hwy. The remains of the Tropic of Cancer building were still there a few years ago. Don't know if it accessible from the south as Roopes Bridge was condemned a while back but there was a move by locals to have it opened to light traffic. Don't know if this was successful. Good place for an overnighter but no facilities. Nice shady trees. Would be a good spot to leave the van & explore the area if there was some security.
Some of the local hoons use it for burnouts etc. Also used to be a popular lovers lane.
Roopes Bridge is a spot to catch a barra when the lagoons are flooding. The Woolwash was once the site of a wool scour (hence the name) & the paddocks around it were used for spelling & fattening sheep. It is about the last in a chain of lagoons that stretch around between Gracemere & Rockhampton past the golf course, aerodrome & others. These are the ancient Fitzroy River course. The creek is tidal downstream of the bridge & empties into the Fitzroy on the outskirts of R'ton (Gavial Ck).
So ends the geography lesson. Bill
P.S. Don't forget the aerogard/Bushmans & Coils.
Haji-Baba said
09:10 PM Sep 29, 2013
I would be a bit hesitant to go swimming there. Could be the odd handbag in those waters.
Haji-Baba.
herbie said
09:57 PM Sep 29, 2013
The locals yesterday were telling me it was 48hrs,so maybe this has been reduced to 24hrs.
While I was there yesterday there was young bucks fishing and drinking and just throwing their stubbies every where,so it is not always the over nighter leaving the mess behind,but of course we will get the blame.
The trees a very big and if you were looking for some sun re charge solar,maybe not a good place.
Do not think I would leave my van there unattended,and yes the mossies/midgies were bad there yesterday and we really haven't had the rains yet.
I did not see any sign regarding any weight re bridge,but that is not saying there is not,because of all the bridge working going on over the Fitzroy river a lot of vehicles must use Point Curtis Rd and Rookes Rd as a by pass to get into Rocky as there was heaps of traffic .
brickies said
10:19 PM Sep 29, 2013
I did a google map search and google search and I don't think I would bother ,Rockhampton council are not giving much away
Boroma577 said
10:53 PM Sep 29, 2013
I also had a look on Google maps and could see a number of Lagoons, but not Woolwash Lagoon??
herbie said
04:19 AM Sep 30, 2013
Personal view ... I would not bother stopping there ..Calliope river stop over is only a hr down the Bruce Hwy .
Sheba said
07:31 PM Sep 30, 2013
After going up to check it out, I have to agree with you herbie. It's basically a long narrow strip along the Lagoon.
It would be a Bog-hole too, with a good rainfall I'd say. I noticed one lot of wheel-ruts under one of the Fig trees that must have been at least 6-8 inches deep. [Didn't get a pic. of that.]
There are a few solid looking pads along the way, but not many. Took a few pics. so you can see what I mean.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 30th of September 2013 07:32:47 PM
Re the time frame for stopover, it is only 24 hours.
Quote taken from Caravanning News FB page:
ROCKHAMPTON mayor Margaret Strelow announces six-month trial of free 24-hr rest area at Woolwash Lagoon.
herbie said
06:04 PM Oct 2, 2013
In my opinion Rockhampton have opened this strip of un kept section of tire rutted over grown weed section
as in the local paper awhile back they (council) were looking for ways to attract the travelling public to stop as the town was missing out on the golden $. They sure as hell have not gone out of there way to provide any thing above this .
According to a small notice in todays' Morning Bulletin, the Rockhampton Council, at last Tuesdays' Council Meeting, approved a 6 month Trial for free-camping at Woolwash Lagoon, 5 K's south of Rocky.
It's not off the Bruce Highway. You have to go down Port Curtis Road to get to it.
Check at the Information Centre for directions.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 28th of September 2013 08:22:22 PM
Cheers to you
Rob
I'm going to go and check it out on Monday Marj. Will give an update Monday night.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Was up fishing near Rocky QLD this arvo,and decided to go have a look at this free 48hr camp.
You can access it from the Bruce Hwy, The road (Roope Rd) is to your right if heading north on Hwy about 200odd metres past the turn off to Grasmere Follow Roope rd for about 12ks and the camp area is along the side of lagoon to your left.To access from travelling south through Rocky turn east off Bruce Hwy 3.8ks south of Fitzroy river bridge (opposite info centre ) head down Port Cutis Rd for about 4ks and you will arrive at the lagoon. there is no facilities so would need to be very self reliant and lots of bug killer.
The locals were saying this used to be a free camp a few years back but due to over stayers ( free loaders ) it was closed.That is why it will be 48hrs.
Is this the same one Sheba was talking about?
Thanks for that herbie. My info. was second-hand. Will look on Monday.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Yes same one as Sheba was talking about, when I was there today the signs were still up around the area REGARDING THE NO CAMPING, GUESS IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO RE ERECT NEW SIGNS.
Hi, The road along the Woolwash used to be the original Bruce Hwy. The remains of the Tropic of Cancer building were still there a few years ago. Don't know if it accessible from the south as Roopes Bridge was condemned a while back but there was a move by locals to have it opened to light traffic. Don't know if this was successful. Good place for an overnighter but no facilities. Nice shady trees. Would be a good spot to leave the van & explore the area if there was some security.
Some of the local hoons use it for burnouts etc. Also used to be a popular lovers lane.
Roopes Bridge is a spot to catch a barra when the lagoons are flooding. The Woolwash was once the site of a wool scour (hence the name) & the paddocks around it were used for spelling & fattening sheep. It is about the last in a chain of lagoons that stretch around between Gracemere & Rockhampton past the golf course, aerodrome & others. These are the ancient Fitzroy River course. The creek is tidal downstream of the bridge & empties into the Fitzroy on the outskirts of R'ton (Gavial Ck).
So ends the geography lesson. Bill
P.S. Don't forget the aerogard/Bushmans & Coils.
I would be a bit hesitant to go swimming there. Could be the odd handbag in those waters.
Haji-Baba.
The locals yesterday were telling me it was 48hrs,so maybe this has been reduced to 24hrs.
While I was there yesterday there was young bucks fishing and drinking and just throwing their stubbies every where,so it is not always the over nighter leaving the mess behind,but of course we will get the blame.
The trees a very big and if you were looking for some sun re charge solar,maybe not a good place.
Do not think I would leave my van there unattended,and yes the mossies/midgies were bad there yesterday and we really haven't had the rains yet.
I did not see any sign regarding any weight re bridge,but that is not saying there is not,because of all the bridge working going on over the Fitzroy river a lot of vehicles must use Point Curtis Rd and Rookes Rd as a by pass to get into Rocky as there was heaps of traffic .
I also had a look on Google maps and could see a number of Lagoons, but not Woolwash Lagoon??
Personal view ... I would not bother stopping there ..Calliope river stop over is only a hr down the Bruce Hwy .
After going up to check it out, I have to agree with you herbie. It's basically a long narrow strip along the Lagoon.
It would be a Bog-hole too, with a good rainfall I'd say. I noticed one lot of wheel-ruts under one of the Fig trees that must have been at least 6-8 inches deep. [Didn't get a pic. of that.]
There are a few solid looking pads along the way, but not many. Took a few pics. so you can see what I mean.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 30th of September 2013 07:32:47 PM
Re the time frame for stopover, it is only 24 hours.
Quote taken from Caravanning News FB page:
ROCKHAMPTON mayor Margaret Strelow announces six-month trial of free 24-hr rest area at Woolwash Lagoon.
In my opinion Rockhampton have opened this strip of un kept section of tire rutted over grown weed section
as in the local paper awhile back they (council) were looking for ways to attract the travelling public to stop as the town was missing out on the golden $. They sure as hell have not gone out of there way to provide any thing above this .