Wineglass bay walk too crowded ??

[Bridge]

Hi there, just have a question regarding the popularity of wineglass bay. I am in the process of organising the families first combined bushwalking and camping trip. I have three young kids and have been recommended to try the wineglass bay walk. We plan to camp at the end of wineglass bay and then the next day to walk across to hazards beach and camp at that ground, before making our way back out. I suppose im just a little concerned about overcrowding...i really wanted our first big camp/hike trip to be out of the "rat race"...does anyone have any advise regarding this...?

[ILUVSWTAS]

what time of year are you looking at staying there?? I dont really camp there much but have gone past on daywalks twice this year, there has been around 5-10 tents at the campsites on both of those occasions. During peak times I'd imagine that number may triple.

[sthughes]

Winglass Bay and Hazards Beaches are fantastic spots, but in my limited experience anytime in the warmer months of the year they are very, very busy. The bit from the car park to the north end of Wineglass Bay is just insane, however most of the tourists wearing thongs/heels/dresses/carrying babies etc. turn back from there. Also if stopping there for two nights in the summer then fresh water might be an issue.

Personally I'd go in the winter (when the water is very cold), or look elsewhere to escape the "rat race".

[Vern]

I have been to the end of Wineglass Bay twice and haven't seen anyone there on both occassions. On the Oyster Bay side I have been four times and have seen the occassional campers. From my experience I would say there'd be plenty of room but I imagine it could get busy at times. Packing some drinking water might be something to think about if it hasn't rained much. Doesn't seem to be too much around. I lent some of my water to a couple camping on the Oyster Bay side once who were totally out and there was no water to be found nearby. Nice spot for camping though!

[ninjapuppet]

Sounds like there's a market out there for a packable reverse osmosis machine that can turn sea water to drinking water. Now someone just needs to invent it. We had one in the army the size of a caravan, but required 7 liters of fuel to produce 1 litre of water

I camped down there once in July and there was only 1 other tent there. There was a water tank down there with running water

[Marwood]

Katadyn manual desalinators

[SueOfTheSouth]

I agree with Vern . We have been camping at Freycinet for many years, usually between May and November and rarely see another tent. Hazards camp sites are very sheltered with plenty of room, we have never had a problem with getting water upstream. The Camp sites at the end of Wineglass Beach are not so reliable for water and at times it looks quite brackish. Cooks Beach seems to be more popular but still plenty of room to camp at a distance from other tents. You could base yourself at Hazards and do day walks to Cooks and Wineglass. A beautiful area and thats why we keep returning, most of the crowds only go as far as the lookout with a few going beyond to do a circuit. Beyond that you see very few.

[ninjapuppet]

Katadyn manual desalinators

sorry to hijack this thread, but that is amazing! I never knew such existed....
http://www.basegear.com/survivor06.html

ok, so it costs a grand USD,
produces a measly litre an hour
and weighs 2.5 pounds.

some crazy specs, but might be handy for bushwalking groups walking along the beach, never having to worry about water supply again.

[Drifting]

That's not the easiest walk for youngin's. It's steep, and the local GPs call it Fracture Track from the number of injuries that occur on it.

[Bridge]

Thanks for all the great advice...The plan was to be there mid april. So hopefully it shouldnt be too busy. It looks like such a beautiful spot...perhaps i'm just being a little selfish wanting it all to myself! lol..
I'm a bit concerned with it being renamed the Fracture Track, the last place u wanna be on holidays is in hospital!! We hadn't planned on going round Mt Graham, because of the gradient, so decided to pretty much stick to the beaches. I spoke to one of the rangers down there and he suggested that this would be the best bet for walking with kids. Is there anyone out there that has given this a go with young kids ?
As for the water situation, i was planning on carrying as much as we could, and should supplies run low then we could just make it an overnighter, instead of the 2 nights.