Gnaraloo boat launching facilites
Submitted by r.gates on Sat, 2011-07-02 11:54
Hi guys
Later this month, my son and his mates are heading up to Gnaraloo for a week.
I've checked out their website and it mentions a boat ramp, but I can't find any other details about it. Is it just beach launching, and if so, what's the biggest boat you could launch from there?
He's got a 2007 Nissan Navara and he's only taking the 4m runabout, but we may venture up there later on in the year with the bigger boat (590 Trailblazer). Can I launch this one from there???
I'm guessing that the fishing is pretty good up there and it seems that you don't have to go too far out for a feed.
Any comments about the place in general and the accommodation would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
regards
rusty...
____________________________________________________________________________
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Mick
Posts: 501
Date Joined: 28/08/06
Awesome place. It is a beack
Awesome place. It is a beack launch but I've seen 6-8m boats being launched there. The ramp itself is in the bay. Just be careful with a bit of swell. Can be very nasty. We stay in the shearers shed if there is a big group heading up or 3 mile camp if mainly surfing. It is a truly remarkable area and very remote so you need to have your wits about you. Oh and make sure the trailer is in A1 condition.
Cheers Mick
If the lord did not mean for us to eat fish and game, he wouldn't have made them outta meat
The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. That's why so many people appear bright...until they speak.
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
Yeah,
Mick onto it there. The last point is important. Your trailer can cop a flogging on the way in/out to Gnarloo. It's a fair hike along the gravel to get there and it can be very corrogated this time of year (very busy).
And yeah, the fishing can be sensational.
sea-kem
Posts: 15030
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Just been up there two weeks
Just been up there two weeks ago and will post a report soon. The track is in shit state at the moment. So need to be very wary of the puddles on the way in. The beach is a bit boggy in the arvo with the tides but there are some green fibreglass tracks to use (make sure they do or you'll get bogged) There were a couple of 7m boats when we were there and had no trouble using the tracks. Fishing was exceptional and as I said will put a report in soon as there is some awesome video footage to post.
Love the West!
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
use tracks
As the others have indicated use the tracks left at the beach area when retreiving your rig and you will make it easy, ensure they are under the boat trailer tyres when retrieving and it should be straight forward, also let your tyres down on car and trailer this will help to soften the ride .basically you need to get in and out a quickly as possible just get you crew organised and enjoy the view later. and we have seen 7 to 8 mt rigs , going in easily
the site accomdation is basic shearer quarters, the old homestead and about 20 small three bed cottages all are self contained , the station supplies a 20 litre drum of drinking water which gets refilled when empty, they all have fridges and you can request a fish freezer as there is power for about 16hrs a day, not many of the units have hot water showers
Fuel can be bought at the station if pre organised, but we found it best to take in our own supplies to ensure no water in motor hassles, food/bait /drinks is what you take in with you otherwise its 130 km back to Carnarvon, the gravel section of the track is around 85 kms so letting your tyres down also helps for the ride in, i did put up some photos of the track and cottages if you look back in the search bar/topics .nd the worst section of the track is probably the 8 kms homestead to the launch ramp
Also do some research on the channel in and out of the bay which can get scary when the swell gets up and messes up the whole of the bay , our first few trips there was no swell and then one day we had 4 to 5 mts and it certainly change the whole area , A pay phone is on site, but we take a extension antenna for phones and internet/laptop , the station also puts up a daily copy of sea breeze to let you know whats going on with weather and swell , otherwise it a great place , enjoy
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Thanks guys
Thanks for the info, it's very much appreciated.
Thanks for the PM, Andy, I'll give you a call tomorrow.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Xtreme Coolers
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Hi Rusty
My mates and i go up to Gnaraloo every year. This will July will be our 8th year. The place is brilliant, i look forward to the Gnaraloo sunsets. A few of the self contained units have recently received an upgrade and include hot water systems. As the guys have mentioned, the track is always unpredictable and taking your time will be well worth it. Letting your tires down from the King waves kill sign is a must. (car and trailer) With your 5.9 you shouldn't have any trouble on the beach especially with the grates. We also make sure the trailer gets the best grates rather than the car. The weather, fishing and people are awsome and of course, the elements can be pretty tough up there. We have had just as much success in 120mtrs as we have anchored up in five mtres on a small swell when the easterly is cranking. Look out for the marine sanstuaries and getting out of the bay is simple, however, as mentioned above, you need to know where to go. Just don't cut the corner too much in anticipation of getting out. We pre order all our fuel from the homestead. We also find if we give Paul (can't miss him, you will know who he is because you will noy be able to understand him) and his crew a few fillets, they are very appreciative and helpful.
Gnaraloo is a great place Rusty. It is not the easiest place to get to, but once you are there, its brilliant.
I will be there from Sat 8th - 16th of July. Let you know how we go and even happy to give you a few spots to head to. There is plenty up there for all.
Dave
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Thanks again
Thanks Dave, hope you guys enjoy your trip...looking forward to reading your report when you get back.
Nice talking with you Andy....appreciate the help and now I'm looking forward to heading to Gnaraloo soon. I'll have to wrestle the Navara keys off my son!!
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
jezza n
Posts: 1
Date Joined: 18/07/11
gnaraloo
hey lads!
Im heading up this weekend for two weeks for some surfing and a bit of spearing. Im taking my 21ft center console inflatable. its nice and light so i think i should be sweet launching it in the bay. i have heard though that some crew launch their boats in the lagoon at 3 mile camp and leave their boats there on anchor??? i have never really checked the lagoon out so i dont know what the story is, thought it might be a bit too much swell. anyone know if this is possible or will i have to put the boat in out every day i want to fish or go hunting for waves????
cheers!
tot
Posts: 1162
Date Joined: 31/01/10
no anchoring at 3 mile
As far as launching I think your boat would still be a bit to big to navigate the inside and retreive comfortably.
What does it have on the back?
And your trailer needs to be set up for this - 3rd wheel + good rope .
Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Hi mateyou can get your boat
Hi mate
you can get your boat in there no probs - we launched our 23 foot glass boat (circa 2 ton) there last year no probs - just make sur eyou use the steel tracks on the beach -they are heavy and a pain to drag down and back each time (put them behind the car and reverse onto them) but honestly we just drove the car out like it was a concrete ramp (troopie power helps!!)
As for the trip in -make sure you dont overload your boat (with weight) and make sur eyou let your boat trailer tyres down -we had ours running at around 20psi -
Pic below of a launch - my mate not to phased about getting his troupie wet!!
fishwrecked.com/image/gnaraloo-bay-beach-launch
http://fishwrecked.com/image/gnaraloo-bay-beach-launch
cheers
Clinton
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Having trouble posting
Having trouble posting pics
but link below is the result on our trip out of gnaraloo :-(
Was the result of the boat hitting a pretty big pot hole - we hobbled back to Carnarvon where some good folk in Carnarvon helped us out :-)
It was a day of welding from there on in!
http://fishwrecked.com/image/gnaraloo-track-victim
fishwrecked.com/image/gnaraloo-track-victim2
mdonarts
Posts: 4
Date Joined: 08/06/18
Gnaraloo Boat Fishing / Launching
Hi Guys going to Gnaraloo with our 21ft Wellcraft centre console . Do you think we will have any issues beach launching and any advise where to fish ?.
Cheers Marcus
Marcus
sea-kem
Posts: 15030
Date Joined: 30/11/09
When are you going mate?
When are you going mate? Shouldn't have any issues launching it's retrieval where you need to be switched on especially if on a low tide. I have some short ali tracks that are 1.8m long and back the rear wheels of my car on, that gives enough traction to pull the boat out and get up onto the harder sand. Head out to 40-70m and you'll need to sound for fish. PM me if you want more info, I'm up there at the end of the month.
Love the West!
Rob H
Posts: 5808
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Just watch for the bloke in
Just watch for the bloke in a shiny Amarok, walking around it with a polishing rag every 5 minutes and trying to wash it from the drinking water tap when noones watching
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
sea-kem
Posts: 15030
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Love the West!
walloped
Posts: 191
Date Joined: 08/04/12
Before last Tuesday's rain
Before last Tuesday's rain the tracks in and out of Gnaraloo were really quite good. Take it slowly around the puddles.
sea-kem
Posts: 15030
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Are there puddles on the
Are there puddles on the track Walloped? I thought they'd cured that with the extra drainage channels.
Love the West!
Xw393
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 17/06/15
Theres definately no
Theres definately no launching facilities. Make sure you have some max trax, conveyor belt or similar as the beach is soft. Also beware of fisheries stalking from the bush with scopes.
The track in isnt too bad considering tney dont own a grader,, or have any dirt to put on the road. Its pretty desolate, but somehow the goats are happy eating rocks. Just need to take it real slow. Saw a caravan split to pieces a few months ago cos they drove in flat out.