Cape York Ep 4: Bogged in Cape Melville – and Noah Finally Scores

With the Starke Track behind them, the crew leaves Ninian Bay and heads through Cape Melville towards the remote coastline of Bathurst Bay. It's a long, sandy run – and it doesn't let everyone through first time.

What happened

• Managing fuel in the outback (0:56) – a recurring theme on this trip, and for good reason.
• Stuck in the deep ruts (1:59) – deep, soft sand bogs Colin's vehicle, and out come the Maxtrax recovery boards to get everyone moving again.
• A hidden oasis (4:43) – a waterhole in the middle of nowhere.
• The perfect campsite (7:50) on the Bathurst Bay coastline.
• Fishing and the ultimate fish taste test (17:09) – and Noah finally scores.

Getting through soft sand

Sand bogs are the most common recovery on a trip like this, and most of them are avoidable:

• Air down before you need to. Lower tyre pressures lengthen the footprint and help you float over soft sand. Use a proper gauge, drive gently while aired down, and reinflate before you get back on hard roads.
• Keep momentum, not wheelspin. Smooth, steady throttle. If the wheels start digging, stop – spinning only buries you deeper.
• Recovery boards first. As the crew showed, boards and a shovel will get you out of most sand bogs without a snatch or a winch.
• Weight counts. A heavy, nose-down vehicle digs in. Keeping the load sensible and the suspension matched to it – like our Scorpio lift kit with bar and winch spring options – helps it sit level and keep its clearance.

Planning your own Cape Melville trip?

Cape Melville National Park is closed throughout the wet season, from 1 December to 31 July each year, and the roads become impassable for long periods. Check Queensland Parks alerts and local road conditions before you go, and book any camping permits ahead.

Next up

Flinders Island is next on the list. Stay tuned.

From Workshop & Beyond – Cape York series: ← Ep 3: The Starke Track  |  Watch the series on YouTube