Map: Tasmap 1: 50000 - Rebecca
Distance: 48 km return
Rating: Difficult - for experienced 4WD, buggy and motorbike users only. Deep bogs, steep slopes, soft sand are likely to be encountered.
Located in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, The Sandy Cape track provides outstanding coastal scenery and beautiful camping spots. The main campsites on the track are at Greenes Creek, Pedder River, and Sandy Cape.
All users of the Sandy Cape Track require an Arthur-Pieman Recreational Driver Pass. Camping south of Temma is included in the purchase of a Recreational Driver Pass. Campers need to be fully self-sufficient when camping south of Temma. Camping fees apply for sites north of Temma and can be paid at the Arthur River Parks and Wildlife Service office or the 24-hour payment options at Couta Rocks intersection and Arthur River.
Visitors are advised to bring sufficient water with them. There is no treated water in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area. All local water in Arthur River (when available) should be boiled for 3 minutes or treated before drinking.
Use existing sites and leave campgrounds as you found them; camping outside of designated area may impact on highly sensitive natual and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites.
No rubbish facilities are avilable. Please take all rubbish away with you.
About the track
Temma to Greenes Creek (12 km)
The track is rated medium 4WD standard, however it can increase in difficulty after rainfall with deep-water sections and deep, soft sand after dry weather.
Greenes Creek to Sandy Cape (12 km)
This beach drive is rated as hard 4WD standard.
Travelling in the company of other vehicles is essential along Sandy Cape beach due to the occurrence of quicksand, that has been known to swallow whole vehicles, and the potential need for rapid retrieval, before the tide rises. Always check conditions before driving on beaches. Large swell will have an impact on the beach accessibility and beach driving is not recommended with swells 4 metre or above. After rainfall in winter, the rivers may also be high and combined with large ocean swell can mean the conditions are too dangerous to traverse the 4WD tracks. Sea foam occurs frequently and can hide large logs or sandbanks.
The coastal area between Marrawah and Granville Harbour, including between Temma and Sandy Cape is within an area listed as The Western Tasmania Aboriginal Cultural Landscape. Numerous cultural living sites with hut depressions and shell middens show that Aboriginal people lived a specialised and sedentary lifestyle in this area, building permanent and semi-permanent villages; hunting seals, shellfish and land mammals. Aboriginal sites must be respected and not damaged or interfered with. Heavy penalties can be imposed for damage to the cultural sites under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975. A number of tracks have been closed to protect Aboriginal sites and heritage.