Wedge Island

UPDATE: There have been a number of changes to this great location. Please read Changes to Wedge Island for more information.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Lancelin is a great place to travel. However, if you want somewhere a little more secluded then Wedge Island is a great place to visit. I often enjoy just driving there for the day, having a bit of a fish and playing in the dunes. Please know Wedge Island Camping is not legal.

You will come across Wedge Island when you Travel Western Australia (there are a few other ones, but I am referring to the one in Western Australia!) just north of Lancelin.

Wedge Island
Wedge island, from Lancelin along the beach

This island has gotten itself a name because of the little settlement that has been built just behind the first dunes. It was built mainly by those living in Lancelin who wanted a place to get away for the weekend.

This has been a popular place now for several years, but there is talk again of the settlement being pulled down because none of the people who live or visit at the settlement actually own the land.

Personally I think it’s the perfect place for people to enjoy a bit of seclusion without spending a huge amount of money, but you try to convince the government that!

4WD only along the beach!

Within the last few months Indian Ocean Drive has been opened, meaning that you can actually get to Wedge Island with a 2wd car. I have never done this, but I believe you just turn left off the Indian Ocean Highway onto a track to Wedge, just after Lancelin.

Other than that road you really need a 4WD to get to Wedge Island, because there is a fair amount of sand driving. I would highly recommend reading about Beach Driving before attempting the beach run as it can be one of the most difficult beaches to drive on anywhere near Perth.

Beach north of Wedge
If you are going to take the beach, make sure you are prepared for it

How to get to Wedge Island

To get to Wedge Island now you either need to take the new highway and turn off, or drive along the beach. You can take the inland track, but it is difficult to follow as there are many different tracks. You can phone (08) 9311 2772 to check if it is open.

You can actually drive to Wedge Island from Moore River way, but I have been lost in the farms up there, and it’s not good fun! You are best to ask locals for some maps before you attempt it.

Driving to Wedge Island
Driving to Wedge Island along the beach

The beach to Wedge Island

If you are a confident driver, the tide is down and the beach isn’t too chopped up, I would suggest take the beach track. I will emphasise the confident driver part however, because I have recovered at least 10 vehicles who have taken the beach and gotten stuck.

The beach changes from week to week; sometimes its rock hard and flat as can be, but other times it is very soft and the waves have eaten away the sand. Not long ago we helped a Nissan Patrol out of a very close situation after it slid off the top of the beach part, and almost toppled over.

The beach to Wedge Island can be very soft
The beach to Wedge Island can be very soft

Do you need to let your tyres down?

Yes! Letting your tyres down is a necessity if you are going to be doing any sand driving. If you take the inland track, you can probably get away with only letting your 4×4 Tyres down to 25 PSI. If you take the beach, you may have to drop your tyres down to 15 PSI to float a little.

The sand can be very soft, and even My Hilux sinks a lot (and that weighs much less than most 4×4). If you do get very stuck, you can let your tyres down to 10 PSI, but make sure you pump them back up a little, as they are prone to rolling off the rim at low pressures.

Have a look at some of the Tyre Deflators on the market – they are money well spent!

4WD recovery
It isn’t all flat and simple

What should you take?

Before you even consider going 4WDing, you should take a few basic pieces of gear. The most important is a shovel; these work wonders if you are stuck on your own and you have little other gear. I would advise you go with a second vehicle, because it makes recoveries much easier.

Taking a rated snatch strap is a smart move, because they are great in the sand. Make sure you know how to use them properly (the right recovery points, and not just hooked over tow balls) otherwise you risk serious damage to your car and bystanders.

They are not toys, and people have been seriously injured because they haven’t been used right. Other helpful things to carry are a UHF Radio, fishing rods and plenty of water and food.

Also, a GPS can be very handy because there are a lot of tracks that run along the coast and it’s easy to get lost! Of course, if you are any good with tools, bring your box and plenty of spares. Carrying at least some spare belts and hoses can be a life saver.

Wedge Island Airing the tyres up
Airing up at Wedge Island after a day in the 4WD’s

Where can you stay?

Unless you own a shack or house at Wedge Island, you cannot stay here. To clarify, Wedge Island Camping is not legal!

UPDATE: The people who own shacks at Wedge Island have been told their shacks will not be removed, which is great news!

Maxtrax

Recently I purchased a set of Maxtrax, which are basically very hard, light weight plastic boards which are placed on an angle under the wheels of a car if you get stuck. Two work fine, and four are even better. You can use them as shovels to remove the bulk of the sand, and then place them correctly.

Out came the Maxtrax
Maxtrax are legendary

With slow acceleration you will drive out almost 100 % of the time. Sure, they are expensive, but they are worth every dollar. I have used mine about 10 times now (mostly on my mates!) and they are truly the best piece of recovery gear you can carry.

They are great for snow, mud, sand and even boat beach launching.

Riding a quad motorbike in the sand dunes
Riding a quad motorbike in the sand dunes

Can you take your motorbike?

Lets face it. One of the main reason’s people visit Wedge Island is for the four wheel driving or motorbike riding. However, in the last few years unregistered vehicles (only road vehicles are allowed) have been banned from the island.

This doesn’t mean you can’t take it, it just means you need to be careful where you ride it. The ranger is reasonable and will usually give you a warning, but it’s best not to take the chance – you never know what mood he might be in! There are big dunes at the back of Wedge Island, but I am not sure if you are allowed to drive off-road vehicles there. You can sure have some fun in road registered four wheel drives though, but be careful.

Fishing at Wedge Island is great
Fishing at Wedge Island is great

What is the coast like?

The coast in between Lancelin and Wedge Island is much like the coast along all of Western Australia. There is only one rocky head which you have to drive around (inland) but the rest is just white, beautiful sand.

There are good spots for surfing and body boarding, as well as quite a few spots that you can fish at (actually you have a lot of choice in where you fish, snorkel, surf or relax!). Just make sure that you park up enough so that you allow other vehicles to drive passed; nothing makes the locals madder than someone parked in the middle of the main track!

Wedge Island itself

The actual island can be swam to or walked to (depending on the tides). It can be anywhere between a hundred metres and three hundred metres, depending on what time of year you go. It’s amazing to see how the water moves sand over the course of the year!

You can walk around a part of the island (some of it is fenced off) and there is quite a bit of wild life to see. Many people tow boats up to Wedge Island and launch off the beach to go fishing. In fact, often there is Rock Lobster boats moored near the island as well.

Wedge Island is beautiful
Wedge Island is a magic location

Take your Rubbish with you!

I’d like to quickly mention how important it is to leave nothing behind when you visit this great spot. Thousands of people enjoy Wedge Island throughout the year, and it ruins the spot for everyone if you have to dodge broken bottles and rubbish left behind.

If you are caught doing this you can expect a heavy fine from the ranger.

It takes 5 minutes at the end of your holiday to clean up; don’t be selfish to the many others that love this spot too. If you really appreciate this spot, take any rubbish you see away, regardless of who dropped it.

If you like 4×4 and visiting places on the coast, be sure to take a look at Wedge Island. It’s only about a 30 minute drive from Lancelin, and is quite impressive. Make sure you take it easy though!

Wedge Island beach on a busy day
Wedge Island beach on a busy day

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68 Comments

  1. Hey mate,

    I can’t see camping ever being allowed there, unfortunately. The rangers regularly patrol the area and kick people out. It’s a shame – such a beautiful spot.

    Aaron

  2. Thanks for the reply and I totally agree with you about camping.

    Before the “shacks” were removed from Greenhead, I found that the problem there was that the “shack owners” also thought they owned some part of the land. I have some idea that even simple camping isn’t allowed there any more but I’m happy to be corrected on that point.

    My view remains that if the shacks are removed then there is more room for whoever wants to bring *portable* accomadation. That is, if people are civilised and clean, camping and even trailer tents and caravans would be easy to accomodate. The shacks reduce the amount of available *temporary* room that you or I might want to use.

    Thanks.

    Ivan.

    Ivan.

  3. Hi Ivan,

    Interesting perspective. I don’t really see an issue with the shacks, but I feel its a bit sad you can’t camp there.

    Aaron

  4. Hi Aaron and other commenters, sorry to be so late to the party!

    The fact is that, no matter how much money has been spent on the “shacks”, the purported owners have done nothing but illegally dump building material in the bush. Just because the dumped rubbish has taken the form of a livable area means nothing.

    When these so-called “owners” meet state building regulations, pay rates and taxes and so on and have a legitimate land title from the state then I will have more respect for them.

    Sure, they can stay there (illegally) if they want to but they need to realise that there’s nothing illegal about me, or anyone else, scavenging around an illegal dump – their so-called “shack” … if I score a microwave or HDTV or whatever, they have absolutely no legal recourse! And, of course, if the so-called “owners” take umbrage and attack me then they have no legal defense against an assault charge.

    Get rid of the “shacks” and leave the beach free for everyone!

    Ivan.

  5. Hi Nick,

    Wedge isn’t disgusting – its a great place. However, camping is banned and you will likely cop a fine if you get caught anywhere in between Ledge Point and Geraldton. My suggestion would be Sandy Cape or Lucky Bay

    Aaron

  6. Nick and The Girls says:

    Hi, thanks for your posts and this excellent info’ site. We heard of Wedge and wanted to camp overnight, but it seems a ‘bad idea’. Is it really disgusting there now? Is there a camoing ban and are there any sites where we can camp for one nightm on the beach and enjoy this lovely country?

    We would be very gratefull for any advice or information…………..

  7. Hi Christine,

    There are a few Caravan parks in Rockingham that you could camp at. If it were me though, I’d drive a bit further out of Perth!

    Aaron

  8. Christine Pryor says:

    Hi, have just been reading this interessting blog. We simply would like to go to Pont Peron and camp in our tent for two nights at a camping ground in the area. But…..no tents allowed. Do you have any suggestions? We dont own a caravan.