Recently I drove down Wave Rock Road past the public picnic area (the breakers) Café and Caravan Park. I was not visiting Wave Rock as I have seen it twice in the past and had no desire to see it again. Why did I go that way? Because I was driving to Southern Cross from Hyden and my #*#*#* Garmin GPS took me that way. After several bum steers soon reverted to hard maps and signs.
As I entered the west end of Wave Rock Road, I saw a sign saying something like vehicles passing this point need to pay $10 entry fee payable at the café or words to that effect. The sign was unsigned (ie; no signature or council authority logo etc). I also noticed that there was a similar sign at the eastern end of Wave Rock Road. Remember I am talking about the road, not the entry to Wave rock itself.
I ignored the signs and continued on through. On my return home I contacted the Kondinin Shire Council who informed me that Wave Rock Road was a public road as was the breakers picnic area and there was no fee to use or visit either. They would go and check the signs. The $10 fee only applies if you visit the rock itself. I did notice that an internet map of the breakers shows a bush track leading to the Wave Rock face, so don't know how that is policed for fees etc, maybe there is a sign on the track.
I am not suggesting anyone not pay the fee to visit the rock, just that if for any reason you use Wave Rock Road or the Breakers picnic area only there is no fee payable, both are public places. See the attached map to see what I am referring to.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 12th of December 2013 09:08:07 PM
Thanks for the heads up. Years ago we used to climb all around the rock. No fees, back then it hadn't even become a tourist attraction.
How things change.
Cloak said
08:19 PM Dec 12, 2013
I might put a sign up on my driveway and charge those annoying door to door electricity and sola people a fee to enter.
Helena said
08:27 PM Dec 12, 2013
We went to Wave Rock a few years ago now and didn't have to pay only paid to go into the museum across the road how things change.
justcruisin01 said
09:26 PM Dec 12, 2013
Was there in 08, no fee. I guess this will be a sighn of the future, pay to see our own country.
We are glad we made the effort to visit as many of the icons as possibile while still working.Now we can travell the countryside & give these rip off merchants the flick.
A bit like Cape York, done it twice in 08 & 09, $20 for the ferry at the Jardine, (place two ferries there & you would have a bridge), the following year it went to $80. Sucks.
JC
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Thursday 12th of December 2013 09:29:49 PM
Bryan said
09:44 PM Dec 12, 2013
We went there a few months ago and had to pay. I can't remember how much but it was one of those ticket machines.
Vic41 said
09:51 PM Dec 12, 2013
Where were the ticket machines Bryan? Did you stay at the caravan park there?
ParamountCruiser said
10:30 PM Dec 12, 2013
We were there a few months ago. Ticket machine is in the carpark at the entrance to the rock. You can also get tickets from the kiosk.
There was a $5 entrance fee to the rock on my previous visit back in 1999, so the entrance fee has been around for quite awhile.
-- Edited by ParamountCruiser on Thursday 12th of December 2013 10:31:39 PM
Vic41 said
12:02 AM Dec 13, 2013
Thanks, I have no quarrel about paying an entrance fee to maintain the rock for those entering to see it etc, but do baulk at paying a fee to use the road that bypasses it which is a public not a private road.
The picnic area is also a public area and used by the locals also. The signs at each end of Wave Rock Road demanding payment of $10 for each vehicle that passes the sign (eg; If you proceed past this point you will be required to pay a $10 fee at the café etc), no mention of visiting the rock was a bit rich, the shire agreed it was a public road and there was no fee payable for either using the road or the public picnic area which was also within the area the signs covered.
To their credit the shire is going to inspect the signs which were not erected by them.
ParamountCruiser said
08:21 AM Dec 13, 2013
Vic41 wrote:
Thanks, I have no quarrel about paying an entrance fee to maintain the rock for those entering to see it etc, but do baulk at paying a fee to use the road that bypasses it which is a public not a private road.
The picnic area is also a public area and used by the locals also. The signs at each end of Wave Rock Road demanding payment of $10 for each vehicle that passes the sign (eg; If you proceed past this point you will be required to pay a $10 fee at the café etc), no mention of visiting the rock was a bit rich, the shire agreed it was a public road and there was no fee payable for either using the road or the public picnic area which was also within the area the signs covered.
To their credit the shire is going to inspect the signs which were not erected by them.
I'm sure the signs you mention weren't there in early October when we we there.
_wombat_ said
08:58 AM Dec 13, 2013
The signs were there 4 years ago when we were there and I ignored them and went onto see the rock, the rock was put there by nature not man made or privately owned, the only upkeep I saw was a couple of signs telling people not to climb on the rock, other people were there climbing on the rock, but it was too steep for a wombat with short legs.
Vic41 said
09:53 AM Dec 13, 2013
Does anyone know if the kiosk, café, caravan park etc are managed and run by council staff or are they leased by private business owners from the council?
Hyden Council Depot comes under the management of Kondinin Shire.
_wombat_ said
10:12 AM Dec 13, 2013
Vic41 wrote:
Does anyone know if the kiosk, café, caravan park etc are managed and run by council staff or are they leased by private business owners from the council?
Hyden Council Depot comes under the management of Kondinin Shire.
maybe ask the council Vic
mongrel said
10:46 AM Dec 13, 2013
You may not have climbed the rock wombat but when we there a little while ago there were plenty of holes and crevices around the base .Could it be that you have explored beneath the rock.? Dougwe asked me to say that.hahaha. Judging by the photos from Greens me thinks now that it could have been you .Size looks right...Mongrel..
_wombat_ said
10:58 AM Dec 13, 2013
mongrel wrote:
You may not have climbed the rock wombat but when we there a little while ago there were plenty of holes and crevices around the base .Could it be that you have explored beneath the rock.? Dougwe asked me to say that.hahaha. Judging by the photos from Greens me thinks now that it could have been you .Size looks right...Mongrel..
thanks mate!!!!! so you found some of my burrows
Vic41 said
11:54 AM Dec 13, 2013
Thanks Wombat. This is the website for Wave Rock if anyone is interested, feel free to make the link clickable, I have a GN glitch of some sort preventing me from doing this;
http://www.waverock.com.au/index.html
I look forward to the day when the Norseman Hyden road is sealed, that will open up tourism to the area big time and will be a welcome path to those wishing to come through that way. Although I travelled 267 kms from Hyden to Southern Cross on a mostly gravel road it was an excellent road if you don't mind a bit of dust and had no corrugations. Mind you I travelled the road in dry conditions, not sure what it's like when wet.
I must say I enjoyed my stop at Hyden, great little supermarket and PO among other businesses and the bakery was well worth visiting for the foodies among up. Many years ago I watch an AFL final at the local hotel/motel. The public toilets in town are very clean and the locals are very friendly and helpful.
Hey Vic. We stayed at Tressies Museum and Caravan Park. $27.00 per night for a powered site. Kathy made some notes. We paid $10.00 as a parking fee.
For me its one of those places that I'm glad I've seen but wouldn't go back again. We really enjoyed the tin horse highway and Kathy now wants to develop her photographic skills and go hunting wild flowers so we'll be spending lots of weekends exploring our own back yard.
-- Edited by Bryan on Friday 13th of December 2013 10:07:24 PM
Vic41 said
10:42 PM Dec 13, 2013
Thanks for the feedback Bryan,
It is a long way to go to have a look, but something most have on their bucket list for a once only. The first time we stayed there is was on our own, and the second time with a club, but a long time ago.
As I entered the west end of Wave Rock Road, I saw a sign saying something like vehicles passing this point need to pay $10 entry fee payable at the café or words to that effect. The sign was unsigned (ie; no signature or council authority logo etc). I also noticed that there was a similar sign at the eastern end of Wave Rock Road. Remember I am talking about the road, not the entry to Wave rock itself.
I ignored the signs and continued on through. On my return home I contacted the Kondinin Shire Council who informed me that Wave Rock Road was a public road as was the breakers picnic area and there was no fee to use or visit either. They would go and check the signs. The $10 fee only applies if you visit the rock itself. I did notice that an internet map of the breakers shows a bush track leading to the Wave Rock face, so don't know how that is policed for fees etc, maybe there is a sign on the track.
I am not suggesting anyone not pay the fee to visit the rock, just that if for any reason you use Wave Rock Road or the Breakers picnic area only there is no fee payable, both are public places. See the attached map to see what I am referring to.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 12th of December 2013 09:08:07 PM
How things change.
Was there in 08, no fee. I guess this will be a sighn of the future, pay to see our own country
.
We are glad we made the effort to visit as many of the icons as possibile while still working.Now we can travell the countryside & give these rip off merchants the flick.
A bit like Cape York, done it twice in 08 & 09, $20 for the ferry at the Jardine, (place two ferries there & you would have a bridge), the following year it went to $80. Sucks.
JC
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Thursday 12th of December 2013 09:29:49 PM
We were there a few months ago. Ticket machine is in the carpark at the entrance to the rock. You can also get tickets from the kiosk.
There was a $5 entrance fee to the rock on my previous visit back in 1999, so the entrance fee has been around for quite awhile.
-- Edited by ParamountCruiser on Thursday 12th of December 2013 10:31:39 PM
The picnic area is also a public area and used by the locals also. The signs at each end of Wave Rock Road demanding payment of $10 for each vehicle that passes the sign (eg; If you proceed past this point you will be required to pay a $10 fee at the café etc), no mention of visiting the rock was a bit rich, the shire agreed it was a public road and there was no fee payable for either using the road or the public picnic area which was also within the area the signs covered.
To their credit the shire is going to inspect the signs which were not erected by them.
I'm sure the signs you mention weren't there in early October when we we there.
The signs were there 4 years ago when we were there and I ignored them and went onto see the rock, the rock was put there by nature not man made or privately owned, the only upkeep I saw was a couple of signs telling people not to climb on the rock, other people were there climbing on the rock, but it was too steep for a wombat with short legs.
Hyden Council Depot comes under the management of Kondinin Shire.
maybe ask the council Vic
thanks mate!!!!!
so you found some of my burrows 
http://www.waverock.com.au/index.html
I look forward to the day when the Norseman Hyden road is sealed, that will open up tourism to the area big time and will be a welcome path to those wishing to come through that way. Although I travelled 267 kms from Hyden to Southern Cross on a mostly gravel road it was an excellent road if you don't mind a bit of dust and had no corrugations. Mind you I travelled the road in dry conditions, not sure what it's like when wet.
I must say I enjoyed my stop at Hyden, great little supermarket and PO among other businesses and the bakery was well worth visiting for the foodies among up. Many years ago I watch an AFL final at the local hotel/motel. The public toilets in town are very clean and the locals are very friendly and helpful.
http://www.waverock.com.au/index.html
Link now clickable
Cheers
David
Thanks David !!
Hey Vic. We stayed at Tressies Museum and Caravan Park. $27.00 per night for a powered site. Kathy made some notes. We paid $10.00 as a parking fee.
For me its one of those places that I'm glad I've seen but wouldn't go back again. We really enjoyed the tin horse highway and Kathy now wants to develop her photographic skills and go hunting wild flowers so we'll be spending lots of weekends exploring our own back yard.
-- Edited by Bryan on Friday 13th of December 2013 10:07:24 PM
It is a long way to go to have a look, but something most have on their bucket list for a once only. The first time we stayed there is was on our own, and the second time with a club, but a long time ago.