Cape Upstart is a remote headland on Queensland's central coast, jutting into the Coral Sea within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The fringing reefs along its rocky shoreline offer wild, undeveloped snorkeling far from the tourist crowds. Crystal-clear waters roll over granite boulders and coral bommies, with patch reefs giving way to sandy gutters. This is a raw, off-grid experience — expect solitude, strong tidal flows, and pristine marine ecosystems that reward adventurous snorkelers willing to navigate the 4WD access.
Cape Upstart dive sites
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Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 2.9 sWind Speed 4.7 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Cape Upstart dive sites has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Outgoing tide current danger
Strong tidal currents sweep around the cape, especially during outgoing tides. Swimmers can be swept offshore quickly.
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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High risk: Outgoing tide current
Strong tidal currents sweep around the cape, especially during outgoing tides. Swimmers can be swept offshore quickly.
Moderate risk: Stingers (jellyfish)
Marine stinger (box jellyfish) season in tropical Queensland waters. Irukandji and box jellyfish may be present from November to May.
Moderate risk: Crocodile risk
Estuarine crocodiles inhabit tidal creeks and coastal waters of North Queensland.
Moderate risk: Marine stingers (box jellyfish)
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef during the warmer months.
Low risk: Remote location — no facilities
Access requires 4WD on unsealed sandy tracks. No facilities, phone reception unreliable, and remote location means limited emergency response.
Low risk: Exposed offshore conditions
The offshore location means boat access is required; strong winds or swell can make conditions unsafe for snorkeling.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Cape Upstart is located approximately 50 km south of Bowen and 100 km north of Mackay via the Bruce Highway, then east along access roads to the Cape Upstart National Park. The park is accessible by 4WD only. From the camping area, walk to the beach for shore-entry snorkeling.
Parking & facilities
Limited 4WD-only parking available at the Cape Upstart National Park camping area. No sealed parking facilities — soft sand and unsealed tracks. High clearance vehicle recommended.
No fees for snorkeling in adjacent waters; camping fees apply for national park stays.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports