Aussie camping trip turns into a costly nightmare at Queensland’s notorious Mudlo Rocks

A camping trip has become a costly disaster for some travellers who come unstuck at a notorious Aussie coastal beach pass.

A Queensland camping trip has become a costly disaster for a party of travellers who come unstuck at a notorious coastal beach pass.

Mudlo Rocks at Rainbow Beach, a little under three hours north of Brisbane, is a narrow tide-dependent rocky pass between the township and Double Island Point – a much-lauded four-wheel-drive destination.

Time it wrong, and waves and incoming tides can quickly pound vehicles against the rocks – or sink them in shifting sand.

A group of travellers faced a costly disaster at Mudlo Rocks at Rainbow Beach, Queensland. Picture: Facebook/ I Got Bogged at Inskip Point

The narrow tide-dependent rocky pass can cause vehicles to be pounded by waves or sink in shifting sand if timed wrong. Picture: Facebook/ I Got Bogged at Inskip Point

And that’s a fate that met two carloads of travellers late last week.

Footage and pictures published over the last few days on the popular Facebook group, I Got Bogged at Inskip Point, show the unfortunate aftermath.

Footage and pictures on Facebook showed two four-wheel drives being pounded by waves and inundated with water. Picture: Facebook/ I Got Bogged at Inskip Point

One of the travellers confirmed that everyone was okay and they had called for towing. Picture: Facebook/ I Got Bogged at Inskip Point

“These 2 French boys didn’t quite make it around the rocks,” the page posted late Thursday night with a video of the two four wheel drives being pounded by waves and inundated with water.

One of the travellers bravely fronted the post’s comment section on Friday morning to provide an update.

“Everyone is okay. That’s my two mates. We already clean everything around this morning at 3am (sic),” he wrote.

“We call a towing this morning (sic). Thanks everyone.”

The man poignantly added that he and his mates visited Rainbow Beach “every week”.

“Just because you know the place doesn’t mean it (will) always goes well,” he said.

“We learned a life lesson in the hardest way, but it’s only material, no one was hurt.”

The travellers had visited Rainbow Beach frequently, but the incident taught them a life lesson. Picture: Facebook/ I Got Bogged at Inskip Point

The online four-wheel driving community passed on their commiserations.

“S**t. Just a bit of damage there. But glad everyone is OK and no one got seriously hurt,” one wrote.

The group are not the first, and will unlikely be the last to lose their rigs at the infamous pass, with the popular Facebook group frequently posting others encountering strife at the sketchy stretch of beach.

The Queensland Government urges outdoor enthusiasts to use extreme caution and consider alternative routes to avoid tragedies at Mudlo Rocks.

It’s not uncommon for vehicles to get stuck at Mudlo Rocks, and the area is known for causing significant vehicle damage.

Drivers who are unlucky enough to end up in this very predicament generally face their vehicle becoming a write-off.

The Queensland Government’s Environment, Science and Innovation department even urges outdoor enthusiasts to take extra care at Mudlo Rocks.

“Use extreme caution; only experienced drivers should attempt crossing Mudlo Rocks if conditions are good enough — don’t let a trip turn into a tragedy. Use Freshwater Road as an alternative route,” its Parks website states.

“Wave action can expose dangerous rocks overnight.”