Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/03/2023 - 26/03/2023
All Day
Categories
Book Via EventbBright: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/river-canoe-club-28111898381
Lake Yarrunga in Kangaroo Valley is one of the premiere flatwater paddling locations in Australia and is located about two and a half hours from Sydney in the Southern Highlands of NSW. There are no powered craft allowed on this waterway – not even electric. This club trip will use the family friendly Bendeela Camping and Picnic Ground as a base. The camping ground has excellent car and water access together with basic facilities (water and toilets). There are easy paddling opportunities in the immediate area of the campground.
The preferred boat for this trip is a sea kayak or canoe as you will be paddle distances of 15km or more (depending on groups paddler capabilities). For any beginners enrolled on the beginners course, this is a similar distance to day three of the course. You will need to get your boat and gear to the campsite, or arrange transport with someone else. You need to be self-sufficient for camping.
The plan for this weekend is for a number of flexible paddling opportunities and the group may split for some of these depending on the range of capabilities within the group. It will be run over three days but paddlers may come for whatever days they have available. This paddle is suitable for beginners and all groups will have an experienced leader. Precise details will be decided at the time. A rough program is:
Friday – Launch from Tallowa Dam in the early afternoon – Explore Bundanoon Creek (10-15km return) or paddle to Beehive Point and explore the “sunken forrest” (approx 20km)
Saturday – Launch from Tallowa Dam – Paddle into the Shoalhaven Gorge. This will be the main event. The Shoalhaven Gorge is a relatively narrow waterway with cliffs on either side reaching more than 400m height. The steepest section of gorge is about 5km from Tallowa Dam making this a spectacular paddle for even beginners. For paddlers with more endurance the waterway can be paddled to Fossickers Flat which makes a return trip of about 27km.
Sunday – Launch from Bendeela Campground and paddle towards Arcacia Flat where the lake is its widest at about 400m. Paddlers that are able to paddle 12 km from Bendeela are rewarded with a wonderful swimming location complete with (subject to checks) a jumping platform into deep water. This paddle would be a maximum return distance of 24km but we will split the group for shorter distance paddles.
Other paddling opportunities. Depending on the level of the Kangaroo River, it may be possible to paddle from the Kangaroo Valley village to Bendeela. This is the moving river before it enters the lake and has a mostly grade 1 with a couple of grade 2 rapids. For those with suitable boats it’s a fun excursion. To join the the club for this stretch you would need a suitable boat (not a seakayak) and a helmet in addition to your seakayak or canoe.
Important – Bendeela Camping Ground is a free campground but must be booked (a $6 booking fee applies per booking). Paddlers attending this paddle are responsible to book their own camping. See https://www.waternsw.com.au/nsw-dams/greater-sydney-dams/bendeela-recreation-area. If you don’t book this campsite beforehand you will not be permitted to camp overnight.
Important – This is the weekend of the NSW State election. You will need to place an early vote early to avoid a fine