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Trip Reports

This great selection of trip reports includes a range of official Club events, as well as other trips that Club members have organised themselves. Send through your trip reports to have them published in SPLASH Magazine and collected here. We always welcome new destinations and trip reports.


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Cooks River and Botany Bay

Our home is on the wonderful Cooks River, and we explore the whole of the Cooks River Paddle trail, including Wolli Creek, Muddy Creek, Alexandria Canal and the full length of the Cooks River from the Cooks River Heads on Botany Bay, right up to Canterbury Racecourse and beyond. We also head out into Botany Bay, with lots of coffee runs to Brighton-le-Sands Beach, as well as further south to Dolls Point, Towra Point and Kurnell.

Venice on the Cooks River
Cooks River Night Paddle
17 May 2023

Botany Bay
Dolls Point, Towra Point and Kurnell
25 April 2023

Scarborough Ponds Cleanup
Scarborough Ponds, Kogarah
4 March 2023

Twenty10 Paddle
Cooks River
28 November 2022

RuffTrack Paddle
Cooks River, Wolli Creek and Botany Bay
18 March 2022

Canoe Training
Cooks River
25 July 2020 and 2 August 2020

Cooks River Alliance Paddle
Cooks River, Wolli Creek and Botany Bay
13 January 2020


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Sydney Harbour

With the world’s greatest harbour just up the road, we’re always exploring Sydney Harbour and its bays, from Parramatta River and Lane Cove River, through to Iron Cove and Balmain, as well as over to Middle Harbour and right up Middle Harbour Creek to Roseville and beyond.

Middle Harbour
Forestville to Clontarf
26 May 2023

Iron Cove
Rodd Point to Balmain Foreshore
5 February 2023

Weekly Skills Drills
Hen and Chicken Bay, Parramatta River
July/August 2022


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Hawkesbury River

The incredible Hawkesbury River valley includes a multitude of adventures around Ku-ring-gai National Park, including Cowan Creek, Bobbin Head, Berowra Waters and more. Add in the open waters of Broken Bay, from Pittwater to Brooklyn and Patonga and it’s a paddlers wonderland.

Pittwater
Brooklyn to Patonga Beach
22 April 2023

Pittwater
McCarrs Creek Reserve to Resolute Beach
23 July 2022

Pittwater
McCarrs Creek Reserve to Resolute Beach
29 May 2022

Culinary Kayaking Retreat
Berowra Waters and Marramarra Creek
28-30 January 2022

Bobbin Head
Cowan Creek and Smiths Creek
5 June 2021

Hawkesbury River
Brooklyn to Patonga Return
26 January 2020


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Nepean River

The long Nepean River runs through the beautiful secluded bushlands of Blue Mountains National Park. We explore many different stretches, from Menangle and Douglas Park through to Emu Plains, as well as the Warragamba Rive down to the Warragamba Dam.

Nepean Winter Daytrip
Nepean River, Camden
12 June 2023

Whitewater Skills Training
Nepean River
27 September 2022

Nepean Winter Daytrip
Nepean River, Douglas Park
26 June 2022


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Georges River

The Georges River is a fantastic stretch of water running from Liverpool through to Botany Bay. We’re often exploring stretches out to Chipping Norton Lake, as well as its sister river, the Woronora River down to the Needles. We also explore its bays closer to Botany Bay—even paddling back to the Clubhouse.

Georges River
Lambeth Reserve to Chipping Norton Lake
10 April 2023

Georges and Cooks Rivers
Como to Tempe
9 July 2022

Georges and Woronora Rivers
Burnum Burnum to Oatley Park
19 June 2022

Georges River
Revesby Beach to Chipping Norton Lake
4 June 2022

Woronora River
Burnum Burnum to The Needles
22 December 2019


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Port Hacking

Between Sutherland Shire and the Royal National Park is Port Hacking, one of the River Canoe Club’s regular destinations. It offers the full range of experiences, from the protected waters of Yowie Bay to the open waters near Jibbon Beach, deep exploration of the Royal National Park along South West Arm Creek, moving water training at Cabbage Tree Creek and fun in the surf at Simpsons Bay. Swallow Rock Reserve is also the regular home of our annual Beginners Course.

Port Hacking
Yowie Bay, South West Arm Creek and Bundeena
6 June 2023

Whitewater Skills Day
Bundeena, Port Hacking
6 May 2023

Port Hacking
Yowie Bay to Cabbage Tree Creek
21 January 2023

Port Hacking
Yowie Bay to Cabbage Tree Creek
30 October 2022

Open Water Skills Training
Bundeena to Jibbon Beach, Port Hacking
21 August 2022

Moving Water Training
Maianbar Beach, Port Hacking
12 January 2020

Port Hacking
Swallow Rock to South West Arm Creek
January 2016

Club Christmas Party
Cabbage Tree Creek, Port Hacking
December 2015


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North Coast

Stretching north from Sydney up to the Queensland border, the north coast includes the Myall Lakes—the largest coastal lake system in New South Wales, as well as whitewater destinations including the Barrington, Clarence and Nymboida Rivers.

Easter Whitewater Safari
Nymboida and Clarence Rivers
3-7 April 2023

Myall Lakes Exploration
Myall Lakes National Park
6-7 August 2022

Forster Tuncurry
Wallis Lake and Smiths Lake
4-5 March 2021

Barrington River Whitewater
Moppy, Rawdon Vale and the Cove
15 February 2020


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South Coast

Stretching south from Sydney to the Victorian border, the south coast is home to some of the world’s whitest sands at Jervis Bay, as well as other great destinations including Lake Illawarra, Minnamurra River and whitewater destinations including the Shoalhaven and Deua Rivers.

Exploration Weekend
Jervis Bay
12-14 May 2023

Lake Illawarra
Warrawong to Mullet Creek
15 October 2022

Spring Whitewater Safari
Deua and Shoalhaven Rivers
2-5 October 2022

Open Water Training
Jervis Bay
23-25 April 2022


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Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands boasts one of the Club’s favourite destinations, Lake Yarrunga in Kangaroo Valley—perfect for weekend camping trips at Bendeela and Fossickers Flat. Other highlights include the Shoalhaven and Wingecarribbee Rivers.

Kangaroo Valley
Fossickers Flat, Bundanoon Creek and Acacia Flat
25-26 March 2023

Kangaroo Valley
Bendeela to Fossickers Flat
16-18 December 2022

Wingecarribee River
Berrima to Macarthurs Crossing
27 March 2021

Kangaroo Valley
Bendeela to Fossickers Flat
13-14 March 2021

Shoalhaven River Whitewater
Oallen Ford to Powerlines
14 March 2020


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Central West

West of the Great Dividing Range, the Central West is the classic location for Club safaris along the Macquarie River and the world famous Macquarie Marshes wetlands. The inland rivers here flow northwest towards the Darling River and offer a wide array of wildlife. Another Club favourite here is Wollemi National Park and its wonderful Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp.

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
Wollemi National Park
11-12 February 2023

Macquarie Marshes Safari
Macquarie River
17-20 November 2022

Macquarie Marshes Safari
Macquarie, Barwon and Bokhara Rivers
16-26 April 2022

Womdomnom 2021
Wellington to Dubbo on the Macquarie River
17-20 November 2021

Macquarie Marshes Safari
Macquarie River
8-10 April 2021

Upper Macquarie River Easter Safari
Freemantle Road Bridge to Long Point
2-6 April 2021

Whitewater Safari
Turon and Macquarie Rivers
6-8 January 2021

Macquarie River Whitewater
Killongbutta to Oakey Mount
1-2 August 2020

Womdomnom 2015
Wellington to Narromine on the Macquarie River
November 2016


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Riverina

The Riverina includes the two classic river systems—the Murray and Murrumbidgee—and is the home of many classic Club safaris. In particular, we’ve been exploring these more recently as canoe-based adventures.

Murrumbidgee River Canoe Safari
Wagga Wagga to Narrandera
21-28 January 2023

Massive Murray Paddle
Yarrawonga to Koondrook
21-25 February 2022

Murrumbidgee River Canoe Safari
Nanangroe to Gundagai
26-30 January 2021

Murrumbidgee Descent
Oura Beach to Coolamon
November 2020

Murrumbidgee River Whitewater Safari
Pine Island to Cotter Junction
7-8 March 2020

Murrumbidgee River
Jugiong to Gundagai
January 2016

Murrumbidgee River
Esdale to Taemus Bridge
4 December 2015


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Snowy Mountains

The Snowy River is the home base of our whitewater contingent. The cold, clean waters of the Snowy represent some of the finest whitewater anywhere in New South Wales.

Whitewater Spring Safari
Snowy, Thredbo, Swamp Plain and Goobagandra Rivers
November 2020


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Outback NSW

In the Far West of New South Wales are the intermittent lakes and rivers of our otherwise dry outback. Surrounded by harsh desert, these magical locations come to life following heavy rains, creating special, transient waterways.

Outback Canoe Safari
Menindee Lakes and Lake Pinaroo
July 2021


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Australian Capital Territory

Canberra is home to an annual Club tradition—the Canberra Balloon Festival on Lake Burley Griffin. It’s also home to the upper stretches of the Murrumbidgee River, another great whitewater destination.

Canberra Balloon Festival 2023
Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
10-12 March 2023

Whitewater Skills Weekend
Casuarina Sands to Uriarra Crossing, Murrumbidgee River
26-27 March 2022

Canberra Balloon Festival 2022
Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
11-13 March 2022


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Queensland

The world famous Queensland coastline needs no introduction. Paddling the Coral Sea around the Whitsunday Islands and Hinchinbrook Island are just some of our recent annual adventures north of the border.

Hinchinbrook Adventure Week
Hinchinbrook Island
19-25 June 2022

Whitsundays Adventure Week
Whitsunday Islands
1-6 June 2022


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Tasmania

Paddling the colder waters of the Southern Ocean around Tasmania has been a special highlight for some of our Club paddlers. The South West Tasmanian wilderness is one of the great Australian destinations.

South West Tasmania
Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour
February 2022


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New Zealand

Over the years, many Club paddlers have headed across the Tasman to the whitewater mecca of New Zealand.