MARY RIVER PADDLE – 16KM (KAK)

This paddle on a beautiful section of the Mary River is for experienced kayakers. We will follow the river downstream past steep banks in places, but also many gravelly beaches, lots and lots of trees that have washed down in past floods, and most importantly, lots and lots of little rapids and potentially portages. It is an exciting and rewarding paddle, challenging too as you navigate your way in the current, try to avoid getting stuck on shallow parts, and try to go around, over, or even under logs.

When we did the recce we saw freshwater turtles, water dragons in all sizes, azure kingfishers, rainbow bee eaters, a white breasted sea eagle, a couple of little snakes swimming across the river, big fish in, and out of, the water and of course plenty of ducks, cormorants and a couple of herons.

This is a one-way way paddle, starting at Walker Rd Bridge, Moy Pocket, to Vic Olsen Bridge on Tuchekoi Rd, Bollier. A car shuffle is required. Plastic kayaks of the sit-in type only. This paddle is extremely hard on the boats. Expect to hit or scrape rocks, boulders and logs. Not once or twice but all the time. No fibreglass boats. No Hobies. No sit on top type plastic kayaks either for this paddle.

The exit point at Vic Olsen Bridge is up a steep bank that we will have to haul our boats up onto. Bring a rope for this purpose, and save some of your energy during the day because you will need it at the end to get your boat out of the river and back to the car.

This paddle is subject to suitable water levels in the river and will be cancelled if river levels are deemed too high, or too low. Duration is an estimate only as time taken will depend on river levels, and skills of participants. This paddle is for experienced kayakers who are very comfortable handling their boat in all sorts of situations and who don’t mind having to hop out time and again to get their boat unstuck in shallow water. Portages may be required. Please do not feel disappointed if you don’t get onto this paddle, there are other kayaking events on the club calendar that are suitable for a wider range of skills and boats.
BYO kayak, paddle and PFD. It is a club requirement that each kayaker wears a PFD. Maximum group size is 4 due to the nature of this paddle.