Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

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Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Happy Pirate » Thu 07 Feb, 2019 5:56 pm

Hey folk
I'm heading off to Kangaroo Valley next week to paddle my new canoe out through Shoalhaven Gorge. Am planning on starting at the council campground and heading out to Fossikers Flat and return.
Does anyone have any advice, places to avoid, must sees, water quality etc? I'm assuming I can drink the water.
Am planning on it being probably a four day trip but I can be a bit flexible.
Cheers, Steve
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby clarence » Thu 07 Feb, 2019 9:08 pm

A great trip. Towards Fossickers Flat you need to drag the canoe through two sets of rapids (sort of knee deep).

You can paddle further upstream, but the further you go the more rapids you come across.

Great camping at Fossickers Flat. Water is drinkable.

There are a few options for walks

1) up to Split Rock Point (there is a pass about 100m back from the point on the Rotten Creek side)- off track
2) waterfall on Rotten Creek (can be a lot of stinging nettle so take long pants)- off track
3) up to Funnels Pass on a faint track.

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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Happy Pirate » Thu 07 Feb, 2019 10:14 pm

Thanks Clarence
Good to hear that there are some walking tracks about. I'll be sure to bring a day pack.
Any recommendations for intermediate camp site before Fossickers?
Steve
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Neo » Fri 08 Feb, 2019 6:54 am

Bendeela Flat is a large accessible free camping spot, the most popular with vehicles. It is at the southern end of the lake/dam and easy to launch. Loads of wombats usually, toilets, bins and tap water.

From there you can paddle upstream/easterly until Beehive camping spot in a day. About 1km before you get there, I have stayed at a small bay on the southern side, has pit toilet 100m up from the beach. This spot is opposite an obvious picnic point.

A bit past Beehive is a large side creek on the northern side with lots of dead trees, worth a look. I haven't been further myself.

If you wanted to launch at Beehive there is some gravel road, then park at a locked gate and carry your gear down to that campsite.

Not sure if you can officially camp near the dam wall, then upstream there are some small rapids as stated above.

Winds can be very strong. It's a great place!
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Happy Pirate » Fri 08 Feb, 2019 8:54 am

Thanks Neo.
I think I'll try to avoid the popular campsites, particularly drive in ones (although wombats...)
I'm keen to explore the side branches if I have time.
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Neo » Fri 08 Feb, 2019 6:18 pm

I think this percentage is of their pumping amount, not of the total capacity:

https://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/Grea ... dam-levels

I canoed at Burrinjuck near Yass last year, was at 40% and yep, the high water mark would have been 10m or so. One camp was in a 'saddle' to an island, high and dry
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby puredingo » Tue 26 Feb, 2019 6:17 am

Bendeela isn't great camping in my opinion. Usually full of all sorts of people coming and going through the night and definitely NO fires if that is your method of cooking.

There is a great camping spot at the confluence of Yarrunga and Bundanoon Ck. Its a sand spit type of set up but plenty roomy with great shade and good ground. Set up and explore from there...plenty to see.
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Petew » Sat 27 Apr, 2019 2:38 pm

There are some ok spots to camp just past Beehive point. Paddle past Beehive point (from Bendeela) and turn right up the large creek with the dead trees. There is an old firetrail about 15 min paddle up the creek that used to cross the now flooded valley, you can camp on either side where it enters the water. Nice spot.
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Re: Any advice on Shoalhaven / Lake Yurrunga paddle?

Postby Neo » Sat 27 Apr, 2019 2:54 pm

Just bushwalked then finished with a few hours paddling on Lake Lyell near Lithgow with DoE silver participants. Its a dam with many narrow branches so still good if its super windy.
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