As a 26 year (sigh!) veteran of white water paddling, I am often confronted with that same old, same old … “but surely there’s no white water around Brisbane!  Is there?”  The answer to this question can be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ and somewhere in between – it all depends on the time of year, the prevailing weather conditions and how far you are prepared to drive for a decent paddle.

 

If one were to define “white water Nirvana” as a place where high quality white water can be paddled all year round, with many different river sections within easy travelling distance, then, considered objectively, Australia has been poorly blessed.  We are a flat and rather dry country with the bulk of our white water paddling opportunities being both highly seasonal and heavily reliant on small catchment coastal rivers.  Those lucky enough to live in the Cairns district of North Queensland, with its pleasant winter temperatures and several excellent regulated rivers that often flow during much of the year, are definitely closest to Nirvana.  The rest of us have to make the best of what we have, or haven’t, got!

 

Brisbane has an average annual rainfall of about 1090mm, most of which falls between December and March.  This usually leaves at least eight months of each year in which our white water aficionados are forced to either travel vast distances for their paddle fix, engage in some other form of canoeing or totally different outdoor activity, or sit and read magazines like Australian White Water (which can at least provide some distraction for those poor despondent souls tormented by concern about if and when the rains will next come).

 

So what do Brisbane white water paddlers do to keep their skills honed during the dry season?  Well, they can participate in local canoe polo competitions or venture out into the often bitchin’ (dude!) surf at either the Gold or Sunshine coasts.  Also, South East Queensland and far Northern NSW have many excellent flat water paddling destinations including rivers, creeks, lakes, dams, estuaries and calm or, if you prefer, quite challenging ocean paddling. 

 

The upper Brisbane River can be paddled all year round as water is released from Wivenhoe Dam for Brisbane’s domestic consumption.  It is a 55km run through pleasant rural country to Kholo Bridge near Ipswich and a number of intermediate access points allow trips of varying lengths.  However, with the exception of one Grade 2 rapid immediately below Wivenhoe Dam (which has recently been modified by some dedicated local canoeists in an attempt to improve its usefulness for practice and play), it is mostly Grade 1 water through this section.  For those prepared to venture further afield, you may be lucky enough to strike water in Yabba Creek near Imbil (about 2 hours drive NNW of Brisbane).  Releases are occasionally made from Borumba Dam into Yabba Creek during the spring months for downstream irrigation on the Mary River.  A minimum release level of 120Ml/day will secure a pleasant Grade 1-2 trip to Imbil, mostly under a spectacular canopy of green, although caution should be observed around trees, fences and some of the many bridges that cross this creek.  And, of course, let us not forget the popular Noosa River system which provides easy flat water paddling and excellent bush camping year round for ever increasing numbers of paddling visitors.

 

For the hard-core white water freaks, the Gwydir River near Inverell in northern NSW (about a 5 hour drive from Brisbane) is a must.  Water is often released from Copeton Dam towards the end of the dry season for downstream irrigation and, although I have personally not paddled the Gwydir Gorge below 2200Ml/day, I have been reliably informed that it can be enjoyably paddled at flow rates down to around 600Ml/day.  The traditional paddling season on the Gwydir has usually been regarded as late November through to mid February, however the ability to paddle the gorge at low release levels may extend that season by weeks or even months.

 

Of course, when the summer rains do come, the complexion of Brisbane’s white water paddling fraternity brightens somewhat, with numerous paddling opportunities opening up.  It is important, however, to take advantage of those opportunities as soon as they become available, since most of our local rivers and creeks drain relatively small catchments.  Within the greater Brisbane area, venues like Enoggera Creek, Kedron Brook and the South Pine River offer pleasant paddling with rapids of up to Grade 2-3 standard in some parts.  For the “full face helmet and elbow guard” brigade some of the steeper creeks coming off Mt Coot-tha and other ranges contained within the Brisbane Forest Park can provide adrenalin pumping action after very heavy rains.

 

Increasing your travelling distance to include the Sunshine and Gold/Tweed coasts and their hinterlands opens up considerably more opportunities.  Rivers like the Mary, Albert, Coomera, Logan and Nerang as well as creeks like Canungra, Running and Christmas offer pleasant paddling of about Grade 1-2 standard with a number of higher grade sections, although trees and fences require the usual caution. 

 

The Sunshine Coast hinterlands abound with opportunity – some high grade sections are available on the Maroochy River and Obi Obi Creek, as well as on a number of recently paddled creeks flowing out of the Conondale and Blackall ranges.  Obi Obi Creek deserves particular mention, with its continuous clean rapids of Grade 3-4 standard in medium-high water levels rising to Grade 5+ at very high levels.  The spectacular scenery along this creek is reminiscent of north Queensland, with stunning subtropical rainforest vegetation and some interesting geological formations.  The easy car shuttle and frequency of good play spots add to the enjoyment.

 

The Gold Coast and Tweed hinterlands can also provide many white water opportunities, with a number of rivers being suitable for the novice to intermediate paddler.  There are some good Grade 2-3 runs on the Rous, Oxley and Tweed Rivers, with the Oxley in particular providing a good introduction to white water for the novice paddler. The Oxley is a picturesque river that often holds its flow for longer periods after soaking rain than many other rivers in this region.  Feeder creeks into the Tweed River system including Hopping Dicks, Hopkins and Byrill Creeks can also provide some pleasant to exciting paddling, although trees, fences and other obstructions can again cause significant problems on some sections.

 

Those happy to drive for up to five hours for a weekend adventure will find limitless potential, particularly around the Queensland/NSW border regions and further down into northern NSW.  These areas contain many good paddling rivers and creeks, so many in fact that a large number have still not been properly explored.  Queensland’s Granite belt region includes the magnificent Severn River which provides a unique wilderness experience right in the heart of the rugged and remote Sundown National Park.  The various tributaries of the Clarence River system are almost too numerous to mention and, along with rivers like the Namoi (located SW of Armidale), can provide some exciting multi-day expeditions.  The Dorrigo Plateau and environs (inland from Coffs Harbour) contain the well known Nymboida River system, with literally dozens of excellent white water runs on a multitude of different rivers and creeks.  And for those who need their creature comforts the Goolang Creek Canoe Centre near Nymboida village provides cheap cabin accommodation with a pub only five minutes up the road – need we say more!  Oh, by the way, did I mention that it also has a nice little white water slalom and downriver course right next to those cabins?

 

So, you see we really do have it all for the white water enthusiast here in Brisbane.  It’s just that we don’t have much of it for most of the time!

 

Kevin runs Acacia Canoe Sales and Hire in Brisbane’s south-western suburbs and specialises in white water canoe/kayak sales, hire and instruction.  He is happy to provide advice on paddling locations and conditions in Queensland and Northern NSW.