White Water Trips within 2.5 hours drive from Brisbane:
There are many interesting and exciting white water venues out there waiting to be explored. Just peruse maps of the areas that interest you and get paddling. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Hopping Dicks Creek (Limpinwood to Eungella) – Grade 3-
Get in: a bridge on Limpinwood Road crosses the creek about 5km north of Tyalgum. Several hundred metres further on Young’s Road turns off to the west and leads to a ford crossing – put in here. Note: this area is prone to flooding so don’t leave vehicles parked here if the creek is rising.
Get out: a dirt track from the Oxley River up to parkland on the north-east side of the bridge on the Murwillumbah Tyalgum Road at Eungella.
Level: Visual inspection required. As a rough guide look for a minimum of about 1.1m at the Eungella gauge – however be aware that snags and fences could make this trip quite dangerous if water levels are too high.
Details: This 16km section is ideal for those wanting something a little different to the standard Oxley River run - see Oxley River (Tyalgum to Eungella) - when higher water levels permit. Basically it involves substituting the first 3.2km of the Oxley run with a 5.7km section of Hopping Dicks Creek, while preserving the more exciting latter parts of the Oxley River. Hopping Dicks is a narrow but generally open creek running through pleasantly forested country and cleared farmland. The rapids are typically of Grade 2-3 standard separated by fast flowing water. Paddlers should exercise caution around several culvert-type crossings and be on the lookout for tree strainers and barbwire fences that occasionally appear in the fast flowing approaches to some rapids. For a longer trip you can put in even further upstream (near the community hall at Limpinwood (via Limpinwood Valley Road) ... although it is problematic as to whether an additional 2.2km of fast Grade 1-2 water is worth the possibility of encountering tree strainers or total blockages that are not uncommon in this section. The second part of this trip (from the junction with the Oxley down to Eungella) is covered in the Oxley River (Tyalgum to Eungella) description. Overall this is a very pleasant paddle indeed.
Obi Obi Creek (Maleny to Lake Baroon) – Grade 4-
Get in: the park on the upstream side of the bridge in the main street of Maleny (Bunya Street).
Get out: Follow North Maleny Road (becomes Baroon Pocket Road) north from Maleny until you reach a picnic area and boat ramp beside the lake. Take note of the time that the gate is locked of an evening.
Level: Gardners Falls gauge – BOM or DNRM Mobile (enter "Mary Basin" then "Obi Obi Creek At Gardners Falls (138120A)"): 0.50m minimum; 0.58 - 0.75m good level; above 1.10m the overall river grading starts rising dramatically.
Details: The first 3km of this 18.5km trip is on fast flowing Grade 1 water providing a handy tune-up for the fun ahead. The final 3km is across the Baroon Pocket Dam catchment to the get out point. This leaves 12.5km of continuous and often steeply dropping white water (with a gradient of about 44m/km at its steepest) that provides one of the most enjoyable trips in South East Queensland for experienced paddlers. The mostly clean rapids start with several fast bouncy rock-slides that progress to steep boulder races and drops until Gardners Falls (a 4.1m drop) is reached. Gardners Falls spills into a deep-water pool (a popular local swimming hole) and is often run by kayakers. Downstream there are consistent drops, chutes, gutters, at least one retentive river-width stopper (requiring an aggressive approach) and numerous steep boulder races – some hundreds of metres long. There are a number of fun rapids along the way where those with more playful kayaks can hone their moves. The lush and often dense semi-tropical vegetation along the banks is somewhat reminiscent of Far North Queensland rivers while the occasional interesting geological formation, including a small but spectacular columnar basalt outcrop, further adds to the visual appeal. Unfortunately the concentration demanded by the continuous rapids, particularly in some of the steeper sections, can make it difficult to fully appreciate the true beauty of the surrounding scenery that sometimes seems to pass in a blur. This is one of the classic runs for highly experienced white water paddlers and (accompanied) Grade 3 standard paddlers with solid skills looking to step up to the next level.
Warnings: (1) If you find the 4.7km down to Gardners Falls too challenging then don't proceed any further as the rapids past this point only become even more committing. You can always get out here and walk the 2.5km back to Maleny. (2) As a steep and fast flowing creek, paddlers should exercise the usual cautions with regard to overhanging vegetation, tree strainers and other obstructions that can appear quite quickly after even relatively minor floods. Also, be aware that landholders have been known to erect barbwire fences across this creek in some of the faster sections. Paddlers who have not run this section for a while should preferably paddle it with someone who is familiar with the latest river conditions.
Obi Obi Creek (Baroon Pocket Dam to Kenilworth Road) – Grade 3+
Get in: a rough track leads down to the creek from the lower carpark at Baroon Pocket Dam (access to the dam via Montville – Western Avenue and Narrows Road).
Get out: beside the bridge crossing on Obi Obi Road west of Mapleton.
Level:
(1) Gardners Falls gauge – BOM or DNRM Mobile (enter "Mary Basin" then "Obi Obi Creek At Gardners Falls (138120A)") – provides a very rough indicator (0.45m low; 0.70m high) and only when the dam is spilling. Visual inspection is essential due to the unpredictable inflows from feeder creeks downstream from this gauge. As a general rule stay well under 0.70m for your first attempt and don’t even think about paddling this section above 1.00m unless you are either a gun Grade 6 big water paddler or you have a death wish.
(2) Spillway gauge – should be a more accurate indicator of flow but has previously had reliability issues. Until the original (now faded) spillway markers can be verified against corresponding readings on this gauge, the following should be regarded as rough indicators only: 0.16m – low; 0.22m to 0.26m – medium bouncy level; 0.35m – pushy, retentive stoppers and at least one rapid that can’t be portaged; 0.50m – very pushy, several rapids that can’t be portaged; 0.65m – highest level safely run (experts only).
Details: It is about 10.4km to the get out point but all of the more serious rapids are contained in the first 1.7km. After this the creek flattens out to a series of long pools separated by rapids of up to Grade 2+ standard. The first part of this trip runs through a steep and astonishingly beautiful gorge (commonly referred to as The Narrows) with lush vegetation and at least one sizeable waterfall that spills straight onto the creek. Some of the bigger and steeper rapids here (up to Grade 4 standard) are contained within sheer rock walls that make portaging virtually impossible at higher water levels. As the creek gradient declines the lush riparian forest opens out into cleared farmland down to the finish. This is a classic run for highly experienced white water paddlers and those with solid white water skills looking to step up to the next level.
Warning: there have been several near disasters in this section as a result of attempting it with too much water – assess levels carefully before undertaking this trip and be realistic about your abilities.
Oxley River (Tyalgum to Eungella) – Grade 2+
Get in: From the vehicle parking bays fronting Willis Park (at the southwestern side of the E.J. Bartrim Bridge on Tyalgum Road), carry your boats approximately 45m to the start of a short trail that gradually descends the bank of Pumpenbil Creek to a small clearing by the water's edge immediately upstream of a minor rapid. Paddlers can assist with maintenance of this informal path by selectively pruning back overhanging vegetation that might make it difficult to traverse.
Get out: a dirt track from the river up to parkland on the north-east side of the bridge on Tyalgum Road at Eungella. In recent times this point of egress has tended to become somewhat overgrown and often quite muddy.
Level: Eungella gauge: 0.72m minimum; 0.85m - 1.10m good level; over 1.35m high (above this level some play opportunities open up on the bigger rapids but many of the smaller rapids start to wash out).
Details: This is a picturesque 13.5km paddle through lush temperate rainforest and cleared rural land. On a clear day the final kilometres to the finish allow several opportunities to view the lesser-seen north face of Mt Warning's imposing tor. While possibly a bit much for complete beginners, a well-supervised trip makes an excellent introduction to white water for novice paddlers who have mastered basic boat control. The river has many good Grade 2 drops and bouncy races (some several hundred metres long) and three relatively straightforward Grade 3 rapids. Although generally quite open, watch out for overhanging branches (particularly at higher river levels), the occasional tree strainer and possibly even fences. There is only one long (about 1.5km) flat section, however even this is very pleasant as it occurs along a lushly vegetated stretch of the river. Depending on river level there are several low bridge crossings that may require portaging. The prettiness of the surrounding country combined with the fun bouncy rapids make for a very enjoyable trip indeed. Latest update: This section currently includes a total tree block-up and several partial strainers that require a cautious approach ... and these start just below the put-in point on Pumpenbil Creek. It is strongly recommended that paddlers avoid running this section at higher water levels unless they have run it previously and know what to expect.
Oxley River (Eungella to Old Lismore Road) – Grade 1+
Get in: a dirt track leads down to the river from parkland on the north-east side of the bridge on Tyalgum Road at Eungella.
Get out: the low level crossing on Old Lismore Road off Tyalgum Road (about 1km from the Kyogle Road intersection).
Level: Eungella gauge: 0.72m minimum
Details: This trip would probably be regarded by most white water paddlers as too basic and therefore of little interest. However it is included here because of its potential interest to beginners wanting to paddle while other more experienced members of their party are canoeing further upriver. This is an 8km section of largely open water surrounded by pleasant pastoral country with a mountain backdrop. It consists mainly of long flat pools separated by gravel race type rapids – most of which should provide some satisfaction for beginners. Watch out for tree snags, fences and other obstructions in the faster sections between the pools. This run should be generally quite suitable for small touring kayaks when water levels are not too high.
Tweed River (Uki to Mount Warning Road) – Grade 2
Get in: parkland along the river either in or just to the west of the village of Uki off the Murwillumbah Kyogle Road.
Get out: beside the bridge on Mount Warning Road just past the turnoff from Kyogle Road (10km from Murwillumbah).
Level: Uki gauge: 1.50m minimum
Details: This 5.3km section of river runs through lush and quite attractive open forest and farming country with occasional views of Mount Warning on a clear day. It provides a worthwhile trip for those wanting pleasant scenery at a slightly more relaxed pace. The river consists mainly of flat pools (one of which is quite long) separated by gravel race type rapids of up to easy Grade 2 standard with one rocky two-stage Grade 3 rapid of about 70m in length that can be easily portaged on river right if necessary. This is a good section to give beginners an introduction to white water and is generally quite suitable for canoes and (smaller) touring kayaks provided water levels are not too high and the larger rapid is portaged.
Doon Doon Creek extension – Grade 2 -
Get in: Just over 2km past Uki on the Kyogle Road turn left into Clarrie Hall Dam Road (just before the Doon Doon Creek bridge crossing). A turnoff to the right just before the dam leads down to a picnic/camping area near the base of the spillway. The easiest access to the creek is through a broken gate/fence to a small rock-surrounded pool that is sheltered from the main water flow in the creek.
Level: This trip is only possible when water is spilling over Clarrie Hall Dam and a minimum level of about 61.68m on the Spillway Gauge is required. (Latest Update: spillway works in 2014 may have altered this minimum level – visual inspection is recommended until a revised level can be determined).
Details: Those wanting a longer trip on the Tweed could do worse than start their run from just below Clarrie Hall Dam. From here the astonishingly pretty Doon Doon Creek flows for 1.7km through a lush riparian canopy into the Tweed River. The Creek consists mainly of flat water interspersed with relatively straightforward grade 1-2 rapids, however paddlers should keep an eye out for the occasional fallen tree or overhanging branch in or around some of these rapids. There is a further 2.4km of pleasant grade 1-2 water along the Tweed River before the alternate put-in point at Uki is reached. This extension provides a total trip length of about 9.4km and the very pleasant scenery along the way certainly makes it worth the effort. Use this link for latest access information, dam levels and alerts.
Tyalgum Creek (Stoddards Road to Tyalgum) – Grade 3
Get in: just below the bridge crossing on Stoddards Road (off Tyalgum Creek Road) just over 4km past the village of Tyalgum.
Get out: just past the bridge crossing on Limpinwood Road at Tyalgum. In recent years this access has become overgrown and it may be easier to get out either on the right bank before the bridge, on Pumpenbil Creek (see Oxley River access details) or further downstream on the Oxley River (private property access may require permission).
Level: As a rough guide look for a minimum of about 1.2m at the Eungella gauge, with 1.3m to 1.4m often providing a decent paddling level. However visual inspection is necessary, as the gauge readings will also include the inflows of at least three other major watercourses. If you can navigate your boat through the smaller rapids just below the put-in with minimal scraping then there is usually sufficient water to complete the trip. Be aware however that tree snags can make this run quite dangerous at high water levels.
Details: This narrow 6.6km section is more likely to be paddled when the Oxley River is so high that many of its smaller rapids are completely washed out. The rapids here are typically of Grade 2 to 3+ standard separated by fast moving water – there are few calm stretches other than the small weir catchment from which the village of Tyalgum draws its water supply. Paddlers must ensure that they pull out before the Tyalgum weir as the rapid immediately below it drops about 1.9m into a short, turbulent and highly aerated pool before spilling out through a steep and very rocky exit. This gnarly and potentially dangerous rapid would require a very minimum water level of about 1.38m to negotiate and even then it would approach Grade 5 standard. It is strongly recommended that most paddlers take advantage of the easy portage available on river left. Without regular floods to keep it cleaned out, parts of this trip can become quite overgrown and paddlers need to be alert to overhanging branches, tree strainers and possibly even barbed wire fences. Also, fallen trees can occasionally become lodged in some of the larger and more interesting rapids in this section and precise boat handling skills and/or more frequent portages may be necessary. Overall the scenic rural vistas and pleasant mountain backdrop, together with the frequency of the rapids, make this a very enjoyable trip indeed for experienced paddlers.
Yabba Creek (Borumba Dam to Imbil) – Grade 2-
Get in: continue west for 13km along Yabba Creek Road from the village of Imbil. Turn right into the formal camping area below the dam and veer right again along an unsealed road (old Yabba Creek Road) to a low level crossing. Put in on the downstream side of that crossing.
Get out: a formal canoe/kayak launch site and parking area (built by the Gympie Regional Council) located on Yabba Creek Road about 400m west of Mathias Street in Imbil. A short track leads to the water where the creek runs close to the road. Check out this access point before starting your paddle as you will need to be able to recognize it from the water.
Level:
Dam overflowing: As readings on the spillway gauge seem prone to fluctuation it is recommended that you use an average of the last 3-4 recorded levels. A minimum of about 0.06m provides a pleasant though mildly bumpy ride, with several more centimetres of water needed to make the going a little easier. This creek includes a number of obstacles and tight turns and it is advisable not to tackle it in high water unless you have paddled it previously and know what to expect.
Controlled releases: A minimum release of 120Ml/day is needed for a very low level trip. Contact the Dam operators or SEQ Water for release information.
Details: This 17.3km trip probably won't entice the hardcore white water freaks as it consists mainly of flat pools with fast grade 1+ races and the occasional very easy grade 2 rapid in between. However the sheer beauty of this often narrow water course, with its lushly vegetated banks and spectacular tree canopy that provides total creek coverage in many parts, is truly breathtaking. We rate this as one of the most beautiful paddles in South East Queensland and consider it a ‘must do’ for canoeists with the skills to handle this type of water. Trips of different lengths are possible as the main road crosses the creek six times between the dam and Imbil – and there are also creek crossings on several side roads. Beginners should only attempt this run for the first time if accompanied by an experienced paddler as there may be fallen trees, strainers, overhanging branches, barb wire fences and low level bridges to look out for – and some of these are found in fast moving sections of the creek. One big plus for this trip is that controlled releases from the dam are more likely to occur during the dry season (ie September/October) for irrigation downstream on the Mary River – a time when there is usually very little water elsewhere in South East Queensland for paddling. For a pleasant weekend away you can stay at the camp ground below Borumba Dam and explore the scenic catchment of this dam as well (see Flat Water Trips section). Click this link to check out some photos of this location.
Yabba Creek (Imbil to Tuchekoi Bridge (Mary River)) – Grade 1+ (to Grade 4 at Imbil Weir)
Get in: a formal canoe/kayak launch site and parking area (built by the Gympie Regional Council) located on Yabba Creek Road about 400m west of Mathias Street in Imbil. A short track leads to the water where the creek runs close to the road.
Get out: Tuchekoi Road Bridge over the Mary River at Bollier. About 100m west of the bridge a partially overgrown vehicular track heads off south to an informal parking area. A short, steep and sometimes muddy path leads to the water’s edge.
Level: Visual inspection is recommended as inflows downstream from the dam can affect the usefulness of gauge readings. In general, levels below about 0.10m on the Borumba Dam spillway gauge may make some gravel races a bit too bony … a range of 0.15-0.18m is ideal. Kayakers attempting the gorge below Imbil Weir are likely to find conditions quite bumpy at levels under 0.13m, with at least 0.18-0.20m needed to make things more interesting.
Details: This 14.5km trip has something to interest most moving water paddlers. Being mostly easy grade, it is suitable for shorter (under 4.0m) touring craft provided the bigger rapids in the gorge are inspected and portaged where necessary. Fast flows at the put-in are quickly slowed by the still headwaters of the catchment of Imbil Weir (situated 2.5kms downstream). The weir was built at the approaches to a small gorge that runs for about 180m and contains the only three significant rapids of the trip. The first of these (immediately below the weir) plunges nearly 4.0m over an uneven rock shelf into a short turbulent pool and would be graded 3 to 4- at most medium paddling levels. Those looking to run this rapid may benefit from firstly inspecting it at lower levels as there are many rocks strewn along its base … and some of these appear to be strategically located in paths of major flow. The second rapid, a short rock garden of Grade 2-3 standard, has a relatively safe path down river left for those seeking to avoid the main current, although play boaters will likely gravitate to the middle of the creek where angled play waves and holes await. A Grade 1-2 rapid near the end of the gorge should cause few concerns for paddlers with basic moving water experience. If necessary this entire gorge section can be portaged via the ridges on either side of the creek, while those wanting to bypass only the first rapid can take an easy 20m portage around the rock face on river left to a partially sheltered crevice that makes a handy launch site. The next 11.5kms to the junction with the Mary River is typically of Grade 1+ standard and consists mainly of flat pools liberally interspersed with straightforward gravel race rapids. Less experienced paddlers need to be alert to fallen trees and other snags that can make navigation in tight bends and fast water a little trickier, while all boaters should be on the lookout for total block-ups that can appear especially after upstream flooding. This creek flows mainly through cleared rural country, however its riparian zone includes attractive stands of wet sclerophyll forest and even patches of remnant rainforest. From the junction with the Mary River it is 500m upstream to the get-out point on river left (paddler’s right), just above the Tuchekoi Road Bridge. For a pleasant weekend away you can stay at the camp ground below Borumba Dam and explore the scenic catchment of this dam as well (see Flat Water Trips section).
Trip information on these pages is constantly being added and updated. Check back periodically for new paddling suggestions. Visitors are invited to contribute trip reports, suggestions, enhancements, photographs, corrections, updates or just general comments. All submissions will be evaluated but inclusion is not guaranteed.