Tighten your Tentrope
(Camps Update April ‘23)
This is the second Camps update and as you are all aware we are in for a huge camping year. Ken mentioned in his email update this week that I am looking for some help! There are a couple of proposed camps that I don’t have a Camp leader for, so if your interested drop me an email at david@jenavid.com.au and we can discuss what is involved. The July K’Gari camp the November Camp both need a camp leader.
Our next camp is Tathra and Bruce is leading us south to Tathra (27 April – 13 May) the stops and paddles include Shoalhaven Heads, Jervis Bay, Tuross Lake, Batemans Bay, Twofold Bay and Bega River. Heaps of new paddles on the way down and back, a great NSW south coast road trip If you haven’t booked this yet you should do yourself a favour and get onto it.
Winter in the Whitsundays is going to be a cracker Dave Pass and Chris Roberts have arranged some fantastic weather to go with the many paddles, Dean is working up a Kayak Camping itinerary but be warned the sea state can get a little hairy around the outer islands, some bumpy water paddling on a Tuesday with Rob and Dean prior to the trip is well advised if you are planning on the seven night Outer Island Camping option.
If you are planning on going to the Whitsundays let Umi know via email and she will get all the updates to you (uni.mckenzie@yahoo.com.au)
Tathra
27 April to 13 May
Camp Leader; Bruce Nicholson
Bruce has developed a pearler of an itinerary for the trip south covering Shoalhaven Heads to Bega
River with many many paddles in between.
The following is the current itinerary:
Thursday 27 April
Check-in at the Holiday Haven Caravan Park, 49 McIntosh St Shoalhaven Heads (02 4429 5409)
Friday 28 April – Sunday 30 April
Paddle Shoalhaven Gorge and Tallowa Dam, Honeymoon Bay, Jervis Bay, Wharf Road to Caravan
Park, Shoalhaven River
Monday 1 May
Check-in at Nelligen Big 4 Holiday Park Nelligen 970 Kings Hwy (1 300 784 446)
Tuesday 2 May – Thursday 4 May
Paddle Clyde River Upstream, Tuross Lake, Batemans Bay
Friday 5 May
Check-in at Tathra Beach Eco Village, 5 Andy Poole Dr, Tathra (02 6494 4773)
Saturday 6 May – Friday 12 May
Paddle Bermagui River, Bithry Inlet, Wapengo Lake, Twofold Bay, Towamba River, Ocean Paddle,
Bega River, Wallaga Lake, Dignams Creek
Saturday 13 May
Check-out and head home or somewhere else!
K’Gari (Fraser Island)
17-21 July
Camp Leader: (Volunteer Required)
K’Gari is always a favourite and the many camping sites up the west coast north from Moon Point offer something for everyone. An option could be to drive into Woralie Creek Camping Area and do day paddles from a fixed location, this will require high clearance 4WD and you need to bring everything. A luxury option would be 4 nights at Kingfisher Bay resort. My favourite option would be to paddle from Urangan to Awinya and camp out of the Kayak. There could be an option that involves multiple formats or even other locations. If someone is interested in planning this camp let me know via email and we can get started, otherwise it will be over to me and this will likely be a camping out of your Kayak camp.
Whitsundays & Airlie Beach
14-28 August
Camp Leaders; Dave Pass and Chris Roberts
Where: Tasman Holiday Park, Cnr Jubilee Pocket Road and Shute Harbour Rds.
The van park selected is in a central location , friendly staff, pet friendly and an ideal booking and cancellation policy .There will be day paddles arranged based on the weather, and there are many many options available.
Dean will lead a small group on a kayak camping trip to the outer Islands . This will be a 7 day trip with no supply opportunity on the way .
For those who are not so adventurous, but want something more than the day paddles might offer or who have done it all before , there will be a 3 or 4 night camp at ” Paddle Bay ” on the north end of South Molle Island .This great camp gives the opportunity for many paddles ( Day Dream , North Molle , circumnavigate South Molle etc ) and access to the many walking tracks and to the now defunct South Molle resort.
The easiest option will be the day paddles that will be planned for most days, weather permitting, where you will return to your accommodation each afternoon.
Tannum Sands? (or 3 Dams)
13-17 November
Camp Leader: Volunteer Required
We discussed the location of this camp at the recent Committee Meeting and I reported there was little interest from the paddlers that I have spoken to for the Tannum Sands venue. One option could be a repeat of the 3 Dams camp that was run a few years ago (before my time). The dams are located west of the Gold Coast and I think included Lakes Moogerah, Maroon, and Wyaralong and maybe we could include Hinze Dam. If you are interested in leading this camp let me know and we can get started on the planning.
Tasmania
5-26 February 2024
Camp Leaders: David Hill & Paul Watt
So the following is a snap shot of the current planned itinerary, with phone numbers, websites and other good contact stuff, the planned paddles will be weather dependant and Paul and I will be working up the options over the next couple of months, if you have some favourites let us know and we will try to work them into the plan. Currently there are 22 paddlers confirmed for this trip and it’s shaping up to be an absolute ripper.
Spirit of Tasmania: www.spiritoftasmania.com.au
Southport Hotel and Caravan Park (03 6298 3144)
In 5 Feb out 9 Feb
Bruny Island, Captain Cook Holiday Park, Adventure Bay (03 6293 1128)
in 9 Feb out 13 Feb
White Beach Tourist Park, White Beach (03 6250 2142)
in 13 Feb out 17Feb
Coles Bay, Iiuka Big4 Holiday Park Freycinet (03 6257 0115)
in 17Feb out 21Feb
Bay of Fires (www.parks.tas.gov.au)
in 21 Feb out 26 Feb
stay at Binalong Bay (cabin options) or Cosy Corner (non-powered camping on the beach)
Happy Camping..!
David Hill, Camp Coordinator