HOME
 
CANOE - About this website
 
Much of the river canoeing covered here is seasonal, possible only after summer rains, which have been low in most recent years.
 
Some of the urban reaches of Brisbane, Ipswich, Caboolture and the Gold Coast need no more detail than that described in your street directory. Use your preferred street guide to find access to the river, and go exploring.

This is a guidebook to canoeing venues in Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is not instruction in how to paddle or plan canoeing trips at those venues. All canoeists should use their own judgment and skills at all times. If you are a newcomer to the activity it is recommended that you choose trips appropriate to your fitness and experience.

Consider taking a canoeing course, try a commercially run expedition or outing, join a club, work up your experience, learn paddling techniques, and how to read and run a river. Due to different levels of paddling skills, personal fitness, water levels, type of boat, and changes in river characteristics over time, the grade of difficulty of a river may vary considerably from person to person

Canoes (including kayaks) have certain characteristics that best suit them to certain conditions. White water kayaks for rocky rapids, and sea kayaks for open ocean. While there is some overlap in what kind of boat can be used in what location, there is no way that your one boat will have multiple types of uses. The same way, there are certain skills that are required to compliment your boat and its use. Whitewater kayakers need an eskimo roll, and sea kayakers need navigation and weather reading skills. As with all craft that are propelled by human physical effort, you need to trim your activity to the weather, wind and tide. You need to plan for possible changes in conditions beforehand.

A river, dam or estuary has the bank or shore to guide you. A sea kayaker is limited only by concern for the weather, and where they wish to camp. The river guides are for paddling downstream. Marine paddling descriptions here have more to do with options on where to camp at night.

The SAFETY notes on this site are a cautionary reminder and are no substitute for sound judgment and caution. Stop and inspect from the bank any river situation you cannot fully see from your canoe.

The gear listed on the GEAR page is a basic list only.

The maps on these pages are intended for locality illustration only. It is recommended that detailed maps be obtained and used on canoe trips, particularly those that take place distant from urban areas. To preserve the environment, ensure that you follow minimum impact outdoor practices on all trips. Your aim should be to leave the places you visit unmarked, unaltered, and if possible cleaner, than when you first encountered them.