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Sea Kayak trips in 2010

Please check the basic trip requirements and information at the bottom of this page

Macleay Island day tripSun 14 Mar 10 ()
A paddle to Coochiemudlo and Macleay islands.

Full Details

A nice introductory paddle in Moreton bay.

Details to come, please check back here again

THIS TRIP HAS CHANGED DUE TO WINDY WEATHER ON THE BAY

The trip is now along the upper Brisbane river

Route: Burton's Bridge to Kholo
http://www.upstreampaddle.com/kholo.html

Meet: 7 AM at the club shed
Distance: 21 km

Organiser: Email Ernst (sea kayak representative)

Noosa River weekendSat 17 Apr 10 ()
An weekend camping trip up the Noosa River in the Great Sandy national park

Full Details

The Noosa river is a favourite trip for paddlers. We'll leave from Elanda Point, cross lake Cootharaba, and head up the Noosa river to a campsite. We plan to spend an afternoon walking up to the sand patch (a feature of the Great Sandy National Park). This is a very beautiful paddle on an unspoilt river. Have a look at pictures from the report from previous trips in 2006 and earlier.

This is an overnight trip taking sea kayaks and staying at Camp 3 in the QPWS camp grounds in the Cooloola National Park. We will leave from Elanda Point on Saturday and return on Sunday afternoon.

The trip is suitable for relative beginners who can do the distance with frequent rests. Specific sea kayak skills are not needed, but you should have the ability to do the distances in a loaded sea kayak. A good place to test your abilities, build up fitness, enjoy the scenery, and have some fun.

Info: Cooloolah National Park map where we will paddle, General information for kayaking in the area
Extra info: Local map of the area, Satellite map, QPWS Cooloolah National Park (Broad park map)
Time: Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th of April 2010
Duration: 2 days (overnight)
Distance: 40 km total (~20 each day, about 4-5 hrs paddling)
Paddle type: Sea kayaking
Accommodation: Camping. If you lack some (or all) camping gear, please let us know. The club may be able to supply you with some (be early).
Basic Costs: Petrol money to whoever you get a lift with. A donation to the club go toward gear replacement (if you are economically able - don't let this stop you coming). QPWS camping fees.
Gear: you will need camping gear and food for 2 days as well as paddling Gear. Please contact the organiser for complete gear list - includes sunscreen, hat, warm clothes
Transport: Please contact the organiser for transport info. Please let them know if you can bring a car or if you can take a kayak (although this may not be needed)
Meet: At the club shed Sat morning (time TBA)
Put in and take out: Elanda Point QPWS station.

Registration: Email Martin (webadmin)
Organiser: Michael Wynne (treasurer)

A paddle from Mullumbimby to Brunswick heads along the Brunswick river. After lunch we will return to Mullumbimby

Full Details
The paddle is with the tide in both directions. Approximately 22 km. There is an option of having lunch at the Hotel Brunswick (02 668 51236)

Date Monday 26 April (public holiday after Anzac day)
Grade: 1 (note extended distance, although tide assisted)
Total distance: 22 km with the tide in both directions

Distance: 22 km (11 km + 11 km) with the tide (lunch midway) Duration: 1 day (~4 hours of paddling (2 x 2 hrs))
Paddle type: Sea kayaking
Tide (Brisbane bar): 14:03 (low)
Tide (Brunswick Heads): low 12:43 (-1:20 relative to Brisbane bar)

Put-in/ Pull out point: Federation Bridge, Mullumbimby - at the western end of Mullumbimby Heritage park, between Tincogan St and Coolamon Scenic Drive
Mid Exit point: Banner park, Brunswick Heads (Cnr Park St and Mullumbimby St, northwest of the Road bridge across Simpson's creek) near the Brunswick Hotel

Put in: The park (boat ramp) at the south end of Federation Bridge, Mullumbimby (where Tincogan St changes into Murwillumbah Road (Google maps calls this Coolamon Scenic drive). The park is adjacent, on Brunswick Terrace). Please take the turnoff to Mullumbimby south of the Brunswick river (from the newly upgraded section of the Pacific highway). Don't take the Billinudgel turnoff and work south that way because the road is slow and winding, and there are roadworks and detours.
Please let the trip organiser know if you can bring a car or if you can take a kayak (although this may not be needed)

Local maps

Approximate Schedule:

  • 7:00 Depart Brisbane (Road trip is 1.5-2 hr)
  • 9:30 AM Depart Mullumbimby
  • 11:30 AM Arrive Brunswick (2hr 11 km trip)
  • Lunch (2 hr) Brunswick Hotel
  • 1:30 PM Depart Brunswick
  • 3:30 PM Arrive Mullumbimby (2 hrs)
  • 4:00 PM depart Mullumbimby (2 hr 11 km trip)
  • 6:00 PM arrive Brisbane
  • 6:30 PM All over?
Gear: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, warm clothes, lunch
Basic Costs: Petrol money to whoever you get a lift with. Lunch Money (~$15-25) if buying . Gear donation (if you are economically able).
Meet: 6: 45 AM - at the club shed on Saturday morning

Emergency contact: Brunswick Volunteer Rescue Association (VMR 274) - (02) 66 850 148 - located at the river mouth.

Contact: Martin

New boat try outSat 8 May 10 ()
We plan to have five different sea kayaks at the shed by 9am on next Saturday 8th and we would like interested members to come down, try them out and tell us what they think of them.

Full Details
We plan to buy two new sea kayaks from our own funds immediately and hope to secure additional funding to buy another two towards the end of the year. Your preferences will be an important factor balanced against other considerations when the committee makes a decision.

Contact: Michael

South Stradbroke weekendSat 15 May 10 ()
An overnight camping sea kayak trip to South Stradbroke Meander on the weekend of the 15th and 16th May

Full Details
Plan: On the Saturday we will depart from Jacobs Well and cross south of Kangaroo Island to South Stradbroke Island where we will break for a snack. We will then paddle south to Tipplers resort where we will stop for lunch. Those who don’t want to buy lunch can bring their own but you may not eat it on the resort premises. After lunch we will paddle north again and camp at the Bedrooms where there is a toilet but no other facilities. Distance 15 km with varying tides (High tide about 10 am).

On Sunday we will return by another route and go via Cabbage Tree Point. There are a number of alternatives. If we feel lazy we can proceed via Whalley’s gutter and north of Kangaroo island where we can break it will be 15 km back to Jacobs Creek. High tide will be around 10.30 am. If the weather is good, and if we start early, we can visit Jumpinpin before the tide changes (outgoing tides here are very strong) and then return north of Eden Island or through Cobby Passage. If we decide to avoid Jumpinpin, we can still cut through to these other routes by going across close to Five Ways. See map (orange for short trips purple for alternatives).

Schedule:
Load kayaks (to be decided)
Depart club shed Saturday 15th May at 7 am
Arrive Jacobs Creek by 8.30 am
On the water by 9 am
Break on South Stradbroke at 11 am
Lunch at Tipplers resort at 12.30 pm

Sunday timetable is fluid. Aim to be back at shed before 5 pm.

Time: Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th of May 2010
Duration: 2 days (overnight)
Distance: 30-35 km total (15 km Saturday (about 3 hrs paddling) & 15-20 km Sunday)
Paddle type: Sea kayaking
Accommodation: Camping. If you lack some (or all) camping gear, please let us know. The club may be able to supply you with some (be early and book it with the organizer).
Basic Costs: Petrol money to whoever you get a lift with. A donation to the club will go toward gear replacement (if you are economically able - don't let this stop you coming).

Gear: You will need a small tent (share if you can), a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag. We are not guaranteed good weather and it can be cold so bring something warm to put on and to kayak in if the weather is bad. Bring something waterproof in case it rains.
You will need to put everything that should not get wet into dry bags. The club has a limited number of bags, tents and sleeping mats. If you don't have what you need then book them with the leader well ahead and consider how much you can get into them and the kayak (quite a lot) when packing. It has to be small enough to get through the hatches.
There are no fires so bring a camping stove of some sort, or arrange to share with someone else. Trangia's or gas stoves are usual. Bring a plate, mug and utensils. Also hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant etc. You will need light at night so bring torches/lamps etc.
Food: Bring one breakfast (Sunday), one evening meal (Saturday), two picnic lunches (unless you plan to buy from Tipplers), and snacks to eat along the way. Prepared evening meals which simply need heating are good. People usually group up to bring meals and share between them. Most of us bring something tasty to share around during stops, before dinner, or after coffee. A beer or a glass of wine Saturday evening is great after all the exercise. If you have too much then you won’t be on future trips!
Water: There is a toilet but no water. We will need 2L per person per day for kayaking and at least two extra litre for cooking and other matters. So bring between 6 and 8 L water each. Kayaking gear: Full sea kayak gear including skirt, PFD, paddle leash, and footwear.

Fitness and skill: It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the fitness and skills to do the distance and can manage some chop. Paddle from the club to the green buoy and back in a sea kayak. You should be able to do this in 45-60 minutes.
We will be kayaking between islands so depending on wind direction it should be relatively sheltered. We may not be able to visit Jumpinpin if the wind blows up.

Emergency contact: Jacobs Well VMR
Tides: HT8.23am (Mon HT 9.11am)
Leader: Ernst le Roux
Organiser: Michael Wynne ( contact/register )

Full details are available here
Jacobs-well-to-Sth-Strad-is.jpg

Contact: Ernst (sea kayak representative)

Basic skills sessionThu 19 Aug 10 ()
A basic skills session is sheduled for Thursday 19th Aug at 6 AM <--- revised time.

Full Details
These sessions cover sea kayak basics, elementary paddle techniques, wet exits, and T-rescues on the river. Please follow the details here.

Weekend Training tripSat 28 Aug 10 ()
Due to strong winds this weekend, this trip has been changed to a two day training trip on Currumbin Creek.

Full Details
Due to strong predicted winds, the trip details are modified as follows.

Camping: We will camp at Palm Beach Holiday Park on the Gold Coast just north of Currumbin Creek. Those who want to return to Brisbane for the night then come down again the next morning  please let me know.  The camping charges are $22 per unpowered site (2 people) plus $5 for each extra person on that site.  Each site will take up to 3 or 4 one or two man tents.  We will have to work out camping costs which should be under $10 per person.

ANYONE INTENDING TO RETURN TO BRISBANE FOR THE NIGHT PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO IS SHARING TENTS.  IF I HAVE NOT HEARD BY 4 PM I WILL BOOK 3 SITES ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE WILL BE SHARING TENTS.

Food: We will not be packing all gear into the kayaks, and there will be shops, taps, eating places etc around. So bring whatever you plan to use or do.  You will need lunches, snacks and a couple of Water bottles on the river.  Bring changes of kayaking gear and something wind proof which can get wet as sitting around in wet gear gets chilly.

Travel: It takes longer to get there but we will not have to pack gear etc into kayaks, so departure time is unchanged meeting at the shed at 6.30 am (those taking kayaks at 6.15 am) depart  before 7 am and arriving at the Currumbin Creek by 8.30 am.

Training: Because we will be doing less actual kayaking distance,  Mark will do more on navigation, weather, using compasses etc.  Hopefully rolling too.  If you have a compass bring it and you might find it useful to bring a pen and paper. So while it is not a leadership course it will contain some elements of that and equip you to go on the bay and to organise some of our basic level trips.

We can organise another day trip on the bay for October perhaps around Green Island or Macleay Island when we can get a little more experience of open water.

DIRECTIONS  

We will paddle  from the park on Duringan St, Currumbin between Thrower Drive and the Gold Coast highway.   You can get there from the Gold Coast Highway by exiting left after crossing the bridge over the Creek.

Most of us will come down the Pacific Highway.  Exit into Sarawak Ave before you get to Currumbin Creek  and go left .  Turn right into Thrower Drive and cross the bridge over the Creek then first left into Duringan St.  The park is  on your left and we will be about 300 km further along.

Leader and instructor: Mark Thurgood
Deputy leader: Carissa Klein
Contact/Registration/Organiser: Michael Wynne (treasurer)

Old plan
The club is organising an overnight trip camping at Blakesley's Anchorage on Moreton bay. This is a training trip with a Qld Canoeing instructor. A minimum of 6 people (maximum or 12) is needed.

This is a chance to improve your skills through training activities. There will be a cost for the instructor's services (in addition to normal trip gear donation, food, and petrol costs) but this will be considerably less than commercial rates, and the club will also subsidise some of the cost

Description:- We will put in from the corner of Auster Street and the Esplanade at Redland Bay. We will break for lunch on the beach on Karragarra Island before paddling through the narrow channel between Macleay and Lamb Islands and across to Blakeley's Anchorage, where we will camp. On Sunday we will paddle across to the northern tip of Macleay Island for a tea break, then return to Redland Bay. A map of trip is here

AUGUST UPDATE
This trip is currently full
Please send an email to be put on the standby queue
(it also indicates to us the level of interest in these sorts of trips)

Date: 28th and 29th May 2010
Schedule (note that we are on a tight schedule!)
  • Meet 6 am sharp! at club shed to load kayaks and gear. Get a good night's sleep beforehand please.
  • Depart club shed for Redland bay, Saturday before 7 am
  • Arrive at Redlands Bay by 8 am to unload and organise kayak gear.
  • Start session 9 am, Saturday
  • End Session 2pm Sunday
  • Return to shed by 4 pm to unload and wash gear.
Time: Saturday 28th 6am to Sunday 29th of August
Duration: 2 days (overnight)
Distance: 26 km kayaking (14 km fist day and 12 km second day)
Route: A map of the proposed route is here.
Paddle type: Sea kayaking
High Tide: Saturday about 11.30 am and Sunday 12 pm
Accommodation: Camping. If you lack some (or all) camping gear, please let us know. The club may be able to supply you with some (be early and book it with the organizer).
Basic Costs: Petrol money to whoever you get a lift with. A donation to the club if you use club kayaks will go toward gear maintenance and replacement. Significant tuition fee to be decided.

Bring:- There are NO Toilets, NO Water, NO showers, and no shops. Two wheelie bins for rubbish are the only items on the entire site. You must bring everything

You will need a small tent (share if you can), a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag. We are not guaranteed good weather and it can be cold, so bring something warm to put on and to kayak in if the weather is bad (something warm for the water/wet, and something warm for land/dry). Bring something waterproof in case it rains.

You will need to put everything that should not get wet into dry bags. Put everything you can into sealed plastic containers. Anything else will probably get wet. The club has a limited number of dry bags, tents and mats. If you don’t have what you need then book them with the leader well ahead and consider how much you can get into them and the kayak (quite a lot) when packing. It has to be small enough to get through the hatches. Large garbage bags can help keep less essential gear reasonably dry.

Bring a camping stove of some sort, or arrange to share with someone else. Trangia’s or gas stoves are usual. Bring a plate, mug and utensils. Also hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant etc. You will need light at night so bring torches/lamps etc.

Food:- Bring One breakfast (Sunday), One evening meal (Saturday), one or two picnic lunches, and snacks to eat along the way. Prepared evening meals that simply need heating are good. People usually group up to bring meals and share between them. Most of us bring something tasty to share around during stops, before dinner, or after coffee. A beer or a glass of wine Saturday evening is great after all the exercise. If you have too much then you might not be on future trips! We get back at 2 pm so you could buy a late lunch on the way home if you are prepared to wait.

Water:- There is no toilet and no water. We will need 2L per person per day for kayaking and extra for cooking and other matters. So bring 5-6 L watereach. Toilet paper, matches and we need a couple of small trowels between us. We will not take anyone who does not have water and food before we leave the shed as this is an imposition on others, and such poor planning is not acceptable.

Kayaking gear:- Full sea kayak gear including boats, skirts, PFDs, paddle leashes, footwear, bailers, sponges, pumps etc.
Clothing:- You will get wet, probably on both days, so bring two sets of kayaking clothes, dry clothes to wear on Stradbroke, and something warm and dry to leave in the cars to change into when you get back.

Fitness and skill:- It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the elementary fitness and skills to do the distance and can manage some choppy water. Paddle from the club to the radio mast and back in a sea kayak. You should be able to do about 4km/hr (distances are listed in shed and on the website)
Risks: Kayaking has inherent dangers. We will be kayaking between islands, so depending on wind direction it should be relatively sheltered. The major hazard will be the weather. If strong winds are predicted, then Mark may decide to change the venue, reschedule or cancel the trip.

Emergency contact: VMR Victoria Point Tel (07) 32078717 (put this in your phone too)
Additional safety equipment (supplied by club or some group members): Spare paddle, first aid kit, flares, PLB, V-sheet, VHF radio, tow ropes.