An eight day expedition along the western side of Fraser island (9 including travel). For more experienced paddlers and campers.
Note this trip is full. If you are a higher level paddler and are interested, let us know.
Alternate plan is here
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This is a multi-day trip for experienced paddlers where participant numbers are limited for safety and camp site limitation reasons. Paddlers are expected to be self-sufficient and will need to carry all food, water, camping and safety gear required for the trip. This expedition will be run concurrently with a concurrent trip by the Queensland Sea Kayak Club.
On Friday we will load boats and drive up to Urangan for the night, staying overnight at the Harbour View Caravan Park (beside the put in point). We will spend three days paddling north to Wathumba where we will camp 3 nights and have two days to relax, explore Fraser or paddle at leisure (Walthumba Creek), or do a group paddle into Hervey bay. We will then spend three days paddling south back to Urangan. We plan to arrive at Urangan Harbour around the middle of Saturday and drive back to Brisbane that afternoon/evening.
Sails will be permitted BUT not essential on this Expedition.
FRIDAY NIGHT CAMPING AT URANGAN
Harbour View Caravan Park, Urangan
http://www.caravanparkherveybay.net.au/
CARAVAN PARK BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES:
Phone: 07 4128 9374
Fax: 07 4128 9374
Email: admin@caravanparkherveybay.net.au
STREET ADDRESS:
Harbour View Caravan Park
1 Jetty Road
Hervey Bay
Queensland
Australia
| Paddle Type | Sea kayaking |
| Start Date | 22-09-2017 |
| End Date | 30-09-2017 |
| Trip days | 9 |
| Depart Date | 23-09-2017 |
| Return Date | 30-09-2017 |
| Paddle days | 8 |
| Trip Leader | Peter Voght |
| Grade | 1 |
| Distance(s) | 1. Sat – 18 km 2. Sun – 20 km 3. Mon – 13 km 4. Tue – 0-15km (local exploration) 5. Wed – 0-15km (local exploration) 6. Thu – 19 km 7. Fri – 15 km 8. Sat – 18 km Total – 103km (max 20km per day). |
| Paddle Outline | Note: Prevailing winds during September may be from the North. Legs 1 – 3 may be paddling into a head wind. Therefore imperative that you leave after the peak of high tide on the ebbing tides for tidal assistance north.
0. Friday, Load boats at shed. Drive to Urangan Camp site (depart by 1 PM). Camp the night in the caravan park 1. Day 1 – Saturday 23 Sept – Urangan to Coongul Creek via Big Woody Island (18 kms) (Night 1)
2. Day 2 – Sunday 24 Sept – Coongul Creek to Awinya Creek – 20 Km (Hug Coastline) (night 2) 3. Day 3 – Monday, 25 Sept – Awinya Creek to Walthumba Creek – 13 Kms (Hug Coastline) – Passes Triangle Cliffs (night 3) 4. & 5. Day 4 & 5 – Tuesday & Wednesday, 26th & 27th Sept – Wathumba – local exploration. If conditions are suitable we may do a paddle into Hervey Bay and/or up the local creek. (night 4 & 5) 6. Day 6 – Thursday, 28 Sept – Wathumba Creek to Bowarrady Creek (Night 6) (19 kms) 7. Day 7 – Friday, 29 Sept – Bowarrady Creek to Coongul Creek (Night 7) (15 kms)
8. Day 8 – Saturday, 30 Sept – Coongul Creek to Urangan Boat Harbour (Final Return Leg) (18 kms) |
| Paddle Duration(s) | Sat – 4 hrs Sun – 4 hrs Mon – 3 hrs Tue – 0 – 4 hrs Wed – 0 – 4 hrs Thu – 4 hrs Fri – 3 hrs Sat – 4 hrs |
| Tide(s) |
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| Moon | Wed 20th Sep: New Moon Thu 28th Sep: Half Moon Fri 6th Oct: Full Moon |
| Sunrise – Sunset times | Sat 23rd Sep -> Sun 1st Oct Sunrise: 5:36 AM -> 5:27 AM Sunset: 5:44 PM -> 5:48 PM |
| Put in Point | Urangan Harbour |
| Take out Point | Urangan Harbour |
| Alternate Route Variations |
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| Facilities | There is no tap water available There are no toilet or shower facilities Limited toilets at Wathumba (paddle involved!) No natural Fresh water available at Wathumba (10L required for the time we are there.) Western beach camping areas WATHUMBA CAMPING AREA |
| Chart Information | September Statistics
WIND SPEEDS (6.3 kn average) |
| Maps |  Planned Route |
| Put in Point(s) |  Urangan Harbour and caravan park/campsite (Harbour View Caravan Park) |
| Extra Files and Links | Fraser Island beach camping zones map (PDF, 395K) Be Dingo safe (link) Dingo safe (flyer) |
Risks and Management
| Sea Kayak Risk Assessment | UQ Risk Assessment #45934; ✓ Animals and Plants (major injury); ✓ Animals and Plants (minor injury); ✓ Bad Weather / Weather Change; ✓ Boat Traffic / Shipping; ✓ Capsize; ✓ Carrying Boats; ✓ Cuts, Sprains, and Strains; ✓ Dehydration; ✓ Drowning; ✓ Enter / Exit Boat; ✓ Entire Group Capsizing; ✓ Equipment Failure; ✓ Fitness / Fatigue; ✓ Getting Separated from Group; ✓ Group Getting Lost; ✓ Heat Exhaustion / Hyperthermia; ✓ Hit by Paddle; ✓ Hypothermia; ✓ Ineffective Rudder; ✓ Medical Condition(s); ✓ Missing / Broken Paddle; ✓ Paddle Related Injuries / Tendonitis / Blisters; ✓ Panic / Fear; ✓ Rocks and Submerged Objects; ✓ Rough Seas; ✓ Sea Sickness; ✓ Separation from Boat; ✓ Sinking Boat; ✓ Strainers (Overhanging Trees / Mangroves / Fishing Lines / Structures); ✓ Sunburn; ✓ Surf; ✓ Tripping while walking; |
| Travel Risk Assessment | UQ Assessment #57960; ✓ Becoming Lost; ✓ Breakdown or Breakdown in Remote Area; ✓ Chemical: Unleaded Petrol; ✓ Drowsiness while Driving; ✓ Incident or Accident while Driving; ✓ Injury from Loading / Unloading Equipment from vehicle; ✓ Loads Falling from Vehicle or Trailer, or hitting occupants in accident; ✓ Towing Trailer; |
| Risk 1 | Kayaker(s) hit by whale |
| Risk 1 Context | September is the peak of the whale season. Encounters with whales are likely. |
| Risk 1 Management / Controls | Paddlers to stay at a distance from the whales (>100m), as per whale watching guidelines. Paddlers to make sufficient noise on the water so the whale knows they are there. Paddlers to avoid coming between male and female whales or between female whales and their young. Paddlers to say well clear of any whales exhibiting aggressive/angry behaviour (very violent tailslaps etc). |
| Risk 1 Before Management | Mod |
| Risk 1 AFTER Management | Low |
| Risk 2 | Dingos |
| Risk 2 Context | Fraser has a wild dingo population and are likely to be encountered. |
| Risk 2 Management / Controls | Follow national parks dingo advice. Do not feed dingos. Pack food and rubbish away (in boats not tents). Stand upright and do not run. Walk in groups if dingos around. |
| Risk 2 Before Management | Low |
| Risk 2 AFTER Management | Low |
| Risk 3 | Crocodiles |
| Risk 3 Context | Crocodile sightings have been reported in southern Fraser island. These are very rare. |
| Risk 3 Management / Controls | Participants made aware of reports and to remain vigilant especially when near the water’s edge. Crocodiles less likely to be around campsite creeks due to absence of food sources. |
| Risk 3 Before Management | Low |
| Risk 3 AFTER Management | Low |
| Risk Alleviation | Group will have several PLBs, an EPIRB, and an in Reach system for remote communication, tracking, and emergencies. |
| Paddler Requirements | ✓ Conditions can be calm, but can change dramatically with winds and tides contributing significantly to this. ✓ Paddlers must advise leaders if they have health issues or injuries that may affect participation. Ensure medication is carried and is accessible. If unsure, they should check with their doctor beforehand. ✓ Participants must be familiar with, and have demonstrated, a wet exit and T-rescue (in a sea kayak) while a member of the club. ✓ Participants must self-assess their, and their equipment’s ability to cope with this grade of club event. The club grading scale is located on the club website. This should be consulted prior to registration, and any concerns or anything needing clarification should be raised with the trip leader beforehand. ✓ Participants need the skills for the grade for the trip, unless modified below (Additional Comments). ✓ Participants should have an appropriate level of fitness. This is a trip that requires a moderate fitness level and a minimum sustained cruising speed as required by the {paddle grade |
| Emergency Contact Information | Urangan VMR 41289666; VHF16, 67 |
| Nearest Medical Help and Contacts | Urangan Medical Centre 2 Toni Street, Urangan Ph: 4128 9017 Monday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Personal Equipment (check link) | ✓ Camping Gear (e.g. tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag); ✓ Clothing you can get wet (on the water); ✓ Cooking gear; ✓ Dry clothing (to keep warm); ✓ Equipment Requirements for Grade; ✓ Food adequate for trip duration; ✓ Footwear suitable for paddling, swimming and extra for on land; ✓ Paddle clothes to protect from cold/wind (e.g. thermal/spray jacked or cag); ✓ Review potential equipment; ✓ Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, long sleeved paddle clothes, sunscreen, etc); ✓ Water – 3L per day (4L if camping); ✓ Water and snacks accessible while paddling; |
| Kayak Equipment | ✓ Dry bag; ✓ PFD and paddle; ✓ Paddle tie; ✓ Pump, sponge, bailer, and paddle float; ✓ Sea Kayaking Required Equipment List; ✓ Spray Deck (if you have never used one tell the leader before you register!); ✓ Suitable paddle craft (sea kayak if seakayaking); ✓ Whistle; |
| Safety Equipment | ✓ First Aid Kit; ✓ Hand Pump (at least 1 per 2 boats); ✓ Paddle Floats (at least 1 per 2 boats); ✓ Repair Kit; ✓ Rescue Stirrup; ✓ Spare Paddle; ✓ Torch / Glow stick; |
| Communications | ✓ Flares; ✓ Mobile Phone; ✓ PLB/EPIRB; ✓ Signal Mirror; ✓ V-Sheet; ✓ VHF Radio; ✓ Whistle; |
| Additional or Emphasised Equipment | Natural water sources are not available at Wathumba (3 days). If planning to augment with natural water sources ensure you have sufficient fuel to boil water and /or other sterilisation methods. Collect from creeks only after the tide has gone out sufficiently to become fresh (they are tidal) – this will require planning! Ensure food is suitable (check packet food is what you think it is (not pastes/sauces etc)\ 3 – 4 L of water per day (10 L for Wathumba) |
| Check of Paddlers’ Equipment | ✓ Bailing Device; ✓ Footwear (covered); ✓ Medication; ✓ PFD; ✓ Paddle Leash; ✓ Spray Deck; ✓ Suitable Craft; ✓ Sunsmart Gear; ✓ Water; |
Logistics
| Pre-trip Meeting | 12-09-2017 8:00 PM |
| Pre-trip Meeting Location | UQ Pool area |
| Pre-trip Meeting Details | Discussion of trip details and provisioning. |
| Boat Loading | 22-09-2017 10:00 |
| Boat Loading Location | Club Shed |
| Boat Loading Details | We will load boats before departing. |
| Meet Location | As per boat loading |
| Costs |
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Registration
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