Thursday 14 August 2025 Lake Durras entrance

 Our last day in South Durass and time for a quick paddle before heading home (lucky KT&G, with no other commitments chose to stay another night).  Only five of us took to the water; J had some work to do and R's crook shoulder was making itself felt.

After checking out we headed down to the boat ramp to meet up with KT&G and J. We were soon on the water and paddling against the incoming tide toward the mouth. Finding a way over the sand bars proved tricky but fun as we wended our way toward the entrance. 

Enjoying the clear water

Pulling in to check out the entrance and beach

Looking upstream as we returned to the kayaks.

Floating back up the inlet on the imcoming tide,

we continued on past the boat ramp and on up the lake, leaving the clear water behind us, heading toward to arm J had wanted to explore on our first day.

Three days of paddling and there is still plenty of chat.

There were more shallows, unseen in the murky water, to negotiate at the entrance to the arm. Once through the waters deepened and we were at leisure to enjoy the scenery and birdlife.

Around 11.45m we stopped for some morning tea and L sent up the drone.

All was quite and peaceful until KT suddenly let out a yelp and demanded I light a ciggarette - only the second time KT has done this in our long history (usually it is disapproving looks and long sighs), the last time being some 50 years ago when on a walk to Mt Feathertop and for the same reason. Yes you've guessed it, a leech had latched on for a feast! Fag rolled, lit and leech unlatched peace returned as we enjoyed our surrounds a while longer, albiet keeping a somewhat anxious eye on our feet :)

We then set off to explore the remainder of the arm before heading back. Back through the narrow opening J and G chose wrong lines and had to walk their boats for short distances, just as I had done down near the mouth.

Back at the boat ramp we unpacked and loaded the boats for the last time. J&J invited us back to their place for a cup of tea and a chance to change before heading south. In addition to the tea, there was pea and ham soup, toast, cheese and J's bread and butter pickles - A lovely ending to 3 days paddling in great company. Thank you everyone.

Photos courtesy of KT&G and J.

Trip Notes:

Lake: Open

High Tide at Entrance: 11.56am 1.5m

Water level at gauge downstream of boat ramp: 0.329m

Put In/Take Out: Boat ramp on Lakeside Drive

8.77km

Note: In our limited experience Lake Durras is best paddled when closed and full - then all the nooks and crannies can be explored.

Wednesday 13 August 2025 Burrill Lake

 As a colder day was forecast with a south west breeze kicking in around midday (which when it arrived came from the south east) we chose a circumnavigation of the more sheltered south east arm of Burrill Lake for todays outing.

Wanting to be off the water around 2.00pm it was an early rise and

departure for the 40min drive to Burrill Lake.

By 9.30 the last of us had launched and

we paddled across the water to begin our circumnavigation.  As the water was shallow in parts it was impossible to edge creep. Still we managed to see a Azure Kingfisher, some White Faced Herons, a bunch of Greater Egrets and a whole lot of Little Black Cormorants.

As we approached the end of the arm we paused at the Western Arm Picnic area - complete with picnic table. However as it was partially shaded L suggested we paddle back 500m to the little sunny beach we had recently passed.

This we all somewhat reluctantly did, the picnic table having looked so inviting, but it was very pleasant to bask in the full sun for 20 minutes or so. Soon after settling down we were joined by this very tame kookaburra (the largest of the kingfisher family don't you know). 

When no titbits were forthcoming - no one having packed any worms, mice, small reptiles or insects for their morning tea - he shat on L's chair cover, narrowily missing G's shiny red kayak. Either optmistic or just enjoying some company he stayed with us until we packed up and departed.

Revived, we took to the water once more and crossed the arm to continue our circumnavigation.

Approaching the narrow opening to the arm a brief confab was held and it was decided that as we still had plenty of time we would paddle a little way up the main lake and look for somewhere to have lunch. After a little over a kilometre we found a sunny bit of grass, sheltered from the cold breeze in a little bay on the northern side of Lakeshore Lodge. 

After lots more chat we set off once more and once we had turned into the main body of the lake we found ourselves facing a cold head breeze and so mostly in silence we steadidly paddled the 2kms back to Barker Reserve, ending our paddle a little before 2.00pm.

Not much GoPro footage I'm afraid - nattering away too much.

Courtesy of G&R we had pasta and a delicious beef cheek ragu (in which our friendly kooka would have glady partaken!) for dinner, after which we retired to our cabins and tumbled into bed replete, happy and pleasantly tired after another days paddle.

Again, thanks to J for the photos.

Trip Notes:

Lake: Open

Lake Level at Highway gauge: 0.25m

High tide:    At Inlet 11.07am 1.5m

                    At highway bridge 11.56am 1.5m

Put In/Take Out: Barker Reserve, Lakeview Drive

9.53km 

Tuesday 12 August 2025 Lake Durras

Yesterday a group of us, KT&G and J&J from Victoria, R&G and L&me headed up to South Durras for a few days paddling. After stopping for lunch at the Boatshed in Tuross Heads

 for some of their famed fish and chips we arrived at the NRMA Murramarang Resort where we were to spend the next three nights. And most salubrious it was - the comfy beds an extra bonus.

Opened the curtains this morning and was immediately transfixed by the view and

a while later, looking up the beach whilst having breakfast on the verandah and 

looking forward to paddling under sunny skies.

 By 9.30am J and G were on the water, the rest of us soon to follow.

Heading up the lake on glassy water,

which was, unfortunately, rather murky due to all the recent rain.

As we launched after the break for morning tea we heard two Sea Eagles calling and we watched as they flew down the lake and landed in a tree across the water.

One of them taking flight as we approached.

Up near the top of the lake a group of pelicans studiously ignored our presence.

Returning back down the lake we found a lovely sunny, sheltered little beach at which to stop for lunch.

After lots more chat and laughter we launched again and slowly made our way back to the boat ramp, ending our paddle a little after 3.00pm.

Here is the edited GoPro and drone footage

By 4.15 we had returned to our cabins, changed and joined KT&G for a cuppa and cake on the deck of their cabin where we were soon accosted by a couple of local thugs noisily demanding a share of the repast and

threatening violence when ignored.

Thanks to J, KT&G for the photos.

Trip Notes:

Lake: Open

High tide at entrance: 10.24am 1.5m

Lake level at MHL gauge downstream of boatramp: 0.35m

Put In/Take Out: Boatramp on Lakeside Drive, South Durras.

11.8km