Wednesday 22 April 2026 Wallaga Lake: Dignams Creek Bay

 Went to hook up the trailer this morning and noticed its tyres looked somewhat deflated. However with no-one joining us today there was no panic as we waited patiently for the little inflating machine to work its magic.

So it wasn't until 9.30am that we launched onto the inviting looking waters of Wallaga Lake and headed for Dignam's Creek Bay.

Rounding the corner we passed over the first of many underwater gardens. We bypassed Long Bay and edge crept round Yum Point looking for seals - non were in residence. However watching the masses of fingerlings darting about in the underwater garden made up for the absence of seals.

After dipping into Green Bay and stopping to gaze at the remains of an aboriginal midden we headed for Snapper Point, our favourite spot for a break and another midden, and found most of the beach now underwater, still there was enough dry land to haul out for morning tea and the first drone flight.

Paddling onwards toward the mouth of Dignams Ck we encountered a large flock to twittering little birds swirling in and out of the tree tops attracted, we presumed, to the eucalypts flowering high overhead.

The further up the bay we paddled the more dense the jellyfish became. Upon reaching the mouth we skirted wide to avoid the swans and entered the creek round the western most island passing a few of the pelicans not currently making their way to Lake Eyre. After paddling a short way up the creek and rounding the biggest island we headed downstream and up into a lagoon for our next stop.

Here as you will see, there was a bit of an oopsie resulting in the end of drone flying for awhile. 

After recovering his sangfroid and all the bits we packed up and paddled homewards and were happily surprised upon reentering the lake to find the forecast breeze hadn't manifested so we had a remarkably pleasant paddle back up the lake to our put in point.

Other than the oopsie - a lovely outing, rounded off with a stop for a gelatti on the way home.

By the by, recently a report on micro plastics in the estuaries of New South Wales was published by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority. The Far South Coast has 3 of the 5 estuaries with the lowest levels of micro plastics; they being Wallaga Lake, Middle Lagoon and Nadgee. That's the good news - here is a link to an news article about the report of if want to depress yourself with the bad news:

https://region.com.au/how-far-south-coast-estuaries-rate-on-microplastic-contamination/956044/

To cheer you up again here is the footage from our paddle

Put In/Take Out: End of Fairhaven Point Rd

Wallaga Lake: Closed. Water level at Regatta Point: 0.59m

12kms

Thursday 16 April 2026 Wallaga Lake: Black Lagoon and Narira Creek

Launching from the end of Fairhaven Point Road we paddled away from the shore with no fixed destination in mind. S&V opted for Narira Creek so we headed to the right. 

With the lake closed and the gauge at Regatta Point reading .60m we glided easily over the sand bars at the entrance to Narira Creek. Passing Meads Bay with just a glance we paddled up the creek and through the narrow entrance into Black Lagoon. 

Poddling along the shoreline S spotted the so named Serenity Seats on the Black Lagoon walking trail and called a stop for morning tea.

We completed our shoreline crawl of the western part of Black Lagoon before re-entering the creek and paddling up river through farm land for about 3km before being stopped by an electric fence crossing the creek. As there was a barely submerged sandy beach and a tree for shade just up the slope we pulled in for lunch.

We'd barely settled before the landowner drove up and from the otherside of the river (which made for a rather awkward conversation) and said we were on private land and asked what we were doing. Apologising for being on her land I said we were just having some lunch and asked if she would like us to go. Thankfully, cos we were all hot and a bit buggered she said we could have our lunch and told us that private land started at the high water mark.

The landowner left us to it and while we munched we mused about the actual meaning of  high water mark and watched with amazement all the fish activity taking place on the barely submerged, orange algae strewn beach where we landed. They were hunting something and the bigger fishes backs would come half out of the water as they hunted in the shallows.

There was lots of fish activity in the creek as we paddled back - one nearly landed in S's lap. At one stage a couple of Sea Eagles circled overhead and I wondered if the murky water hindered their hunting.

Back down near the mouth of the creek we took the narrower western lead out into the lake and paddled through broadside choppy water back to the launch site. As S had hoped, the creek was sheltered.

Now, just in case your are interested here is the meaning of high water mark - tho' how one is to know where it actually is, is beyond me:

In NSW, the Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) is the legal boundary between private land and tidal waters, generally defined as the average of high tides (spring and neap) over a year. It is not a fixed, visible line, but a dynamic, surveyed boundary representing the "mean of all high tides" that often determines Crown Land ownership. 

NSW Spatial Services +2

12kms

Sunday 5 April 2026 Wallaga Lake Entrance and Merriwinga Creek reed beds

Hoping to beat the Easter Sunday hordes and the rising breeze we left home a tad before 7.00am and headed for Paynes Island, our launch site into Wallaga Lake. As we carried our boats to the waters edge there were only two fishing tinnies on this part of the lake and the breeze largely non existent; so it seemed our plan was working :).

With the lake currently closed and the water level quite high we decided to head across and cruise along the edge of Honeysuckle island seeing Ibis, Swans, Egrets, and Masked Lapwings along the way.

Then crossing to the western shoreline we paddled up to Wallaga Lake Reserve seeing a Common Greenshank/Sandpiper type bird (if you can identify it, please let me know), and a little further on another one missing a foot. 

Having paused for a moment at the closed entrance we picked our way along the eastern shoreline passing a mixed group of Pelicans, Terns and Seagulls before pausing again to wait for a tiny immature, I think, Red Capped Plover to approach our boats. 

We continued on and by the time we reached the entrance to Merriwinga Creek 5 tinnies and 4 fishing kayaks had joined us on this side of the bridge - hardly a crowd.

200 metres up the creek, other than the sound of wrens warbling in the reeds, fish jumping, plopping and swirling the hush of the red beds descended and we were transported into another world.

With the high water level we glided over the footbridge and on up the creek, further and further until it was so narrow L called a halt.  I managed to back paddle around obstacles for 30 or so metres to where with 5 minutes or so of back and forth I eventually turned and then back paddled back to L in order to retrieve a phone, pinpoint our location and change the GoPro battery. Then it was L's turn to reverse paddle, under my directions, around obstacles and bends the 100 metres or so until we found somewhere we thought it possible to turn his longer boat. We were a little optimistic and his kayak got jammed. Pondering for a bit L instructed me to ram the bow of his boat which, other than nearly tipping him out of the boat, did the trick and managed to free him.

Chuffed with our success we paddled back to explore the remainder of the reed bed. At the eastern reach L stopped to fly the drone. Unfortunately it was not a success, he having inadvertently toggled on the zoom, so he was discombulated and the resultant footage is blurry. However, if you are keen, check out the blog entry of 24.6.2023 where there is some great drone footage.

Once back at the entrance to Merriwinga Ck we turned east and paddled to the little beach. However when we reached it we decided, with the sun gone and the breeze bordering on cold, to forego morning tea and head straight back to Payne's Island.

At 11.30am we were loaded up, in the car, ready to head for home. And the icing on the cake - as we turned out of Payne's Island there in front of us was a Sea Eagle perched on the crossbar of the power pole unconcerned by the traffic passing below.

A short but fun paddle.

Put In/Take Out: Payne's Island

7.08kms

Thursday 2 April 2026 Cuttagee Lake: Morning Paddle

 We headed down to the lake just before sunrise; the sky to the east streaked red bathing the paddocks in a golden glow - a magical start to the morning.

Having left ahead of schedule L and I had our boats unloaded and were nearly ready to launch when S&V arrived. This turned out to be fortuitous as after another 80+ ml of rain and the sea washing into the lake during the wild weather on the 26th and 27th March the water level had risen appreciably, narrowing the launch site to two kayaks at a time.

We paddled up the lake and into Cuttagee Creek, this time nearly up to the paddleable limit, to find the last little stretch blocked by a debris pile. Retreating 40 metres or so we pulled in on a sunlit pebble beach for morning tea.

Returning to the lake we paddled down to the bridge where we marvelled at the amount of sand pushed in by the recent storm before heading for 'Cabbage Palm' creek. Here we found we needed another 15+cm of water to enable us to reach the palm grove.

Sunrise paddles really are the best - the problem is getting these decrepit old bodies up and functioning so early.

12.5kms

Tuesday 24 March 2026 Brogo Dam

We had an early start to the day and managed to depart on time at 7.00am. However S&V had what they hope is only a mechanical hiccup and had to pull up. As we were only 10kms ahead of them and they were keen to paddle we turned around and went back. After transferring their boats and gear we abandoned their car and resumed our journey.

Upon beginning our descent to the dam we could see it was shrouded in mist however after a pitstop to use the loos and by the time we were ready to paddle the mist had evaporated and, as you will see on the video, a sublime view up the dam presented itself on this beautiful autumn morning.

After taking to the water later than planned we paddled up the dam for a couple of kilometres soaking in the views and reflections and turned into Nelson bay. Having greeted a couple of campers heading out for a paddle we headed up Nelson Creek as far as we could go. There we stopped for morning tea. By the time we ready to head back the way we had come the day had warmed up and we were happy to paddle in the shade whenever possible.

Exiting Nelson Bay the first of our wildlife encounters happened - a snake swimming across the dam. A little further on it was a goanna swimming across the water. It must have been quite a tough swim, the first thing it did upon reaching the edge was to haul itself partially out of the water and splay flat in the sun.

Ten minutes or so later another goanna was spotted, this time much closer. Swimming is far more awkward for them, no wonder the first goanna flopped in the sun as soon as it exited the water.

As we pulled in for another stop, this time for lunch, I disturbed a water dragon which took off into the water, quickly disappearing, camouflaged amongst the reeds.

L flew the drone once more and nearly bid it goodbye. Whilst flying it up Brogo River all contact with it was severed for a few minutes. Quietly panicking (the rest of us had no idea of the drama unfolding) he kept pressing the come home button. As you will see the drone eventually responded, doing inadvertently, in drone speak, a magnificent 'reveal' as it miraculously missed crashing into the trees. Control was regained only after it was 3/4s of the way back and a quakey kneed L had to sit down whilst his heart returned from his mouth to its normal position.

As we lunched a light breeze sprang up. Thankfully the forecast possible thunderstorm did not manifest itself tho' the air did become a little oppressive and the paddle back to the boat ramp was a bit of a slog through heavy feeling water.

Having stopped in at the local mechanic on the way back for some advice, we drove on to S&V's car and followed them back to the mechanics where their car was left. Then it was into town for some delicious and well deserved gelati (thanks S&V) before dropping them home and thence ourselves.

9.00kms

 

Wednesday 18 March 2026 Cuttagee Lake

 It was a delightful paddle on this very grey, muted, humid but most importantly, windless day.

After paddling across and up Little Cuttagee we decided, upon entering the main lake to do a northern shoreline creep. Other than the sound of our chatter and some muted birdsong it was blissfully quiet.

Lots of smaller fish were spotted jumping out of the water and guddling about just below the surface. Sadly we saw only one bigger fish as the commercial fisherman had netted the lake the week before.

We stopped for a lengthy and relaxed break at the end of Little Lake where we discussed what we had learn't from the newspapers, journals and podcasts to which we variously subscribe - the grim state of the world and the dismal state of Australian politics being chief amongst the topics.

Proving that kayaking to is to mental wellbeing what Mounjaro is to weight loss we returned to the water and happily continued the rest of our shoreline crawl. 

Only a short video today, for a more complete view of Cuttagee check out entries from a few years ago.

10.45kms

Wednesday 21 January 2026 Cuttagee Lake

 This was our first opportunity after the 124mm of rain last week to paddle the closed Cuttagee Lake.

The wind forecast meant an early start and arriving at the lake we were suprised to find the water, though tannin stained was remarkably clear.

Whilst waiting for S&V to join us we passed the time being mesmerized by the cloud reflections upon the glassy water.

We headed up the lake and then the creek, keen to see how the bush was recovering from the 2023 fire, along the way collecting a number of plastic tree guards washed down the creek by the rain.

Besides catching up with the neighbours there were two other highlights.  Alerted by a noise sounding like a creaky, rusted hinged S and I stopped paddling, searched and spotted a pair of endangered Gang Gangs - the male with his vivid scarlet head and crest and a close up, long look at his female partner. They are a rare sight in this area.

Then upon our return down the creek, near its entrance into the lake we spotted a swan with two cygnets. We stayed well clear of them so no pics or GoPro footage.

Can't wait to head back out for a full explore of the lake.

10.3kms