Friday 10 July 2026 Wallaga Lake

 Sadly, just us again today, taking advantage of a lovely winter's day. Launching from Payne's Island a tad after 10.00am 

Looking enticing in the distance, we had intended to head to the entrance first up

but once on the water we changed our mind and headed into the reed beds, where it was very quiet. Only two fish spotted and the odd bird. Turning round a little way beyond the foot bridge we explored other leads on the way back to the lake and were suprised to see we still had this section of Wallaga all to ourselves.

Having paddled along the eastern shoreline we stopped for morning tea, sheltered from the light, but chilly breeze at the end of the sand dune.

After morning tea we poddled slowly over the shallows to the still closed entrance before heading back to Payne's Island via Honeysuckle Island. A short and happy paddle ending at 12.30pm.

6.12km

Wednesday 17 June 2026 The Murrah

 A 1.4m high tide down at the entrance at 10.20am meant we should launch from the bridge at around the same time. This we did and managed to scrape down the first part of our journey without resorting to wading.

Sunday 7 June 2026 Cuttagee Reflections

 Woke up to a sublime winter's day: sunny, cloudless blue sky, no hint of a breeze and warmish. The urge to get on the water was irresistable and we shot down to Cuttagee for a quick paddle before leaving to join L's sister, 3 nieces and a great nephew for lunch.

As we arrived at the lake we disturbed a bunch of pelicans and cormorants hunting fish. The pelicans are canny; having fanned out and driven the fish into shallow water they wait for the cormorants to get the fish then they harry the cormorants into surrendering their catch.

Setting off on glassy water we saw the pelicans and cormorants had regrouped in another corner of the lake and were hunting again.

We edge crept up the lake, delighting in the reflections and the bird life we saw. A highlight - a Sea Eagle and Whistling Kite sitting in the same tree.

After a brief stop in 'Rain Forest Cove' where L, upon getting out the drone, realised we were running out of time, so sadly no droning on this beautiful day, we started back.

Paddling back down the lake the water remained glassy - a first we think, usually we paddle home into a head breeze.

As we turned into Little Cuttagee we saw a Sea Eagle pursuing a bird, possibly a grebe. They disappeared behind the tea tree and about 30 or 40 seconds late the Sea Eagle reappeared with something clutched in its talons. It flew across the lake in front of us and landed in a tree. Paddling quietly over I spotted the Eagle on a branch as downy feathers were floating down from its perch. So it had caught the bird.

As I set off again another Sea Eagle flew down the lake and glided into the forest near to where the other Eagle was perched  - what a resplendent end to a superb paddle.

We packed up, hurried home, showered and left again for lunch and a lovely afternoon spent with catching up with some of L's family.

Thursday 4 June 2026 Lake Durras

 We headed up to South Durras with the intention of paddling Lake Conjola and Lake Tabourie (both closed and very full).  Unfortunately the weather was unkind and although sunny, the wind was fierce and cold which put paid to our plans.

Instead we walked, talked, ate and lolled away the first day at the end of which L declared we should, the next morning try an early paddle on the nearby and more sheltered Lake Durras.

Accordingly we set off at first light and drove down to the Lake Durras boat ramp where, having unloaded the first boat the cold wind made itself felt cutting through our clothing in (by Australian standards) an icy blast. Already somewhat less than enthusiastic I called for a vote - and lost. So we donned more layers and finished unloading and got ready to brave the water.

We launched at 6.45am and headed up the lake straight into the cold head breeze. After paddling for approx 1.3kms we reached a lea shore and relief from the wind. With the lake so full we could pick our way through sheltered reaches as the sun rose and warmed our backs. We then braved the wind again and crossed the lake into the sheltered Bartleys Creek Arm. 

Having mooched 3/4s of the way down the sheltered and sunny side of Bartleys Creek Arm we turned around and headed back to the main lake and turned right, rounding the point into the unnamed but also sheltered arm. Once again we reveled in the sun and paddling smooth water. About half way down we stopped for morning tea and a bask in the sun.

Setting off again we could hear the wind in the trees above and behind us and, aware it was forecast to reach over 20kmph around 10.30am, we decided to head for home.  Crossing the lake back to the lea shore was a bit of a slog but having reached it it was easy paddling until we reached the entrance to Bull Shark Bay. Here we paused while L erected his sail and with the wind at our backs he was blown all the way back to the boat ramp - his longest sail by far. R and I poddled along behind also ably assisted by the wind, reaching the boat ramp bang on 10.30am

I was grateful to have been outvoted as what started as a try it and see turned out to be a most pleasant outing and we were three very happy chappies by the end of our outing.

Having forgotten to change the battery at morning tea the GoPro died just at we reached the rough water on the main lake so sadly no footage of L's successful sail.

Trip Notes:

Lake: Closed and full

Put In/Take Out: Durras Lake Boat Ramp

9.25kms

3hrs 45mins

Tuesday 28 April 2026 Caledonia Yawl: Maiden Launch

 After several years of intermittent construction it was finally time to test the seaworthiness of L's handiwork.

The original idea was to sail her however an onshore breeze put paid to the idea so we unloaded masts, boom and sails and L rowed her out to deeper water, away from the hazards along the shoreline.

Having taken a bit of footage with my phone of L rowing away up the lake 

I hurried back to where we had unloaded the kayak, donned the Go Pro and pfd and paddled madly after him to get some footage.

Unfortunately I forgot to check the angle of the GoPro and nearly chopped L's head off.

Other than the oars, the maiden voyage was a success - nary a sign of a leak. The next outing - to a lake with a boat ramp is eagerly awaited.

Also, we have been bereft of pythons since the 2023 bushfire (other than the one we discovered in the engine bay after stopping in Tathra on our way to Melbourne) so it was a great excitement to nearly tread on this one on the 30th April.

 

Neither of us has seen her again, so sadly, tho' happily for the rats, I don't think she has taken up residence.

Sunday 26 April 2026 Cuttagee Lake

Arrived down at the lake to find a haze hanging over the water due to the fuel intensifying burns going on in the area.

The smoke had dissipated by the time we took to the water just before 9.00am.

Look who is back. :) :)

We paddled on glassy water, watching various small groups of swans taking off and

catching up on the news as we poddled up the lake.

Then into the creek.

Another tree has recently come down.

We could get round the end, but when it collapses completely it may prove impassable.

Just after the crossing we came across Dan, a friend of Sam. We spent an informative 20 minutes or so chatting to Dan and learning about the intricacies and benefits of cultural burning before continuing on.

The amount of fish in this upper reach of the creek was astounding - huge schools of medium and large fingerlings came swarming past us - one school after another.

At 11.00am we pulled in just short of the paddlable limit for morning tea.

50 minutes later we set off again and

paddled quietly back, finishing at 1.20pm. 

11.25kms

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