Sunday 5 – Friday 10 May 2019

Photos by Erika, Philip & Karen

Thirteen paddlers made camp at the North Nowra Ski Park overlooking the Shoalhaven River for 4 days of paddling some of the many Shoalhaven waterways.

Day 1: An 18 km trip from camp upstream on the Shoalhaven River to Calymea Creek near Bamarang Reservoir.  This involved a fairly lengthy car shuffle, but the towering sandstone cliffs lining the river made the effort worthwhile.  Excellent paddling weather.

Starting out the first day

Sandstone cliffs

Lunch on a river beach

The fleet

Campsite

Day 2:  Drove north through Berry to Wharf Road and the launch spot on Broughton Creek.  Paddled upstream to where the creek forks into 2 arms and explored both.  Returned to launch spot and drove back to Berry for lunch.

At Broughton Creek junction

Paddling through farmland

Day 3:  Paddled downstream from camp, under the highway bridge to Bomaderry Creek.  Joined the remainder of the group who chose to launch at the boat ramp in Bomaderry Lions Park off Bolong Road.  Paddled Bomaderry Creek upstream.  Very windy conditions.  Returned to Bomaderry Lions Park boat ramp.

Passing under the Highway

End of Bomaderry Creek

Jaffles cooked on the campfire

Day 4: Paddled downstream from camp to Nowra Creek and explored the main creek and its tributary.  There is also a walk on both sides of the creek called Ben’s Walk.

Nowra Creek tributary

Egret standing sentinel

Tributary reaches farmland

Bob

End of Nowra Creek

Then paddled back upstream past camp to explore Cabbage Tree Creek opposite the zoo.  This creek ends in a spectacular rock amphitheatre.  Paddled back to camp and more jaffles around the fire.

Entering Cabbage Tree Creek

Approaching the cliffs

Cabbage Tree Creek Amphitheatre

End of the creek

Erika and Philip under dry waterfall

Thanks again to Ian for organising the camp paddle program and logistics, and the evening campfires.

Karen