Angle Crossing To Tharwa

Angle Crossing To Tharwa

Posted by
NSW Canoe Guide's picture

Published by: The Paddle NSW Inc. PO Box 6971 Silverwater NSW 2128 First published as a book "Canoeing Guide to New South Wales" in 1990 by NSW Canoe Association Incorporated Original Copyright NSW Canoe Association Incorporated 1990 Copyright PaddleNSW Inc. PO Box 6971 Silverwater NSW 2128 Email: admin@paddleNSW.org.au The information on this page and the printed book "Canoeing Guide to New South Wales" is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this page may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Paddle NSW Inc. All correspondence concerning the content of this guide should be addressed to the Paddle NSW Inc. ISBN O 646 00264 3 The "Canoeing Guide to New South Wales" was printed in Hong Kong by: United League Printing (Hong Kong) Ltd. , Film Separations by: D & S Brandish Print Consultants Typography by: Deblaere Typesetting Pty Ltd., Dee Why, NSW 2099

The Canoeing Guide to NSW Rivers
SHARE URL:
Stay
home
4m Flood
level
1.9m Min
level
2.5m Good
level
3m High
level
Latest water level:
1.81 m
Level update time:
30-Mar-2024 12:03
WATERWAY:
Murrumbidgee River
ENTRY POINT:
EXIT POINT:
AVERAGE GRADE:
Grade II
HIGHEST GRADE:
Grade III
TRIP DURATION:
3-4 hours
TRIP LENGTH:
11 km
Gradient:
0
Hot Tip:
Potage the "Big Boulder" rapid if not experienced.
Maps:
Shuttle Length:
From Tharwa to Angle Crossing via Smith's Road is 11km.
Portage?:
No
Description:

The first 2km are frustrating; the river is flat, wide and sandy. Picking the correct channel through the sand is important to avoid running aground. On the right (east) the riverbank rises steeply and the remains of a quarry/sand mine are situated in a gully. The left bank has an area of dunes and vegetation before sloping sharply to the Williamsdale Road. After 3km the river turns west for a short stretch, leaving the sandy bars behind. A series of gentle rapids end in a large "bottom-less pool". The river then resumes its northward course peacefully for a kilometre of big pools, culminating in an easy 150m race. When the river is high, pressure waves abound, otherwise it is a pleasant run dodging the occasional rock. From here the river changes its character. Entering a delightful gorge it is now a single channel up to 10m but usually about 5m in width, set below a wide flood channel of large bare rocks. The sides are generally easy to climb, but portaging can be hard work as it involves a lot of rock hopping. Again the river consists of a series of deep pools ending with total drops of up to 1 m, which are not vertical but slope down. This characteristic continues until the main left bend in the river is reached. Although some of the rapids in this stretch require inspection, all can be canoed. After this point keep a lookout for a gauge which is hidden on the right bank. It is at the end of an easy section and marks the start of the hardest part of the river. The next rapid can be shot on the extreme left and drops 1.5m into a deep pool. About 50m below the pool is the "Big Boulder" lying three-quarter of the way across the river. Most of the water flows beneath it and the surrounding boulders and it should be portaged (on the right) by other than experienced paddlers. Depending on the river height, experienced paddlers, if not deciding to portage, can bypass it by floating or paddling craft on the right. Take care not to be swept near the boulders. Downstream are some difficult rapids, one particularly so because of lack of water and a confusing array of boulders which mask a canoeable route. About 30m below this the river is split into three narrow drops by two rocks and the steep walls of the gorge. The river drops 1/2m in each channel. The left side looks simple but kayaks have a habit of nosediving and getting jammed. The right channel looks nasty but is just wide enough and quite easy. The gorge ends in a pool and the river widens, turns and slides down a straightforward 300m race. The river then runs WNW into sand country to the early finish point at the old sand mine, or to the finish at Tharwa. The rapids in this section are grade 1-3, with perhaps the rock jumble below the "Big Boulder" and some of the others (in high water) approaching grade 4.The river levels on this section can be effected by releases from Tantangara Dam here is a link to the web site to see the release schedule   

Media
6329 Angle Crossing Tharwa