Bendalong to Summercloud Bay

Bendalong to Summercloud Bay

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Jon Mortimer manages the Eurobodalla Kayakers website and email list. Eurobodalla Kayakers is not a club. It is simply a facility for sharing information about some kayaking activities in the district, for kayakers who want to know when and where other paddlers might be found on the water. Further information, including a calendar of paddles, is available on the website (access via the link below) or via the email eurobodallakayakers[at]gmail.com

Eurobodalla Kayakers
SHARE URL:
WATERWAY:
Ocean off Illawarra and Shoalhaven
AVERAGE GRADE:
S03
HIGHEST GRADE:
S03
TRIP DURATION:
4 hours
TRIP LENGTH:
20 km
Gradient:
Hot Tip:
log on and off with Sussex Inlet Marine Rescue with the NSW Marine Rescue app on your phone
Maps:
Aus Topo Sussex Inlet
Shuttle Length:
57 km
Portage?:
Description:

Launch from Boat Harbour Beach and make your way north past half a dozen beaches of the Conjola National Park.  Continue to hug the coast as you make your way past Sussex Inlet to Wreck Bay, taking care as you pass the rocky point off Sussex Inlet.  Follow the rather long and wild Bherwerre Beach to Cave Beach, then Mays Bay and finally land on Summercloud Bay Beach.  Summercloud Bay is moderately sheltered with surf around one metre, and is generally more sheltered in the eastern corner where there is a boat ramp and road access.
Avoid the temptation to cut the corner and paddle in a straight line to Summercloud Bay.  You will save about half an hour of paddling  with a straight run from Boat Harbour Beach but will be well offshore for most of the paddle.  The list of vessels that have met their fate in Wreck Bay is quite long.  Try not to add to that list.
Boat access to Booderee National Park doesn't attract a fee but driving your car in to pick up or drop off your boat does.  $11 at the time of writing.  Camping is also a problem.  The official camping ground is behind Cave Beach.  This is the surf beach for the area and is quite exposed with waves breaking well offshore.  You may not find landing and launching here to your liking.  Camping isn't allowed elsewhere on Wreck Bay and the park has rangers.  Free camping isn't allowed and isn't recommended but is not unknown.  Free camping has been done at the northern tip of Bherwerre Beach.  There are also half a dozen sheltered and rather isolated pocket beaches on the western side of St Georges Head but these tend to have dense vegetation behind them.
Booderee in the Dhurga language of the region means 'bay of plenty'.  Start your study of the history and culture of the area here

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18223 Bendalong Summercloud Bay