Bents Basin Gorge
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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
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
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Latest water level:
0.76 m
Level update time:
10-Jul-2024 13:07
WATERWAY:
Nepean River
ENTRY POINT:
EXIT POINT:
AVERAGE GRADE:
Grade III
HIGHEST GRADE:
Grade IV
TRIP DURATION:
2 hours
TRIP LENGTH:
5 km
Gradient:
0
Hot Tip:
Approach weir with caution & avoid this section in very high water.
Maps:
Shuttle Length:
Portage?:
Yes
Description:
The first kilometre of paddling is in open country on flat-water until Bringelly Creek enters on the right. As the river loops west, it enters Bent's Basin Gorge - a very bouldery timbered gorge 100-130m deep. The river remains flat for another kilometre until a large weir arcs across it soon after it sweeps to the north. This weir has a gruesome boil and long turbulent suck back right across the river. The writer watched with much trepidation a 200 litre drum being tossed effortlessly in the boil, then sucked down, spewed out downstream and then relentlessly dragged back towards the base of the fall to have the process repeated. Portage on the left! The rapids begin soon after and continue until the river empties into Bent's Basin. There are two big rapids which should be inspected. The first, a little over half-way along the gorge, is the most dangerous. The middle channel thunders into a large rock wall which has a boil surging in front (upstream) of it. The extreme right side of the river offers the safest path, finishing with a good drop (1.5 to 2m) into a stopper. Even so, this route requires skilful manoeuvring to avoid the current in the middle channel. The last rapid in the gorge is long and has some big stoppers, waves and holes in good water, which become enormous in very high water. This rapid can be seen in the distance across the Basin from the car park. As with the first gorge, this section is generally only paddleable after good rainfall upstream.