
Freres Crossing to Ingleburn Weir

Take Care: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145822399459050/permalink/1056893868351894/ a warning of a potential seive, posted in 2022. A great section of river within the Sydney Metro Area. Access to the river is via the Freres Crossing fire trail which starts at the end of Freres Rd. Kentlyn. The finish point is at the old Ingleburn Weir which is located the George River Reserve area at the end of Picnic Grove Ingleburn You need to put a marker out down at the take out point as the take out point is very easily missed and the next access point is another approx. 6km downstream at Symmons Beach. The first rapid is a long shallow and rocky rapid of about grade 2 standard, which leads into the 'Virgin Killer Falls' rapid, which is a drop of approx. 1.5m of a natural weir. This drop has a very large stopper at the base, which becomes deadly at high river levels. At low to medium levels this rapid can be shot on far river right - make sure you scout and set up rope safety on this rapid before running it. The second rapid is a narrow rocky and tree lined rapid which can be run only in low to medium levels, as in high levels this rapid becomes very difficult with many stoppers and trees through the long narrow rapid and no eddies. NOTE: the first two rapids must be portaged at high levels, which is difficult in itself as portaging is required high up above the river through thick bushland. After the first two rapids the river eases off a bit until the main falls are reahed, which is a river wide drop of about 2 -2.5m, the falls can be run at medium to high levels and is a good lunch spot. After the main falls, the river turns north and the best rapids occur in this seciton, with large pressure waves and stoppers at high levels. Beware of new logs / trees after flooding. The last rapid is the 'Car Rapid', where an old car chasis is located in the middle of the river!!! The take out is on the river Left at the old Ingleburn weir, which will be completely underwater and only a ripple at paddlable levels - so view the take out /put a marker there before paddling this section - it can be easily missed!
In April 2022 Ben jones offer the additional description of this section:
Walk down to the river 100m before Old Coach Road hits the river's edge to start with a nice grade II rapid. The first big feature is about 700m down stream of the old bridge pylons. Inspect from the right, it's a 100m rapid of stoppers and holes that leads to a 1.5m drop with full width terminal stopper. There is a tight boof on hard river right or an easy portage on river right. The rapid is a nice low grade III but the presence of the stopper and tight line pushes it up into the high grade III low grade IV. From this feature down there are a series of fun tight grade II/III rapids with some trees that are all easily scouted form the kayak and a few will require an inspection from the bank. About 4km down stream you come to the Kentlyn Basin Drop (those wanting a fun grade II only trip can start from here). Exit high on river left to inspect the feature. The line is hard river left (between bank and V drop) an easy 1.8m drop into a pool (as the river rises this becomes more of a stopper, see photos in Google Maps). From here down the river is just a series of flowing pools and grade II rapids most with at least 1 or 2 quality play waves or holes.
Main features are a 1.2m drop close to grade IV because of terminal stopper crossing the river and a tight chute. Another 1.8m drop easy low grade III to a big pool.
Top section has some big rapids that are slightly tighter due to trees only 2 needed out of boat scouting. Bottom section below the second big drop is more open with some larger flowing pools separating lots of play waves and holes.
1.3-1.5m at Minto guage is optimum, could be paddled down to 1.15m and above 1.5m nature of river rmay change not sure for better or worse.
Our goup of 3 was average moving and ran it in under 4 hours. With more park and play and re-running the big drops 5 hours is plenty.
All this fun 40min from the city.