Dalgleish To Bendemeer

The Namoi is one of the major westerly flowing rivers of northern New South Wales, rising in the Great Dividing Range just south of Walcha and eventually running into the Barwon River at Walgett. It is known as the Macdonald upstream of the Namoi Gorge. It can be paddled over a considerable distance and offers trips of a variety of standards. The river offers exciting canoeing for experienced paddlers in the Namoi Gorge between Retreat and Lowry Crossing.  There are a few rapids between Keepit Dam and Walgett. The river needs to be paddled after good rains which are most likely in the summer months. It is difficult to obtain accurate river levels for the upper sections. . After very heavy summer rains there would be Grade 6 rapids in the Namoi River Gorge. . . River distances between intermediate access points are: Dalgleish to Aberbaldie - 12km (3 hrs' paddling) Aberbaldie to Boxley - 13km (3 hours' paddling) Boxley to Wolbrook - 22km (5-6 hours' paddling) Wolbrook to Congi - 1Okm (2-3 hours' paddling) Congi to Bendemeer - 21km (5-6 hours' paddling) The road is never very far from the river and there are other possible access points at low level bridges and on farming and other tracks. The pull-out point at Bendemeer is upstream or downstream of the old highway bridge. Camping is available upstream of this bridge on the right bank. The low-level bridge at Congi is just off (south) the Oxley Highway, about 15km towards Walcha from Bendemeer (Map Rel. 366788 Bendemeer). The River With a good water level, the river is a narrow fast flowing stream with pools200-300m long punctuated by small rapids, some of which reach grade 2-3 standard. Above Boxley, the rapids have sharp rocks, while from below Boxley there are granite boulders in a sandy riverbed. There is a portage around a 7m waterfall above Boxley. Willows clogging the river may be a hazard in places. In the section between Congi and Bendemeer some of the stretches of rapids are 800m long, providing very pleasant paddling. Wildlife is plentiful, the countryside beautiful and the fishing quite good. Camping along the river is good but check with property owners as some frown on large groups. Take care approaching low-level bridges. A good water level for this trip is when the water is lapping the low-level bridge at Aberbaldie or is 10-30cm below the bridge at Congi. When water is flowing over the Congi Bridge the first few kilometres below this low-level bridge may be dangerous because of willows. Low water levels require portages in this section.