Calendar


Trip Diary

08-2012 Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
08-2012 Moreton Island
07-2012 Rocky Point
06-2012 Blakesleys
06-2012 The Bedroom
05-2012 Breakfast on Karragarra
05-2012 St Helena
05-2012 Perigee Bedroom
02-2012 Queen Mary II
02-2012 Mud Island
11-2011 St Helena
11-2011 Shorncliffe to Redcliffe
10-2011 Weinam Ck to Dunwich
10-2011 Peel Island
10-2011 Breakfast on Karragarra
10-2011 St Helena and Green Island
09-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
08-2011 Fraser Island
08-2011 Canaipa Passage
08-2011 Karragarra
08-2011 Stradbroke Island
07-2011 St Helena
07-2011 So long, and thanks for all the fish.
05-2011 Green Island
05-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
04-2011 Upper Noosa River Weekend
04-2011 Easter at Woodgate
04-2011 Mud Island
04-2011 Karragarra for Breakfast
02-2011 Bongaree
02-2011 St Helena
01-2011 Weinam Ck to Blakesleys
10-2010 Moore to Blackbutt Rail Trail
10-2010 Whitsundays
09-2010 Mud Island
09-2010 Redcliffe
09-2010 Girraween
08-2010 Upper Noosa River
08-2010 Potts Point
08-2010 Peel Island
08-2010 Gateway to City Bike Ride
08-2010 Mud Island
07-2010 Blakesleys Afternoon Paddle
07-2010 Kedron Brook to Scaborough (and return)
04-2010 Colmslie Beach
04-2010 Brighton Park
01-2010 Nundah Creek
01-2010 Blakesleys
01-2010 Upper Noosa River (with a difference)
01-2010 New Year Paddle
12-2009 Potts Point
08-2009 Raby Bay to Peel Island
08-2009 Wynnum Creek to King Island
07-2009 Sandgate to Redcliffe
05-2009 St Helena
04-2009 Wellington Point to Peel
04-2009 Breakfast on Karragarra
03-2009 King Island
03-2009 Mission Point
03-2009 Mud Island
01-2009 Morning Tea at The Pin
01-2009 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
01-2009 New Year Recovery Paddle
12-2008 Caniapa
12-2008 Pine Rivers
11-2008 Coochie Night Paddle
10-2008 Breakfast at Karragarra
10-2008 Girraween
10-2008 Coomera Falls Circuit
09-2008 Hinchinbrook Island
09-2008 Manly Harbour Festival
09-2008 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2008 Weekend at Blakesleys
08-2008 Old Woman Island
08-2008 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
07-2008 Upper Noosa River
07-2008 Weinam Creek to Dunwich
06-2008 Scarborough to Bongaree
06-2008 Wellington Pt to St Helena
06-2008 North Stradbroke Jazz Weekend
05-2008 Point O'Halloran to Blakesleys
04-2008 Upper Noosa River
04-2008 Aquatic Paradise to St Helena Is
04-2008 Eprapah Creek
03-2008 Paradise Point to Moreton Island
03-2008 Wynnum Ck to Tangalooma Point
03-2008 Amity Point weekend
03-2008 Bremer River
03-2008 Brisbane River - Gregors Ck to Barneys Rocks
02-2008 Play Day - Coochie Mudlo
02-2008 World Wetlands Day Paddle
02-2008 Brisbane River night paddle
01-2008 Australia Day Week
01-2008 Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
01-2008 Shorncliffe to Nudgee
01-2008 Brisbane River - Barneys Rocks to O'Sheas Crossing
12-2007 Raby Bay to One Mile via Blakesleys and Potts Point
12-2007 Diamond Head to Tipplers
12-2007 Wynnum Ck to Green and St Helena Islands
11-2007 Bike Ride Bay Islands
11-2007 Tingalpa Creek
10-2007 Potts Point Night Paddle
10-2007 Return to Gilligans Island
10-2007 Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
09-2007 Elimbah Creek
09-2007 Scarborough to Caboolture River
09-2007 Fraser Island Whale Watching
09-2007 Circumnavigate Russell Island
08-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
08-2007 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2007 Brisbane River City Reach
08-2007 Peel Island
08-2007 Brisbane River
08-2007 Green Island Day Trip
07-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
07-2007 Mooloolah River
07-2007 USS Kitty Hawk in Brisbane River
06-2007 Black Tie on Peel Island
05-2007 Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
04-2007 Theodolite Creek
04-2007 Upper Burrum River
04-2007 Circumnavigate Big Woody
04-2007 Walkers Point to Toogum
03-2007 Boat Passage to Big Sandhills
12-2006 Woodgate to Mon Repos
10-2006 Fraser Island Whale Watching
04-2005 Keppel Islands
12-2004 Fraser Island
10-2004 Munna Point Camping Weekend
10-2004 Mooloolaba to Maroochydore
09-2004 Coochie Mudlo Island
08-2004 Karragarra Island
07-2004 Wellington Point to St Helena Island
06-2004 Noosa River Camping Weekend
05-2004 Brisbane River Night Paddle
04-2004 Budds Beach to Moreton Island
10-2003 Bulwer to Tangalooma
05-2003 Eatonsville to Harwood Island

Links

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SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
Date: 05-05-2007
Launch: Elanda Point
Conditions: Wind none
As kayaking legend Anthony Malloch once said, the Upper Noosa River is a paddle you do once a year. We have continued this tradition and have crossed Lake Cootharaba to paddle up the river at dawn, during the day, at dusk, in fog, at night under a full moon, a new moon (that was unintentional), in 35knot SE and, on this occasion, when the lake was a millpond.

This weekend paddle was in conjunction with West End Canoe Club bringing a guarantee of good company with a penchant for eating well and enjoying a few drinks. Having done this trip so many times we drove to Elanda Point without expecting to launch with the group. The jam of cars, trailers people and kayaks had made it difficult for anyone to get away so we arrived with plenty of time.

Doing the usual 60 degrees until safely past the deceptive shoal that juts out from Elanda Point, we turned 30 degrees for a beeline to Kinaba. Heading this way and keeping to the channel ensures you will not run into shallow water that makes Lake Cootharaba a wind surfer's nursery.

Regrouping at Kinaba Visitors Centre Tom, Graham, Mark and I decided to detour to find the wreck in Lake Como which marked on the map. The only remanent appeared to be a single rusted metal spear on the northern side soon after the entrance. Either the reeds had engulfed the wreck or there was very little left. We watched a small plane zooming overhead. The way in which it was flying made us wonder if it was Malcolm, however it was a high wing, not low wing like the Rockwell Commander. The end of the lake finished with tall reeds in what looked like soft mud with another 200m to terra firma. Mark disturbed a bevy of black swans. During their unwieldy take off into a squadron their feet slapped the water creating that delicious muffled sound like gloved hands clapping at the opera.

Returning to the river there was evidence of the fun police. Malloch's landing had been removed from the river as had many overhanging branches. We made plans to ambush and soak Dave as he approached. There was a last minute withdrawal and a casual friendly hello. It was not Dave. That guy had no idea how close he was to being attacked. In the meantime the real Dave was heading downstream to meet up with us, but our paths never crossed as we were in Lake Como when he paddled by.

Pulling in at Harry's Hut we found the West End site distinguished by a poncy marquee, big tents and plenty of gear. The fun police had really gone to town. Harry's Hut had been divided into certain places to camp, eat and others to walk. And never the three would meet. Anyone camping in a walkway (which looked like a nice place to set up a small tent) would be told to pull up pegs and move on. Nevertheless the area had been thoughtfully divvyed up into small designated camping areas branching of the central communal eating space with tables. All a bit regulated for my liking but then again this is a popular place accessible by 4WD and a relentless stream of hire canoes pushed along by fried Poms and other visitors.

With the tent up and a couple of hours light we went for a walk along the Cooloola Trail heading south to Fig Tree Point. Very pretty with groves of palms and melaleuca swamp. We made just past the top of Lake Como opposite where we pulled up yesterday. Rays' had been on a trip where a group split at Elanda Point, half walking, the others paddling with the gear to meet up at Harry's Hut to camp then swap places for the return. This would make an excellent weekend away. We turned around in the fading light and had walk the last part along the road.
Next Page ...
The mill pond
Lake Como
Top of Lake Como
Cooloola Trail giant
Melaleuca swamp
Road back to camp

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