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

SEQSK Discussion Group
SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
Date: 14-10-2007
Launch: 09:15 Paradise Point Harbour
Tide: 11:15 HT
Saltwater Ck
Distance: 25km
Conditions: Wind light Northeasterly
The last time we paddled this part of the coast was four years ago with the West End Club. A medley of 10 kayaks left from the sandy beach next to the boat ramp at Paradise Point. Car parking around the boat ramp was at a premium and some cars had to be left on a local street. After a week of unsettled stormy weather it was a beautiful day. There was a steady breeze from the NE and boats were out and about aplenty.

Heading upstream on an incoming 2.6m tide we just cleared the rocky weir on Coombabah Creek before heading right into Saltwater Creek. While the intrusiveness of the locals on the landscape continues unabated, the houses along Saltwater Creek eventually succumb to mangroves and grassy banks. A surprising number of bird of prey were seen both nesting and circling overhead in this area as well as up the north arm of the Coomera River.

The tide was running in strongly so it didn't take long to reach the rail bridge over the river at Monterey Keys. With the addition of the railway line the boat ramp is now on the left bank where a tree trunk looked more like a bizarre man made totem than a testament to the industrious work of termites. We got out on the opposite bank with the toilet block and a couple of picnic benches. Morning tea was a right little banquet with freshly made hummingbird cake (Carol), chocolate muffins (Kimberley) and a beesting (Ted) carved up for ogling eyes and willing participants. We even cut a piece for you Tom. The people fishing from the bank pulled in a pan sized bream and a small feisty mud crab.

Back on the water we passed under the road bridge with perpetual road works and headed towards Sanctuary Cove. The latest houses look like they have another wing and you can have any colour so long as it is sandstone. The lawns were green, duranta and Lillypilly hedges immaculate. The houses became progressively larger culminating in what looked like the Italian Embassy. Sitting a prominent position this monstrosity was fronted by a single row of those curved concrete pillars you often see painted white as a feature spanning the brick arches across the balcony on the upper story of double brick homes from the 1970s. Heading downstream the boat traffic became very Gold Coast - big, loud and fast kicking up plenty of chop. Stan didn't seem too bothered by the size and speed of the opposition and continued to paddle along in the middle. Maybe he just didn't see them.

Just past the entrance to Sanctuary Cove we slid onto a small beach on Coomera Island for lunch as we were uncertain as to the likelihood of other options. As a National Park it is out of reach of the agents but not spared of rubbish. Lunch was in the open and chairs definitely the go as the dry looking patch chosen for lunch was rocky. A defiantly lavender house with a bright purple fence and three dolphins painted on the fascia sat across the river from where we had lunch. The watermelon proved a bit of a challenge to get through and suggestions made as to alternative use for jet skiers or some of the enormous private cruisers that you couldn't miss whatever their speed.

By now the wind was a fresh NE and it was a bit of a pull up the north arm of the Coomera River. Birds of prey had taken up residence in one of the two purpose built platforms. Jet skiers played in the wash of the big boys while houseboats did sitting duck impressions in the middle of the channel. The river opened out to the Broadwater just north of an oyster lease. A rocky shoal extending north of this lease tingled the Raider's rudder. We grouped up again before heading south with the sails up.

Turning back inland past the Sovereign Islands one boat turned the area into a surf beach sending the fleet of sails bobbing. I went behind a monster launch 'Aussie Battler' as it looked like he was about to do battle with a sand bar. After running aground he thought better of it, shoved it in reverse and came my way. 'Aussie Battler' my arse - more like 'Bloody Idiot'.

By now the outgoing tide was running strongly and the last 1km was a bit of a slug for those without sails. The morning tea saw us through with calories to spare and a set new standard of catering for day paddles. As for the boat traffic it is just as noisy, intrusive, flashy and stupid as ever, but then again this is the Gold Coast.

Setting out
Coombabah Creek rock wall
Saltwater Creek
Whistling kites (well they sounded like them)
Now that's a Seabear
Exclusivity locked
Into the mangroves
Arriving for AM tea
Note: new catering standards
Smiles of approval
Termite totem
Heading back to Sanctuary Cove
Larger boxes . . . and they all look the same
Lunch landing
Rocky knoll
Watermelon slaughter
And demolition
Bank of the north arm of the Coomera River
Saltwater succulent
Getting ready to sail
Bosun's chair
Under sail
Homeward bound
 
Salt Water Creek and Coomera River Map
GPS Trackfile (OziExplorer .plt)