Fourteen paddlers in nine boats converged on Shepparton to tackle this relatively relaxed 16 km Stage. A colourful fleet of canoes, kayaks and sit on tops got on the water shortly after 9am on a beautiful mild sunny day and reached the Goulburn rock ramp weir after 1:20 hrs paddling. This was our first stop and we chatted about rock ramp fishways and how they allow fish passage upstream, unlike fixed crest weirs.
We portaged around the rock ramp fishway and continued for another hour before lunch. A great variety of birds were heard or observed including White-bellied Sea-eagle, Nankeen Night Herons, Azure & Sacred Kingfishers, Dollar Birds, Treecreepers plus the usual ducks, Corellas and Cockatoos. River and flow management was discussed with Ross informing the group about Environmental Flow Constraints Relaxation, particularly in reference to the Goulburn River floodplain downstream of Lake Eildon.
Click this Video link to see a some of Stage 12
Access:
- The entry point is at the Shepparton boat ramp, immediately upstream of Daintons Bridge on the Shepparton/east side. To access the ramp you need to be heading west on the Midland Highway out of the Shepparton CBD, and turn left just before the Fryers Street lights.
- The exit point is off McCrackens Track which enters the Shepparton Regional Park forest from McCracken Road, which is off the Barmah-Shepparton Road.
Statistics:
- Date - Wednesday 4 January 2023
- Distance 16.7 km, from Shepparton (Chainage 401.3) to McCrackens Bend (Chainage 418) (Chainage is the distance downstream from the headwaters at Woods Point)
- Time taken 4:40 hrs (3.7 km/hr), 3:30 hrs paddling (paddling speed approx. 4.8 km/hr)
- River Gauge Height (Goulburn River at Shepparton No. 81044) = 2.86 m
- 9 boats, 14 paddlers: Jane & Jamie, Virginia & Peter, Donna & Jim, Podge & Gonz, Mandy & Marty, Ross & Will, Pete & Tony.
