Goulburn Grail Stage 16 - Frasers to Emily Jane Rd.

(Pete's summary for Stages 14-16) Our paddling has been in a bit of a hiatus with only one stage completed in the past 15 months. We are approaching the final stages of the lower Goulburn and decided to knock off three stages (14-16, total 64 km) over one weekend.

Stages 14 and 15 were completed on the one day in the fast boats. Two of us in the TK2 Scorpion and one in the single 'skin on frame'. Stage 16 was a more sedate affair with three 2 man canoes – one Rapid Rider and two Dagger Drifter II. Mornings were fresh (2 deg C ), but each day was calm, blue skies and glorious sunshine. (cont.)

A selection of Stage 16 photos:

The river over these stretches is flat and meandering. There are a number of artificial “shortcuts” over large slippery angular rocks, taking up to 2 km distance from the paddle. Unless limbs or joints are aching and demanding a break, I’d recommend the staying in the channel and not taking the shortcuts: the shortcut walks over rock chutes are unpleasant and time saved minimal. That said, there is one long straight cutoff (around Chainage 487) that reduces the river length considerably and should be taken unless you desire the extra 6 km. The sandy point bar beaches become small and scarce soon after leaving Frasers, although become more sizeable downstream of McCoys Bridge. River flow, even when low wasn’t bad and the banks and riparian vegetation – a major preponderance of river red gums – were pleasant if not fascinating. Some old gums with hollows persist, the river migrations uncovering tangled root systems propping up, at times, large old gums perilously overhanging the river margins on the outside of the bends. There were fairly frequent fallen trees in the river however we were fortunate that all could be navigated without portaging.

Birds were plentiful although species few, reflecting the relative paucity of riverine wetlands and plant species diversity. There were plentiful cormorants, mainly Little Pied but also Little Black and one Great cormorant. Azure kingfishers were common as were Black and Wood ducks. Plenty of cockatoos and corellas provided vocal accompaniment. Two pairs and one juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagles and one Wedgie were a joy to behold.

Click this Video link to see a snapshot of Stages 14-16

Access:

• The exit point can be accessed from the end of Frasers Road. Enter the gate on the right hand side at the end of the road reserve. Drive along the top of the levee before turning down left onto the floodplain. Continue and turn left again and follow the track to the point bar beach.

• Drive to the northern end of Emily Jane Road, enter the River reserve and follow the track straight ahead. You will meet an outside bend of the river after about 200 m.

Statistics:

• Date - Saturday 26 May 2024

• Mapped distance 22.6 km, from Frasers (Chainage 484.9) to Emily Jane Rd. (Chainage 507.5) (Chainage is the distance downstream from the headwaters at Woods Point).

• Time taken 4:44 hrs (4.6 km/hr), 3:24 hrs paddling (paddling speed approx. 6.4 km/hr)

• River Gauge Height (Goulburn River at McCoys No. 580000) = 1.493 m

• 6 paddlers in 3 boats: Jamie & Jane in Dagger Drifter II, Pete & Gin in Rapid Rider, Mick & Clare in Dagger Drifter II.