SHOALHAVEN GORGE OVERNIGHT KAYAK TRIP - Kangaroo Valley, Southern Highlands

This weekend flat water paddling adventure is one of the most amazing things you can do in the Sydney region, with epic landscape, peaceful remoteness and wildlife!

• Sat 16 Nov meet at Kangaroo Valley township (2 hours from Sydney), drive to Tallowa Dam, and pack our camp gear into our kayaks.
• Spend the day slow paddling on flat water for 10km up the immense gorge, with towering red sandstone walls and eerie sunken forests.
• Arrive at our remote river-side camp, relax with dinner, good company, and intense starry skies.
• On Sun 17 Nov slow paddle back to Tallowa Dam, easy drive home.

If you like, come earlier on Friday night 15 Nov for a pleasant car camp at Bendeela camp ground (just outside Kangaroo Valley township) to relax, pat the friendly wombats, and get a good night of sleep before the paddle trip in the morning.

If you don’t own a kayak you can hire (see hire info below).

If you are bringing your own kayak, any kayak with sealed compartments and at least 4 metres long is OK. No inflatable kayaks or stand up boards.

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THE PLAN

FRIDAY NIGHT (optional)

• Car camp at Bendeela.
• Has drinking water, flushing toilets, beautiful manicured lawns by the river - with wombats wandering about!

SATURDAY (formal start)

• Meet at 9am in front of Kangaroo Valley Safaris office at the township.
• If you book a hire kayak, they will deliver your boat at Tallowa Dam at 10am.
• The group drives to Tallowa Dam (25km, 20 minutes). Leave cars there, load your camping gear and food into your boat.
• We paddle 10km up Shoalhaven Gorge, stop for lunch and toilet break along the way.
• Arrive at our remote camp spot, set up your tent, make your dinner, relax. There is a built toilet.

SUNDAY

• Slow start, breakfast, take a refreshing swim if you wish.
• 9am, slow paddle 10km back to Tallowa Dam, lunch and toilet stop on the way, arrive 2-3pm.
• Kangaroo Valley Safaris picks up the hire boats at Tallowa Dam.
• Drive home.

We have already made bookings for the group at Bendeela and Shoalhaven Gorge, no need for you to book any sites.

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IS THIS ACTIVITY RIGHT FOR ME?
As minimum, you MUST have done one of our 3 hour / 7 km beginner paddles at Narrabeen lagoon, or a similar kayak experience elsewhere.

Safety, fun and social inclusion are our priorities – so we paddle slow, take lots of breaks, stick together, and look after each other. Nobody disappears ahead on their own, nobody gets left behind.

This event is NOT suitable for you if you

• have never paddled 7 - 10km before, or
• cannot swim 20 metres in case you fall out of your boat, or
• have injuries or other limiting conditions.

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GETTING THERE

• Kangaroo Valley is 170km, 2 - 3 hours drive from Sydney.
• Post a comment on this page if you are offering or looking for a ride (the event leader does not organise).
• If car pooling, split petrol and highway toll costs equally.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $30 cash (not PayID) on the day.

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KAYAK HIRE
If you need, Kangaroo Valley Safaris provide a single sea kayak for $250 for the weekend.

IMPORTANT!!!! RSVP here on this meetup page to let us know that you are coming, but do NOT send your kayak booking request to Kangaroo Valley Safaris until the trip organiser checks the weather and posts confirmation here that we are proceeding 2-4 days before the trip.

Only after you see the leader's confirmation, book your kayak HERE and put the following details into the booking page:

• Date in: Sat 16 Nov
• Date out: Sun 17 Nov
• Paste this exact text into the "More information" box: Please deliver 1 single sea kayak to Tallowa Dam on Sat 16 Nov for 10am, and pick up from Tallowa Dam on Sun 17 Nov 3pm.

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BRING

• tent, mat, sleeping bag, compact pillow (or roll up a jumper)
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses (with retainer strap/cord)
• insect repellent
• gloves – not mandatory, but prevent blisters (bike or sailing gloves, or $20 leather gloves from Bunnings)
• warm clothes for evenings (thick top, long pants, underlayers, socks, beanie)
• enclosed shoes to wear at camp (paddle barefoot in the boat)
• rain jacket & pants
• 1 litre drink bottle (the leader has water filter and purification tablets to refill you from the river as much as you need)
• BYO food: Sat lunch & dinner, Sun breakfast & lunch, snacks
• gas stove & fuel (or have food that does not require cooking)
• cooking/eating utensils
• torch (or use your phone light)
• toiletries, medicines, toilet paper, biodegradable wet wipes
• dry bags or heavy duty garbage bags to keep your stuff dry in your boat
• foam pad, towel, or small folding chair to sit on

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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.