Lower Murrumbidgee

Key Waypoints

• 0 km(466 km)

  Jugiong

  Elevation 239 m

  Coordinates 34° 49' 30.2" S, 148° 19' 55.6" E

  Various taps around the camping area

  There is a singular Grade I/II rapid otherwise this section should be fast flowing flat water where the main concern is tree strainers on the outside banks, although a strong swirl in the outside of the right bend 2km from Gundagai was noted on Waterways Guide.

  

  Jugiong Creek

  Distance note 3.9 km upstream from Jugiong Elevation 242 m

  Tumat River

  Distance note 46.2 km from Jugiong Elevation 217 m

  This will likely significantly increase the flow of the river from here.

  My Personal Journey

  Jugiong to Gundagai 2023

  Date 21 Oct 2023 Flow 1.90 m 2,500 ML/day @ Gobarralong

  Good flow from Jugiong around 1,500 ML/day to 3,500 ML/day with some minor Grade I rapids.

• 65.3 km(531 km)

  Gundagai

  Distance between locations 65.3 km Elevation 209 m

  Coordinates 35° 4' 6.2" S, 148° 5' 42.5" E Date Hume Hwy Bridge

  Population 1,900 Supermarket(s) Climate

  Park behind the Info Centre or nearby toilets

  Gauge: Gundagai, BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 6.1 m, moderate: 7.6 m, major: 8.5 m
  Flow: no flow: 0 m, recommended: above 0.5 m

  According to the SMH, Gundagai is the iconic Australian country town.

  The river flattens out now and the main concerns are snags in low flows or strainers when the river is in flood.

  

  Adelong Creek

  Distance note 7.1 km from Gundagai Elevation 206 m

  Billabong Creek

  Distance note 35.8 km from Gundagai Elevation 195 m

  Hillas Creek

  Distance note 45.3 km from Gundagai Elevation 193 m

  Tarcutta Creek

  Distance note 82.7 km from Gundagai Elevation 181 m

  Kyeamba Creek

  Distance note 98.9 km from Gundagai Elevation 175 m

  

  My Personal Journey

  Tumut River to Wagga Wagga 2020

  Date 23-24 Nov 2020 Flow 3.37 m 15,750 ML/day @ Gundagai

  High non-flooding flow provided fairly fast flowing big water with some minor swirls. Felt almost sedate compared to the Tumut but you still needed to stay alert. Flow speed decreased along this stretch.

  Gundagai to Wagga Wagga 2023

  Date 21-22 Oct 2023 Flow 2.90 m 12,000 ML/day @ Gundagai

  About 9,000 ML/day inflow from the Tumut ensured a good high flow down to Wagga.

• 188.5 km(654 km)

  Wagga Wagga

  Distance between locations 123.2 km Elevation 171 m

  Coordinates 35° 5' 59.0" S, 147° 22' 4.4" E Date Hampden Ave Bridge

  Population 56,000 Supermarket(s) Climate

  Riverside park and other locations along river front

  Gauge: Wagga Wagga, BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 7.3 m, moderate: 9 m, major: 9.6 m
  Flow: no flow: 0 m, recommended: above 0.3 m

  Wagga Wagga is one of NSW largest inland cities.

  

  Houlaghans Creek

  Distance note 19.6 km from Wagga Wagga Elevation 168 m

  This creek appears to be usually dry from aerial photographs seen.

  Beavers Creek ^outflow

  Distance note 47.2 km from Wagga Wagga Elevation 164 m

  Berembed Weir (3 GL) ^outflow

  Distance note 145.4 km from Wagga Wagga Elevation 151 m

  

  Old Man Creek ^outflow

  Distance note 167 km from Wagga Wagga Elevation 145 m

  

  My Personal Journey

  Wagga Wagga to Narrandera 2020

  Date 25-27 Nov 2020 Flow 3.2 m 15,000 ML/day @ Wagga Wagga

  Easy paddling with hot and windy conditions. Wind waves weren't an issue. Good flow assist but felt realitively gentle compared to upstream.

  Wagga Wagga to Narrandera 2023

  Date 22-24 Oct 2023 Flow 2.78 m 12,800 ML/day @ Wagga Wagga

  Easing current but easy paddling on a good high flow.

• 386.6 km(852 km)

  Narrandera

  Distance between locations 198.1 km Elevation 139 m

  Coordinates 34° 45' 20.8" S, 146° 32' 53.7" E Date Newell Hwy Bridge

  Population 3,750 Climate

  Picnic area beside the boat ramp

  Gauge: Narrandera, BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 6.7 m, moderate: 7.3 m, major: 8.2 m
  Flow: no flow: 0.65 m, recommended: above 1.0 m

  Narrandera is a river town with a rich heritage. It stands on the land of the Wiradjuri nation and was once home to the Nharrangura Clan. There is a Coles and Mitre 10 in town.

  

  Yanco Creek ^outflow

  Distance note 18.8 km from Narrandera Elevation 137 m

  Yanco Creek is one of the main distributaries that channels water off to the Murray River, albeit this is now controlled artificially by a system of weirs. The Yanco Weir is another 2.4 km downstream.

  Yanco Weir

  Distance note 21.2 km from Narrandera Elevation 135 m

  Gauge: Yanco Weir (Downstream), BOM; WaterNSW

  Note that there is still 12.6 km of river before the Euroly Rd Bridge that leads to Yanco.

  

  My Personal Journey

  Narrandera to Darlington Point

  Date 27-28 Nov 2020 Flow 3.65 m 10,000 ML/day @ Narrandera

  Date 24-25 Oct 2023 Flow 3.81 m 11,000 ML/day @ Narrandera

  Both trips had easy paddling on a decent flow.

• 423.4 km(889 km)

  Yanco

  Distance between locations 36.8 km Elevation 132 m

  Coordinates 34° 38' 19.6" S, 146° 22' 25.8" E Date Euroley Rd Bridge

  Population 500 General Store Climate

  Yanco is a small country town with a small general store that is 6.2 km north of the river.

  Coleambally Main Canal ^outflow

  Distance note 11.3 km from Yanco Elevation 132 m

  Sturt Canal ^outflow

  Distance note 14.9 km from Yanco Elevation 132 m

  The canal starts 1.6 km down a side arm of the river that branches off 340 m before the weir.

  Gogeldrie Weir (7 GL)

  Distance note 15.2 km from Yanco Elevation 129 m

  Gauge: Gogeldrie Storage, BOM; WaterNSW

  

• 489.1 km(955 km)

  Darlington Point

  Distance between locations 65.7 km Elevation 119 m

  Coordinates 34° 34' 1.2" S, 146° 0' 9.9" E Date Bridge St Bridge

  Population 1,000 General Store

  Fig Tree Park or toilets

  Gauge: Darlington Point, BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 5.5 m, moderate: 7 m, major: 7.3 m
  Flow: no flow: -0.5 m, recommended: above 0.7 m

  Small town with a variety of small stores

  

  My Personal Journey

  Darlington Point to Hay

  Date 28 Nov-1 Dec 2020 Flow 2.0 m 4,500 ML/day @ Darlington Point

  Gradual decline of flow continued but still high enough to avoid any snags.

  Date 25-27 Oct 2023 Flow 2.54 m 6,000 ML/day @ Darlington Point

  Good high flow.

• 615.4 km(1,081 km)

  Carrathool

  Distance between locations 126.3 km Elevation 98 m

  Coordinates 34° 26' 57.6" S, 145° 25' 2.4" E Date Carrathool Rd Bridge

  Population 300

  Gauge: Carrathool, WaterNSW

  Flow: no flow: -0.6 m, recommended: above 0.1 m

  Carrathool is a small village 5.2 km north of the bridge along Carrathool Rd. Google suggests Glenda's General Store is permanently closed so you need to be prepared for a 224 km leg between Darlington Point and Hay.

  
• 733.1 km(1,199 km)

  Hay

  

  Distance between locations 117.7 km Elevation 87 m

  Coordinates 34° 30' 58.3" S, 144° 50' 32.4" E Date Cobb Hwy Bridge

  Population 1,900 Supermarket(s) Climate

  Info centre in town

  Foodworks and IGA in town.

  Hay Weir (13 GL)

  Distance note 23.2 km from Hay Elevation 80 m

  Gauge: Hay Weir (Downstream), BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 7.7 m, moderate: 8.7 m, major: 9.2 m
  Flow: no flow: 1 m, recommended: above 1.78 m

  

  Uara Creek ^outflow

  Distance note 69.1 km from Hay Elevation 73 m

  Could this be a possible shortcut if water is very high? There seems to be only a marginal reduction in distance with high snag potential.

  

  My Personal Journey

  Hay to Maude

  Date 1-2 Dec 2020 Flow 2.7 m 3,000 ML/day @ Hay Weir

  Date 28-29 Oct 2023 Flow 3.29 m 4,900 ML/day @ Hay Weir
• 836.9 km(1,302 km)

  Maude

  Distance between locations 103.7 km Elevation 70 m

  Coordinates 34° 28' 39.8" S, 144° 18' 3.3" E Date Maude Rd Bridge

  Population 160 General Store

  Gauge: Maude Weir (Downstream), BOM; WaterNSW

  Flow: no flow: 0 m, recommended: above 0.5 m

  Maude Weir (5 GL)

  Distance note 350 m upstream of Maude Elevation 72 m

  

  Lachlan River

  Distance note 67.3 km from Maude Elevation 67 m

  Rarely flows outside of very high flow periods.

  North Redbank Channel ^outflow

  Distance note 99.9 km from Maude Elevation 67 m

  This irrigation channel feeds the inland lakes of Pitarpunga and Tin Tin just to name two. In high floods, these will spill over and feed water back into the river via the usually dry Waldara Creek.

  The channel is 450 m above Redbank Weir.

  Redbank Weir (5 GL)

  Distance note 100.3 km from Maude Elevation 66 m

  Gauge: Redbank Weir (Downstream), BOM; WaterNSW

  Flow: no flow: -0.48 m, recommended: above 0.1 m

  

  Uara Creek

  Distance note 166 km from Maude Elevation 58 m

  Uara Creek rejoins after separating out 143.4 km upstream.

  My Personal Journey

  Maude to Balranald

  Date 2-6 Dec 2020 Flow 1.25 m 1,300 ML/day @ Redbank Weir D/S

  Losing most of the flow assist but high enough that snags are not a significant issue. Unable to paddle very far up the Lachlan River (no flow).

  Date 3-4 Feb 2022 Flow 5.67 m 9,300 ML/day @ Redbank Weir D/S

  Right at minor flood flow that provided a fast and enjoyable ride from exiting the Lachlan via a large floodplain and down to Balranald. Fast flowing but fairly gentle big water and easy enough to find dry camp sites.

  Date 29-31 Oct 2023 Flow 3.53 m 4,900 ML/day @ Redbank Weir D/S

  Sedate flow but a good height with easy paddling.

• 1,031.3 km(1,498 km)

  Balranald

  Distance between locations 194.4 km Elevation 58 m

  Coordinates 34° 38' 47.3" S, 143° 33' 56.6" E Date Sturt Hwy Bridge

  Population 1,200 Supermarket(s) Climate

  Fountain 400m downstream of the Swing Bridge

  Sitting on the edge of the Riverina, Balranald is a fairly remote, semi-desert area bordering the arid far west areas of NSW. An IGA in town.

  

  Balranald Weir

  Distance note 17.1 km from Balranald Elevation 56 m

  Gauge: Balranald Weir (Downstream), BOM; WaterNSW

  Flood: minor: 6.7 m, moderate: 6.9 m, major: 7.1 m
  Flow: no flow: 0.03 m, recommended: above 0.43 m

  

  My Personal Journey

  Balranald to the Murray

  Date 6-7 Dec 2020 Flow 1.82 m 1,400 ML/day @ Balranald Weir D/S

  It felt like I had lost most of the flow but was mostly able to paddle this section without too many issues as the fishermen have cut a path thought most of the fallen river gums.

  Date 31 Oct-1 Nov 2023 Flow 3.80 m 4,400 ML/day @ Balranald Weir D/S

  Good height but being backed up from the Murray negated much of the flow. No snag issues.

• 1,132.8 km(1,598 km)

  Murray River

  Distance between locations 101.5 km Elevation 50 m

  Coordinates 34° 43' 43.9" S, 143° 13' 9.0" E

  

  Refer to the Murray River guide if you intend to keep paddling down towards SA, though the first two towns that you could take out from are noted below.

  Boundary Bend (VIC)

  Distance note 14.6 km from the confluence Elevation 50 m

  Population 130 General Store

  Tank water behind toilets in Memorial Park (500m walk)

  You could organise a ride from the town or even maybe the rest area on Murray Valley Highway, VIC (B400) that is only 9.2 km downstream from the confluence if you are struggling with tired arms!

  V/Line's "River Express" bus stops here.

  

  Robinvale (VIC) / Euston (NSW)

  Date 9 Dec 2020

  Distance note 107.6 km from the confluence Elevation 48 m

  Population 4,100 Supermarket(s)

  Arts Centre has a tap near the boat ramp

  This final section will likely add 2 or 3 days to your trip if you aim for these towns with the faster flowing waters of the Murray River.

  There is an IGA in Robinvale which is the largest of the two towns.

  Both V/Line and NSW TrainLink have services departing from Robinvale and / or Euston.

  

  My Personal Journey

  Murray

  Date 8-9 Dec 2020 Flow 2.7 m 12,500 ML/day @ Boundary Bend

  It was good to get some more flow after entering the Murray and it was a pleasant paddle down to Robinvale.

  Date 2 Nov 2023 Flow 4.10 m 20,800 ML/day @ Boundary Bend

  Good high flow on the Murray banked up the 'bidgee but made a fast trip down to Boundary Bend.