Messing about on the river - Lower Glenelg River paddle

While we were wandering about Victoria earlier this year we did something we have never done before - an overnight canoe trip!
The Lower Glenelg River is in the far West of Victoria, right near the South Australian border and flows into the sea at little Nelson.

the start  at Moleside Landing

It is a well-known, well-organised canoe trip.
In fact there are canoe only campsites along the way administered by Parks Victoria. The campsites need to be booked in advance as there is a maximum limit at the campsites.
There are also many more campsites along the river which can be reached by car, and walk-in campsites used by the Great South Walk walkers.

We stayed a Nelson and left our caravan in the caravan park there while we were paddling.

Our biggest problem was getting to the start of the canoe trip and then back to camp at the end.
We got the guy from Nelson Canoe and Boat hire to get us to the start at Moleside Landing.
This involved G taking me and our gear to Moleside, driving back to Nelson and getting driven back to Moleside by Mr Nelson Canoe Hire.

At Moleside there was a big group of school kids camping and getting ready to paddle too.
We were a bit perturbed that our peaceful camping and paddling would be disturbed but they started long after us and stayed at different, bigger campsites.
When we did see them it was quite entertaining to watch their steep paddling-learning curve!

As you can see we have a large canadian canoe with 3 seats. We originally got it when the kids were littleand we all fitted in.
Now we can fit our backpacks and other stuff in.

view from our first campsite

All the campsites are equipped with drop toilets and a water source, plus a table and seats. Very civilised!

It was a beautiful morning as we set off and within the first hour we saw...
- a platypus that came swimming towards us and totally eyeballed me!
- a pair of inquisitive swans
- gang gang cockatoos drinking next to the river.

We were a bit too enthusiastic and paddled for 2 hours before stopping for morning tea at Saunders Landing.
Then lunch at Prichards.

Our destination was Skipworth Springs, a small canoe camp with a jetty.
It was a hot day and we were hot and sweaty so we thought we'd have a dip....unfortunately the river bank was a couple of metres of thick black mud and the way the jetty was designed, I don't think I'd have been able to haul myself out of the water.
I have to make do with pouring water over myself from a bottle.

It was a lovely peaceful camp spot.

Lot of Gang gang cockatoos came to drink at the little creek that ran though the campsite.
But then.....after the sun set we were beset by squadrons of mossies and I had to beat a hasty retreat
to the tent.

Day 2.
The gaggle of school kids passed us before we had set sail, weaving back and forth across the river.
Then we set off and lo and behold within the first hour we saw another platypus.
This one came and checked out G in the back of the canoe....and disappeared lickety-split!

Today we had more breaks as bits of me were certainly aching. The current carried us along a bit if we had a rest from paddling.

Our destination was Bowds. Another snuggly campsite with a water tank instead of a spring for water.
Thankfully the mossies stayed away her, but once again it was an awkward little jetty for getting out of the river.
A lot of the other landings had bigger jetties and/or wooden docks with actual ladders to get out of the water.
We'll know next time!

Bowds campsite

Day 3.
The longest day, because instead of getting out at Donovans Landing and getting a lift back to Nelson, we decided to push on to Isle of Bags which was very close to the caravan park in Nelson.
We also knew that the weather was going to change with a strong southerly.

In the morning the river flows through a limestone gorge and is very scenic.
There are also some caves you can visit, Princess Margaret Rose Cave you have to pay.
But we didn't think we had enough time, so we pushed on.

So far we'd been travelling in a roughly westerly direction, but just before Donovan's Landing the river crosses into South Australia and as if it doesn't like what it sees...it swings around and goes back into Victoria.
So....after we stopped for lunch at Donovans we were heading directly into a strong wind.
Yikes!
It was hard work.
We had to keep stopping and hanging on to a tree or a sign which was in the river.
We passed the school lads who were lying sprawled out on the bank. Exhausted.

You know you are approaching civilisation again as you pass the shack settlement of Dry Creek
There are two sections of the river than are waterski zones and in one of them a boat offered to give us a tow.
Which was interesting. And maybe a bit dangerous.
But they towed us along a really exposed stretch and we were grateful.
Apart from getting soaking wet from the extra waves.

Then we weren't too far from Simpson's Landing and we landed there.
By this time I was quite cold and soaked to the skin.

G ran off to get the car and we were soon home and dry.

It was quite an achievement for us
And totally exhausting!

Day 1. Moleside Landing to Skipworth Springs. 13.7 kms.
Day 2. Skipworth Springs to Bowds. 14.4 kms.
Day 3. Bowds to Simpsons Landing. 20.2 kms.

We stayed in Kywong Caravan Park in Nelson.

All camping is booked through Parks Victoria.

Canoe hire and guided tours are available from Nelson Canoe and Boat hire, and Paestan Canoe Hire.