Bendeela to Beehive Point Paddle

Paddler Level:	Novice
Distance:	13km
Duration:	2 Days (about six hours of paddling all up)
Topo Maps:	Burrier (8928-2N), Caoura (8928-3N)

The Kangaroo River in Kangaroo Valley provides some excellent novice-level paddles. The river tends to be very flat and gently runs through the Morton National Park, providing for some excellent scenery. In addition, kayaks and canoes can be hired from Kangaroo Valley Safaris, which makes the paddle much easier for novice paddlers.

One of the benefits of travelling this area in kayak or canoe is that it enables silent travelling. Paddlers can meander down the river, and take in all the scenery and wildlife, without disturbing or scaring them off; and there is much to be seen on the way; birds, goats, lizards (including large goannas) and even the occasional wombat.

Apart from the wildlife, the pristine Morton National Park provides some fantastic scenery; while the Bendeela-Beehive Point paddle doesn’t enter Shoalhaven Gorge, the surrounding mountains can still be seen and inspire. Not paddling the gorge also means there is more daylight during the paddle, which makes for a warmer, more comfortable trip!

The paddle covers approximately 13 kilometres, the first 10 or so of which borders on private land, that can restrict landings. It takes in wide expanses of the river, such as Lake Yarrunga, as well as thinner stretches, but it is all very flat, and safe, the shore never being far for even the least experienced swimmer.

The overnight campsite at Beehive Point is also accessible by car; so non-paddlers can join the group (so long as they don’t mind people loading heaps of gear into their cars to save paddling-weight!)

The Paddle

The paddle starts from the Bendeela campgrounds, which is located in Kangaroo Valley. The campground provides an excellent put-in point; there is a carpark close to a long, shallow bank which provides excellent grounds for packing the kayaks before setting off on the trip. The campground itself is relatively easy to find and is well sign-posted from the main road through Kangaroo Valley (Moss Vale Road). If entering Kangaroo Valley from the north, head down Moss Vale Road, and turn right onto Bendeela Road; the campground is a left turn from this road. The directions from the south are the same; the Bendeela Road is the first left after the Hampden Cottage shops.

Bear in mind that during popular months the campground can become quite crowded, and the local council hires security guards responsible for maintaining order. They will be only too happy to stop you should you be driving too fast in the campground.

There is a wide bank at the put in, not too far from the carpark-depending again on water levels. They were quite low when this picture was taken, the water can get as high as the little rise you can see in the background before the carpark.

It’s best to bring the kayaks down as close to the bank as possible, then load them there; there are car parking spaces right behind, and the car should be safe there overnight. But make sure it’s parked out of the way; Kangaroo Valley Safaris run a number of tours, and the river is a popular paddling destination, so there could be a bit of traffic.

The river is at one of its thinner points at the Bendeela campground, and still runs very slowly. Be careful putting in and taking off from this point, as there are cut trees in the river; when it is low they are easily seen. However, on the odd occasion that the river is up, they can be hidden just below the surface.

Tallowa Dam (further down river from Bendeela) was actually created as part of the Snowy Mountain River Scheme, and many of these trees were cut down for that purpose.

The map above shows the paddle-it’s fairly important to bear in mind that much of the white areas of the map indicate private property, so landing is restricted at those locations.

From the put in, the paddle heads north-west, shortly after starting you’ll start to hear the humming of the Bendeela Pumping and Power station. During off-peak periods, this pumping station pumps water from the river back up to reservoirs on top of the mountain, which is then released back to the station during peak (electricity) periods to generate more power.

This stretch of the river, up until the first turn after the station can be a bit stagnant; and there are a few properties closer to the water (with associated clearings). Don’t let this put you off; the scenery changes quite a bit after the first major bends (besides, these are the properties of the rich and famous, and can make interesting scenery in themselves).

The first hairpin turn brings on a stark contrast in scenery, with the banks becoming more wooded, and more wildlife to be seen, including a variety of birds (eagles, ducks and pelicans) and some fauna such as wombats; it’s pretty easy to sneak up on these and get good photos from a kayak. Be mindful that there are a few tributaries in this area, which look as though they’re the main river; though they don’t go too far, so you won’t loose too much time if you paddle up them.

Rounding the southern corner of the hairpin, and heading almost due west, the river opens up to Lake Yarrunga. This is quite a big, and picturesque expanse of water; and marks the halfway point of the paddle (well, halfway through the lake is halfway through the paddle). Looking at the map, Lake Yarrunga is the section which looks like a big “M”; also bear in mind (and looking at the map) that Morton National Park is the green portion of the map; the white portions are private property (which is something to consider when landing for a break).

Lake Yarrunga used to be an excellent Australian Bass fishing spot, but the introduction of Tallowa Dam damaged their spawning cycle; there have been recent stockings of hatchery-bred bass, however carp have also taken a hold in the lake. So, you may catch dinner on the way, but you may just get carp too!

Rounding the middle of Lake Yarrunga brings you into Moreton National Park, and the scenery definitely starts to change from this point. The banks are well-wooded (and often steep) and, as the river thins out once more, the scenery is more typical of that around Shoalhaven Gorge, with banks of relatively steep rock-which doesn’t make for good landings!

There are some little caves in the rock, which could make for okay campsites (for a single person) in a stretch!

These cliff faces mark the final stretch to Beehive Point, a matter of rounding a few corners to arrive at your destination; approximately 30 minutes, depending on paddling speed (and how fast you want to go).

Campsites

Beehive Point is located at a T-junction in the river. There are a number of campsites on the north side, and it is possible to drive a car into that location. There is a large campsite around the carpark, and the ground is fairly flat; that’s probably the go for a larger group, though that site is a bit sparse, and people may well drive in and disturb your peace!

There are a few smaller campsites around a little inlet on the east side of Beehive Point (where the picture was taken). It’s very nice and wooded, with lots of shade, though the ground has a bit of a slope (and it’s probably highly dependent upon water level). There are several possible sites in this location, most of which would only house one tent; though it may be reasonable for a group to pitch separate tents and have a common area somewhere.

There is also a site on the south side of the river from Beehive Point; I haven’t been up there, but saw another party up there on our last paddle. It looked quite comfortable, though landing seemed to be challenging (they had their canoes hoisted up on some rocks!)

... And if you feel like more paddling once you’ve settled in and set up camp, you can always explore the north branch of the river from the T-junction, which looks quite interesting

Gear Lists

There are no facilities at Beehive Point; so you‘ll have to bring in whatever you need for the camp (and carry out all of your rubbish). It’s a wise idea to not even leave food scraps behind, as it will encourage possums and goannas to hang around the campsite.

The following lists are not exhausive, and represent only a minimum of gear to bring.

Kayak Gear

Kayak	Paddle	Tow line/rope
PFD	Pump	Water bottle
Towel	Dry clothes	Paddle munchies

Remember to bag all of the gear you pack in a kayak; water can get in, even on an easy river trip.

Camping Gear

Tent	Sleeping Bag	Sleeping Mat
Pots/Cooking gear	Stove/Cooker	Mess Kit
Clothes (incl. warm stuff)	Strong garbage bags	Cups
Billy	Toilet paper & shovel	Firelighters/matches

Food

Water (at least 3L per day)	Paddle Munchies	Night dinner
Lunch (both days)	Tea & Coffee	Brekky

Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of questions frequently asked about the paddle.

The paddle sounds great, but I don’t have a kayak

How can you not own a kayak? Such a fun and interesting piece of equipment, which can take you to so many new and varied places?

There are lots of kayak outfitters around who can provide you with excellent advice on the right kayak to purchase, instruction on how to use it, and where to paddle! Here are a couple of sites to check out:

Ulladulla Dive & Adventure: What do you mean they don’t have any kayaks on their site? Well, they sell them and have a few in stock to check out, and Steve is always happy to chat to you about kayaking (and talk you into diving, or maybe mixing both up). You can also suggest they get a good web developer to create a new site for them if you like.

You don’t want to spend over $1,000 on a brand new kayak without even trying it out first? Fortunately, Kangaroo Valley Safaris hire out canoes and kayaks for these trips. I have hired gear from them before; they are very nice and their gear is always in good condition (they provide kayak or canoe, with a PFD). They will drop the kayaks off at Bendeela campground, or Hampton Bridge, and pick them up again at the end of the trip, so there is no need to worry about transport. In addition, they hire a range of camping gear, and are happy to provide local knowledge on trips.

Okay, I checked out their site, what should I hire?

I’d recommend the Gecko, or maybe the Platypus. Both are excellent kayaks with a huge amount of storage. You can also hire a bushranger canoe, which is an open canoe-though they are a bit more difficult to keep in a straight line and, you know, it’s a canoe... But get in quick, they get pretty busy in the better seasons.

I’ve never paddled before

Shame on you! Paddling is great fun! It doesn’t matter if you haven’t paddled before, it’s a wide, slow flowing river so quite an easy paddle, and the kayaks are very stable, though it’s a good idea to head out with someone who has. And remember the key to paddling: torso rotation. Don’t rely on your arms, they’ll wear out quick.

What about rolling?

Did I mention the river was wide, flat and meandering, with a slow current? It is extremely unlikely you’ll get into difficulty on the river and require a roll, or rescue. However, should you capsize, it would be a simple matter of exiting the kayak, and crossing to the nearest bank.

What equipment do I need?

If you hire a kayak from KVS, they will provide a PFD and a paddle. You should wear your PFD at all times you are on the water. You don’t really need a spray-skirt on the river (so long as you don’t mind a few drops on your legs).

You will need camping gear. Please refer to the camping equipment checklist. KVS will hire some gear (such as tents and the like).

How do I fit all that gear into the kayak?

With a crowbar! Nah, you'd be surprised how much you can fit into a kayak. Though, it’s a good idea to bring along a large collapsable/folding bag, it makes it much easier to cart a heap of little stuff out of the kayak and up to your campsite.

You should be able to fit just about all you need, so long as you don't go crazy and bring the luxurious camp chairs and the like. Packing for kayaking is akin to packing for backpack hiking. Remember, you're only going for one night, so you only really need wet clothes and dry clothes (two outfits) and you don't need any make-up. The animals don't care how good you're looking.

Can I bring my dog?

Can it paddle? Unfortunately, it’s a national park, so you can’t bring dogs. If you’re that keen for companionship, you may be able to befriend a goat on the way.