Mitchell River - Waterford to Angusvale

The Interactive Guide to Australian Paddling

Mitchell River
Waterford to Angusvale Contributed by Julien Atherstone

Class:	II (III)
Season:	Depending on the season it could be run any time of year with late February and March being the most marginal. August through to October is high water.
Time:	A very long day or 2 days for mortals.
Level:	0.6m is minimum, above 2m is high water.
Gauge:	Glenaladale Gauge on the Mitchell River
URL:	http://www.BoM.GOV.AU/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDV60154.html
Shuttle:	40km on sealed and dirt 2WD roads
Character:	Open valley with mainly gravel races and sweeping bends, one bigger rapid.
Suits:	River running kayaks, C1’s, C2’s, rafts and inflatables

Gippsland. 80km Nth of Bairnsdale , 320km East of Melbourne

From Waterford, this section of the Mitchell is basically a wide river with sweeping bends and small class II rapids.

The only real exception to this is ‘Surprise Rapid’ or otherwise known as ‘Tabberabbera Rapid’, either way this rapid really does surprise, with many people coming around the corner and being funnelled straight into it.

At higher levels the trees on the sweeping bends can cause a problem.

Overall this is pleasant section for those out for a cruise, just watch where you camp there are some landowners that do not take kindly to people camping on their land.

Shane June 30 2009 - A mate and I run this section on the weekend; it was at .86m on the BOM site.

Any lower and it would have been portage after portage as it was just high enough to get over the shallow sections. My mate is a bigger boy then me and he had to get out a few times and walk.

I think .90m is really a minimum to have a good time.

My 2 cents. Thanx, Shane

Putting In:	From Melbourne follow the Princess Highway east for 250km, and turn off to the left toward Fernbank and Dargo. There are also signs on this turn off to the Mitchell River National Park. Follow this road Nth for about 10km to the ‘Fingerboards’ intersection and turn left toward Dargo. Once on this road it is about 45km of winding road till the Mitchell river is reach. Within the first 1km of reaching the river is a picnic area which is the put in.
Taking Out:	Follow the Dargo Rd back approx 24km to a dirt road on the left marked ‘Angusvale’ is reach. Follow this for 16km to Angusvale and the take out.
Map:	Cobbannah – Tabberabbera 1:50000
Camping:	There is good camping at the put in and take out and while on the river some of the land owners, if asked don’t mind campers. There are also a few section of public land along the river that offers limited camping. (refer to the map)
Entry Date:	May 15 2001
Verified Date:	June 30 2009
Verified by:	Shane

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