Big Log paddle

Hi everyone,

Four of us – Bill V, Colin, Bill & myself enjoyed a lovely paddle up to Big Log last Sunday and a walk through the bush to the Maria River Rd. It was beautiful on the water and we enjoyed a run in tide on the way up and caught the run out on the return trip.
Starting from Blackmans Point we paddled up river and into one small lagoon then on to and across the small bay before entering the creek between Boomerang Island & the mainland. This is always a special part of this paddle with its mangroves ( which are flowering and shedding blossoms across the water), reflections, birdlife (kingfishers & herons) & glimpses through spindly mangrove trunks onto the island & adjacent swampy land with grasses and casuarinas. The play of light amongst the trees is always beautiful with shadows and streaks of sunlight cutting through the canopy. We had luck with bird sightings including several white bellied sea eagles, osprey, Brahminy kites, kingfishers, white faced herons & others. We also spotted an interesting, low lying nest in a mangrove tree. We exited the creek & paddled on past The Hatch & up to & into the top lagoon, a little world on its own. After pausing for a moment to reflect on the serenity of this area, we paddled on to Big Log. Someone has put a letterbox at the base of the steep bank where we get out (a bit like the one in the water at Lake Cathie). As the tide was high, tethering the kayaks was tricky, but Colin found a handy overhanging tree and exposed roots to balance his kayak on ( see pic). We enjoyed a stroll through the bush to Maria River Rd. The trees here on the eastern side of the river are tall & straight; eucalypt, bloodwoods & banksias etc unlike the dense thickets of mangroves which line the eastern side. After a snack we headed back downriver, picking up the run out on our way & enjoying a welcome cool breeze. There were some stunning cloud reflections on the river at the top of The Hatch & it was just special being out paddling on a wide river under such lovely conditions.

The Maria is a tributary of the Hastings (Dhoongang) River. It enters the Hastings between Blackmans Point and Riverside, bringing with it the waters of the Wilson River & various creeks (including Pipers & Connection Creeks) along its journey. It rises near Kundabung in the Kumbatine NP, joining the Dhoongang some 54 kms downstream. 

Cheers
Caroline