Coongie Lakes

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 13:35

ThreadID: 67405 Views:2065 Replies:7 FollowUps:5

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Gossy

Looking at heading up to Innamincka/Coongie Lakes with the intention of taking advantage of the rare event of all the water around. Plan is take our sea kayaks for a good paddle in the Cooper.
Anyone been up there recently to tell me how far I can paddle around the township and also the river around Coongie Lakes?

Rang the pub but they don't know as it's the 'quiet season' so no-one has been up there to tell them how good/bad it is.

No point going if I am having to carry my kayak from water hole to water hole (though I strongly doubt it).

Looking at going around Jul so also not sure if this recent water would still be around then??

thanks,

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Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:06

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:06

Two weeks ago there was a good flow of water over the causeway at the edge of town and the Cooper was in fine fettle.

The country side looked great as well.

If there is as much water when you arrive as there is at the moment it'll be an easy trip downstream and a bit of a workout coming back up stream.

I'm surprised the bloke at the pub didn't know there was good water going over the causeway as it's almost in the main street! Relatively speaking.

If you punch these co-ordinates into Google Earth or Google Maps you'll see what I mean, 27° 44.711'S, 140° 44.316'E

Geoff

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Reply By: Gossy - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:36

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:36

thanks for that. We have been up there before and I did have a look on Google Earth before the post but those pictures are quite old and don't show the current water.

Hopefully the water will be there for a while yet. I chatted to a lady at the pub on the phone so she might have not beena local just doing some work (back packer?).

Cheers,

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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:05

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:05

You are correct, the Google Earth stuff goes back to I believe 2004.

I was more using the satellite photo's as a guide to exactly how close the river and the causeway is to the pub!

I'm still chuckling away at someone from Innamincka pub not knowing how much water is in the Cooper!

Geoff

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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:36

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 14:36

Coongie Lakes has permanent water as do the waterholes around the township of Innamincka, they are about 100km apart.

My memory won't allow me to name the waterhole closest to Innamincka but it is over 10km long and would offer good paddling opportunities. You could also put the kayaks in up near the Bourke and Wills Bridge on the way to Nappa Merrie and do some paddling up there.

Coongie is a large lake and again there would be lots of paddling to see it all.

The recent rains must have raised river levels but there was lots of water there before it rained.

Another place to try for info would be the National Parks station at Innamincka but they are a bit harder to catch than the pub.

Duncs

AnswerID: 357438

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:02

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:02

Hi Dunks,

Would you be looking for the words Minke Waterhole?

If so, yes there is plenty of water there too!

Geoff

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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 16:28

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 16:28

That's it.

Have always been hopeless with names Graham. :-)))

Sorry but I really am hopeless with names.

Thanks Geoff.

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Reply By: Gossy - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:30

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 15:30

thanks everyone. Wasn't sure how long the distance was for each of the water holes. Sounds good for a couple of hours each day around the town and probably more out at Coongie Lakes.

My last experience of driving out to that bridge was a horrible road with rocks as big as my feet. Probably miss that part of the river with the kayaks on the roof. Plenty of other paddlling opportunities around it sounds like.

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 22:36

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009 at 22:36

Hi Gossy,
The road from Innamincka to Nappa Merrie can be half reasonable at times - it has been getting heaps more traffic from mining activity, so its getting more maintenance. We last travelled it in June 2008 and it was better than I'd seen it before.

Kayaks are great up there. We took ours and dropped in after spending time further up the Channel Country.Cooper Creek doesn't have as much water as you think. I got some info a few weeks back from a local saying the water coming down may not make it much past Kudrimitchie.

But it was the same last year and Coongie was very good as you can see from this photo taken by the friends we were travelling with:
Image Could Not Be Found

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