Kayaking in the Boondall Wetlands

Boondall Wetlands 16 December 2007

This tract of wetlands is on the north side of Brisbane bordering the suburb of Shornecliffe. It is accessed from the carpark beside the Queensland Yacht Club in Sinbad Street where there is a small marina. Launching is from a boat ramp and Cabbage Tree Creek and Nundah Creek converge here. The trip is up Nundah Creek. The paddle is popular so expect to see other paddlers.

We timed our launch to coincide with the last of the rising tide to take advantage of the flow. This was around midday and the prevailing breeze was in our face at around 5 – 10 knots – pleasant and no impediment. We stayed on the south side of the river going up and were carried by a 3 knot tidal inflow. We were immediately joined by a curious Brahimy Kite which circled above us but decided we were too big to eat and too small to land on. The creek is around 100 metres wide and lined both sides with mangroves. It takes you all to way to the bicycle path bridge and the Gateway Arterial Motorway is nearby. The traffic noise is audible all the way along. This is a designated canoe trail and the Brisbane City Council publishes an information leaflet on the area.

Our initial impression was of little birdlife. The mangroves offer good protection for birds and apart from the Brahminy Kites we only saw a single bittern lurking in the undergrowth of the mangroves and one magnificent Great Egret fishing in the drowned roots of the mangroves. A couple of black ducks also made an appearance, but nothing else. We also passed a number of tinnies fishing and were passed by several day trippers with more horsepower than brains – the area in signed up at regular intervals for 6 KPH but some folk just never learn. Ah well! Our kayak rode the chop with nary a shake and felt very stable.

The area is habitat for black shouldered kites, plovers, ducks, sandpipers and the whimsically named godwits and whimbrels but we missed them all. It was a gusty day with a 15 - 20 knot breeze stirring up the water so possibly the wildlife kept to the shelter of the mangroves.

The return journey was a pain. We had a stiff breeze in our face which must have approached 20 knots and we kept to the north bank to shelter behind the mangroves. This worked until we rounded a bend and copped the breeze full in the face. This trip convinced me of the need to install a rudder, which I did immediately after this trip. We were turned around a full 180 degrees on two occasions and it took plain hard work to return the last two kilometres tot the marina.

However our labours were rewarded near the end. Coming back clinging to the northern shore we surprised a pair of Brahminy Kites which launched out of the mangroves less than five metres from where we were paddling. Up close these are magnificent birds and their appearance made the struggle back worthwhile.

This kayak is an excellent touring craft and since installing the rudder it is a whole new craft. It turns easily, still tracks perfectly straight but is now so much easier to turn and park against a pontoon or bank. My friends at Rosco Canoes at Windsor supplied the hardware and gave good support. All the staff is lovely and very helpful. http://www.roscocanoes.com.au/ There is a World Wetlands Day being organised for the 2^nd and 3^rd of February 2008 which Rosco is advertising on their website so hop on and register.

All in all I would rate this as on OK paddle. Nothing like the birdlife as we saw on our previous paddles but an interesting area and worth a day out. Definitely pick the top of the tide or the end of the rising tide and return on the top of the tide or a dropping tide. The wind picks up later in the day and blows up the river so the return journey is very hard work without having to fight the tide. My rating would be 3 out of a possible 5. I would like to paddle up Cabbage Tree Creek for an explore one day but it borders some busy roads so it might not be that attractive. Time will tell.

We have just completed two outings on Pumicestone Passage so keep an eye out for our next posting.