Rapids and Challenges on the Mulgrave River, North Queensland, Australia - The First of Three Challenges

Challenge 1 : "The Waterfall"

The Mulgrave River for the area located in the upper Goldsborough catchment serves as an interesting part of natural North Queensland. The river portion that we travel is located from Kearneys Campgrounds down to the low bridge of the Mulgrave named "The Fisheries".

In this portion of the river, and apart from all of the smaller negoitable river rapids, are three main rapid challenges for the intrepid canoists. They way that this trip pans out is that the challenges for the canoes get more and more harder.

Please remember that the Mulgrave ranges generally from a foot deep to a metre deep of water and is usually 20-30 metres wide. So if you happen to go swimming as part of your canoe training....you can usually recover boat and gear pretty easily.

The first major challenge occurs about morning tea time. It enables our intrepid travellers a chance to stretch their legs, have a bite to eat, and a first look at the rapid.

The first Challenge is called "The Waterfall". Whilst being a low cascade more than a waterfall, it allows the paddler to negoitate the "Catch" rock that awaits with open arms at the bottom of the rapid.

It is not uncommon for crews to come unstuck and sample a bit of swimming time however, with corrwect safetys set up, generally everyone has a laugh and if they do make it, feel the exhillarating rush of meeting the first challenge head-on.

From there, once the group has composed itself, the intrepid travellers then paddle minor rapids to the area of the lunch spot known as "Safe Haven".

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except footprints in the sand, and take only photos and memories