Lake Eildon 2023

Prior to this trip Simon reminded me that it was 3 years since we had been kayak camping. The COVID pandemic is mostly to blame and I have been out and about doing other things Oh Darling.

Last November I was a guide for a school canoe trip on the Delatite Arm of Lake Eildon. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to explore a little more. As always the proximity of good free camping and water for paddling are very attractive to me so I invited Simon to come and help me explore.

Simon volunteered his car as transport and arrived at 9:00 am Monday morning ready to drive to Eildon township. After short stop in Healsesville for morning tea we arrived in Eildon around 11:30 am. 

 Another stop to buy a ham and cheese croissant for lunch and toilet followed by a quick drive around to find a launch point. A local pointed Simon toward the boat ramp adjacent to the weir wall and we were ready to launch.

We launched the kayaks in lovely warm sunshine and headed toward the Delatite Arm 11 km away. The lake was calm and there was a following breeze that pushed us along. After 90 minutes we landed at Coopers Point "The Pines" where we ate our lunch in the shade.

Simon relaxing in the shade

After lunch we paddled on toward the Delatite Arm putting in at Jimmy's Bend campsite. We had the campsite to ourselves. Sausages from the butcher at Garfield with Deb mash potato for dinner made for a nice finish to the day.

On Day 2 we paddled into the Delatite Arm proper to explore. I wanted to visit Crockett Island to see if the lone kangaroo was still there.

The school group I was with in November had paddled to the island to see if he/she was still there. They had discovered the kangaroo there in earlier in the year. It must have been trapped there when the water level rose cutting it off from the mainland. They had reported it to Parks Vic who were unable to locate it. As we approached the island the kangaroo appeared, looking very healthy.

After Crockett Island we paddled into The Island campsite. This was a site where I camped with the school in November. After long lunch break in the shade we hopped back in the kayaks and headed back along the shoreline in the direction we had come from. We had a long paddle into the wind. The wind did cause some waves to kick up but these were not steep and easily managed in our kayaks. Eventually we pulled up at South Maintongoon campsite in the Maintongoon Arm.

It was a little hard to find a flat spot to up our tents however it was still a very nice campsite. Another pleasant evening. Dinner was Chorizo Pasta. 

Day 3 was the return paddle to Eildon Weir. 3 hours paddling in nice sunny weather. On a sour note some thief had stolen the plastic bonnet protector off Simon's car while it was parked near the boat ramp.

56 km paddled over 3 days based on dead reckoning, proabably more when wind and drift are considered