Gwandalan, Lake Macquarie
TOUKLEY KAYAKERS
Welcome to our Website.
Group started in November 2008. Website created on 9 Jan 2009.
Last updated on 11 May 2025
Forthcoming kayaking events:
- Tuesday 13 May 2025 Mooney Mooney, Deerubbun Reserve, Sydney map 113-N6. (Change of venue from Berowra, ferry out of service)
- Tuesday 20 May 2025 Swansea/Lake Macquarie. Osmond Reserve, right up the north end of the peninsula, past the Swansea Gardens Lakeside caravan park. Dobinson Drive, Swansea, on your GPS. Newcastle UBD map ref 178 G5. Google maps (-33.071656,151.633422)
- Tuesday 27 May 2025 Woy Woy Lions Park, map 97-C14
- Tuesday 3 June 2025 MacKenzie Park Budgewoi, map 32- L14
- Tuesday 10 June 2025 Bobbin Head, canoe launch area, Cockle Creek Syd map 114-P14 NPW parking fee $12p/car or free for concession pass holders.
Facebook Group page here.
Toukley Cycle Club is here.
This group has a Whatsapp account. Ask Danny to join.
We meet on Tuesdays. Launch time is 0900, so if you want to join us arrive by 0830 please. We have morning tea/lunch afterwards. Bring something nice to eat if you can, and a couple of dollars to cover the tea, coffee, milk etc.
We paddle in all lakes, lagoons, creeks and rivers from Berowra to Clarence Town, and everywhere in between.
We generally paddle for 2 hours and travel between 6 and 12km, at a gentle pace.
New rules apply.
Kayaking reports:
Beautiful day at Davistown. For individual reports and photos check out our FB Group Page here. Thanks as usual to our staff, Sue, Doug, Len and others who help keep the club running smoothly.
All kayaks still on the cars for the first hour - 22 April 2025
The weather was a bit adverse when we arrived, and it only got worse as we waited, with plenty of rain. We all sheltered under the picnic/BBQ structures with our very effective windbreaks deployed, and had an early coffee and munchies. As well as raining and windy, it was also freezing, with every coat and jacket recovered from our cars and donned.
After a while it stopped raining and blowing, so a few of the paddlers got their kayaks off the cars and launched them on the north side of Vales Point. Nobody was interested in heading south to the pipes under Rutleys Road.
I headed off home at this stage, having no inclination to pump up my inflatable kayak in the conditions. Later reports were that it was quite pleasant, even though it rained heavily before I reached the highway.
For individual reports and photos check out our FB Group Page here. Thanks as usual to our staff, Sue, Doug, Len and others who help keep the club running smoothly.
Danny
Bleak conditions looking south to Rutleys Road - 22 April 2025
Setting off near the Toukley Bridge - 8 April 2025
Harry - A grey and rainy day threatening, turned out alright for Toukley Kayakers and friends. We launched at the Toukley Bridge so the temptation was great and I had to get there early and photograph the two Ospreys at Toukley Oval. They seemed to be ambivalent as to which light stand to build their nest on this coming spring.
Welcome to three women paddling with us for the first time, and thanks once again to Sue and Doug and Lennie who organized the morning tea. (To Sue and Doug who organize the whole show!) Harry's photos.
Rolf enjoying himself - 8 April 2025
Alan at the Wyong River weir - 1 April 2025
A cool cloudy morning soon cleared to a beautiful day. Dozens of people in kayaks squeezed into the boat ramp and headed upstream to the weir and Porters Creek. 6km if you didn't go up the creek, and up to 8.5 if you did.
Plenty of water following recent rain (see the photos of the weir.) Followed by a grouse morning tea with Sue and Doug bringing the hot pots as well as all the coffee stuff, seeing as Len is away in Canberra cycling this week. John DZ photos.
Danny
Dean having a go at the weir - 1 April 2025
A little piece of paradise, Nords Wharf, Crangan Bay - 25 March 2025
Threatening rain gave way to a beautiful sunny, cloudy day. Thirty-seven kayakers turned up. We paddled south towards the bottom of Crangan Bay (I mean the southern edge), then up the other side towards Nords Wharf, visiting various little creeks along the way, before crossing Crangan Bay and back to the start at the boat ramp. I did a modest 4.7km and John DZ did nearly 10km.
An excellent m/t as usual and a top social event. Thanks to everyone who contributed, esp. Sue and Len, and Doug of course. See you next week at Wyong.
Danny O (now we have another Danny (B) in the club, I have to separate us)
Danny B's photo of a creek entry in Crangan Bay - 25 March 2025
Every inch the experienced kayaker, Allen - 18 March 2025
Tuesday 18 March 2025 - Parsley Bay, Hawkesbury River
Kayaking today at Brooklyn (Parsley Bay), great fun and welcome to new starters! - Harry
Every centimetre the new kayaker, Yve - 18 March 2025 - Harry's photos!
Alan and Jo on the Wyong River - 11 March 2025 (Bob's Photo)
A cloudy day, but warm (22°C), with occasional light rain. Dozens of kayakers turned up (27 according to Harry), and most of them paddled upstream to or past the Wyong Bridge. A couple, Doug and Ray that I know of, paddled out onto Tuggerah Lake, where the water was a bit choppy owing to the breeze which wasn't apparent in the river valley.
The two Allens arrived at 7.30am and paddled up to the bridge before anyone else apart from me even got there, then did the same with the other kayakers, about 20km. - Danny
Raining and windy but 27 turned up to paddle and enjoyed a couple of hours in nature's wonderland on the Wyong River - Harry
Harry's photo
Launching today at Coon Island Point, Swansea. Slightly breezy but warm.
Another great paddle with the Toukley team lovely day followed by a fantastic morning tea thanks to the usual suspects See you all next week at Tacoma
Alan McL
Another beautiful photo by Harry
Lorraine braving the conditions at Gosford Broad Water - 25 February 2025
The paddle started at Gosford Sailing Club on an overcast day in a fairly strong southerly. Most paddlers crossed the Broad Water and under the bridge into Fagans Bay. Some paddlers headed for Narara Creek whilst others followed the southern shore and headed up Coorumbine Creek.
Bob W
Ready to paddle to Pulbah - 18 February 2025
A coolish morning warming nicely saw about 27 kayakers assemble on the south side of Wangi Peninsula. Most of us went around Pulbah Island in one direction or the other, but I just paddled out to the western end, than halfway back to the middle of Pulbah, then back to Wangi, for a total of 5.4km. Denise and Alan paddled from her place at Manno, did the group paddle, then back to Mannering Park, for 31.4km!
Danny
Whilst most paddlers went to Pulbah Island, some of us headed east and then north along the foreshore from Wangi Wangi beach past Pebbly beach, around Wangi Wangi Point, past Kookaburra Cove and towards Wangi Wangi Park.
Bob W
Lovely little point on Wangi side of Pulbah - 18 February 2025
Slightly choppy and grey conditions on Lake Macquarie. Jo's photo - 11 February 2025
Cloudy and breezy day improving as the morning progressed. Still a bit choppy for me, so only did 3.2km. Most of the others paddled down to Tiembula Creek at Chain Valley Bay for a pleasant and spooky adventure.
Thanls for coming. See you next week at Wangi. As usual a magnificent morning tea thanks to the team involved, Sue, Doug and Len. Thanks also to everyone for the stuff they brung.
Danny
On the Tuggerah Lake lagoon - 4 February 2025
The tide was going out at a rate of knots, so we did a quick u-turn and headed back towards the caravan park. Unfortunately the lagoon was very shallow on that side and a few paddlers became stuck on sandbars and had to get out and walk their craft out of trouble.
I couldn't see where they went after going under the bridge so I just plugged along past Tanilbah Reserve then headed towards Picnic Point on the other side. Peter in his Epic surf-ski came back to check on me before going off on his own mission. Also saw Les and Bob at times, so thanks everyone for keeping an eye out for me. I did 4.2km - happy with that!
Danny
Our group paddle at Patonga Creek. The hottest paddle that Lorraine and I have ever done with the group and our hottest paddle since Lorraine and I paddled at Tallowa Dam on the south coast.
Bob W
Great paddle today. Had an early morning paddle out into the bay and picked a run or two. Up the creek and back. Alan Mc and I tried our luck again to catch a wave and instead, I caught a women in trouble getting dragged out as she was trying to swim across the creek. I got her to hang off the back of the kayak and I towed her out of the current and to shore. She was very happy to be on the beach. Thanks for the morning tea shade and company.
AllenSandra Matzen
Photos by Daniel B
Toukley kayakers at Johnnys Point, Balcolyn - 21 January 2025
A perfect day on Lake Macquarie, about 35 kayakers there at Sunshine Park Boat Ramp. Most headed north-west along the shore towards Balcolyn, some going all the way to Bonnells Bay for about 12km.
I got within coo-ee of Shingle Splitters Point, took a photo then paddled back to base. Did 6km. Check out the FaceBook Group Page here for more photos and reports.
Danny
Shingle Splitters Point, and Eraring Power Station, Lake Macquarie - 21 January 2025
Rob on his surf-ski at Hardys Bay, Daniel's photo - 14 January 2025
Our group paddle at Hardys Bay. Most of us paddled around Pretty Beach, Kourung Gourong Point, Wagstaffe Point to Half Tide Rocks where the current was quite strong convincing most to turn around and head back via a tour of Ettalong Beach.
Bob W
Spring Creek, Blue Haven NSW Central Coast - 7 January 2025
Middle of summer, so not cold, but rainy and cloudy. Twenty-eight Kayakers made the effort, so nobody was worried about the rain. I didn't see anyone head for the lake, the popular option was the two creeks further west, viz Wallarah and Spring Creeks. Some keen paddlers did both. I like Spring Ck so went up that, same as I did on 15 October last year, when it was also raining. This time, however, several other kayakers took this northerly option, so I didn't feel so isolated. Today there were so many barking dogs, including 3 or 4 at one house, where a lady came out of the house to warn me against paddling too close to the back yard, as she thought the slightly-domesticated wolves might jump in the creek to get me.
My new inflatable kayak is still a work-in-progress, but I did 7km in it today, so happy with that! It was still raining while we got ready for morning tea, so some of us turned up still in our kayaking gear as it wasn't worth changing. Yummy morning tea, Len has enhanced an already top-order m/t with his very professional hot water system, and now brings hot pies and sausage rolls in an insulated box! Going to put his name up for an Australia Day Honour.
Danny