Gwandalan, Lake Macquarie

TOUKLEY KAYAKERS
Welcome to our Website.

Group started in November 2008. Website created on 9 Jan 2009.
Last updated on 27 March 2024

Facebook Group page here.

Forthcoming kayaking events:

  • 2 April 2024 - Gorokan Art Gallery (Fish co-op). Lake Budgewoi and Tuggerah. CC UBD map 41 K10. Google map ref -33.260508,151.517572
  • 9 April 2024 - Patonga, Meroo Avenue, off Patonga Street. UBD map ref 115 J13. Paddle up Patonga Creek with the tide. Google maps ref (-33.552089,151.26817)
  • 16 April 2024 - Booragul, Lake Macquarie. Edwards Park, First Street (east at the roundabout just south of the Five Islands Bridge), to the end. Newcastle UBD map ref 151 Q10, left before the Art Gallery, to the end. Google maps ref -32.973852, 151.616309
To see all of our venues and their addresses, click here!
Facebook Group page here.
For Knut's 90 Yummy Recipes - here.
Knut's Youtube videos are here!

Toukley Cycle Club is here.
This group has a Whatsapp account. Ask Danny to join. Please!

We are an informal group of friends who like the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle. This page provides a Notice Board where we can display our kayaking program, and any other information we might want to share, and some photographs of our activities.
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 12 km, at a gentle pace.
Disclaimer - As we are not a club, just a group of individuals who go kayaking together now and then, we have no responsibilities as an organisation, and no organisational status. Anyone who decides to join us on our outings does so on the understanding that they are responsible for their own welfare and safety. We will provide all assistance and advice to visitors, but take no responsibility. Joining our group is on that understanding, and you will be asked to sign confirmation of that fact. We have no insurance - you should provide your own.
See Maritime NSW rules on lifejackets — Click here.
New rules apply.
Weekly reports appear below.

Kayaking reports:
Tuesday 26 March 2024 - Myuna Bay, Lake Macquarie
Our group paddle at Myuna Bay. We paddled west into Whitelands Lagoon and then exited the lagoon and headed south past the outlet canal for the Eraring power station, around Rocky Point and towards Pipers Point. - Robert W
Myuna Bay with a good turn up of around 30 paddlers. Thanks Sue and Doug once again... Jo G
A few photos from todays paddle at Myuna Bay. Len and Coco were waiting patiently while everyone got ready. It got a bit crowded going under the footbridge. Allan G
Photos by Robert W and Harry.

Frying Pan Bay, Lake Macquarie, with official boat - 19 March 2024
Tuesday 19 March 2024 - Sandy Beach, Summerland Point
A cloudy cool morning at 0800, but it soon warmed up and a huge number of kayakers arrived to join our paddle today. Some went across Chain Valley Bay to Vales Point Power Station, or Manno, and some like me headed up around Frying Pan Point towards Summerland Point.
My phone didn't like being sat on in the kayak so Strava gave me a rubbish result, however I think I did about 6km around towards the Sports Centre, and back to the beacon on a rock in the middle of the lake (see pic).
Many more photos are on the FaceBook Group Page here.
Thanks to everyone who helps to make these Tuesdays such a success, Len, Doug, Sue.
Next week is Myuna Bay, see details above.
Danny

Hard-to-see beacon near Summerland Point - 19 March 2024

Danny and Peter on Wyong River (Bob's photo) - 12 March 2024
Tuesday 12 March 2024 - Toukley Kayakers on Wyong River, Tacoma
Back on the water now all my cycling wounds have healed. Perfect day, no breeze, hot and sunny. At least 23 kayakers heading west upstream, not sure how many if any went out onto the lake. Peter Cramp and I paddled up to Charlton Island and back, 8.1km, whereas John DZ paddled up to the highway bridge, like most other paddlers, nearly 12 km. Peter hadn't been on this river before so I took pride in showing him Charlton Island with its little canal and quiet greenery.
Danny

Lori on Wyong River (Bob's photo) - 12 March 2024

Brilliant day out on Lake Macquarie (John DZ's photo) - 5 March 2024
Tuesday 5 March 2024 - Swansea
Reports from kayakers -
Robert W - Our group paddle starting at Osmond Reserve, Swansea. Some headed west towards Lake Head and Spectacle Island whilst others including me headed east and around Galgabba Point and into Galgabee Creek which borders Nesca Oval camping ground.

Harry - Kayaking today at Swansea. We saw parachutists, Oyster Catchers, Sandpipers, Terns (of different hue), Seagulls, Cormorants, fishermen, pleasure boats (one stuck on a sandbar), and of course kayakers, who were making off in different directions but ending up at the same place once the kettle boiled!

Kayaking out of Swansea (John DZ's photo) - 5 March 2024

Doug making his way across the Gosford Broadwater (Harry's photo) - 27 February 2024
Tuesday 27 February 2024 - Gosford Sailing Club
Our group paddle from Gosford Sailing Club. Most kayakers headed across the Broad Water under the bridge and into Fagans Bay and then under Henry Kendall Bridge into Narara Creek. The day was overcast but otherwise quite pleasant.
Bob W

At Narara creek some of us navigated whilst others paddled across Brisbane waters. The day was wet and gloomy but the heavy rain held off until we were finished. I found a Lesser Egret and a Great Eastern Egret fishing. Their diet today seemed little muddy fish and then one caught what looked like a spider!
Harry

Launching from the little beach at the sailing club (Bob's photo) - 27 February 2024

Jo braves the adverse conditions on Lake Macquarie, Allan's photo - 20 February 2024
Tuesday 20 February 2024 - Gwandalan
We started out at Gwandalan in the gloom and then the rains came and washed us all back to shore ! A blinding squall! There was Sue dripping wet with morning tea for us all. Thanks Sue and Doug for being there rain, hail and shine!
Harry

Ray enjoying the challenging weather (Allan's photo) - 20 February 2024
Tuesday 13 February 2024 - Canton Beach
Very warm day with a northerly breeze of 10 knots climbing to 15 knots NE to paddle into comng back. About 27 kayakers today. Some of us paddled down to North Entrance while a few headed for the Toukley Bridge. Budgewoi Lake was a bit choppy in the face of the north wind. Most kayakers did at least 10km while I did 6 just going to the bridge and back. No photos as I had nowhere to carry my phone.
Thanks for coming!
Danny

On the bank of Throsby Creek - 6 February 2024
Tuesday 6 February 2024 - Newcastle Waterfront
With rain promised, but not really delivered, only 11 kayakers turned up at Throsby Creek. A few of us had problems with traffic, but as I left very early I had no such difficulties, getting there at 0800. Weather was warm with a gentle SSW breeze, building up a bit as time moved on. The Newcastle waterfront is always a delight, but as we got closer to the ocean we could feel the big swells reaching us. Not keen on waves, I headed back after 3km.
Others went further and good luck to them. I was paddling with Sharon R, who was very helpful with things I forgot, but on the way back I went on the wrong side of the dry-dock and surprised her. A few of us hadn't been to this location, so it was a learning experience for them. A lesson even. 6km for me. Well worth the drive and traffic, thanks everyone for coming and bringing stuff to eat. Thanks Sue for the sandwiches. Thanks Len for the hot water. My coffee was still quite warm after I got home!
Next week at Canton Beach, so not as far, but not as exciting either.
Danny

Sharon in the middle of Newcastle Harbour - 6 February 2024

Magnificent part of Wyong River, Jo's photo - 30 January 2024
Tuesday 30 January 2024 - Wyong River
Plenty of kayakers today at Wyong River. Perfect day for paddling - cloudy, warm. Many beautiful photos on our FB Group Page here here. Wonderful wildlife photos and creek shots.

Len and Coco, a man and his doggie, Harry's photo - 30 January 2024

Darren's photo of beautiful Pulbar Island - 23 January 2024
Toukley Kayakers at Wangi Wangi - 23 January 2024
Some paddled across to Pulbar Island whilst other paddlers headed east around Wangi Point, past Kookaburra Cove and Wangi Wangi Park and on to the Northern side of the Peninsula.
Conditions were perfect, no rain, very little wind, calm conditions and not too hot due to an overcast sky. There were at least 25 paddlers.
Bob W

Laurie paddled around Pulbar - 23 January 2024

Low tide at Davistown - 16 January 2024
Tuesday 16 January 2024 - Davistown
At a rough guess, I'd say we had over 20 kayakers today at Davistown - more than enough to make it worthwhile for the organisers. I just found some of the old attendance records for the club - Books and books of dates, venues, names and numbers, several years worth, up to 48 paddlers one day.
Conditions were warmish and cloudy, with a 10 knot easterly breeze if you stood in the way. I had a good example of non-newtonian fluid today. That is, a liquid whose viscosity changes when subject to force, like ketchup which when stirred becomes runnier. Or wet sand, into which you can easily poke a finger, but when you hit it hard with your face it turn solid as a rock. Didn't hurt for long!
I turned my Strava on, but didn't take the phone with me in the kayak as there was nowhere safe for it. So John DZ's Strava record is close to mine, except he and mate went a slightly different way around St Hubert's Island and did a bit more, even if some of had to be walked (too shallow).
Some kayakers went left into Kincumber Broadwater and up Kincumber Creek, also an interesting paddle.
Morning tea was wonderful as usual, thanks Doug, Sue and Len, and everyone who brought nice food. See you next week at Wangi (which side depends on the breeze).
Danny

Harry's photo, Greg and Robyn at Davistown - 16 January 2024

Many colourful kayaks and interesting wildlife - 9 January 2024
Tuesday 9 January 2024 - Wallarah Creek, San Remo
A very pleasant paddle on Wallarah Creek, Blue Haven. Both arms explored, about 11km. Al Grundy's photos.

Rob and John passing in the creek - 9 January 2024
Tuesday 2 January 2024 - Dora Creek
A warm nice day on the creek, but a good 10-15 knot NNE breeze on the lake. I wanted to go to Shingle Splitters Point (SSP) just out from the end of Dora Creek but when I turned around to see where everyone else was they were all heading upstream. I couldn't catch them so I just kept going out to Lake Macquarie. Very pleasant to start but then a good breeze sprang up, putting SSP in doubt.
Once out on the open lake I found the chop manageable, but decided not to risk it, and headed back to camp. When I opened up the Strava record I discovered that putting my new phone in a plastic lunch box, with a towel around it and packed in a waterproof hatch pretty-well killed my connectivity, so I finished up with a straight line from the launch spot out to the end of Dora Creek and that's all. It recorded my distance as 20km and my paddling speed as 30kmh, so no use at all, except to establish that I was indeed at Dora Creek. Going by my elapsed time and advice from locals I'd say I did about 6km. Happy with that.
All the other kayakers paddled upstream for miles, mostly doing about 12km. In the absence of any further data, that's about all I can report. Morning tea was superb, thanks everyone - a very relaxed chatty break. Not sure how many of us there were but I'd say at least 20. Next week is at San Remo, so another river paddle with a lake option. No facilities at all, so bring your own porta-loo. Pix from Harry, thanks!
Danny
That's it for this page. If you want to look at older stuff, contact Danny. Years of stuff!