Looking for somewhere to kayak around Victoria (Aust)

I will be getting my TI soon (I hope) and have the ocean sailing sorted, however, I would love to also start to kayak around the state. Has anyone got any recommendations of where to go up rivers/lakes?

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

I'd say there are a few places to visit down there. Of course you've got various places around Port Phillip Bay & Western Port Bay. I used to do lots of sailing down near Rye. You could do day trips out to the old fort or the Mud Islands. If you wanted to stay closer to shore just do a trip down toward Portsea. Some very nice coast down that way.

And then of course you've got the Gippsland Lakes. Miles of places down there. If we can get Pirate and Mickey out of hibernation they can give you the best places to visit as it's their stomping ground.

Further down the coast is Mallacoota. Plenty of playground down there.

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Thanks for the feed back. I am good with the open water (salt). After I get used to the sailing the TI I will take the family to French Island, I do love to sail around the bay. Maybe if a now the weather is warming up Pirate and Mickey will come out of hibernation

A day trips out to Mud Islands sound nice, where is old fort?

Our 1st holiday with the TI will be down to the gippsland lakes; I am so looking forward to it

Thanks for the advise.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

The for is also known as South Channel Island. Pretty much due north of Blairgowrie.
http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-38.304419,144.804697&spn=0.046205,0.072184&t=h&z=14

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=58#scfort
http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_0425.pdf

I sailed my little mirror out there many many years ago. Back then you weren't supposed to land there. It was still an explosives store I'm guessing they removed the stuff that goes bang...

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Thanks for that!
"It was still an explosives store I'm guessing they removed the stuff that goes bang..."

YOU GUESS
and I hope

that sounds another advenmture.

I am hoping to get my TI in Sep and take some of these trips around December, after I get a good feel for sailingthe TI and also get my crew (wife and daughter) up to speed

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Wilsons Prom for the ultimate Victorian AI adventure. I have a week-long AI expedition at the prom on my bucket list. My suggestion is to put it onto yours

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

And if you want fast water, give Sandy Point on Shallow Inlet a go. Depending on the day you can get strong wind and flat water. Real buzz screaming along a couple of feet from the shoreline. Just watch out for people fishing....

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thanks guys
Cowsgomoo (only somethings ) Sandy point are you talking about the inland area or the bass straight side? Looks nice
Yakass, Where abouts do you suggest in the prom?
I see a few islands around the bass straight side and there seems to me a inland area also.
It is very interesting; throughout my life I have been to the prom many times, but now I am looking at the earth in a different way. I am not looking at land and land marks; I am looking at where the water is, and can I sail/kayak

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Poke 'em with a stick and they do...

I'm talking the inland side on Shallow Inlet. Ocean side might be a little too exciting

Here's a pic taken around Christmas. It's Shallow Inlet but further up near the camping are off Lester Rd. Not much wind this day.
I'll dig up some pics from Sandy Point area.

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thanks that does look nice. So if I go down this christmas I will not be the only unusual thing sailing (My new TI not me ), I hope to see another AI ot TI

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

Here's a shot of Sandy Point. Other side of the dunes is Waratah Bay. Nice strong wind without the waves. Just watch out for wind surfers. They can get up to 30 knots!

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Popes Eye, Mud Island, Chinamans Hat (seal colony), South Channel Fort, South Channel Light, and Hovel Pile are all well within easy reach with an AI and all well worth a visit, I did them often, if you enjoy snorkelling and/or scuba diving, Popes Eye, the seals and South Channel Fort are great sites and more details are on my Google map along with recommended launch sites on the Mornington Peninsula. http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117867624084150224494.000488d37120dffdd79e7&ll=-38.234135,144.665565&spn=0.126208,0.308647&z=12&iwloc=000488d4552389edcac9e. Note: Very strong currents and you are crossing the main shipping channel, extreme caution should be followed when sailing within the area of Port Phillip Heads and the shipping channel.
I would also recommend trips on the Lodon, Murrumbidgee, Goulburn and the mighty Murray rivers, every inch of them are worth exploration. {Not for the AI (to many tree's) have a paddle/pedal at Blue Rock dam near Moe}, {Lake Colac and the lakes around Camperdown/Cobden}, Burrumpete(Ballarat), Lanacorie weir, Cairn Curran reservoir (both central Vic), Wartook, Lake Fyans and Bellfeild over in the Grampians, check out the lakes around Nagambie, ow Nhillacootee near Benalla/Mansfield and who could forget Lake Eildon, mate anywhere there is water the world is your oyster and Google Earth your best friend.
I know I have missed so many more and a lot of the little secluded town reservoirs/dams are great viewing as they have less human impact compared to some of the larger water reserves. Forgot the lakes up in the Murray Sunset National Park near Mildura, if they are holding water the wildlife can be spectacular (watch out for drop bears though, deadly and thick in this area).

Thanks for tall this info. That should keep me going for a life time!

ELM - I used to sail my 16ft cat many many years ago for Safety Beach (In fact I kept the cat at the club house, and I used to SCUBA out at popes eye, the boat would take me out and I never took much notice of what was above the water. Great link thanks How long would it take you to sail out to South Channel Fort?

I think I will try the prom and around the bay (close to sure); then as I get used to the boat and my crew (wife and daughter) get used to sailing, I will venture out to the middle/'other side' of the bay.

I am also thinking of doing to HMAS Canberra, I don't think that I want to go through the heads. Has anyone sailed to HMAS Canberra? Any advise on getting there, water conditions and where did you launch?

It just sounds like a nice place to take the crew

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

What are you sailing and what exactly do you mean as crew (how many)?
Do not sail these waters with more than what the craft is designed to carry AI (1 & no "crew") TI (2 you and one "crew member") I would also recommend a VHF radio, personal flare and PLB.

From Blairgowrie it's roughly 4.6 km to the South Channel Light House, 6.3 km to South Channel Fort, so depending on wind strength and direction 45 minutes would be the quickest from Blairgowrie on the AI, 2+ hours in a belting Northerly. Currents can be quite quick/strong out around the channel and as you get closer to the heads, increase dramatically. From the Fort to Mud it's roughly another 4.5 km and Pope's Eye another 5 km. If the weather gets dirty/nasty, shelter can be sort at the fort but getting your kayak up would be very difficult because the jetty is quite high and the fort is built on rocks. Shelter can also be sort at the South Channel light but once again it would be difficult to get your kayak up, also the seals tend to climb on the frame and steps of the old light house and may have a go at you (it is illegal to camp at any of the sites). There is very little shelter at any of the other sites mentioned.

As for the Canberra, you would probably be best to launch from Barwon heads or Ocean Grove and steer well clear of the RIP.
I have looked at launching from Sorrento back beach but with a trip that long (approx 18 km as the crow flies, one way) you would want to be sure there are no weather changes due or you and your craft will be trashed trying to get back into the beach also you will be crossing the mouth of the RIP and main shipping channel. I believe the Canberra is roughly 5 km off Barwon heads but you will definitely have to check that prior to any attempt to go out there, also I believe you need to book a dive with Parks to legally dive on the Canberra. Not sure how you would go as a drift dive past/over it or how they would police it. I do know that the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse watch, record boat registrations and pass them to Parks, not sure how they deal with kayaks.

There is a family curse on the Mud Islands. Pretty much any time a member of my family dares to travel there the bay starts to boil and the winds howl.....

I got a tow back last time. We went as a group and the wind was howling right on the nose. Was like glass on the way out
My uncle had to stay out overnight once in his TS-16. He was quite safe and this was the best option at the time.

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