Paddling in Deua National Park

Deua National Park sits on the southern tablelands of New South Wales, where the ranges between Braidwood, Moruya, and Cooma push rivers down through deep gorges, limestone country, and forested valleys.

The paddling here is river paddling — moving water through remote terrain, with most campgrounds placed riverside and multi-day trips a natural fit for the landscape. The Deua River is the park's main paddling corridor.

From Bakers Flat downstream, the gradient is low grade, suited to canoes and recreational kayaks rather than whitewater boats.

The Shoalhaven River also runs through the park and is similarly described as good for canoe and lilo travel, with swimming holes along the way.

Both rivers draw paddlers who want to move through the landscape over a day or more, camping at spots like Berlang or Bendethera Valley, most of which sit right on the water. Access into this country matters.

Berlang campground is reachable by 2WD, which makes it the busier put-in area; other campgrounds require more planning.

The park lies within easy driving distance of Canberra, Braidwood, Cooma, and Moruya, so logistics are manageable, but the gorges and plateaus mean that once you're on the water, you're genuinely remote.

Spring brings birdlife and rising flows; summer is the season for swimming and lilo runs.

Check NSW National Parks for current alerts before you go — fire, flood, and track closures have all affected access in recent years, and conditions in this kind of terrain change fast.

The rivers here don't demand technical skill so much as good judgment about water levels and self-sufficiency. There are no crowds, no shuttle services, and no margin for poor planning. That's the point.