Paddling in Wadbilliga National Park

Wadbilliga National Park sits at the base of the Great Dividing Range in southern New South Wales, protecting one of the largest undisturbed river catchments in the state.

The water here is remote and serious — this is not a park with boat ramps and day-use areas at every bend. What it holds is wild river country, and getting onto it requires planning proportional to that wildness.

The Tuross, Wadbilliga, and Brogo Rivers are the anchors of the park's paddling. The Cascades camping area on the Tuross River is the most accessible put-in, where paddlers can launch kayaks or canoes directly onto the river.

Platypus are present in this stretch — early mornings are worth the effort.

The Tuross Falls and Cascades are nearby, reached by a short walk from the camping area, and the character of the river here reflects the escarpment country it drains: clear, cold, and subject to rapid change after rain.

Brogo Dam, within the park's Brogo Wilderness area, offers a different kind of paddle entirely. The dam's calm, sheltered water sits inside a gorge flanked by rock walls, with no tides, waves, or significant current.

A guided kayak tour operates here through Navigate Expeditions, putting paddlers into the gorge with local geological and cultural context built into the trip.

For those going independently, the remoteness of the Brogo Wilderness demands solid navigation skills — there are no formal tracks, and topographic maps and compass are the standard. The Brogo Wilderness designation matters for paddlers.

This is country where self-sufficiency is not optional.

Check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website for current alerts and any permit requirements before heading in — conditions and access can change, and the park's plan of management covers wilderness areas specifically.

The rivers here don't announce themselves. They reward paddlers who come prepared and leave the place as they found it.