BIG RIVER

The Big River is located in the area between Warburton and Jamieson. It rises near the Upper Yarra Dam and provides a substantial portion of the flow into Lake Eildon The Big River has a large catchment and rises rapidly after rain. The River is narrow and usually too shallow for summer canoeing, but provides canoeing of quite a high standard in winter. Trees and scrub grow right down to the river. . For inexperienced parties the best conditions for canoeing are when the river is at a low winter level, so that there is sufficient water for canoeing but not so much that the water speed becomes dangerous. At high winter level all obstacles are covered by water, but the speed of the current (often up to 25 kph.) throws up high standing waves at every submerged rock. In places these standing waves may reach 0.5 -lm. in height. In addition, due to the , small width of the river, there are virtually no backwaters or quiet stretches and the scrubby overgrown banks do not easily allow one to pull a boat out of the water. The whole river from Frenchmans Creek to Enoch Point becomes a narrow, fast and turbulent chute from which it is difficult to escape. It is strongly recommended that only experienced parties in decked boats attempt the river under these conditions. Reasonable campsites can be found among the trees on the river banks. A cleared camping area has been prepared at Chaffeys Creek and camping is permitted at Burnt Bridge.

 

RIVER ACCESS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Frenchmans Creek to Enoch Point.

The Big River, Frenchmans Creek junction is approached via Warburton (or Marysville), Cumberland Junction, Big River Camp and Stockmans Reward. The actual put-in point is at the end of a track to the left, just before the bridge over Frenchmans Creek. The Big River Valley Road has a reasonable surface to the Frenchmans Creek, but about 8 km. beyond this it deteriorates markedly and is only suitable for four wheel drive vehicles. Thus Enoch Point is best approached via Big River Camp where the Jamieson Link Road heads north to the Eildon-Jamieson Road. Tum towards Jamieson, and 16 km. further on the Big River is crossed and the road to Enoch Point takes off. Enoch Point is about 16 km. The settlement itself is on the river and consists of a number of 'weekender' huts. It is about 1 km. off the Big River Valley Road, along an unmarked road which takes off at a sharp angle. This road is not negotiable by conventional vehicles most of the time. The river is of Grade 2 to Grade 1 standard, depending on the water level. As the standard of the river is quite uniform, it is recommended that if a party finds the river too difficult, they should pull out at or before a small bridge about 3 km. downstream of Frenchmans Creek. Beyond this point it is very difficult to walk out. There are no really distinctive features on the river except for a 1.2m drop, 0.5 km. upstream of Enoch Point.

Frenchmans creek to enoch point takes 3-4 hours when the river is high.

The Big River Valley Rd follows quite close to the right of the river for the first 10km.

About 3 km. beyond the small bridge over Big the road winds to the east but is never more than 6 km away.

 

Enoch Point to Burnt Bridge. . ·

Below Enoch Point the river widens a little and the standard is Grade 2-3.

The rapids are 0 5 drops and spaced every few hundred metres. This section takes sabout 4.5hrs. 3hrs if the water level is high . Common access points to this section of the river are at Chaffeys Creek and at the Eildon – Jamieson Road Bridge. Approximately midway between these two points  there is a popular rapid known as the “slalom rapid”, This rapid is beside the road and accessible from above and below. The Big River Valley Road runs to the right of the river until it meets the Eildon-Jamieson Rd at the Bridge, The Road to Jamieson them follows the river on the right and the Burnt Bridge Turn off is located approximately 5km along this road.

 

Below Burnt Bridge

The river below Burnt Bridge is usually Flat as it is an arm of Eildon weir. However when the weir is low a good stretch of river is revealed. The most notable rapid is formed when the river flows through a very narrow winding channel with 2m. high rock walls on either side. At low water levels this is fairly easily navigable, but at levels over 1.5 m. the rock walls are covered and the water is Grade 3-4 standard. It is easy to portage on the right bank. Below this there is a wide section of river strewn with large boulders, which are easily negotiated in low water. At high water levels these boulders are covered and the water is extremely turbulent. The egress point is on the right bank along a long straight stretch of river. This is reached by a very steep track which runs west off the Eildon-Jamieson Road at a sign post reading Eildon State Park. The road to this point follows the river for approximately 3kms, but then turns away and heads towards Jamieson.

The trip from Burnt Bridge takes· approximately 1 hour . .

Minimum level is 0.65 m. on the gauge located just upstream of the Eildon –Jamieson Rd Bridge. A level over 0.9m. should only be attempted by experienced canoeists. River height is not available on a daily basis, but as a guide, multiply The Goulburn Dohertys guage by 1.1. A good level is between 1.0 m. and 1.2 m. if the top section is to be paddled. This is the same as 1.0m At Frenchmans Creek.

June 12, 2020 -