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Emu Falls
- Just over 8km from Cobbler Pool, start line of Day Two.
- About 350 metres in length with two pools separating more difficult sections.
- These notes have been written with low and medium water level in mind.
- The Washing Machine is very different at high water but the upper sections are much the same.

Pics and notes by Robyn Khorshid



Pics 1-5 & 7
Water Level: 11.1m DoW, Walyunga; 10.8m DoW Toodyay

Pic 6 & above
Avon Descent, 2003
Low Water

Emu Falls Layout


1. Looking upstream at the entrance: from the pool turn sharp river right, avoiding obstacles, keeping in the centre of main flow. Take care not to get swept to outside of bend where there are rocks. 


2. Looking downstream from previous vantage point: keep in main flow which sweeps left.


3. Large top pool: follow main flow across pool to middle section rocky drop. You may wish to eddy out on river right of large pool to inspect further downstream on foot during your first attempt. In very low water this is a good place to start your portage if you wish to avoid the rocks in the following sections. 


4. The rocky middle section drop: full view
*. Focus on staying in centre of main channel. Some current tends to push unwary paddlers towards 'cushion' on rock almost covered, towards the bottom of the drop - the main cause of capsize here. See top photo. Please note that there is considerable foreshortening in this pic.
*Click on the numerals to see top, middle and lower sections close-up and views from different angles. 


5. Looking upstream at rock hidden by cushion of water, at bottom of the middle section drop.


6. Pool before The Washing Machine: three ways to pass through this rocky barrier; the right is the most common route. Paddlers line up for this during 2003 Descent, lowish water level.


7. Looking upstream at the three routes down and through the rock barrier. The river right gap is the widest, hence the most commonly taken line. At low water the rock below and in the middle of this drop is a difficulty - you have to go right or left of it. In medium water the rock is covered and there is just a big stopper to get through below it. Just paddle strongly to break through.

Click on each section of the rapid to see close-up views.




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