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Earth Co-ordinates: 31º
37' 40.65"S; 116º 11'13.47" E This is located about four kilometres downstream of the Bald Hill Rapids and two and a half upstream of the Stronghills Farm Avon Descent team changeover. It's at the base of the Moondyne property, the accomodation/convention centre. You know you're approaching when you see a high, lush green, grassy hill (as opposed to wooded slopes) river right, followed by a second one, on the top of which you can just make out some of the buildings. The rapid is located just at the gap between the two hills.  Click on pic to see lower water view - unpaddleable level This part of the river consists of an island which becomes a series of rocks and bushes in higher water. The main channel around the island, a slightly twisting course which ends in a drop, is to the river right. Another flatter route is available to the river left of the island at medium water level and above: the chicken chute. Moondyne rapid is washed out at flood levels. |
 This
is the start of the island at low and unpaddleable water level.
It will look quite different at higher levels, but maybe the
stump of the dead tree, in the centre, will be there for a few
years yet. |
The
Main Channel The pic above and the one below are
taken from the one vantage point, from the island, at the start
of the main channel. |
 |
 Further down: the current accelerates as the drop is approached. It's just out of sight, around the corner. |
 |
 Looking upstream at the drop. |
The Chicken
Chute |
 You may have to dodge the odd branch or rock, depending on the water level, but otherwise it's a straightforward run down to the bottom end. |
 The shallow end of the chicken chute is why you need medium water to paddle this route. Water level here is 10.6m Toodyay and 0.55m, Long Pool. (Maybe just okay for a plastic with some scraping and manouvring between rocks for a couple of metres?) The foreshortening in the pic narrows the gaps between the rocks. |
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