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The Turtle Rapid Google Earth Co-ordinates: 31° 34'44.55"S; 116° 15'28.02"E It's located 5km from the start of white water at Posselt's Ford and one kilometre above Emu Falls. After this one there's just one more significant rapid before Emu's. Pics and notes by Robyn Khorshid 1. Pics on this page below are at water level 10.62m, DoW, at Toodyay; that's about 0.55m on the Long Pool (ti-trees) gauge, on the low side of medium water level for this top half of the valley. 2. Some of the pics have a low water view, 10.4m at Toodyay, DoW gauge (about 0.2m. Long Pool) as well. Click on those pics to see the rocks and shallow water which appear at low levels. 3. The rapid becomes very easy, following either of the two routes through at medium water. There's a few pics of that, too, with water level 10.84m @ Toodyay, DoW (0.9m on the Long Pool, ti-trees gauge). It's starting to look washed out. I came across quite a large but shy turtle/tortoise here once. You can see it above! The central mound of rocks reminds me of that turtle!

As one approaches note the mound of rocks in the centre of the river. This mound is the highest part of a rock barrier which extends to the left bank. There is a passage through, river right, down a v-chute across a second line of rocks. In addition, there is a small gap to the immediate left of the mound of rocks which allows access to beyond and a smoother ride down on the river left. Click on pic to see the approach at low water. Click here to see the approach at medium water: 10.84m @ Toodyay; 0.9m, Long Pool gauge. At high or flood levels the centre rocks may be totally covered (with 'holes' and turbulence on the downstream side) but locate where you are by noting the centre ti-tree if you want to follow a known (safe) route.

Click on the pic to see low water and the gap in the rocks (10.4m at Toodyay, DoW; 0.2m at Long Pool gauge). You may not fit through at such low water, so maybe aim for the right hand route then. Click here for medium water pic.

There's only one gap in that line of rocks and it's right next to the far side of the centre mound of rocks. (Now doesn't that centre rock look like a turtle?!)

Once you have passed the centre rocks (on your right) head left, aiming for that smooth tongue you can see - then it's just straight ahead.

Paddle smooth water past the centre rocks, then centre ti-tree on your left, towards the drop down the second line of rocks

Follow the main flow down the chute, but veer slightly left to avoid the rock (indicated) which may have a cushion of water to partly disguise it. Then, at this water level, it's just straight ahead, but keep your eye out, just in case, as it may not quite be this water level and there's many smaller rocks underneath as you can see in the low water pic. Here's a side view of both routes, at low water. Click here to see rapid at medium water, 10.84m @ Toodyay (0.9m, Long Pool).

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