Dawesville Channel & surrounding area

  > Mandurah Index                             >  Where to Paddle in W.A. Index                 > Canoeing in Western Australia

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Dawesville Channel It's best to choose a calm day if you want a leisurely paddle. On the other hand, if you have the skills and/or a stable boat you'll enjoy a bit of excitement.  Explore the canal developments of Northport, in particular, and Eastport. Northport is worth meandering through; it has a Venetian feel about it. Notice the small sandy beach where you can land for a break. You can also land at Bluewater Cove and at the boat ramp at Eastport - Cafe Bouvard is next door. The Jolly Frog has a commanding position overlooking the bridge and the channel but there is no access from the water for paddlers. It is anticipated that there will be a cafe/restaurant in Northport as well in the future, not far from the sandy beach at the northernmost end. Always give way to larger vessels - and that just about means everyone else! The channel and inland waters can be affected by strong winds and current which makes for choppy conditons. Watch out for rough water from the wash of the many pleasure boats that pass through the channel and the backwash from the walls. It's calm in the canals and boat traffic is much slower. It's good to paddle to the sea in calm weather. There's a small, sheltered sandy beach just around the northern groin. It's easy to land there in calm conditions. In rough weather avoid the mouth of the channel unless you're experienced in these conditions. Harvey Estuary and Peel Inlet Cross to Point Grey or further afield for a picnic lunch on a shaded sandy beach. This eastern side of the Harvey Estuary is not much visited except by myriad flocks of waterbirds and hence is quite pristine. For a longer paddle go north towards Mandurah or south down the Harvey Estuary. There's a foreshore reserve between Ward Point and Northport. The Harvey Estuary and Peel Inlet have many shallow areas with occasional rocks. You may wish to check for high tide to make for more water to paddle in. In season you will find many crabs scuttling about in the shallows. Near the boating channels there's always plenty of water - watch out for the markers. Also watch out for boating traffic in the channels as some of it is quite fast. Being such an open expanse of water it can be windy, so plan your paddle to avoid (or to take advantage) of the wind.

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  > Mandurah Index                             >  Where to Paddle in W.A. Index                 > Canoeing in Western Australia

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