Loxton - Katarapko Loop Trail
This loop trail starts from the Loxton Caravan Park and takes paddlers up Katarapko Creek to the stone weir returning to the launch point travelling downstream via the Murray River
Paddle overview : Loxton - Katarapko
Loxton - Katarapko Loop Trail
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Riverland |
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Loxton (256 km from Adelaide) – View in google map |
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48 km |
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2-3 days |
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Easy to moderate |
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Secure car parking; camping facilities including showers and toilets also available. |
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Visit BOM for weather conditions |
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Protected waters – river and river backwaters |
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Available at launch point |
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Calperum Station Riverland Biosphere Reserve, Murray River National Park and Chowilla Game Reserve |
Trail Notes
Loxton Riverfront Reserve / Caravan Parkย GPS: 34.4474 S; 140.5486 E
The trail starts at Loxton Riverfront Reserve where the โTree of Knowledgeโ is located. This tree has marking showing the high flood levels for the past 50 years.
Proceed left and head downstream for about 5.5km to the entrance to Katarapko Creek at Point A (GPS: 34.4469 S; 140.5083 E).ย
Proceed along the creek for about 13.5K to Point B (GPS: 34.3597 S; 140.5404 E). The creek is part of the Murray River National Park.
Camping is available all along the creek but individual sites need to be booked beforehand over the internet using the link to the Murray River National Park.
Note: Free camping is available along the Murray river (The first 30 metres from the waterโs edge is crown land except for some areas near towns) and there are a number of excellent sandbars for camping along the northern parts of the river, once you leave Katarapko creek.
At Point B (GPS: 34.3597 S; 140.5404 E) the creek divides into two.
The left hand branch is known as the โSplashโ. There is a regulator/weir on this waterway at this point. Instead, take the RH stream for about 3k and you will reach the โStone Weirโ.
There is often a strong flow over this weir.
An easy portage can be taken around this structure along the LHS from the downstream side.ย 600 metres past the โStone weirโ the creek enters the Murray River. Point C (GPS 34.3505 S 140.5511S).
From here paddlers will find it is an uncomplicated 26km downstream paddle back to the Launch point at Loxton.
Caution
Always check weather and wind conditions before embarking (see Meteye)
Check Murray River National Park link for partial park closures
Trail 36
Facilities
Toilets and picnic area at the Loxton Riverfront Reserve (launch site) Full facilities at the adjacent Holiday/Caravan Park
Points of interest
Regulators and weirs being built in the Riverland
Construction of environmental structures started early in 2019 to provide much needed water to Katarapko Floodplain in the Murray River National Park.
Murray River National Park
Murray River National Park is divided into three separate areas: Katarapko (Winkie), Lyrup Flats (Lyrup) and Bulyong Island (Renmark). As these areas are separated by towns, visitors will need to ensure they familiarise themselves with maps of the region.
Katarapko features 9,148 hectares of black box, red gum and lignum covered floodplains and wetlands alive with aquatic bird species. Katarapko Creek is a significant creek that flows through the park and provides great canoe adventuring and is a very important habitat for native fish. The Ngak Indau walking trail is great for viewing wetland birdlife. Rilli Island, Media Island and Kapunda Island Conservation Parks are also part of Katarapko.
The Katarapko area which features floodplains and several wetlands is an important breeding area for native wildlife, including waterbirds, and is an ideal place for birdwatching.
Katarapko itself is divided into three sections: Lock 4 section, Eckertโs Creek section and Katarapko Creek section. Each section has a separate entrance with visitors being unable to move from one section to another through the park.
Multiple campsites and roads within the Katarapko section of Murray River National Park will be closed from Tuesday 29 January 2019 until Friday 10 April 2020. Please be aware that heavy construction vehicles will also be in operation during this period.
For Murray River National Park temporary closures visit: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/find-a-park/Browse_by_region/Murray_River/murray-river-national-park
Show us your photos on Instagram: #katarapkocreek
๐ถJust me cooling down in Katarapko Creek. ๐ถ Amazing being able to get away for a camping trip again ๐ค๐#katarapkocreek #creek #katarapkocreeknationalpark #katarapkocreeknationalpark #creek #swims #swimming #fishing #photo #photography #photooftheday #fallentrees #capturethemoment
Touring Katarapko Creek and the new developments.
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#sunday #touring #development #creek #katarapko #katarapkocreek #bridges #exploring
โข ๐ฃ
๐ธ: tiffanycara
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#katarapko #katarapkocreek #murrayrivernationalpark #safishing #myhappyplace #thegreatoutdoors #bcf #thisisliving #myriverland #riverlandsouthaustralia #destinationriverland #seesouthaustralia #ichoosesa #visitsa #sagreat southaustralia
Stop living for the weekend โข what do you do during the week to stay motivated?
I believe that our lives would be more fulfilling if we didnโt just look forward to weekends. I also believe that we need to spend time in nature to really connect with who we are โจ
There may not be any mountains to climb where weโre living but we have been camping by the river every weekend and itโs been amazing ๐งก
๐ธ: stock.standard .
#katarapkocreek #katarapko #murrayrivernationalpark #murrayriver #destinationriverland #foodforthought #liveformorethantheweekend #thoughts #riverlandsouthaustralia #seesouthaustralia #exploreaustralia #girlswithtattoos #createyourself #livingmybestlife #candidphotography #canonphotography #motivationalpost #staymotivated #behappy #campingaustralia #staywild #youngandfree #freshairandfreedom #loveyourself #lovethislife #weekendvibes #campermate #findyourself #australianexperience #glamadelaide
Temperature reached 42 degrees ๐ฅ here today!
So ofcourse we started out early for our ride, but I guess the flat tyre before we started was an omen of things to come! ๐ฉ
A very tricky bike trail ...
Felt like BMXers (not) ๐.
Got slightly lost (even with our map) ....Temperature is rising now ๐ฅต.... running low on drinks ....ended up on a dusty, corrugated road with NO shade, scarce signage ...and then, out of nowhere! a HUGE red kangaroo is literally bounding toward us!! - followed by a wild black dog ....both heading toward us๐ฑ ...are we delirious?
I imagine weโre going to get mauled!! ๐ณ Dog disappears (phew!) ...but shortly after - we run out of water in our bottles ๐ฅต๐ง ...many kms still to ride . ๐๐ปFinally some houses in sight and we hail down a kind lady in car who refills our drink bottles ....(...and asks what โareโ we doing cycling in by then, 35degree + heat?- fair question!๐คช)... We FINALLY pedal back in to Berri - 2.5hours ๐ฅด๐ฅต๐๐ป
Have never felt so RELIEVED!! ๐๐๐ฆ
#travelstories #roadtrippintour #riverlandsouthaustralia
#berri #katarapkocreek
Valentina, Dad and best mate from primary school pechstephen good reason to have a beer ๐ป
#riverlandboys #river #oldmate #xmas #Riverland #downthecreek #friends #family #fish #valentina #katarapkocreek #2017 #december #kennysreeladventures
Robert Habel
100 Years 100 Paintings
Imageย 75: ' Dead Trees at Katarapko Creek'
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#Trees possess a rich #symbolism in the history of painting and art. In wedding and family group portraits commissioned in centuries past, two interlocked or overlapping trees were often used as a #pictorialdevice to represent the coming together - and hopeful flourishing - of different families. Tall, majestic examples were and are still often used to illustrate the magnificence and grandeur of #nature itself. At the other end of the artistic continuum however, damaged, dying or dead trees take on a very different significance.
It may come as a surprise to some but some well-known painters of Australiaโs famous Heidelberg School were not adverse to cutting down a tree or two that blocked the broad vistas and #landscape views they wished to capture on canvas.
Thatโs not a #compositional tool or strategy Iโve ever used myself but unfortunately contemporary visitors to #KatarapkoCreek and other areas of the #MurrayRiverNationalPark in #SouthAustralia will often use fallen timber or fell โdeadโ trees for fire fuel when โenjoyingโ such areas, ignoring their value as #habitat and homes for native wildlife and birdlife as well as their role as stabilisers of riverbanks and barometers of the general health of #wetlands and #waterway systems.
As a #painter though, Iโm always struck with anย eerie feelingย when overlooking the panoramic landscapes of dead trees found in and around the waterways of #TheRiverland, and in this painting Iโve doffed my stylistic cap a little in the direction of English painter Graham Sutherlandโsย idiosyncratic
angular treatment of trees in his worksย during the 1940s.
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You canย see more of my #paintings and #dendritic depictions at www.roberthabel.com.auย
(Link in Bio)ย
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UnitingSA
worthgallery
guildhouse_au
qvmag
KatrineHildyard
nationalparkssa
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#RobertDHabelArtist
#100Years100Paintings
#UnitingSAfor100years
#southaustralianartist
#southaustralianart
#robertdhabelart
#visualarts
#painter
#contemporarypainting
#australianart
#contemporaryart
#painting
#pleinair
#insitu
#studio
๐จ๐ฏ
Happy #earthday ๐ #katarapko #katarapkocreek #exploreaustralia #ichoosesa #murrayriver #exploresa
Our Camping Rule One ... a beer after (or even during) setup. In SA our preference is of-course Coopers. Then you play the video and listen to the serenity ahhhhhh #coopersbrewery #serenity #katarapkocreek
What have I learnt so far? Simple; L I F E .
So short into my journey of change, I've already noticed differences in the way I think and feel. A sense of #peace is growing. #Motivation brews daily. I'm feeling invigorated and understand again what it's like to be #alive.
Not many stars, but still a top night (torch sweep on van) #katarapkocreek #southaustralia #campfire
Finally got the canoe in ๐ ahhhh the serenity. #canoe #katarapkocreek #serenity #southaustralia
This female Red-capped Robin may be considered quite drab if compared to the male, however her peace and tranquillity reveal her true beauty.
Camping spot for the weekend. #camping #riverland #KatarapkoCreek #MurrayRiver #Relax #FamilyTime #Friends #TimeOut #Beautiful #Quiet
Last night's camp fire. Nothing like it when camping in the great outdoors. #riverland #KatarapkoCreek #warm #southaustralia #marshmallows
Some of the wildlife whilst camping out at Katarapko Creek
#katarapkocreek
#murrayrivernationalpark
#TheFishingGuru
ใ SUNDAY ADVENTURES ใ
Today we spent the afternoon exploring around Katarapko Creek, accompanied with the perfect weather. I used to spend a lot of my weekends and afternoons here when I was in school. Its amazing to see how beautiful its all looking now, a weekend camping, catching yabbies and fishing here is a must!
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#katarapkocreek
#stoneyweir
#winkieweir
#winkiesouthaustralia
#riverland
#themurrayriver
#sundayadventures
#sundaydrives
#campingspot
Rolling out of the swag to this ๐
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#sunlit #mornings #weekendloving #Sunday #SouthAustralia #KatarapkoCreek #wintermornings #friendsandfun #freshair
Nice spot for some winter sun...#vetscapades #veterinarian #camping #camp #campinglife #murrayriver #riverland #katarapkocreek #nationalpark #bush #freshair #freedom #kingsadventure #kings #nissanpatrol #winter #southaustralia #bushland #happy
Recently some of our staff tackled an earth bank that was preventing water from flowing in to an old creek.
With a reasonable effort on the shovels and some help from water, they were able to cut a path in the bank and let the high waters of Katarapko Creek flow in.
It was super exciting for our staff to see. Nice work!
#lovemyjob #fieldwork #katarapko #katarapkocreek #murraydarlingbasin #gruntwork
