Pomanda Point South Australia
A loop trail which takes paddlers into Lake Alexandrina from Wellington at the southern end of the River Murray to Point Pomond and return.
Paddle overview : Pomanda Point
Pomanda Point paddle
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Murray River, Lakes and Coorong |
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Wellington (102 km from Adelaide) – View in google map |
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Approx. 26 km (from Wellington ferry) |
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6-8 hours (long day paddle) |
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Moderate (see CAUTION) |
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Parking is available and there are toilets and grassed area at the Wellington Ferry and at the Wellington Boat Ramp |
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Visit BOM for weather conditions |
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Weather conditions can change quickly on the lake. Check weather conditions before embarking on this trip |
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Available at both launch sites |
Caution
This paddle is considered to be of moderate difficulty due to the overall distance and the skills required to manage and deal with the variable nature of the weather on Lake Alexandrina.
Always check the weather and wind conditions in the area before embarking on this paddle trail (see Meteye)
NOTE: There is no camping at Pomanda Point as it is private property.
Trail Notes
Launch Sites:
Grassed area north of the Wellington Ferry GPS: 35.3312 S; 139.3838 E
Wellington Boat ramp (1.5 km upstream from the Wellington Ferry) GPS: 35.3303 S; 139.3836 E
Trail Points:
The trail starts at Wellington and paddlers should travel south down the river towards Lake Alexandrina. The destination, Point Pomond (Point A) is located within Lake Alexandrina.
Once you emerge at the southern end of the river, head south – south-west towards the point of land within the lake, effectively following the western shore-line of the lake toward Point Pomond.
The best place to take a break is on one of the white sandy beaches visible on the approach to Pomanda Island.
Take care on the return trip as it is easy to miss the entrance to the Murray River. Follow the advice to keep to the eastern shore of the lake to ensure it is not missed.
NOTE: There is no camping at Point Pomond as it is private property.
Facilities
Parking, toilets and grassed picnic area at the Wellington Ferry and at the Wellington Boat Ramp
Points of interest
1 – Lake Alexandrina
Lake Alexandrina, together with contiguous Lake Albert and the lagoon we know as the Coorong, forms the mouth of the Murray River. Lake Alexandrina was named by explorer Charles Sturt in 1830 after Princess Alexandrina (later Queen Victoria). It has never been developed as a formal maritime outlet of the Murray due to its treacherous shallow depths (1.5-4.5m). Winds can whip up dangerous conditions of steep sharp waves and a once clear day deteriorate in minutes with mist, rain squalls and even dust developing without a lot of warning.
Barrages built across the lake’s exits in 1940 prevent the intrusion of seawater upstream and irrigated agriculture is now prevalent around the lake’s shores. The Murray-Darling river system has a low discharge rate and its exit to the sea is maintained by periodic dredging at the mouth. Part of the estuarine district was declared a Wetland of International Importance in 1985 under the Ramsar Convention.
2 – Pomanda Island
Pomanda Island is a low-profile island jutting into Lake Alexandrina at the northern end of the lake.
It has a narrow connection to the mainland. Covered in low shrubs it is a windswept piece of land joined somewhat tenuously to the northern shore. The lake shore is surrounded by reeds along much of its shoreline in this area, which make it especially dangerous to navigate from a kayak with its low profile on the sea so using a GPS device is recommended.
This area including Pomanda Island is part of Nalpa Station.
