GOOLWA - MURRAY MOUTH
SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2010
Run to the Murray Mouth and return
Distance Options are:
15 km or less with 8.00 am start from No 19 Beacon, Goolwa
24 km with 7:30am start from Beach Rd, Goolwa carpark
(Please be there 15 mins before for pre-run briefing)
Everyone is Welcome to come along, both Runners and Walkers. There is no entry fee for this run.
START / FINISH
15km - Start by the Beach/Mouth track signs in the South East corner of the No 19 beacon boat ramp car park.
No 19 beacon is about halfway along Sir Richard peninsula at the very end of Barrage Rd.
27km - Start from the Goolwa Beach car park which is at the end of Beach Rd, Goolwa.
Gather by the stairs to the beach near the cafe,
GETTING THERE FROM ADELAIDE
You have a choice of taking the South-Eastern freeway to Mt Barker and then via Strathalbyn to Goolwa.
Alternatively you can take the Main South Rd to 2km past Mt Compass before turning left onto the Goolwa
Rd to Goolwa. Once at Goolwa continue through the main street and follow it around to the right where it
becomes the Victor Harbor Road.
15km starters should take the 1st left Oliver Street which crosses the railway line & swings left to
become Riverside Drive and Barrage Rd. Follow on past the yacht club, the Goolwa Aquatic Club and
boatramp. Note the unlocked toilets on the left just after the Aquatic club & boat ramp by the little park.
Follows the river all the way to the barrage. There are also toilets and water available at the barrage but
visiting opens at 8am.. Just before the barrage entrance take the road to the right which runs around the
barrage grounds and on to the No 19 beacon car park, the 15 km start. There are no toilets or water other
than what we bring here.
24km runners should continue on the Victor/Goolwa Rd to the roundabout immediately after the
Woolworths shopping Centre and turn left on Beach Rd.
Beach Road runs to the Goolwa Beach carpark, the 27km start. This carpark also features a toilet and
water along with a beachside cafe where we can gather afterwards for coffee.
Bristow Smith Avenue, which is also part of the Goolwa bikeway & is signposted as such, conveniently
joins Beach Rd and Barrage Rd. It is the last side road on Barrage Rd & the 2nd last on Beach Rd.
See map to the right or view on the Google Goolwa Map
15km (and shorter) – Guide George Bennett
From the No 19 beacon car park the trail heads across the sand hills to the ocean beach, approx 800m.
At beach turn left for the Murray Mouth which is about 6.5 kms away. The shorter than 15 km option is
simply to head towards the mouth but turn back for No 19, whenever suits to make your walk/.run as
short as you like. If you think you may return along the beach take careful note of the end of the No 19
trail & sign so you can spot where to turn back off the beach on your return.
With a reasonably low tide on the 20th, the beach near the water’s edge should be fairly firm almost to the mouth. At the mouth the beach opens into a larger wide sand plain bisected by the Murray outlet. Tthe tide will probably have turned by now & be flowing back into the Goolwa Channel running off to the NW and the Coorong running off the the right or SE. There will be a few fishermen, 4wd drives, lots of cockles shells to crunch across and of course the dredges. SA spend about $5M a year to keep the channels clear, aim is to have tidal movement in the Coorong. Just past the dredges turn away from the water and follow the pipeline back almost to the 1st sandhills, then continue along NW between the sandhills and water of the Goolwa Channel. It is pretty hard to get lost in a major way, just keep the water on the right, but as the track is fairly obscure in places you will find pink survey markers tied to bushes from here until No 19.
The inner track attempts to follow an old 4wd track all the way to No 19 but in places where its not clear and the beach is firmer I have followed the waters edge. Some of the vegetation can be a bit aggressive along here, particularly the native rush, Spiny Rush and even the odd boxthorn. If you have got some long gaiters or even better ‘O’pants suggest you bring them along. Orienteering pants are available from Southern Orienteering Supplies on 8289 5195 (ah). You will pass behind what used to be a thick grove of bamboo where the track used to be a tunnel but now without the fresh water flows there is just a few low bits of bamboo. After a bit of trip along the waters edge a track appears which get wider and more traversed until you see the cars ahead at the No 19 carpark . You will arrive back to civilisation, right where you started from.
24 km – Guide Ray Berresheim
From the Goolwa Beach carpark proceed down the SE stairs onto the beach and turn left for the Murray Mouth. After around 6km you will reach the point where the No19 group entered the beach. Look for a couple of poles up on the sandhill and then a ‘Vehicles prohibited in sandhills’ sign & a canyon worn into the sandhills by 4WDrives. I’ll leave a couple of pink tapes on the sign to help. Useful spot as 800m thru the sandhills is Terry C’s fresh water & some civilization.
Continue along the beach to the mouth and then back to No 19 on the inner track as per the 15km instructions.
At no 19 after enjoying some of Terry’s water and sweets, take the track from the corner of the carpark near where you arrived over the sandhills until you are back on the beach. Turn right and proceed back the 6kms to the Beach Rd carpark.
GENERAL
Despite the apparent closeness to Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island these runs are through a pretty remote area. There is no freshwater so you will need to carry all your requirements. Vegetation on the inner track needs to be respected and you will appreciate some protection. You are undertaking this run entirely at your own risk.
Mobile phone coverage should be quite reasonable. The trail run will be cancelled if the Bushfire Risk is declared catastrophic or the temperature is extreme. Organisers will email the trail lists in the event of a cancellation. At least the weather is generally cooler at Goolwa provided we don’t get a roaring northerly.
COFFEE AFTER THE RUN
Hopefully on the covered deck at the beach side cafe by the 27km start.
Still need to check Ok but will do that this weekend..
ANY QUESTIONS?
Terry Cleary 0411 723 677 or email
George Bennett 0417 730 030 or email
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fire Bans: Please refer to the CFS website. An email will be sent to cancel a run as soon as we hear of any
proposed fire ban affecting this district.
SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2010
Run to the Murray Mouth and return
Distance Options are:
15 km or less with 8.00 am start from No 19 Beacon, Goolwa
24 km with 7:30am start from Beach Rd, Goolwa carpark
(Please be there 15 mins before for pre-run briefing)
Everyone is Welcome to come along, both Runners and Walkers. There is no entry fee for this run.
START / FINISH
15km - Start by the Beach/Mouth track signs in the South East corner of the No 19 beacon boat ramp car park.
No 19 beacon is about halfway along Sir Richard peninsula at the very end of Barrage Rd.
27km - Start from the Goolwa Beach car park which is at the end of Beach Rd, Goolwa.
Gather by the stairs to the beach near the cafe,
GETTING THERE FROM ADELAIDE
You have a choice of taking the South-Eastern freeway to Mt Barker and then via Strathalbyn to Goolwa.
Alternatively you can take the Main South Rd to 2km past Mt Compass before turning left onto the Goolwa
Rd to Goolwa. Once at Goolwa continue through the main street and follow it around to the right where it
becomes the Victor Harbor Road.
15km starters should take the 1st left Oliver Street which crosses the railway line & swings left to
become Riverside Drive and Barrage Rd. Follow on past the yacht club, the Goolwa Aquatic Club and
boatramp. Note the unlocked toilets on the left just after the Aquatic club & boat ramp by the little park.
Follows the river all the way to the barrage. There are also toilets and water available at the barrage but
visiting opens at 8am.. Just before the barrage entrance take the road to the right which runs around the
barrage grounds and on to the No 19 beacon car park, the 15 km start. There are no toilets or water other
than what we bring here.
24km runners should continue on the Victor/Goolwa Rd to the roundabout immediately after the
Woolworths shopping Centre and turn left on Beach Rd.
Beach Road runs to the Goolwa Beach carpark, the 27km start. This carpark also features a toilet and
water along with a beachside cafe where we can gather afterwards for coffee.
Bristow Smith Avenue, which is also part of the Goolwa bikeway & is signposted as such, conveniently
joins Beach Rd and Barrage Rd. It is the last side road on Barrage Rd & the 2nd last on Beach Rd.
See map to the right or view on the Google Goolwa Map
15km (and shorter) – Guide George Bennett
From the No 19 beacon car park the trail heads across the sand hills to the ocean beach, approx 800m.
At beach turn left for the Murray Mouth which is about 6.5 kms away. The shorter than 15 km option is
simply to head towards the mouth but turn back for No 19, whenever suits to make your walk/.run as
short as you like. If you think you may return along the beach take careful note of the end of the No 19
trail & sign so you can spot where to turn back off the beach on your return.
With a reasonably low tide on the 20th, the beach near the water’s edge should be fairly firm almost to the mouth. At the mouth the beach opens into a larger wide sand plain bisected by the Murray outlet. Tthe tide will probably have turned by now & be flowing back into the Goolwa Channel running off to the NW and the Coorong running off the the right or SE. There will be a few fishermen, 4wd drives, lots of cockles shells to crunch across and of course the dredges. SA spend about $5M a year to keep the channels clear, aim is to have tidal movement in the Coorong. Just past the dredges turn away from the water and follow the pipeline back almost to the 1st sandhills, then continue along NW between the sandhills and water of the Goolwa Channel. It is pretty hard to get lost in a major way, just keep the water on the right, but as the track is fairly obscure in places you will find pink survey markers tied to bushes from here until No 19.
The inner track attempts to follow an old 4wd track all the way to No 19 but in places where its not clear and the beach is firmer I have followed the waters edge. Some of the vegetation can be a bit aggressive along here, particularly the native rush, Spiny Rush and even the odd boxthorn. If you have got some long gaiters or even better ‘O’pants suggest you bring them along. Orienteering pants are available from Southern Orienteering Supplies on 8289 5195 (ah). You will pass behind what used to be a thick grove of bamboo where the track used to be a tunnel but now without the fresh water flows there is just a few low bits of bamboo. After a bit of trip along the waters edge a track appears which get wider and more traversed until you see the cars ahead at the No 19 carpark . You will arrive back to civilisation, right where you started from.
24 km – Guide Ray Berresheim
From the Goolwa Beach carpark proceed down the SE stairs onto the beach and turn left for the Murray Mouth. After around 6km you will reach the point where the No19 group entered the beach. Look for a couple of poles up on the sandhill and then a ‘Vehicles prohibited in sandhills’ sign & a canyon worn into the sandhills by 4WDrives. I’ll leave a couple of pink tapes on the sign to help. Useful spot as 800m thru the sandhills is Terry C’s fresh water & some civilization.
Continue along the beach to the mouth and then back to No 19 on the inner track as per the 15km instructions.
At no 19 after enjoying some of Terry’s water and sweets, take the track from the corner of the carpark near where you arrived over the sandhills until you are back on the beach. Turn right and proceed back the 6kms to the Beach Rd carpark.
GENERAL
Despite the apparent closeness to Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island these runs are through a pretty remote area. There is no freshwater so you will need to carry all your requirements. Vegetation on the inner track needs to be respected and you will appreciate some protection. You are undertaking this run entirely at your own risk.
Mobile phone coverage should be quite reasonable. The trail run will be cancelled if the Bushfire Risk is declared catastrophic or the temperature is extreme. Organisers will email the trail lists in the event of a cancellation. At least the weather is generally cooler at Goolwa provided we don’t get a roaring northerly.
COFFEE AFTER THE RUN
Hopefully on the covered deck at the beach side cafe by the 27km start.
Still need to check Ok but will do that this weekend..
ANY QUESTIONS?
Terry Cleary 0411 723 677 or email
George Bennett 0417 730 030 or email
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fire Bans: Please refer to the CFS website. An email will be sent to cancel a run as soon as we hear of any
proposed fire ban affecting this district.
