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Thomson River Packraft Journey
Highlights
- Paddle through the exhilarating rapids of the Thomson River, honing your white water skills in a stunning natural setting.
- Learn essential packing techniques for day trips while enjoying the scenic journey from Walhalla Railway Bridge to Coopers Creek Campground.
- Receive expert guidance from qualified instructors, ensuring a safe and rewarding introduction to packrafting adventures.
- Experience a family-friendly day trip that combines skill-building with the thrill of navigating Grade 2 to 2+ rapids.
Try a packrafting Day on the Thomson River.
Scheduled to coincide with a water release from Carran Carran, this should be an exciting intro to other adventures. With a paddle from the Walhalla Railway Bridge down to Coopers Creek Campground, this should be a great day on the water.
This day trip is design to be a consolidation of skills learned in the basic courses, but will touch on packing for day trips and overnight trips, as well as the gear you need to carry and other essentials.
There are some great rapids of Grade 2 to 2+ standard, which will test your skills, and enable us to learn and consolidate our white water handling skills.
You will be guided with qualified guides and offered instruction and river reading instruction along the way. The team will go through setting up your pack raft in the most suitable way, learn to stow gear and balance the kayak, learn to outfit the pack raft- all this before you even get on the water. And then review basic paddling techniques and moving water and white water skills.
A great course to get you started on your new journey.
Itinerary highlights
Horseshoe Bend Tunnel
We start at the Walhalla Railway Bridge and make our way down to Coopers creek, stopping for Lunch on the way. There are some great rapids of Grade 2 to 2+ standard, which will test your skills, and enable us to learn and consolidate our white water handling skills.
We will travel past the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel designed to divert water during the Gold Rush. The Thomson River Alluvial Gold and Tailings Recovery Company began construction of the tunnel in August 1911 and the tunnel was completed circa October 1912. The total length of the tunnel is about 220 metres (720 ft). The tunnel is one of around thirteen river diversions surviving from the Victorian gold rush.
Tour details
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Single Available from 25 April 2026
Features
Service facilities
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Asks all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met.
- Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
- Assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Staff are trained in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges.
- Uses Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
- A quiet space is available at the venue/ facility.
Allergies and intolerances
Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.
- Modify their cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances (could include menus with meals free from: nuts, dairy, seafood, eggs, gluten etc).
- Staff are trained to respond to allergic reactions.
- Complies with The Food Authority requirements for allergy management in food preparation.
- Equipment to respond to anaphylactic shock such as epi–pens and defibrillator.
Operation information
Canoes Plus Adventure Experience
Established in 1980, Canoes Plus Adventure Experience has been the premier destination for paddling enthusiasts across Australia for over four decades. Their experienced instructors guide you through the fundamental skills of kayaking, canoeing, packrafting, and rafting, ensuring a safe and enjoyable learning experience.
Whether you’re a beginner seeking to paddle for the first time or an experienced adventurer looking to refine your technique, they offer a range of courses and trips designed to meet your every need. From day trips, guided wilderness discovery to gourmet weekends, discover your next adventure on the water with the trusted expertise of Canoes Plus.
Plan more around this area
Amor, VIC Thomson Bridge Campground
Thomson Bridge is a small pretty camping area perched above the Thomson River and surrounded by dense bushland.
Coopers Creek, VIC Coopers Creek
This scenic and popular campground and day visitor area is on the Thomson River with easy access to the historic Walhalla area.
Walhalla, VIC Walhalla's Star Hotel
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Walhalla, VIC Sancreed Cottage
Sancreed offers quality, short stay accomodation in the heart of the historic Gippsland gold mining township of Walhalla.
Walhalla, VIC Spetts Cottage
Spetts Cottage offers old world charm and a touch of modern luxury in the heart of Walhalla.
Erica, VIC Silvertop Cottages
Situated midway between Erica and Rawson, and a short drive from Walhalla, Silvertop Cottages is a great place to relax and escape from the pressures
Glengarry North, VIC Narkoojee Winery and Restaurant
Narkoojee, meaning Place of Flowers is located in Eastern Gippsland where the cool, long ripening period produces classic, cool climate wines. Narkoojee Winery is nestled
