Rooster's tail - Barron Gorge
Updated September 2022
February 2022, about to drop into the Rooster’s tail.
The kayakers and rafters have names for the sections below the hydro plant that they regularly traverse. The section above is one of the most well known and is called the Rooster’s Tail.
February 2022.
I have never been told this directly but I am pretty sure that the water shooting up in the centre looks like a Rooster’s tail and is where this location get’s its name.
January 2022
The kayakers hit the drop down at speed. They make it look easy but this is dangerous stuff.
The power generated by water flowing like that you do not want pinning you somewhere under the water with no escape. At the Rooster Tail it usually spits them back out like above.
Above is a sequence of photos taken of a kayaker coming through the Rooster`s Tail in late September 2022. It takes them right under then pops them out.
July 2021.
Speaking of safety, back in July 2021, Billy in the front was being guided down the river by Steve at the back who knows it like the back of his hand.
I believe not long after this photo was taken Billy ended up having to swim (exit the kayak) in a spot where he could have been pinned and Steve diverted trouble with a rescue. The river will kill you if you do not respect it.
February 2022.
This is Petr above heading into the Rooster’s tail. He knows the river so well I do believe he could paddle it in his sleep. In fact I have been on the river after dark and Petr has kayaked past me. He can read the water that well even in the dark….and I guess he is also a bit crazy.
Father teaching son. March 2022
For the young kayaker above there were 4 kayakers positioned at various positions around him on the river in the case they needed to do a rescue. If you do want to paddle Barron then please make sure you seek out someone like Petr to guide and teach you. It is a close community and they look after each other for good reason.
March 2022.
For years now I have watched kayakers teach each other. I have had the pleasure to witness fathers teach their children the river starting with the easiest sections first. They stop before the harder sections, exit the river and carry the kayaks out. Then one day the children are able to pass the more difficult sections in the right conditions and traverse the whole river safely.
Paddle boarder, Barron Gorge , February 2020.
But the craziest of those that brave the river are not the kayakers or rafters but the paddle boarders! You really have to know how to read the river before you take it on with one of these.