Murrumbidgee River Bikerafting | Paddle & Ride | Cootamundra-Gundagai x Wagga Wagga x Tom's Outdoors

Out for Adventure | Small dose adventures for busy lives in our Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region

Out for Adventure is a micro-adventure series brought to you in collaboration with City of Wagga Wagga, the adventure specialist at Tom’s Outdoors and the following regional shires – Greater Hume Council, Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, Coolamon Shire Council and Lockhart Shire Council.

Written by Pat Ryan.

With most of my time spent on a river and in the outdoors whether it's fly fishing, rowing drift boats, or even paddling a packraft, I’d never undertaken a bikerafting trip. The Murrumbidgee River around Gundagai was the perfect proving ground for this newfound way to explore a river. Not too far to ride or paddle and not super technical paddling for a first-time bikerafter.

Featuring Pat Ryan. Filmed and edited by Dean Johnson.

The day began with a quick stop at the bakery and Niagara Cafe for the obligatory coffee, pie and lunch, before heading down to the river to set up the bike. With the raft strapped down and spirits high, it wasn’t long before I got put into place by a swooping magpie (and then four more swooping magpies) and falling off my bike…

Aside from rogue bird attacks, I peddled out of Gundagai with a clear view of the Murrumbidgee and lush farm country. The route led me north out of Gundagai and past Jackalass to a point where the river meets the road. With a quick transition from peddling to paddling and some primo Niagara Cafe fuel in the tank, I said bon voyage to dry land for the next 20 km of calm paddling.

With low river levels and a substantial amount of weight on the bow, the paddle was slow going but super relaxing. Looking up a the high eroded banks and wildlife aplenty, the Murrumbidgee around Gundagai is definitely one to check out. After a long day on the water, I rolled under the two bridges in town before having a flick at the end.

After spending so much time on the Murrumbidgee fishing for cod, exploring the high country for trout and now bike rafting through the farmland, it’s a refreshing way to explore the areas that I love and open up a new way to cover ground in remote or less remote places. Next time though, the fly rod’s coming with me…