Info & Contacts in Nymboida area

[graham]

Hi
I'm involved in planning a paddling trip to the Nymboida area around easter and I'm hoping someone out there will be able to help with some information and leads. I'm actually going with a small group from Whitehorse Canoe Club in Melbourne but I'm based here in Cook ACT!
Any comments or advice gratefully received....
Has anyone done the drive to the Nymboida - how long does it actually take?
Has anyone any experience (or comments) about taking a kayak on a domestic flight (to Coffs Harbour?) to get to the region. I've taken boats on planes before but I hear that the airline companies are getting savvy and are charging some extortionate prices to take boats.
Has anyone had any experience of hiring a car (preferably 4WD) in the Nymboida region?
Has anyone any experience/advice about freighting boats from Canberra to Coffs Harbour - what companies would be worth trying?
Does anyone know of a boat (kayak) trailer that might be for hire for 10 days in the NYmboida area - perhaps scouts or some other club?
and finally...
I anyone interested in having a chat about the trip to the Nymboida around easter - leaving Canberra saturday 27th March and returning on or around April 5 or 6. There may be scope for sharing the driving etc.. If anyone's interested give me a call on 6253 5386 or post a reply.
Cheers
Graham

[alex]

I have flown quite a few times with boats now, I have only flown virgin but qantas are apparently ok (despite saying maximum dimension is 140cm).  Jet * will not fly your boat.  My advice would be to stick with virgin blue.

You get 28 kg allowance when you fly with sporting goods.  With a boat and paddle this doesn't leave much for other gear.  Extra KGs are at $10 each.  If you want to get around the system, there are a few ways... Take lots of hand luggage, last time i took a suit bag with all my paddling gear in it as well as a decent sized hand luggage bag.  You can also fly with your pfd on to save a couple more kgs.  Stuffing gear back into your boat between check-in and moving your boat to the oversized baggage area is another good way of getting more gear on.

Personally I would just drive up, lots less trouble.

[Gregorious]

The River Canoe Club of NSW has a trip planned up to Nymboida over the Easter Weekend / week, if you get in touch with the club they are organizing transport and have done the trip several times including a couple of weekends ago. You can look up their contact details on line

www.rivercanoeclub.canoe.org.au/

[uwhnick]

I'd have thought that most flights to Coffs are likely to be on small planes that won't take stuff over 2m long (ie Dash 8s and the like).

[graham]

thanks for your replies so far - good advice all round -will be following up rivers canoe club today
Cheers
Graham

[fuzzy-hair-man]

Hey Graham,

I'm thinking of heading up to Armidale at Easter, I'm still unsure how much I will be paddling because I'm sort of up for a break but I'd be interested in going for a few days at least.

Driving to Armidale generally takes about 8 hrs, then Nymboida is probably an 1hr and 1/2 or so on from there. 

Last time we were up there we didn't need a 4wd but we were sponging of others around there to get into some places.  if it has been raining heaps then a 4wd might be required but we were there last Easter and it was pretty wet then and we were mostly OK. 

BTW great spot f there's water! you'll love it!