News & Events

December 2010 Gardiners Creek

As I rode home along the Gardiners Creek bike track after a heavy downpour I was mesmerised by the creek.   It was pumping and there were numerous weirs creating big stoppers and great wavers.   I had to give this a go.

The following week widespread heavy rains were forecast.   Here was my chance.   Anthony was keen to give it a go as well so we organised to meet after work.

During the day the rain started falling and then it started pouring.   I was glued to the rain radar and the gauge at Gardiner on the Melbourne Water site.   I watched as the creek rose from 0.18 to 1.7 metres.   I also watched as it then started dropping.

By the time Anthony and I met at the get out at Great Valley Road (Glen Iris) the gauge on the creek was showing 0.7.   We quickly got ready and drove to the get in at Warrigal Road, Malvern East.

After climbing under a temporary fence around some building works on the bridge at the get in we were away.   Black Ducks paddled down the brown water and waterfalls cascaded, (O.K. drains) into the creek.   As we entered the Malvern Valley Golf Course we came to several weirs and found a fun wave to surf.

As we paddled the rain started falling.   We took our time knowing that every minute more water was flowing into the creek.   It was rising again.

Alison hogging the wave

By the time we reached High Street, Glen Iris, the weir near the bridge was pumping and had a nasty large creek wide stopper at the bottom.   I went for some speed and attempted to miss the worst of the stopper.   Unfortunately the stopper stopped me good and proper and then surfed me sideways to the very end of the stopper, when I managed to escape.   Anthony went for speed and right angles to the stopper and got away without any problem.

There were lots of weirs and lots of good stoppers, some a bit sticky and others creating great surf waves.  One weir near the end formed a fantastic wave.   One of the best I’ve seen for a long time and here it was, right in the middle of Melbourne.   Anthony and I surfed our hearts out.   We weren’t always in full control and there were a couple of rolls and several support stokes but we had great fun.

You go first

It was then only a short distance to the get out at Great Valley Road.   The gauge at the get out was not showing 1.58!   The creek had risen nearly a metre while we’d been paddling.

Not a bad way to spend an evening after work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvTvCFn31ro

Alison