The FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Enquiries – How to Join, Are you the right club for me?

How would I go about joining your club?
Follow the information in the membership page. Then make sure you and your paddling gear are ready to go.
Can I try a club trip without joining?
Yes however you must sign up for a free 4 week trial membership so that you are covered by insurance - for more info visit the membership page
I’m keen to join one of your beginner kayak trips or a sea kayak trip. Where do I start?
We expect you to have done a basic skills course (Paddle Victoria (9020 2750) and Canoes Plus (1 800 052 925) provides basics skills training) or have a reasonable amount of flatwater paddling experience. If you fit this criteria, please make contact with the person co-ordinating the river trip to discuss your suitability as suitability will be determined based on river (including section), river levels/flows and experience.
I'm interested in joining your club. Do you have to be an experienced whitewater canoeist, which I'm not, to join?
No you don’t. We do expect you to have done a basic skills course though or have equivalent experience.
How do I hear about upcoming trips?
The Calendar on the club website is the first place to look. Most trips are reliant on water falling from the sky though so all members should join our Whitehorse Canoe Club email list. Upcoming trips are confirmed via the email group as well as any impromptu trips to take advantage of recent rain.

Do you have a club location and is there space to store kayaks?
No - we don’t have club rooms, ie we don’t rent rooms, own rooms etc. The club stores its own gear, shared around people’s homes and garages. Private gear is stored privately.
How often do you meet?
We are an informal club. As a club, we meet regularly for committee meetings, usually once every 2 months. General members don’t usually (while being very welcome!) attend these meetings. We meet off the water at our AGM which is held in August and is combined with dinner where all members are encouraged to attend and catch up. We do have the occasional social function and advertised these on the Whitehorse Canoe Club email list. The club primarily comes together on trips.
Do you rent out kayaks, paddles, etc. for those members that don't have their own?
The purpose of the club hire gear is to use on club trips as a learning aid and to tide you over briefly while you get your own gear. This helps you improve your skills, try some boats and get on the water etc. We also have limited safety gear items, eg cags, pdfs, helmets and a raft available. The hire gear is only available to club members who have up to date CV membership.

I’ve just moved to Melbourne, what sort of paddling do you have here?’
Our main paddling season is between June and October, however rainfall isn’t reliable, so it is a matter of when the rivers rise we go. The rivers we paddle are mainly grade 2/3, with the odd grade 4. Over Summer there are two dam release rivers which can be paddled. Surfing is available all year round.
Do you guys know of any play waves on rivers near Melbourne?
All the play waves close to Melbourne require heavy rainfall, which is fairly unusual. So if it happens, go for it.
Where are the best places to surf?
There are various surfing websites with information on surf conditions etc. For kayak surfing point breaks or reef breads are preferred rather than beach breaks. Popular spots are Point Leo and Flinders on the east coast. Cat Bay on Phillip Island is also good. As far as surfing spots along the west coast are concerned: 13th Beach, near Barwon Heads Jan Juc beach, near Torquay, need to dodge board riders and swimmers when busy Pt Roadknight, near Anglesea, there’s a Point Break and the Beach needs easterly swell and incoming tide for best conditions. Urquharts Bluff, Near Anglesea, there’s a Point Break, Shelf Break and Beach on an incoming tide.