Lake George

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tgladman
tgladman
WA
500 posts
WA, 500 posts
14 Nov 2012 5:26pm
Just heard on an old episode of dr Karl that this is a shallow canberran lake in a high wind area that is only around for part of the year? My question is, is this a kiting Mecca when its on? Have or do ppl kite there?
Mr float
Mr float
NSW
3452 posts
NSW, 3452 posts
14 Nov 2012 8:32pm
tgladman said...

Just heard on an old episode of dr Karl that this is a shallow canberran lake in a high wind area that is only around for part of the year? My question is, is this a kiting Mecca when its on? Have or do ppl kite there?


if you don't mind smashing into posts and barbed wire its great flatwater and shallow .There is water in it now after many years of no water .Aparrently there used to be a waterski club once when the water was there more regularly >i ahd a great buggy and mountainboard sesh there a few years back when it was dry
bennie
bennie
ACT
1258 posts
ACT, 1258 posts
14 Nov 2012 9:54pm
tgladman said...

Just heard on an old episode of dr Karl that this is a shallow canberran lake in a high wind area that is only around for part of the year? My question is, is this a kiting Mecca when its on? Have or do ppl kite there?


lake george is massive (up to 10k wide and 20k long when full)and has very consistant wind. There is a wind farm on its eastern shore. the problem is that it has been empty for the last decade or so. It is half full of water right now. I saw it a few weeks ago and I reckon it is kiteable. There is an issue of submerged fences and apparently quicksand like mud, also access is a problem as there are not many roads to the shore. There used to be a windsurfing club there in the 80's. I don't think its kitesurfing potential has been unlocked. If I was living in canberra I would definatly suss it out.
CheeseStick
CheeseStick
67 posts
67 posts
14 Nov 2012 7:04pm
I drive past it alot in winter.

It has water in it but its a fair walk to it.

no road access
Lambie
Lambie
QLD
742 posts
QLD, 742 posts
14 Nov 2012 9:12pm
Ive often driven past Lake George (mostly with little or no water in it but I am old enough to have sen it nealy full- thats weird!!!)

I'm pretty sure Kitesurfing didnt EXIST when Lake George was last a significant water body - thats even more weird!!

It could be an amazing kitesurfing location but I'm 100 % sure that local knowledge will be the key to unlocking this meca.

When the lake was down (every so decade!) the owners of the land made the most of the grazing opportuity by putting up fences - aka kiteboarding chip makers - ouch!!.

I'm not a local (so dont ask) but if you can find a local (I would if I lived in the area!) I reckon its a very kiteable location and has the bonus of grass launch and fresh water !!

Lambie
Lambie
QLD
742 posts
QLD, 742 posts
14 Nov 2012 9:22pm
Hey beannie
Just worked out that Lake George (re thread) and Lake Wellington ( my closest kite spot in Gippsland) are the same size - but thank god no fences in Lake Wellington !! - but its still only 9' deep Max and has an average depth of 7 feet so cuts up something seriously in a decent wind.

What would the depth of Lake George be when its half full ? / full ?? ( BTW we can kite 'surf' as in on the small waves of Lake Wellington when its honking ) - I reckon LG would be the same??

Oh and water depth on big shallow lakes like Lake George are affected by wind direction ....
bennie
bennie
ACT
1258 posts
ACT, 1258 posts
14 Nov 2012 10:37pm
I am not sure of the depth. I don't think it is very deep though only 1-2 meters at its deepest at a guess
Mr float
Mr float
NSW
3452 posts
NSW, 3452 posts
15 Nov 2012 1:15am
CheeseStick said...
I drive past it alot in winter.

It has water in it but its a fair walk to it.

no road access



When I buggied/landboarded there there was a road that led onto the dry lake that we used from the wayside stop at the bottom of the hill just off the dual highway (there is another pullover further up the hill with a viewing area ) Perhaps a Canberran kiter will stumble onto this . There is a guy on the snowkite forums that might be able to help .I'll PM him
Mr float
Mr float
NSW
3452 posts
NSW, 3452 posts
15 Nov 2012 1:16am
Mr float said...
CheeseStick said...
I drive past it alot in winter.

It has water in it but its a fair walk to it.

no road access



When I buggied/landboarded there there was a road that led onto the dry lake that we used from the wayside stop at the bottom of the hill just off the dual highway (there is another pullover further up the hill with a viewing area ) Perhaps a Canberran kiter will stumble onto this . There is a guy on the snowkite forums that might be able to help .I'll PM him



The snowkite section seems to have gone ??
jackfa
jackfa
WA
20 posts
WA, 20 posts
15 Nov 2012 5:53am
I don't think lake george will ever be on the cards for kiteboarding. There use to be a sailing club and even a fishing boat! Despite the submerged fences the place is unpredictable. Freak 40knt gusts role through and the chop is nasty. Also I've read and heard from people that it probably has the biggest tiger snake population in Australia.
NSW, 4382 posts
15 Nov 2012 9:12am
Mr float said...
Mr float said...
CheeseStick said...
I drive past it alot in winter.

It has water in it but its a fair walk to it.

no road access



When I buggied/landboarded there there was a road that led onto the dry lake that we used from the wayside stop at the bottom of the hill just off the dual highway (there is another pullover further up the hill with a viewing area ) Perhaps a Canberran kiter will stumble onto this . There is a guy on the snowkite forums that might be able to help .I'll PM him



The snowkite section seems to have gone ??


Its summer now, the snow has melted Lach!

I've buggied on Lake George a few times, and it was overrated for that kiting activity for sure. The big issue for kiters will be the fences and the mud, as well as access. When we buggied there we had to access the best buggy are through a farmers land. There was a key for a lock hidden nearby or something.
I know a couple of people were lofted there and were hurt when they fell back to the ground, it does get big gusts, and is generally a very gusty location, another reason I did not like it for buggying.
Some of the best south coast spots are only a couple of hours away on the coast, why bother with freezing cold stinky brown water and mud?
Maxiy
Maxiy
ACT
96 posts
ACT, 96 posts
16 Nov 2012 10:10am
There is a road just out of Bungendore called Lake road, Takes you right in close to the back of the lake (where the water is) I think there is a short walk to get to the shore. I Live in Canberra and have considered it, Used to go landboarding on it when it was dry and there is a fair bit of **** out there as far as fences and wire goes (not sure about the far side of the lake though as i went closer to the highway) One thing i would be concerned about would be the mud. i have herd reports of people drowning because they sink in the mud and are unable to get out, (rumors, never seen any hard evidence) and when i used to kite there when it was dry, if there was any sign of even the slightest bit of rain we would high tail it out of there cause when it started to rain the lake bed would very quickly turn from very fine sedimentary dust to very thick heavy (knee deep in spots) mud.

If i ever get the balls to go out there i shall write a review (if i survive hahahahaha)

Regards
ceej
ceej
QLD
30 posts
QLD, 30 posts
17 Nov 2012 3:11am
CheeseStick said...
I drive past it alot in winter.

It has water in it but its a fair walk to it.

no road access


That mud, i landed on next to the highway in a Hang glider. I sank to my knees.
A 1 min walk took over an hour. My skin now looks radiant from the knees down
finklaire
finklaire
ACT
2 posts
ACT, 2 posts
23 Nov 2012 10:27pm
Drove past lake George today and stopped at the rest stop down by the lake of federal highway. Have not used a kite there at all but was checking it for buggying as I heard they used to use the lake bed when dry. Despite water on the far side (Bungendore by the wind farm) it was rock hard by the rest area with short grass. Thought I might try it sometime soon with a buggy. Also might look at the far side to see if you could launch a kite and try boarding. Will look out for nasty fences!
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