Summer flooding makes 10-year Darling River dream a reality for kayakers

At a campground on the banks of the Darling River, the sun rises as 23 paddlers prepare to pack their tents into kayaks, and push off downstream.

They are halfway through a 10-day journey along one of the world's biggest river systems, an adventure that will take them 205 kilometres from Bourke to Louth in western New South Wales, through Gurnu-Baakandji country.

The trip has been 10 years in the making and is only possible because of flooding upstream in Queensland.

«We have been so, so lucky,» paddler Ken Jeffreys says.

«We're drifting down the river at about the rate of 7kph, [there's] hardly a paddle in the water, all we have to do is steer the boat and down we go.»

«We've not had to carry the boats around any rock obstacles, the water's taking us where we want to go, there's no mud on the banks because the river's rising, there's no mosquitoes or midges or flies; it's probably the dream run.»

The Darling River flows almost 1,500km through western New South Wales, stretching from between Brewarrina and Bourke in the state's north, to Wentworth on the Victorian border, where it joins with the Murray River.

Its tributaries flow from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, were there has been major flooding since late 2021.

Floodwaters moving downstream into the Darling have made this adventure possible for the group from the Suncoast Seniors Recreational Kayaking Club, with an average age of 71.

Their journey began with a 1,000km drive from Queensland's Sunshine Coast to Bourke, with sea kayaks and camping gear as well as enough food and water for 10 days on the river.

The group, ranging in age from 59 to 82, set off down the river at a ripping pace, covering 96km in the first four days.

Their loyal support crew