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Where we are

The North West Canoe Club (NWCC) is located in the city of Mount Isa in North West Queensland, Australia. This is outback country, being some 2000 kms from the state capital, Brisbane, and about 900 kms from the nearest coastal city of Townsville.

Mount Isa is a mining city which is also starting to discover tourism. It has always been a competitive sporting city, and the canoe club is no different.

For more info on the Mount Isa region, visit the web site www.mountisa.biz

The NWCC is arguably one of the most successful canoe clubs in Australia, being financially sound and with membership usually around the 60 mark. However it is not finances or numbers, but competition that makes this a top club, with members regularly competing in (and winning) State and National championships. Although 2000km from Brisbane and 1300km from Katherine in the NT you will always find a Mount Isa paddler there.

Being a little remote we certainly appreciate the paddlers who make the effort to come and see us, either at the dam or at the Gregory River.

You can always be sure of a warm welcome

Headquarters are the clubhouse at Transport Bay on the shores of Lake Moondarra, 18km from the centre of the city. The lake is the city's main water supply and there is over 90km of shoreline, with many secluded inlets and some top fishing (including barramundi) to keep you occupied.

Boat storage is available to members, but there are a few club boats, including K1's, TK1's and Canadians, available for loan to visitors. The clubhouse also  houses about 12 "polo bats", which are small, stable and very manoeuvrable canoes originally used for canoe polo but now mostly used by kids (or anybody else wanting a bit of fun).

Portable gas operated BBQ's and trestle tables are always on site, ready for use at a moments notice.

When to find us

Tuesdays - sprint training, commencing 5.30pm

Thursdays - club race, commencing 5.30pm - usually 10km

Sundays - club race, handicap/scratch - 10/15/20 km.
Start 8.00am in early Summer, 7.00 or 7.30am in Summer, 9.00am in Winter.

There are usually a few social paddlers around on these days as well as the keen ones.

What we do

The Gregory River Canoe Marathon has always been the high profile activity on the North West Canoe Club calendar, but there are many other less known aspects of the club.

While many of the members take their canoeing seriously and appear very competitive at the Gregory Race, many others are in the sport for fun, and simply enjoy the social aspects of the club.

A good example is the Gregory social paddle which is held in September each year (members only). The weekend consists of a nominated time race over a short section of the Gregory (so that even the slowest paddler has a chance to win the event),  followed by a day of fun activities and a night of fine dining on the banks of the river.
 

Marathon racing - while the Gregory River race is the main event for most club paddlers, any of the other marathon races in Australia are fair game, including Katherine and the Murray, as well as State and National titles.

Sprint racing - not as popular, but there is a regular group at Tuesday's training and usually a few starters for the State titles Social paddles - anytime, anywhere. Wilderness paddles - ditto, but usually one club organised event a year, generally in the Lawn Hill/Gregory River area of the Gulf Wild rivers and white water - wet season only. Definitely not for beginners.