Paddle boarding isn’t probably the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Marble Bar. In fact most people would assume that being Australia’s hottest town, there would be very little water about at all. We were really surprised to find a part of the Coongan River that stretched for a couple of kilometers that provided plenty of opportunities for paddle boarding.
The Main Points
- Location – Chinaman’s Pool, Marble Bar, Western Australia
- Cost – Free
- Conditions – Seasonal Freshwater Pool/River
- Other users – Occasional kayaks, canoes, swimmers, cows!
- Entry Point – Access rocky outcrop far end carpark
- Surrounding amenities/Bathrooms- Picnic facilities on site.
Location
Weather
Paddle Boarding the Coongan River at Marble Bar
The best time to go Paddle Boarding at or visit Marble Bar is in the dry season which is from the months of around May to September. This is the same time as the south of Australia is experiencing winter making it a good holiday for those wanting some sun! Early in the season there is more likely to still be some water from the wet season in the seasonal rivers and creeks which can dry up later in the dry season.
While the river was quite shallow in some areas, the shifting sands on the riverbed means that the depth is always changing and some of the pools could be quite deep. With the volume of water that can come through the area conditions can change from one season to the other.
We were really surprised at just how much there is to explore in the Marble Bar area. Originally we were planning on just staying a couple of days and then heading further north. However once we arrived we discovered the jasper fossicking area, the Secret WWII airstrip, the Skull Springs Road which is one of the more remote 4 Wheel Driving tracks in the country and some other places to paddle board that will have to wait until the next video!
watch our Adventure Video Paddle Boarding in Marble Bar here
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Wow, paddle boarding in Marble Bar sounds like such a unique and unexpected activity! It’s great to see that there are opportunities for water recreation in such a hot and arid environment. The shifting sands and changing depth of the river must make for an interesting paddle boarding experience. I appreciate the information on the best time to visit and the other attractions in the area. Thanks for sharing your adventure!