The Murray River in Western Australia is a different river from the Murray that divides Victoria and New South Wales. This one runs out of the jarrah forests of the Darling Range south-east of Perth, down through Pinjarra and Ravenswood on the coastal plain, and empties into the Peel Inlet, part of the Peel-Harvey estuary behind Mandurah.
It is short, easy to reach from Perth and the south-west, and changes character sharply between the forest, the town reaches and the estuary.
Forest river, coastal river
Upstream of the coastal plain the Murray runs through jarrah forest, including Lane Poole Reserve near Dwellingup. In winter and spring flows that section has rapids and fast water, and it is popular with whitewater paddlers. It is not a gentle float at those levels.
Out on the plain the gradient eases. Through Pinjarra the river is a pleasant, tree-lined stream with parkland on its banks and a pedestrian suspension bridge across it.
The lower river at Ravenswood
Below Pinjarra the Murray widens into a deep, slow, tidal river through Ravenswood and the canal estates towards the inlet. Paperbarks lean over the water, and jetties, moorings and riverside homes line long stretches of bank.
This is the most paddleable part of the river for a packraft. The water is sheltered, the current is gentle, and you can explore upstream and ride back down.
It is also shared water. Powered craft, houseboats and water skiers use the lower river. Keep to the edges, stay visible, and give way early.
The Peel Inlet
The Murray delivers into the Peel Inlet, a large, shallow body of water that joins the Harvey Estuary and opens to the sea at Mandurah. The Peel-Yalgorup wetland system is internationally recognised for its waterbirds.
The inlet is exposed. Afternoon sea breezes blow across wide, shallow water and build chop fast. Stay near the shore, paddle it in the morning, and do not attempt a crossing in wind.
Hazards
Fallen timber and snags gather in the forest and town reaches, especially after winter flows. In the forest, winter rapids demand whitewater skills and equipment.
On the estuary, wind and powered craft are the main risks. Algal blooms have occurred in the Peel-Harvey system. Avoid contact with discoloured water.
Levels and timing
Winter rain drives the forest river. On the coastal plain and estuary, the river is paddleable year round, and tide and wind matter more than flow. Summer mornings are usually the calmest.
Practical notes
The Shire of Murray and the City of Mandurah manage many of the parks and reserves along the river and inlet. Lane Poole Reserve is managed by DBCA. The Department of Transport sets boating rules, including speed limits and ski areas, on the lower river and estuary. Check current rules before you go.
Wear a buoyancy vest, tell someone your plan, and set a time to call when you are off the water.
Where a Seeka fits
The Pinjarra town reach and the sheltered lower river through Ravenswood are Seeka water. Launch from a park, paddle upstream in the shade of the paperbarks, and drift back. The forest rapids in winter, and the open inlet in a sea breeze, are not.