Avon Descent
Every August, hundreds of paddlers and power dinghy racers take on the Avon River in one of Western Australia's most famous sporting events, and Toodyay is part of the story. The race runs over two days and 124km from Northam to Bayswater, and on the first day the boats come through Toodyay on their way to the overnight camp at Cobbler Pool, West Toodyay.
It is free to watch from the public viewing spots, it is held in the depths of winter, and it has been running since 1973. This page covers everything you need to know: what happens on the day and where to watch it around Toodyay, the history of the race, why it matters to the Avon Valley, and practical tips for planning your visit.
It is free to watch from the public viewing spots, it is held in the depths of winter, and it has been running since 1973. This page covers everything you need to know: what happens on the day and where to watch it around Toodyay, the history of the race, why it matters to the Avon Valley, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Avon Descent at a Glance
Here are the key details for planning your visit.
When: The second Saturday and Sunday in August. The 2027 race is expected to be on 14 and 15 August, so check the official website to confirm.
Time: On Day 1 the power dinghies start at 8am, with the paddle craft following from about 9.15am. On Day 2 the paddlers leave Cobbler Pool at 7am and the power dinghies at about midday.
Where: The Avon River from Northam to Bayswater. In Toodyay, watch from Duidgee Park and Newcastle Bridge, or at West Toodyay, Wetherall Reserve and Cobbler Pool.
Distance: 124km in total, with about 52km on Day 1 (Northam to Cobbler Pool) and 72km on Day 2 (Cobbler Pool to Bayswater)
Cost: Free to watch from public viewing spots. Parking fees apply at some sites, including Cobbler Pool, and a pass is needed to camp there.
Dogs: Not allowed at the Cobbler Pool campsite. Check local rules at other viewing spots.
Dogs: Not allowed at the Cobbler Pool campsite. Check local rules at other viewing spots.
Getting there: About an hour from Perth by car
Organiser: Northam's Avon Descent Association, run largely by volunteers
Official website: avondescent.com.au
What Happens on the Day
The Avon Descent is a whole weekend of racing, and Toodyay's moment comes on the Saturday, from early morning and into the afternoon. These highlights are based on the 2026 event. Start times and spectator arrangements change each year, so check the official spectator guide closer to the date.
The Day 1 Start
Day 1 normally begins in Northam, where the power dinghies are first away at 8am, followed by the paddle craft. In 2026 the start line was moved to Katrine Bridge, with the dinghies leaving at 8am and the paddlers at 9.15am, so check the official updates before you travel.
The Race Through Toodyay
Toodyay is about 32km into Day 1. Upstream, the field has to get past Extracts Weir, a 3m rock weir that many competitors carry their craft around, and then the river brings them to Newcastle Bridge at Duidgee Park. A race checkpoint is set up beneath the bridge, with an information board showing race updates.
From there the craft pass under the railway bridge and reach Toodyay Rapid, a small drop among granite boulders, before the river turns wide and shallow on its way to West Toodyay Bridge.
From there the craft pass under the railway bridge and reach Toodyay Rapid, a small drop among granite boulders, before the river turns wide and shallow on its way to West Toodyay Bridge.
The Power Dinghies
The power dinghies are the stars of the show. These are two-person, flat-bottomed craft with 10hp motors, built for this race and capable of speeds up to 70km/h.
They leave first on Day 1 and are the first boats through Toodyay, so be at the river early. The 2026 spectator guide estimated that the first power dinghies would pass Extracts Weir at about 8.30am to 8.40am and reach Cobbler Pool between about 9.15am and 9.45am, depending on the river level. Toodyay sits between the two.
They leave first on Day 1 and are the first boats through Toodyay, so be at the river early. The 2026 spectator guide estimated that the first power dinghies would pass Extracts Weir at about 8.30am to 8.40am and reach Cobbler Pool between about 9.15am and 9.45am, depending on the river level. Toodyay sits between the two.
The Paddle Craft
The paddlers follow in kayaks, skis, canoes and stand up paddleboards, racing as singles, doubles or relay teams. Skis are the most popular craft.
The same guide estimated the first paddlers at Extracts Weir between about 11.20am and 11.50am, and at Cobbler Pool between about 12.45pm and 1.30pm. The field is spread out, so boats keep coming through well after the leaders.
The same guide estimated the first paddlers at Extracts Weir between about 11.20am and 11.50am, and at Cobbler Pool between about 12.45pm and 1.30pm. The field is spread out, so boats keep coming through well after the leaders.
The Avon Descent Breakfast at Duidgee Park
In 2026 the Toodyay Lions Club, with Toodyay Locals Care and the Avon Valley Shotokan karate club, ran an Avon Descent breakfast in Duidgee Park from 7.30am. There was a coffee van, scones and a hot breakfast, which is exactly what you want on a cold morning while you wait for the boats.
The organisers have said they are considering a bigger event in the future, but nothing has been confirmed, so check the Toodyay Lions Club closer to the date.
The organisers have said they are considering a bigger event in the future, but nothing has been confirmed, so check the Toodyay Lions Club closer to the date.
Cobbler Pool: Day 1 Finish and Day 2 Start
Day 1 ends at Cobbler Pool in West Toodyay, where competitors and their support crews camp overnight. Before they get there, the paddlers have to find their way through the thick ti tree section known as Deepdale or the Drainpipes, past Albys Ford and Leatherhead Rapid. The finish line is just after the rapid.
Power dinghies can start arriving from about 8.45am and paddlers from about 11.45am, depending on the start time and river level. The campsite is managed by the Shire of Toodyay, access for spectators is restricted, and there is a fee to park. Food vendors may be on site on Saturday afternoon, and no dogs or other pets are allowed.
On Day 2, the paddlers leave Cobbler Pool at 7am and the power dinghies at about midday.
Power dinghies can start arriving from about 8.45am and paddlers from about 11.45am, depending on the start time and river level. The campsite is managed by the Shire of Toodyay, access for spectators is restricted, and there is a fee to park. Food vendors may be on site on Saturday afternoon, and no dogs or other pets are allowed.
On Day 2, the paddlers leave Cobbler Pool at 7am and the power dinghies at about midday.
Day 2: Emu Falls and Beyond
On Sunday the river gets serious. The first 8km includes the worst of the ti trees, Posselts Ford, the Super Shoot and Donegan's Crossing, before the main drop at Emu Falls, where the water funnels into a single gap at a spot competitors call the Washing Machine.
Emu Falls can only be reached on foot, from the Emu Falls Airstrip car park. From there the race heads through Walyunga National Park, past Championship Rapid and Syd's Rapid to Bells Rapids, and finally down the Swan River to the finish line at Riverside Gardens, Bayswater.
Emu Falls can only be reached on foot, from the Emu Falls Airstrip car park. From there the race heads through Walyunga National Park, past Championship Rapid and Syd's Rapid to Bells Rapids, and finally down the Swan River to the finish line at Riverside Gardens, Bayswater.
Where to Watch Around Toodyay
Part of the course runs through private land, and the event only goes ahead because landowners give permission. Please only watch from public places, and use the official spectator guide to plan your day. Standing or stopping on any bridge is not permitted during the event, and the public is not allowed on the water or along the course.
Duidgee Park and Newcastle Bridge
This is the easiest place to watch in town. There is plenty of parking around Duidgee Park, the checkpoint and information board are here, and you can see the boats come down the river and under the bridge. Watch from the riverbank, not the bridge.
West Toodyay
Watch the boats go past West Toodyay Bridge on Julimar Road. Please do not park on the bridge itself, as there is only limited parking on the Toodyay side.
Wetherall Reserve
Wetherall Reserve is the only public access to the ti tree section on Day 1. Follow Julimar Road and then River Road, a gravel road, for about 1.5km. All the land down river of the reserve, until Cobbler Pool Road, is private property and strictly off limits, and it includes sensitive biological control areas.
Cobbler Pool
Cobbler Pool is the Day 1 finish and the Day 2 start. Access is restricted during the event and there is a fee to park, so check the official website for the current arrangements.
Emu Falls on Day 2
A good spot to see the Day 2 action, with walking access only from the Emu Falls Airstrip car park. Take extra care at the railway crossing on the way, because the trains keep running on race weekend.
Places You Can't Go
The Valley Road is closed to the public because of the train traffic, and Glen Avon Rapid and Stronghills Farm are on private land. Please stay away from them.
The History of the Avon Descent
The Avon Descent began with a question: could anyone race all the way down the river?
In 1972 the Northam Tourist Committee looked at the idea of a powerboat and canoe race from Northam to Perth along the Avon River, and four men completed a test run to prove it could be done.
The first Avon Descent was held on 21 and 22 July 1973 with 49 competitors. There were no rules, no officials and no checkpoints, and very few spectators. Since then more than 35,000 people have taken part, from novices and families to world champions and Olympians, and it has grown into the State's longest-running white-water event.
The race has kept changing. Stand up paddleboarders joined the field in 2017, and in 2022 a 13km flat-water course called the Bond to Bayswater Belter was added for surf boats, dragon boats, outriggers and paddleboards. It has only been cancelled once, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 50th Avon Descent was held in 2023, and two of the original 1973 competitors, Charlie Elliott and Doug Lacklison, raced again to mark the occasion. In 2012 the organisers also created the Avon Descent Legends, an honour for the people who helped build the event.
In 1972 the Northam Tourist Committee looked at the idea of a powerboat and canoe race from Northam to Perth along the Avon River, and four men completed a test run to prove it could be done.
The first Avon Descent was held on 21 and 22 July 1973 with 49 competitors. There were no rules, no officials and no checkpoints, and very few spectators. Since then more than 35,000 people have taken part, from novices and families to world champions and Olympians, and it has grown into the State's longest-running white-water event.
The race has kept changing. Stand up paddleboarders joined the field in 2017, and in 2022 a 13km flat-water course called the Bond to Bayswater Belter was added for surf boats, dragon boats, outriggers and paddleboards. It has only been cancelled once, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 50th Avon Descent was held in 2023, and two of the original 1973 competitors, Charlie Elliott and Doug Lacklison, raced again to mark the occasion. In 2012 the organisers also created the Avon Descent Legends, an honour for the people who helped build the event.
Avon Descent Milestones
1972: Northam Tourist Committee investigates a race, and four men complete a test run
1973: First Avon Descent on 21 and 22 July, with 49 competitors
2005: Toodyay International Food Festival begins, and later runs alongside the race
2012: 40th anniversary, and the Avon Descent Legends are created
2017: Stand up paddleboarders join the race
2020: Race cancelled because of the pandemic
2022: Bond to Bayswater Belter flat-water course added
2023: 50th Avon Descent
2024: Last Toodyay International Food Festival, held on Saturday 10 August
2026: Avon Descent Breakfast at Duidgee Park, and the Day 1 start moved to Katrine Bridge
2027: Expected on 14 and 15 August
Why the Avon Descent Matters
On the surface it's a boat race. Underneath, it tells some of the bigger stories of the Avon Valley.
Toodyay's Place on the Course
Toodyay is where the first day ends and the second begins. The overnight camp at Cobbler Pool brings competitors, support crews and families to the edge of town, and for many power boaters it is one of the highlights of the racing year.
The race also puts the Avon River on show. It starts at Northam Pool, the only permanent stretch of natural inland water along the Great Eastern Highway between Perth and Adelaide, and at Walyunga National Park the Avon becomes the Swan River. About 60 percent of the Swan's flow comes from the Avon.
The race also puts the Avon River on show. It starts at Northam Pool, the only permanent stretch of natural inland water along the Great Eastern Highway between Perth and Adelaide, and at Walyunga National Park the Avon becomes the Swan River. About 60 percent of the Swan's flow comes from the Avon.
A Weekend for the Whole Valley
The race is surrounded by free community festivals at Northam, Toodyay, Swan and Bayswater. In 2024, four of them were expected to draw up to 28,000 people over the weekend.
Toodyay hosted the International Food Festival on the Saturday from 2005 until 2024, and many locals remember bringing family and friends to enjoy it before watching the boats come through. The 2026 breakfast in Duidgee Park was a small step towards bringing a festival back to the weekend.
Toodyay hosted the International Food Festival on the Saturday from 2005 until 2024, and many locals remember bringing family and friends to enjoy it before watching the boats come through. The 2026 breakfast in Duidgee Park was a small step towards bringing a festival back to the weekend.
Powered by Volunteers
The Avon Descent is run by Northam's Avon Descent Association and depends on volunteers. Over its history it has involved thousands of them, including the Avon Descent Support Unit, and it raises money for local volunteer groups in the communities along the river.
A River That Changes Everything
No two Avon Descents are the same. High water makes the boats faster, and low water means more carrying craft across rocks, so the organisers have contingency plans for both. Fog can delay the start by 30 minutes or more, which changes the times for the rest of the day. This is why the official arrival times are only a guide.
Country and Context
Toodyay sits on Ballardong Noongar country. In Noongar, bilya means river, and you will see the word on the Bilya Walk Track in Toodyay and at the Bilya Festival in Northam. The Swan River at the finish is Derbarl Yerrigan. Please treat the riverbanks and reserves along the course with respect.
Plan Your Visit
Everything you need to get to Toodyay, dress for the day and make the most of it.
Getting There
By car, Toodyay is about an hour from Perth along Toodyay Road, and Northam is a short drive further east. Parking is limited at some viewing spots, so follow the signs and the traffic controllers, and don't park on bridges or road verges.
What to Wear and Bring
August is winter in the Avon Valley, and the mornings by the river are cold. Bring warm layers, a beanie, a waterproof jacket and a thermos, plus a camera or binoculars. Wear sturdy shoes, because some access roads, including River Road, are gravel.
Making the Most of the Day
Arrive early, because the power dinghies are first through. Duidgee Park is the easiest place to watch, and a hot drink and breakfast make the wait more enjoyable.
The Avon Tracker app is available for iPhone and Android and lets spectators follow chosen race numbers on a map, with notifications when competitors reach checkpoints. The official spectator guide has estimated arrival times, which change with the river level.
The Avon Tracker app is available for iPhone and Android and lets spectators follow chosen race numbers on a map, with notifications when competitors reach checkpoints. The official spectator guide has estimated arrival times, which change with the river level.
Eat, Drink and Stay
The pubs, cafes and bakeries on Stirling Terrace are the places to warm up after the boats have passed. See Where to Eat and Drink in Toodyay. If you want to stay for the weekend, book early and see Toodyay Accommodation.
Make a Weekend of It
The festivals around the race give you plenty to do. In 2026 the weekend began with the Northam Bilya Festival on Friday evening at Bernard Park, followed by the Toodyay breakfast and the Day 1 racing on Saturday. On Sunday the City of Swan festival at Lilac Hill Park and the Bayswater Finish Line Festival at Riverside Gardens, from 11am to 5pm, welcomed the finishers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Avon Descent?
On the second Saturday and Sunday in August each year. In 2026 it was held on 8 and 9 August, and the 2027 race is expected on 14 and 15 August. Check the official website to confirm.
On the second Saturday and Sunday in August each year. In 2026 it was held on 8 and 9 August, and the 2027 race is expected on 14 and 15 August. Check the official website to confirm.
Is it free to watch?
Yes, you can watch for free from public viewing spots. Parking fees apply at some places, including Cobbler Pool.
Yes, you can watch for free from public viewing spots. Parking fees apply at some places, including Cobbler Pool.
Where is the best place to watch in Toodyay?
Duidgee Park by Newcastle Bridge is the easiest, with parking, a race checkpoint and an information board. Other options are West Toodyay Bridge, Wetherall Reserve and, on Day 2, Emu Falls.
What time do the boats come through?
It depends on the start time and river level. In 2026 the first power dinghies were expected at Cobbler Pool between about 9.15am and 9.45am, and the first paddlers between about 12.45pm and 1.30pm. Check the arrival times in the official spectator guide.
It depends on the start time and river level. In 2026 the first power dinghies were expected at Cobbler Pool between about 9.15am and 9.45am, and the first paddlers between about 12.45pm and 1.30pm. Check the arrival times in the official spectator guide.
Can I stand on Newcastle Bridge to watch?
No. Stopping or standing on any bridge is not permitted during the event.
No. Stopping or standing on any bridge is not permitted during the event.
Can I camp at Cobbler Pool?
The Cobbler Pool campsite is mainly for participants and support crews. A pass is needed to camp, spectator access is restricted and there is a fee to park. Check the official website for current prices and rules.
The Cobbler Pool campsite is mainly for participants and support crews. A pass is needed to camp, spectator access is restricted and there is a fee to park. Check the official website for current prices and rules.
Can I bring my dog?
Not to the Cobbler Pool campsite, where no dogs or pets are allowed. Check local rules at other viewing spots.
Not to the Cobbler Pool campsite, where no dogs or pets are allowed. Check local rules at other viewing spots.
Is there a festival in Toodyay?
The Toodyay International Food Festival ran on the Saturday from 2005 to 2024 but has finished. In 2026 the Toodyay Lions Club held a breakfast in Duidgee Park, and a bigger event may follow, but nothing has been confirmed.
The Toodyay International Food Festival ran on the Saturday from 2005 to 2024 but has finished. In 2026 the Toodyay Lions Club held a breakfast in Duidgee Park, and a bigger event may follow, but nothing has been confirmed.
Can I take part?
Yes. The full 124km course is for competitors who have completed paddle competency training, and shorter courses are offered each year for people who want to take part without the rapids and overnight camping. See the official website for the current options.
Yes. The full 124km course is for competitors who have completed paddle competency training, and shorter courses are offered each year for people who want to take part without the rapids and overnight camping. See the official website for the current options.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, it's a great family outing, but please keep children well back from the river and stay out of private property.
Yes, it's a great family outing, but please keep children well back from the river and stay out of private property.
Where can I find the latest information?
Visit the official Avon Descent website for the spectator guide, arrival times and updates.
Visit the official Avon Descent website for the spectator guide, arrival times and updates.
Travel Tip - Make a weekend of it. Join the Toodyay Historic Walking Tour, visit Connor's Mill and the Newcastle Gaol Museum, and walk the Bilya Walk Track along the Avon River, the same river the racers have just come down. See the Toodyay Getaway Guide to plan your trip.
Planning more trips? See what else is on at Toodyay Events.
Planning more trips? See what else is on at Toodyay Events.