Tobins River

Tobins River Canyoneering Canyoning Caving

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‌	Difficulty:‌4C III (v4a3 III) Swift water Raps:‌7, max ↨180ft Metric Overall: 6-9h Approach: 1-2h Descent: 2-3h Exit: 3-4h No Red Tape:‌No permit required Shuttle:‌None Vehicle:Passenger
Start:	-31.3569, 152.1024
Parking:	-31.3592, 152.0877
Condition Reports:	1 Jan 2026 "70ML/d on Upper Hastings River Guage https://waterinsights.waternsw.com.au/18156-upper-hastings-river/river-data#207015
Weather:
Best season:	Anytime (avg for this region) winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	Pacific Australia New South Wales  Northern NSW Port Macquarie Hastings

https://www.facebook.com/groups/australiancanyoners/permalink/1192880811438938

-31.3569, 152.1024-31.3592, 152.0877https://ropewiki.com/images/8/88/Tobins_River.kmlwtopo

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Reference photos

1 Jan 2026: Low. Not as fun, but should be safe even for beginners (class B/C = a3).

These reference pictures are used in the Waterflow analysis to predict current conditions. More reference pictures will produce a more reliable prediction.

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Introduction

This aquatic canyon has many pools to rap into as well as slides & jumps in Gondwana rainkforest.

Approach

Turn off Oxley HWY onto Tobins Rd. Park at unused firetrail before the Tobin's River where you will leave your car to start the descent.

Head east along unussed fire trail (progress is overgrown & slow) for 1.85km to right hand bend where you begin the walk down the spur to the Tobins River canyon start.

Descent

Get changed into wetsuits at river

Tobins River

Rap	M	L/R	Description
			Easy but slippery creek walking until the drops begin
R1	15	CR	x bolt Into pool. Rock scramble across pool to R2 CL
R2	15	CL	X bolt. Down climb CR
R3	5	CL.	x bolt into flow
R4	5	CL	x bolt Into pool
R5	10	CL	x bolt into pool then down climb CL not long after beside flow under rocks CR
R6	5m	CR	Into flow then down climb 12m slab CL not long after
R7	55	CM	xx bolts are on big rock - Rap from trees canyon left in high flow
			Creek walking section which includes multiple small slides and a few small jumps

Exit

Exit up spur river right opposite the second creek on river left to disussed fire trail & head west back to Tobins Road where you left the car. The road access is overgrown & progress is slow.

Trip Reports and Media

First Descent on 15th Oct, 2022: 490ML/day on Mt Seaview Gauge. Link to Facebook Post with photos.

1st Jan, 2026:42ML/day.

Incidents

Credits

Tobins River

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

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