By Nicola Conville
Be it a leisurely lake paddle or an ocean challenge, there are plenty of ways to enjoy paddling our waterways.
Kayaking is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy. It's a low-impact sport that helps improve cardiovascular fitness and increases muscle strength.
Depending on whether you want to cruise along a lake shore or ride ocean surf, it can also be meditative or exhilarating. Here's our pick of some of the best kayak tours the state has to offer.
Depending on whether you want to cruise along a lake shore or ride ocean surf, it can also be meditative or exhilarating. Here's our pick of some of the best kayak tours the state has to offer.
SYDNEY AND SURROUND
Sydney Harbour Kayaks, Middle Harbour
The team at Sydney Harbour Kayaks has been operating for more than 20 years and offers a range of kayak tours. The Middle Harbour Eco Tour takes paddlers through the urban landscape to the remote natural bushland of the Garigal National Park and includes morning tea. There's also the Balmoral Coffee Tour which is geared towards corporate groups. Other tours include a photo challenge, a search for a lost submarine and a team-building exercise.
Cost: From $79 per person.
Contact: (02) 9960 4389, www.sydneyharbourkayaks.com.au
Manly Kayaks
This operator runs from two locations in Manly, at the west esplanade and Manly Wharf. The three-hour Manly Kayak Tour takes in some spectacular look-out points and a visit to isolated swimming beaches - it also includes a light picnic lunch. Manly Kayaks also offers fitness and yoga classes and Sunday Sessions, a two-hour paddling adventure that costs just $25.
Cost: From $89 per person.
Contact: 1300 529 257, www.manlykayaks.com.au
Bundeena Kayaks, royal national park
Bundeena Kayaks offers a Royal Kayak Eco-Tour which takes in bays, beaches and bushland and is good family fun, as well as a Bundeena to Audley Eco-Adventure. The Paddle and Hike is a full-day tour which includes a three-hour kayak trip through the bays of the Port Hacking River, followed by lunch and a three-hour guided walk on Jibbon Headland.
Cost: From $99 for adults and $55 for children.
Contact: www.bundeenakayaks.com.au
The team at Sydney Harbour Kayaks has been operating for more than 20 years and offers a range of kayak tours. The Middle Harbour Eco Tour takes paddlers through the urban landscape to the remote natural bushland of the Garigal National Park and includes morning tea. There's also the Balmoral Coffee Tour which is geared towards corporate groups. Other tours include a photo challenge, a search for a lost submarine and a team-building exercise.
Cost: From $79 per person.
Contact: (02) 9960 4389, www.sydneyharbourkayaks.com.au
Manly Kayaks
This operator runs from two locations in Manly, at the west esplanade and Manly Wharf. The three-hour Manly Kayak Tour takes in some spectacular look-out points and a visit to isolated swimming beaches - it also includes a light picnic lunch. Manly Kayaks also offers fitness and yoga classes and Sunday Sessions, a two-hour paddling adventure that costs just $25.
Cost: From $89 per person.
Contact: 1300 529 257, www.manlykayaks.com.au
Bundeena Kayaks, royal national park
Bundeena Kayaks offers a Royal Kayak Eco-Tour which takes in bays, beaches and bushland and is good family fun, as well as a Bundeena to Audley Eco-Adventure. The Paddle and Hike is a full-day tour which includes a three-hour kayak trip through the bays of the Port Hacking River, followed by lunch and a three-hour guided walk on Jibbon Headland.
Cost: From $99 for adults and $55 for children.
Contact: www.bundeenakayaks.com.au
SOUTH COAST
Mimosa Blue, Mimosa Rocks National Park
Mimosa Blue offers a range of sea kayaking tours, from the Marine Discovery Tour, where you can float through the waterways and admire the white-bellied sea eagles circling above, to the Oysters & Wine Tour, where you can dip your paddle into Wapengo Lake and visit the Buckley's oyster sheds for fresh rock oysters and a glass of bubbles.
Cost: From $50 per person.
Contact: (02) 6494 0051, www.mimosablue.com
Coastlife Adventures, Merimbula and Pambula
Coastlife Adventures runs two-hour guided kayaking tours around Merimbula and Pambula Beach. Enjoy checking out the local marine life, which includes dolphins, seals and whales in season, then try a spot of snorkelling and catch some small spilling waves on Merimbula's Bar Beach.
Cost: From $50 per person, kids half price (conditions apply).
Contact: 1300 762 993, www.coastlife.com.au
Mimosa Blue offers a range of sea kayaking tours, from the Marine Discovery Tour, where you can float through the waterways and admire the white-bellied sea eagles circling above, to the Oysters & Wine Tour, where you can dip your paddle into Wapengo Lake and visit the Buckley's oyster sheds for fresh rock oysters and a glass of bubbles.
Cost: From $50 per person.
Contact: (02) 6494 0051, www.mimosablue.com
Coastlife Adventures, Merimbula and Pambula
Coastlife Adventures runs two-hour guided kayaking tours around Merimbula and Pambula Beach. Enjoy checking out the local marine life, which includes dolphins, seals and whales in season, then try a spot of snorkelling and catch some small spilling waves on Merimbula's Bar Beach.
Cost: From $50 per person, kids half price (conditions apply).
Contact: 1300 762 993, www.coastlife.com.au
NORTH COAST
Lazy Paddles, Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest
Explore the beautiful Myall waterways on a leisurely, guided two-hour kayak tour. Lazy Paddles' tours focus on the ecology and history of the area and have hosted participants from 18 months to 83 years old. While the tour doesn't cover a great distance, it's ideal if you just want to have fun and explore lovely scenery.
Cost: $50 for adults and $35 for children.
Contact: 0412 832 220, www.lazypaddles.com.au
Explore the beautiful Myall waterways on a leisurely, guided two-hour kayak tour. Lazy Paddles' tours focus on the ecology and history of the area and have hosted participants from 18 months to 83 years old. While the tour doesn't cover a great distance, it's ideal if you just want to have fun and explore lovely scenery.
Cost: $50 for adults and $35 for children.
Contact: 0412 832 220, www.lazypaddles.com.au
NEWCASTLE
Kayak Tours
Whether you're a seasoned paddler or a first-timer, Newcastle Kayak Tours has a trip to suit everyone, from the popular, leisurely two-hour Blue Tour to the fast-paced and exciting 45-minute Red Tour. You can also book in for a half-day skills course to build on your technique and expand your kayaking experience. Sunrise and sunset tours are also available.
Cost: From $30 for adults and $25 for kids.
Contact: www.newcastlekayaktours.com.au
Cape Byron Kayaks, Byron Bay
Enjoy paddling your sea kayak out through the surf and get up close with friendly and inquisitive bottlenose dolphins on this three-hour tour. The trip starts at Clark's Beach and follows the coastline out to the Cape. There's a brief stop-off at pretty Wategos Beach for morning or afternoon tea, followed by some snorkelling and wave surfing on the way back.
Cost: $65 for adults and $55 for children.
Contact: (02) 6680 9555, www.capebyronkayaks.com
Whether you're a seasoned paddler or a first-timer, Newcastle Kayak Tours has a trip to suit everyone, from the popular, leisurely two-hour Blue Tour to the fast-paced and exciting 45-minute Red Tour. You can also book in for a half-day skills course to build on your technique and expand your kayaking experience. Sunrise and sunset tours are also available.
Cost: From $30 for adults and $25 for kids.
Contact: www.newcastlekayaktours.com.au
Cape Byron Kayaks, Byron Bay
Enjoy paddling your sea kayak out through the surf and get up close with friendly and inquisitive bottlenose dolphins on this three-hour tour. The trip starts at Clark's Beach and follows the coastline out to the Cape. There's a brief stop-off at pretty Wategos Beach for morning or afternoon tea, followed by some snorkelling and wave surfing on the way back.
Cost: $65 for adults and $55 for children.
Contact: (02) 6680 9555, www.capebyronkayaks.com
TRY A CANOE
Brogo Wilderness Canoe Safaris, Brogo Dam
Explore pretty Brogo Dam on a half-day canoe tour. The waterways are pristine, with gorges rising 55 metres high in Nelsons Creek, and there is abundant native wildlife, including water dragons, goannas, echidnas and kingfishers. There is also a private riverside campsite where you can enjoy a warming campfire.
Cost: $25 for adults, children half price.
Contact: (02) 6492 7328, www.brogocanoes.com.au
Explore pretty Brogo Dam on a half-day canoe tour. The waterways are pristine, with gorges rising 55 metres high in Nelsons Creek, and there is abundant native wildlife, including water dragons, goannas, echidnas and kingfishers. There is also a private riverside campsite where you can enjoy a warming campfire.
Cost: $25 for adults, children half price.
Contact: (02) 6492 7328, www.brogocanoes.com.au
B+S LOVES
Riverland Leisure Canoe Tours, Murray River
Explore the Murray River by kayak or canoe with a short tour on the Jane Eliza backwaters (often at sunrise or sunset) or a half-day tour of the local wetlands. A full-day tour lets you explore the area at a leisurely pace and includes a picnic lunch. Moonlight tours are run twice a month.
Cost: From $45 for adults and $35 for children.
Contact: www.riverlandcanoes.com.au
Explore the Murray River by kayak or canoe with a short tour on the Jane Eliza backwaters (often at sunrise or sunset) or a half-day tour of the local wetlands. A full-day tour lets you explore the area at a leisurely pace and includes a picnic lunch. Moonlight tours are run twice a month.
Cost: From $45 for adults and $35 for children.
Contact: www.riverlandcanoes.com.au
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