What are the best kayaking tours in Australia?

The best kayaking tours in Australia can be found in Sydney, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach, Albury, the Coorong, Brisbane, the Ningaloo Reef and Apollo Bay.

There’s something special about exploring coastlines and waterways in a kayak. You’re close to the water, there’s no noise from a boat’s engine and there’s a hypnotic rhythm to paddling along. For both experienced kayakers and complete beginners, there are plenty of opportunities in Australia to pick up a paddle. The best kayaking tours in Australia take in some spectacular scenery, and often some wildlife too…

Australia Travel Questions has tried out all of the following kayaking tours in Australia, and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Kayaking tours in New South Wales

You start to realise just how varied and magical Sydney Harbour is when you explore close to the water. Sydney Harbour Kayaks runs half day kayaking tours that dip into the craggy arms of the harbour. They go past tiny cove beaches, and high, forested cliffs before entering the Garigal National Park.

In Albury, it’s possible to do a Murray River kayaking tour with Canoe The Murray. These tours involve being dropped off upstream, then gently floating at your own pace towards Noreuil Park in Albury. It’s a great opportunity to drift along the river. Take in the gum trees, bird life and kangaroos hopping around river islands.

Byron Bay offers a much more energetic experience. Here, Cape Byron Kayaks takes you kayaking with dolphins – but you have to battle through the breaking surf first. In the kayaks, you can get much closer to the dolphins than you can on a dolphin-watching cruise. (Book here).

Kayaking tours in Queensland

For an urban kayaking experience, the Riverlife Adventure Centre offers a range of kayaking tours from Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. These are a fabulous way to take in the city skyline. Opt for the twilight tour if you want the seductive evening light.

Further north, the green-topped islands and white sand beaches of the Whitsunday Islands are almost tailor-made for paddling around. Salty Dog Sea Kayaking runs Whitsundays kayaking tours of varying lengths from the Queensland town of Airlie Beach.

Kayaking tours in Australia: Other states

In Western Australia, a Ningaloo Reef kayaking tour makes for a really fulfilling day or half day out. Going by kayak allows you stop off at multiple beaches. You can also snorkel at several excellent sites for viewing fish and coral. The Exmouth Adventure Company runs trips from Exmouth.

In South Australia, kayaking tours on the Coorong lagoon system capture the area’s serene, idyllic mood. Leaving from Hindmarsh Island near the South Australian town of Goolwa, Canoe the Coorong runs paddling trips that major on the nature. Amongst the bird-watching and pelican-spotting, there are walks over sand dunes to the Coorong Beach, lined with cockles. You also paddle close to the Mouth of the Murray River as it empties into Encounter Bay.

Further up the Murray around Berri, there a kayaking tours on Loch Luna plus the surrounding lakes and creeks. Alternatively, you can go sea kayaking along the Fleurieu Peninsula from Rapid Bay.

Victoria’s top kayaking tour leaves from Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road. Apollo Bay Surf and Kayak goes into the Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary to visit a colony of Australian fur seals. They’re remarkably entertaining, scuffling on the rocks and splashing in the water. The best plan is to just keep the kayak steady and watch. You can also take a moonlight kayaking tour down the Yarra River in Melbourne.

And, in Tasmania, you can try a harbour kayaking tour in Hobart. These tours paddle along the waterfront, ending with fish and chips.