Sydney kayaking tours: Which are the best?

There are several Sydney kayaking tours. Ozpaddle departs from the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, Manly Kayak Centre runs trips from Manly and Sydney By Kayak offers early morning tours under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Arguably the best kayaking tour in Sydney, however, is Sydney Harbour Kayaks’ paddle into Middle Harbour and the Garigal National Park.

The short answer is that the best Sydney kayaking tours are those run by Sydney Harbour Kayaks from the Spit Bridge.

The four hour guided kayaking tour around Sydney Harbour is genuinely one of the best things to do in Sydney. Go on, book it. You won’t regret it. Although there is a cheaper, shorter, self-guided version, too.

That said, there are several other Sydney kayaking tours that may suit your tastes. Investigate the options here.

Why explore Sydney Harbour?

Sydney Harbour is the magic glue that holds Australia’s largest city together. It looks resplendent whether looked at from the top of the Harbour Bridge, the Pylon Lookout or from a seaplane on a scenic flight.

There’s no wonder that this is a hugely popular destination for sailors. The flitting white sails of Sydney Harbour’s yachts are a permanent fixture.

Kayak rental in Sydney

But those yachts and ferries make Sydney Harbour look a little intimidating for kayakers. For those willing to take on the traffic, there are several places where kayak rental is available, however.

Rose Bay Aquatic Hire offers kayak rentals from Rose Bay, as does the Point Piper Kayak and SUP Centre in neighbouring Point Piper. And Rushcutters Bay Paddle Sports does kayak hire a little closer to Sydney Cove.

Elsewhere, the Manly Kayak Centre rents kayaks near the Manly Ferry Terminal for from $25.

Sydney kayak tours

For beginners, Sydney Harbour kayaking tours are available.

Go Sea Kayak Sydney Harbour runs tours from Rose Bay beach. Although they claim it’s in wealthy Point Piper, presumably to sound posh. The sunrise and sunset tours are designed for perfect photography conditions. These Sydney Harbour kayak tours also spend some time on Shark Island. The two hour tours cost $75 and are suitable for beginners.

Closer to the city, Ozpaddle departs from the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool at the edge of the Domain. The basic two hour tours cost $100. These offer prime photo opportunities in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Sydney kayak tours from Lavender Bay

Sydney By Kayak works around the yacht and ferry traffic problem by departing early in the morning. From November to January, the tours guarantee kayaking under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The same applies to weekends for the rest of the year. But on weekday tours between the end of January and November, kayaking under the Sydney Harbour Bridge will depend on the capabilities of the group.

The Sunrise Kayak and Coffee tour costs from $125 and departs from the Lavender Bay boat ramp on the North Shore. This is found on Railway Avenue at the bottom of Lavender Crescent.

Sydney kayaking: Middle Harbour kayaking tours

The other option is to kayak the bits of Sydney Harbour that aren’t as busy. This is where Sydney Harbour Kayaks is in its element. Based at the Spit Bridge on the North Shore, Sydney Harbour Kayaks offers rentals, but also kayak tours of the Middle Harbour.

This craggy arm of Sydney Harbour gets surprisingly wild very quickly. It’s all waterfalls, clifftop mansions, creek entrances and deserted coves. The Middle Harbour kayaking tours venture towards the Garigal National Park, and pull up for drinks and snacks at the seemingly untouched Flat Rock Beach.

The four hour Sydney Harbour Kayak Eco Tour costs $155. It is Australia Travel Questions author David Whitley’s number one recommendation for a tour in Sydney.

Other views of Sydney Harbour can be uncovered on a special tour of Taronga Zoo, from a visit to one of the Sydney Harbour islands or walking to one of the little swimming beaches. It’s also possible to do stand-up paddle boarding lessons at Watsons Bay and Manly.

More kayaking in Australia

Kayaking with seals on the Great Ocean Road.

Kayaking with dolphins in Byron Bay.

Can I go on a Melbourne kayaking tour?

Whitsundays kayaking tours in Queensland.

Cruise vs ferry vs kayak on the Brisbane River.