Explore Sydney by Kayak

Whenever someone visits me from overseas I always take them kayaking, primarily as I know the response will be something like, “wow, this is amazing” or “I can’t believe I am just a few kilometres from the city and completely surrounded by bushland”.

The Harbour is an obvious drawcard for newcomers, but I am here to tell you folks - it’s not just about the beaches in Sydney; kayaking allows you to visit little bays, rocky outcrops, mangroves and even cafes! (you can pull up your kayak near the cafe “Plonk” at the Spit for example)

It’s also a great opportunity to take a look at some very nice Sydney real estate! As I paddle round Sydney, my friends and I like to dream about which Sydney Harbourside property we will one day get our hands on. (So we can kayak from our front door step of course!)

In terms of where to kayak from - there are lots of great places to kayak in Sydney and the best thing is you can hire kayaks for a very reasonable amount – generally $15-20 an hour with discounts on additional hours.

For people new to kayaking, I would recommend kayaking out of one of the bays so that you don’t have to deal with waves and rough seas. You can hire kayaks from OzPaddle at Northbridge Baths (Inner North), which has to be one of my favourites, and in two hours either head to the Spit return (including time for a coffee) or hug the left handside and within no time find yourself in the mangroves. In low tide, you can stop at a few little beaches as well but the big tip here is to have something for your feet as there are oysters galore in this area.

Another great place is Rose Bay in the East. The OzPaddle team also have a set-up there – if it’s sunny make sure your book. (www.ozpaddle.com.au).

If you have a bit of kayaking experience there are lots of other options – Balmoral offers plenty of options, The Spit, Manly and the Northern Beaches have kayaks available for hire.

If you want to make a day of it – head down South to the stunning Royal National Park and paddle out of Bundeena. This is a fantastic spot and one of my favourite Sydney day trips. Allow a half day of kayaking for this one. (www.bundeenakayaks.com.au)

If you are keen to have a paddle and want to try with a group of people or take a kayaking lesson: visit Sydney’s outdoor social & fitness club - www.clubo2.com.au for some upcoming dates.

Looking for other things to do in Sydney?

Then check out Adrenline's list of high octane, blood pumping activities.