With Summer only a few months away, it is time to start thinking about how to make Summer 2021/22 the best yet! We know this year has been full of ups and downs, but it is not too late to turn this year around. Who is with us? As we have lived in Sydney all of our lives, sometimes we think we have taken our home for granted. In reality, we are surrounded by one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Whether it is kayaking, sailing or paddleboarding, there are endless options for exploring Sydney Harbour on a sunny Summer’s day. Lately, we have been loving kayaking so we thought we would write about some of the best places to Kayak in Sydney. Some of these spots will be old-time favourites while others will be places you may not have heard of before! We just hope this Blog will get everyone in the mood for Summer! Bring it on!
Should I Hire or Buy a Kayak?
While we always recommending hiring a kayak before buying one, we recently discovered Aqua Marina who have designed portable and easy to take with you paddling equipment such as paddleboards and kayaks. We couldn’t help ourselves and purchased both the paddleboard and kayak. The best part about them – they fold away into a small backpack that is easy to put into your car or check-in on a flight! Meaning you can literally go anywhere with them. All products have a double wall fabric drop stitch core and a light and printed tarpaulin layer making them extremely durable! By the time you have inflated the kayak, you will hardly be able to tell the difference between a hard kayak and an inflatable one. They have options available for single, double, and even triple person kayaks.
However, we know for first-time kayakers renting may be the way to go. So below we will look at the best places to Kayak in Sydney and note down the places to rent a kayak as well.
Our Favourite Kayaking Locations
Balmoral Beach, Mosman
Balmoral makes for the perfect kayaking spot. Not only is the water super calm, but it is a great base to explore Sydney Harbour. From there you can visit the surrounding beaches of Chinamans beach and Clontarf as well as the Spit Bridge and Beauty Point. Previously we have kayaked from Balmoral Beach to Castle Rock Beach where we set up a scrumptious picnic lunch! It makes for a lovely day on the harbour. There is an abundance of parking available (mainly paid however) but it is an easy spot to base yourself.
If you are interested in hiring a kayak you can do so from The Balmoral Boathouse. The best spot to actually enter the water is to the right of this location.
Manly Wharf, Manly
Manly is a very popular location year-round, especially for tourists! All-day parking isn’t necessarily easy in Manly however if you are travelling by public transport (easy when you have an inflatable kayak like Aqua Marinas) the ferry terminal is right next to Manly Wharf. Once jumping onto the kayak, cruise through the moored boats and towards Little Manly Beach, Collins Beach or Store Beach. It is a beautiful area to explore and not one to be missed! The 3 beaches are way more private than popular Manly Beach and spots that main Sydneysiders may not have visited before. You may even be lucky to spot some fairy penguins.
For those looking to rent a kayak, you can do so from Manly Kayak Centre which is conveniently located right next to Manly Wharf. The conditions around this area are calm making it a perfect place for beginners to advanced.
Rose Bay, Eastern Suburbs
Some of Sydney’s most popular beaches are located in the Eastern Suburbs. As well, there are many inlets to explore including Point Piper and Double Bay. The views of The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Fort Dension are magnificent from this area of Sydney. Spend the day weaving through the beaches of the East and be sure to pack a picnic lunch while you take in the views!
In terms of renting a kayak, you can do so from Rose Bay Aquatic Hire which is shown on the map below.
Pittwater, Northern Beaches
Located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Pittwater offers a vast expanse of waterways to explore. There are a number of locations you could start your kayak including Bayview, Palm Beach to your East and the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park to your West. This would be an ideal holiday spot where you can spend a few days visiting various locations during hot summer days. The waterways are crystal clear and the terrain is also completely different to other parts of Sydney. Particularly, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase where you will witness steep, tree-covered hills. You may even want to jump out of your kayak and go for a bush walk! It has to be one of the best places to kayak in Sydney.
Depending where you decide to start your kayak, one shop to hire kayaks from is Paddlecraft located in Bayview.
Woronora River
For another unique kayaking experience, Woronora River has you covered. Located south of Sydney, this 36-kilometre long river is perfect for nature lovers. The water is calm and you will be surrounded by beaches, dense bush and steep banks. A popular route is from The Boatshed Woronora (where you can hire kayaks) to The Needles. You need a day for this entire trip which includes a good amount of time to refuel and enjoy some lunch before the return trip.
As mentioned above, you can rent a kayak from The Boatshed Woronora which makes a great starting spot for your kayak journey.
More about our Aqua Marina Kayak
If you are still reading this then you must be a keen kayaker! The photos above are all photographed using the new CASCADE Hybrid SUP kayak. Measuring 340cm in length it is a one-person kayak. We also bought a removable seat to make it more comfortable for the longer paddles.
Once you unpack the kayak from the backpack provided, the steps to blow it up are simple! Using your double action hand pump you will inflate it by connecting the pump to the valve. From there, pump the kayak until the pressure is 15 or 18 PSI. This is clearly marked on the pump which makes it easy for beginners! This process should only take a few minutes. Then you are ready to go!
We have been loving our new kayak and can’t wait to be able to take it with us throughout our Australian and International travels in the future.
If you have any further questions about our kayak, feel free to contact us via email. As well, if you have a spot to add to our ‘best places to kayak in Sydney’ we would love to hear from you.
X KoTravellers
