Water Sports in Australia

Paddle your way to Australia's easternmost point on this 3-hour sea kayaking adventure from Byron Bay, including hotel pick-up. After learning to steer your tandem kayak, set out from Clarkes Beach and enjoy waterside views of landmarks like the Byron Bay lighthouse, the Julian Rocks, Wategos millionaire row and Cape Byron. Keep a look out for dolphins, sea turtles and whales as you cruise around the bay, then cool off with a swim before heading back to shore.

Explore beautiful Fitzroy Island by kayaking, snorkeling and other means during a full-day tour that includes both guided tours and free time to do as you please. Leave Cairns early to enjoy a morning kayak and snorkel tour around Fitzroy Island’s pristine coral reef. Have the afternoon at your leisure for more snorkeling and beach time, a walk in the rainforest or other island activities before returning to Cairns in the late afternoon.

Kayak along the Brisbane River on a Friday night on an evening kayak tour with the option to include a prawn dinner. Learn the basics of paddling from your experienced guide, then enjoy a waterside perspective on landmarks such as the Story Bridge  or South Bank Parklands. See the multicolored displays that light up the Story Bridge at night or take in the evening lighting of South Bank. All levels of experience are welcome on this tour, which provides a fun and fascinating firsthand experience of Brisbane’s vital waterway.

Enjoy a private 2-hour cruise on the Yarra River with this self-drive boat rental in Melbourne. No license is required to drive this vessel, which has a fully enclosed cabin option if needed. Bring up to 10 friends and family members on board for a relaxing and scenic cruise. Create your own sightseeing tour by passing top attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Southbank, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Federation Square and the Docklands. You can even disembark at Herring Island Park to walk around its outdoor sculpture park.

Airlie Beach is a popular basecamp for visiting the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, but there are plenty of opportunities for adventure activities without leaving town. This 30-minute jet boat ride will get your adrenaline soaring, as you zoom past the glitzy marina; perform daring turns, drifts and power stops; and enjoy magnificent views of the Whitsundays as you cruise around Pioneer Bay.

Take a stand-up paddleboard lesson (SUP) on the Brisbane River, a great place to try this popular water sport. Your experienced instructor teaches proper paddling technique, how to maneuver your board and tips for staying steady on the water. Enjoy a customized lesson with your guide during the 90-minute lesson, which is suitable for all levels of experience and includes use of the equipment.

Save money and explore the waters of Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island National Park at your leisure with this single or double kayak rental, which is far less expensive than a guided tour. The park is full of beaches and lagoons, and a great place to spot stingrays, sea birds, and kangaroos. Your kayak, paddles, and lifejacket come with a safety briefing and instructions for first-timers.

Enjoy a guaranteed shark encounter as you plunge into the warm waters of the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA). Mingle with seven different shark species, plus turtles, stingrays, and a wealth of fish as you snorkel with our qualified divemasters in a group no larger than three. Start with a comprehensive briefing; leave with a certificate.

See colorful marine life within Batemans Bay on a 2.5 hour kayak tour in glass-bottom kayaks. Your guide leads a fun and family-friendly tour of the Bateman Marine Park Sanctuary in stable kayaks, the perfect way to explore this otherwise inaccessible area and observe the underwater world. Light refreshments and use of equipment are included.

Learn to surf like a true Aussie with a 3.5-hour surf lesson at the Bryon Bay Surfing School. With small group classes, expert instruction from surf school founder Gaz Morgan and all equipment provided, this is the ideal opportunity for beginners to master the basics. After learning to paddle and stand-up on your board, take to the water to put your newfound skills into action and have a go at catching your first wave. 

See the best of Cairns with a two-day package that provides the ultimate reef and rainforest experience. First, explore the town of Kuranda, traveling via the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Then discover the aquatic wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on a 5-hour ocean cruise with stops for snorkeling and scubadiving. Return to Cairns by helicopter, taking a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Have the option to add on admission to Rainforestation in Kuranda to learn about Aboriginal culture and Australian wildlife.

Discover the Brisbane River either by day or night on a 90-minute kayak tour. Enjoy a water perspective on the Story Bridge or the South Bank Parklands after learning the basics of paddling from your expert guide. If you choose the night tour, you’ll hop into illuminated kayaks and enjoy the multicolored displays on the Story Bridge or glide past the evening lights of South Bank. This kayak tour is suitable for all levels of experience and provides a fantastic look at the city’s vital waterway.

Experience Sydney Harbour in a unique way: during a 30-minute wild ride on 'Thunder', a jet boat capable of slides, twists, wave riding, and fishtails. Enjoy some sightseeing between tricks with views of Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, Rose Bay and other famous Harbour landmarks.

Tackle the grade II and III rapids of the Barron River on this adrenaline-pumping half-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Prepare to get wet and wild as you hurtle over the rapids, then float downstream past the jagged cliffs, plunging ravines and lush rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Best of all: with gentle rapids and full instruction provided, this tour is suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.

Explore the waters off the coast of Perth on a Jet Ski tour from Hillarys Boat Harbour. With a guide, you'll cruise out to sea to look for Indian Ocean marine life.

Experience Melbourne at sunset from the water on a 2.5-hour kayak tour on the Yarra River. Your guide takes you around Victoria Harbour and along Southbank where you pause to see the fire-ball display at Crown Casino. Enjoy an on-the-water dinner of fish and chips, then see downtown Melbourne before your tour ends next to Princess Bridge. Includes guide, use of equipment, light dinner, and kayak tour.

Choose your own adventure on an overnight trip to Moreton Island from Brisbane. Cruise over to the paradise island on a luxury ferry, and spend the day scuba diving, sea kayaking, snorkeling among shipwrecks, or practicing your balance on a stand-up paddle board. If you prefer more low-key activities, you can relax on the beach beneath an umbrella, get a massage, or explore the reefs without getting wet on a glass-bottom boat tour. Stay overnight in a shared room at the Tangalooma Island Resort.

Step aboard the AquaQuest, a luxury dive and snorkel vessel, for an 8-hour cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Visit dive sites such as St. Crispin's Reefs, Opal, and Agincourt. Comfortable seating area, freshwater showers, and Nitrox available on board the boat. Lunch and snacks provided, all snorkel equipment (including wet suits) provided.

Visit the outer Great Barrier Reef in luxury and style on a full-day cruise aboard a custom-designed vessel. Travel from Port Douglas to Agincourt or Opal Reef for snorkeling opportunities at three superb sites, and the option to do an introductory scuba dive - no experience required. Certified diving is available for advanced divers. Includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea, hotel transfers, use of snorkel equipment, and guide.

Explore the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on a full-day tour to Fitzroy Island. After arriving from Cairns on a fast ferry, have free time to do what you choose: snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, lounge on the white-sand beach or see the coral from a glass-bottom boat. Upgrade to add the Activity Pass, which provides a picnic lunch, snorkeling gear, stinger suit, a glass-bottom boat tour, the use of stand-up paddle boards, paddle skis and a floating trampoline.