Water Sports in Australia

Take a scenic flight from Geraldton to East Wallabi Island, flying over fishing settlements and three island groups in Abrolhos. Morning tea is served under a beach shelter at Turtle Bay, where you'll have a guided tour of the coral reef. Spend time snorkeling, swimming, or exploring the pristine environment, including a nature walk. Lunch is provided before your return flight.

Set sail for a scenic cruise around the Noosa Everglades on this full-day tour, including hotel pick-up from Noosa Heads or Noosaville. Zip down the Noosa River on a motorboat, then spot some of Australia's most vibrant birds as you drift around the Cooroibah and Cootharaba lakes. Hop on a canoe and paddle your way along the River of Mirrors in the Great Sandy National Park. After tuck, into a roast lunch with  stunning views of Lake Cootharaba.

Combine two popular Gold Coast attractions for a fun-filled experience that can be conducted in one day or two. Take a thrilling 55-minute jetboat ride that zips around the waters of the Gold Coast, then use the provided admission ticket to enter the Sea World theme park, which features animal exhibits, rides, and shows.

Join your choice of a morning or afternoon excursion to Manly to snorkel in the clear calm waters of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Just a short hop from Sydney, see some of Australia's diverse marine life on this guided snorkeling tour. Your expert guide leads your small group of beginning and experienced snorkelers into the water from the beach. With group numbers limited to 10 participants, enjoy customized attention from your guide. Also, take a short guided walk on the headlands for fantastic views of the Northern Beaches.

Add a fun twist to your morning or afternoon coffee break, with coffee and cake served on-board your kayak! Paddle your way around Batemans Bay on a 2-hour kayaking tour; explore the cliffs and grottos along the Clyde River; spot giant stingrays, octopus and crabs at the Cullendulla Sanctuary; then pause for refreshments at the Innes Boatshed.

Enjoy a 2.5-hour kayak tour on the Yarra River with an expert guide who shows you Melbourne from the water. You can either head downstream into the heart of the city to see sites such as the Old Customs House, Turning Basin, Melbourne Maritime Museum and the Crown Casino. Or venture upstream to paddle past the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Herring Island, which features sculptures by native Australian and international artists. Your tour includes informative commentary and light refreshments, with afternoon or evening departures.

Kayak alongside a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins in beautiful Byron Bay! Led by expert guides, this sea kayak adventure takes you through the calm waters of Cape Byron Marine Park. Learn about the protected aquatic environment along the way, see Cape Byron lighthouse and refresh with a tea and Tim Tam biscuit break on the beach. All equipment is provided, and no kayaking experience is necessary.

Explore the Mornington Peninsula's coastline by sea kayak on a self-guided half-day tour. The rental staff you with a double kayak, all the necessary gear, and a map, and briefs you about kayaking in the region. Choose to paddle towards the Point Nepean National Park or Sorrento, and look for wildlife along the way. Hot outdoor showers are available when you return.

Discover the underwater treasures of the Great Barrier Reef on this full-day catamaran cruise to Michaelmas Cay from Cairns. Snorkel straight from the white sandy beaches to swim among amazing coral gardens and get an up-close encounter with tropical marine life. Go deeper with an optional introductory scuba dive, or admire the reef on a semi-submarine boat tour. Chat with marine biologists to learn about the thousands of migratory seabirds that nest on the protected cay, and refuel with a buffet lunch featuring fresh seafood.

Glide along the Tamar River toward Cataract Gorge on a scenic 75-minute canoe tour from Launceston. Use your feet to drive the pedal-powered canoe, and follow your guide along the North Esk River and Tamar with your hands free to steer and snap photos. Admire the North Esk waterfront, waft under the King's Bridge, and paddle along the lower Cataract Gorge to admire the rugged cliffs and forested slopes and watch for wildlife. Choose a morning or afternoon departure to suit your schedule. Numbers are limited for a small-group experience.

Savor delicious Aussie oysters as you paddle your way along Australia's Oyster Coast on this 2-hour kayaking tour of Batemans Bay. Start your oyster masterclass with an oyster tasting at the Oyster Shed, then kayak around the working oyster farms of the Clyde River. Along the way, learn more about how the oysters are cultivated and harvested, peek behind the scenes and get the inside scoop on selecting the freshest oysters. If you want, purchase some delicious fresh oysters to take away with you.

Experience the exhilaration of travelling at super-fast speeds during a 45-minute jet boat ride on the Gold Coast from Surfers Paradise. Climb aboard a state-of-the-art jet boat and roar across the Pacific Ocean at high velocity. Marvel at the skill of your skipper as 360-degree turns and jolting stops are performed. Dive over breaking waves while enjoying stunning views of Surfers Paradise and scouring the sea for sightings of dolphins and whales.

Enjoy a full-day tour of the stunning Whitsunday Islands, traveling on a sturdy motorized raft to world-famous Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Beach. You get to choose from two tours that offer either more snorkeling or more beach time. Gain exclusive access to secluded spots where you can snorkel around pristine coral reefs, and take a walk with your guide in the national park to a lookout point with spectacular views. Your boat travels quickly across the ocean, giving you more time to enjoy the Whitsundays.

Just south of the Sunshine Coast is Bribie Island National Park, a quieter, unsullied remedy to the resorts and beach crowds upstate. Drift across the crystal-clear Pumicestone Passage and explore Bribie Island's beaches and lagoons on this short paddleboard hire. Launch from nearby Golden Beach and paddle around Bribie Island at your own pace.

Do your sightseeing from the water onboard a stand-up paddleboard. Beginners and experienced stand-up paddleboarders can push off and paddle out to see indigenous plants and wildlife in near Hillarys Harbor. Get active and enjoy the sun and watch the ocean life go by below.

Experience a different side of Sydney on a kayaking and walking tour of the Northern Beaches area. Morning tours take you out into the beautiful nature, about an hour north of the city. Kayak with your knowledgeable guide through the calm blue waters of Pittwater, swim at a secluded beach, and take a guided bush walk through the Ku-Ring-Gai National Park to Aboriginal Caves.

Combine Sydney sightseeing with a white-knuckle speedboat ride on this 1-hour high-speed cruise to Bondi Beach. Feel a surge of adrenaline as you zoom along the coast and reach speeds of up to 100kmph, traveling on-board Sydney's fastest commercial vessel. Set out from Circular Quay; pass landmarks like Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Lady Macquaries Chair; then zip around Shark Island and along the famous sands of Bondi Beach.

Satisfy your appetite for adventure during a 90-minute jet ski tour of Moreton Bay Marine Park from Caloundra. Take control of a powerful jet ski, either alone or with a companion, and follow your expert guide through atmospheric mangroves to spectacular volcanic landscapes and areas of dense tropical jungle. Scour the scenery for sightings of dolphins, turtles and dugongs and pose as a professional photographer captures your adventurous experience on camera.

Immerse yourself in the natural landscape of Mornington Peninsula on a kayak tour through the tranquil waters of Port Phillip Bay. In addition to navigating, your guide offers little-known facts about the area's diverse wildlife, from birds to dolphins. Coastline views rarely seen by visitors and a snack break on the beach make this a convenient choice for active travelers. No previous experience necessary: A pre-departure training session is included.

Learn to scuba dive in one of the world's top locations for underwater wonders: Cairns, Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Your professional and friendly instructors lead a 4-day PADI Open Water dive course for your small group limited to eight people. You'll gradually learn the skills you need to scuba dive and earn the internationally recognized PADI certification. Practice basic scuba skills in the classroom, a swimming pool, and on confined water dives, then discover the Great Barrier Reef on open-water dives. Hotel transfers are included each day.