Best time: November-February. (Optional shoulder season: March-April.)
Getting there: Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia fly to Wellington, which is the closest city to Nelson, the gateway to Abel Tasman NP. From Wellington, an inter-island ferry takes you to Picton, then it’s a two-hour drive to Abel Tasman NP.
The Abel Tasman paddle can be tackled in either direction, with the start/finish points of Kaiteriteri, at the southern end, and Tata Beach, tucked in the north-west corner. The paddle takes in coastal landscapes (with Kahurangi NP’s snow-capped peaks in the distance).
Photo Credit: Derek Morrison
Wilderness Coast, NSW
Best time: October-March.
Getting there: Six hours’ drive south of Sydney; six hours east of Melbourne. Regional Express flies daily from Sydney and Melbourne to Merimbula.
The remote coast of Australia’s south-east corner, from Bermagui in the north to Mallacoota in the south, offers tremendous paddling. The big-bopper is the multi-day epic from Eden’s Twofold Bay, in NSW, south to Mallacoota, in Victoria. Less experienced paddlers can explore Merimbula, Pambula or Twofold Bay, each in a single day. Look out for migrating whales, penguins, seals and dolphins.
Photo Credit: Huw Kingston
Hitchinbrook Island, QLD
Best time: May-October
Getting there: Hinchinbrook Island is 8km off the coast from Cardwell, about 170km north of Townsville, in far north Queensland. Qantas and Virgin fly to Townsville from most capital cities.
The Hinchinbrook Island area is sea kayak heaven, with options including a circumnavigation of the island (about five to seven days) or paddling further afield to take in Agnes, Goold and Wheeler islands. Those who prefer shorter trips can undertake an overnighter to Sunken Reef Bay, do a quick loop around to the bottom of the island’s eastern side (take a peek at the huge cliffs near Hillock Point), then turn back to the mainland.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Southwest National Park and Port Davey Marine Reserve, Tasmania
Best time: November-March
Getting there: Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly to Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania.
With nothing but your kayak between yourself and Antarctica, it’s exciting paddling on Tassie’s south-west coast. The World Heritage area has a real “world’s end” feel to it. It’s difficult to get to (if you don’t go on a guided tour, you will have to get yourself and kayaks transported by air) but worth it once you’re on the water.
Bathurst Harbour’s sheltered bays provide great day trip opportunities, such as exploring the Narrows (a channel joining Bathurst Harbour with Port Davey), while based out of one camp (the area has top campsites). The more adventurous may explore further out into Port Davey and its marine reserve, where you can – if conditions permit – circumnavigate the Breaksea Islands. Be prepared for wild weather: the Roaring 40s, the powerful winds that run between 40 and 50°S, roll straight through Port Davey. We’d recommend staying at least seven days, allowing for the weather and the fact it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Photo Credit: Andrew Bain
Shoalhaven River, NSW
Best time: All year
Getting there: The idyllic township of Kangaroo Valley has a great put-in spot beneath the Kangaroo River bridge. It is a two-hour drive south of Sydney.
The Upper Shoalhaven River Gorge (upstream of Tallowa Dam) is one of NSW’s most scenic waterways. The river is a narrow strip at the bottom of steep hills, topped by 50m+ cliffs. For families, the section above Tallowa Dam is ideal. An overnight adventure is a great way to introduce kids to canoeing. The Lower Shoalhaven River (below Tallowa Dam) is beautiful, with long, casuarina-lined, flat-water stretches, punctuated by short races of Class I to II standard (water level dependent). The river spends most of its journey at the bottom of a wide gorge, which opens up as the river becomes tidal and meets the sea near Nowra.
Photo Credit: Travis Frenay
Myall Lakes National Park, NSW
Best time: All year.
Getting there: From Sydney, Myall Lakes NP is a 2.5 hour-drive north on the Pacific Highway.
Guided options: None available.
This national park has great diversity: wide rivers, small lakes, huge lakes, narrow creeks, tidal rivers, islands and more. NSW’s largest coastal brackish lake system has campsites accessible by boat (such as Brambles Green, Freshwater and Joes Cove) and many offer the rare east-coast luxury of a westerly aspect with sunsets over water. Try exploring the wetlands in a canoe, then nosing further into Boolambayte Creek and Pipers Creek (in the lower section of the Myall River). The Myall Lakes area is exposed, so keep an eye on forecasts for incoming windy weather. And don’t forget a tide chart if you plan to paddle up the lower Myall River.
Photo Credit: Don Fuchs, Destination NSW
Snowy River, NSW/VIC
Best time: All year for canoe/kayak; winter and spring for rafting.
Getting there: The put-in point of McKillops Bridge is five to six hours north-east of Melbourne, in the north of Snowy River National Park. From Sydney, it is an eight-hour drive south, via Jindabyne.
Guided options:Adventure Canoeing offers a four day/three night adventure down the Snowy River.
An iconic adventure, the Snowy is a brilliant and challenging paddle trip. Most paddlers put in below McKillops Bridge, where it is worth pausing to contemplate how powerful the Snowy can be – it has reached the base of the bridge a few times when in flood. For canoeists, the McKillops to Buchan River confluence is one of the more popular trips, but we’d recommend following the Snowy all the way to the ocean at Omeo.
Photo Credit: Jon Armstrong, Destination NSW
Fiordland, New Zealand
Best time: November-March
Getting there: Te Anau, Fiordland’s adventure capital, is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Queenstown. There are direct flights to Queenstown (about 3.5 hours) from Australia’s east coast.
There is much to see and do in this part of NZ’s South Island, but a paddle on one (or all four) of these waterways should be at the top of the list: lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, and Doubtful and Milford sounds. Lake Manapouri is often described as NZ’s most beautiful lake, with more than 30 islands, plenty of quiet bays to explore and brilliant beach camping. Paddling Lake Te Anau – a glacial lake – you will have more islands to explore. Milford and Doubtful sounds offer great kayaking.
Photo Credit: Fiordland Wilderness Experiences
Nymboida River, NSW
Best time: December-May.
Getting there: Nymboi-Binderay National Park is west of Coffs Harbour, the closest centre. Coffs is six hours’ drive north of Sydney and six hours south of Brisbane. QantasLink, Virgin Australia and Brindabella Airlines fly to Coffs from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
One of Australia’s most popular guided rafting destinations, the Nymboida has something for all skill levels. The one-day trip may seem too quick at first glance, but it’s worth noting there are 25 Grade III-IV rapids in the 9km, so you’ll be plenty occupied. Guiding companies also offer a two-day journey (from Platypus Flat to the Junction), plus a 50km, four-day option that travels downriver from Platypus Flat to the township of Nymboida. Like the North Johnstone, the Nymboida is a natural-flow river, so its grading changes depending on water levels.
Photo Credit: Liquid Assets
North Johnstone River, QLD
Best time: March-June.
Getting there: Cairns is the closest centre. For the guided trip, the put-in point is a two-hour drive from Cairns, then a chopper flight. Qantas and Virgin Australia fly to Cairns from most capital cities.
Remote, steep and technical. Consistent Class IV-V rapids, with names such Mordor, Mineshaft and Misjudgement. Four to six days, deep in a canyon, surrounded by World Heritage-listed rainforest. Yep, the “NJ” is the physical incarnation of rafting’s dream list – easy to see how it rates as one of the world’s top 10 rafting trips.
Photo Credit: James McCormack
The Franklin River, TAS
Best time: November-April.
Getting there: Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly to Hobart and Launceston. The trip starts on the Collingwood River, 49km west of the Derwent Bridge, about six hours from Launceston.
Rafting (or pack-rafting) the Franklin is the iconic Aussie whitewater trip. Thanks to conservationists’ hard work in the early 1980s, the Franklin was never dammed, so you get the full wilderness experience. It encompasses everything from Class I to unraftable Class VI rapids and tough portages.
Photo Credit: Bill Hatcher
The Kimberley, WA
Best time: All year for ocean ski/kayak, after Wet Season for whitwater raft/kayak.
Getting there: It’s an epic journey: Qantas will fly you to Kununurra, via Darwin (if you’re chasing whitewater; from there you will need to organise transport to whichever river – Moran, King Edward or Fitzroy – takes your fancy. For ocean ski-based adventures, fly to Perth.
Guided options:Ocean Paddler runs trips from Perth to Broome, in the Kimberley.
The largest state in Oz has some of the biggest whitewater – and epic coastal paddling – based around the spectacular Kimberley region. Hard-core whitewater paddlers can take on the big three: the Moran, King Edward and Fitzroy rivers, while the more laid-back can kayak the massive Lake Ord or, if you’re up for some ocean-based adventure, join a guided ocean ski trip that runs north from Perth to Broome.
It was a tough call, but we’ve picked them: the top dozen destinations for paddlers in Australasia. Discover the most beautiful coasts to kayak, the wildest rivers to raft and the most tranquil lakes to canoe.