Being a city situated around its harbour and with an abundance of calm lakes and reserves in surrounding bushland, if you've never explored Sydney from the water you're seriously missing out on what our beautiful city has to offer! To help you plan a day of adventuring we've compiled a guide to the most scenic places around Sydney to grab a kayak and take them out for a couple of hours to not only get those muscles moving, but also bask in the mindfulness benefits of seeing Sydney’s picturesque landscape by water. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Surrounded by bush and natural wildlife, gliding along the pristine and tranquil waters of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is the perfect way to spend a day out in nature. Stretching between Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Berowra, there’s no shortage of places to stop for a bushwalk or a beach picnic but if you're like us and you'd prefer to keep things simple just grab a bite to eat from where you hire your kayak! Cottage Point Kiosk offers kayak (and small boat) rental, and with their cafe located just up the steps from where you'll jump in your kayak it's the perfect spot to have breakfast or lunch before you set off down the Cowan River for a day of adventuring! Manly Wharf With glistening turquoise waters on a bright, summer day, kayaking around Manly wharf makes for the perfect day out beneath the sunshine. Bring your own or rent a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre and enjoy paddling along the gentle swell before stopping for a dip or picnic at the beach! Bundeena, Royal National Park In addition to its abundance of scenic walking trails, the Royal National Park has another best-kept secret — kayaking on the Port Hacking waterway. Drive about an hour South of Sydney to the small, beach town of Bundeena nestled in the Royal National Park and head to Bonnie Vale picnic grounds to head off. If you don’t have your own kayak, you’ll find Bundeena Kayaks situated along the stretch of sand. The shallow waters of the large basin make for an easy glide around, and you can pull up your kayaks on one of the bays to take a refreshing dip along the way. Explore the national park or even head over to Cronulla Ferry Wharf for lunch. Rose Bay It’s no secret to locals in the Eastern suburbs that Rose Bay offers up some stunning views of Sydney Harbour. If sitting back, relaxing and taking in some dreamy post work views is what you’re after, then you’ll find that sticking to the shallow waters near the bay and paddling towards Darling Point and Point Piper. Otherwise, venture out and pull up on Shark Island for some reprieve. If you need to hire a kayak, Rose Bay Aquatic Hire’s got you covered. Hawkesbury River Head to calmer waters on the Hawkesbury River and bask in the serenity! Encircling greater Sydney from the bottom of the Blue Mountains all the way North to Pittwater, there’s no shortage of water to cover here! If you’re up for a full-blown weekend adventure, pack the camping gear and stop to spend the night at one of the many secluded beaches along the way; if you’re only there for the day, these sandy reserves are also the perfect place to hop out of the kayak when your arms need a break. As you paddle West towards the Hawkesbury region, you’ll get your nature fix with dramatic cliff faces and peaks of greenery as far as the eye can see. For anyone heading North, we suggest stopping off at the small, residential Dangar Island where you can explore the locality on the 3-kilometre walking track island and even grab lunch at the café or bowling club. If you need to hire your kayaks, Hawkesbury River Kayaks are open 7 days a week. Sydney Harbour A list of scenic spots to kayak in Sydney couldn’t be complete without Sydney Harbour. As walking trails, lookouts and eateries battle it out for being dubbed the best view of Sydney Harbour, you can’t get much better than a mobile seat in the actual harbour itself! There are several kayak hire spots around the harbour to rent one for a few hours, like Sydney Harbour Kayak, so take your pick of where you would like to begin. Set off around sunset to take in the iconic Harbour Bridge, Opera House and surrounding wharfs and watch the lights flicker on in city and light up the skyline as the sun disappears. Stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest in health and wellness news, product launches and events by signing up to our Weekly Wrap here. Image credit- Cottage Point Kiosk
Our in-house Zoii editorial team is comprised of two very passionate wellness lovers who are healthy cookie aficionado's, enjoy long walks on the beach, getting their downward dog on, and working up a sweat in their running shoes. Most importantly, they're passionate about helping inspire you to enjoy every day as a lover of health and wellness.
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