Paddling Down Under

When I was informed that I would be traveling to Sydney, Australia on a work assignment my first thought was "how will I find places to paddle". I fired up my computer to search for kayaking companies in Sydney.

Crossing the International Dateline, it took two days to get to Sydney. I was undaunted; I knew there would be a kayak waiting for me at the end of the arduous flight. After an early morning landing, I immediately set about locating a kayak.

A 30 minute ferry ride from the Circular Quay to the outer edges of Sydney Harbor found took me to Manly, a North Shore suburb of Sydney. Manly Kayaking is a small but well equipped kayaking company with a variety of kayaks that handle well and are in good condition. From this launch site I kayaked to the end of Sydney Harbor to couple of beaches that I had all to myself. I was amazed that, in a city the size of Sydney (about 5 to 6 million people), I was able to find such solitude. The white sand was flawless, the water warm and ideal for take mid-afternoon swims in the gentle surf and the weather perfect. This end of Sydney Harbor is relatively quiet with the stillness disturbed infrequently by power boats.

After a few weeks in the Sydney Harbour area, I moved to Cronulla, a suburb in Southeast Sydney. Bundeena Sea Kayaking owner, Bruce, picked me up at the ferry dock to take me to the launch site.

I kayaked at high tide down the South West Arm of the Hacking River to enjoy a unique view of Royal National Park. Paddling next to the park gave me ample opportunity to enjoy the peacefulness and the sounds of the numerous birds that make their home in this national parks, including Kookaburras, Cockatoos and Parrots.

Although I lacked a vehicle and had a limited budget, this did not hamper my ability to do kayaking day trips in Sydney. In addition to rentals, there were many companies that offered guided day and overnight trips. If you are traveling to Sydney, getting out paddling is simple: and if you are like me and have to rely on the transit system, "no worries mate". Happy paddling down under. - Lynn Mathieson