Kayaking in Batemans Bay: Glass-Bottom Wildlife Viewing

Paddle over shallow sand flats and into the mangroves where stingrays and crabs live

Kayak Batemans Bay in a glass-bottom vessel that lets you watch marine life without getting wet, guided for 2.5 hours through the sanctuary zone at Cullendulla. You meet at the public car park on Myamba Parade, get trained on the kayak, then paddle into the bay along rock shelves and over tidal shallows where stingrays, fish, crabs and birdlife gather. The guide shares commentary on the area's indigenous history, and snacks are provided before the return paddle along the bay edge.

The experience

The glass-bottom kayak is the whole point: you sit on top of the water and look down through the hull to see what moves below, so you stay dry and stable while the marine life stays undisturbed. Batemans Marine Park holds stingrays, blue swimmer crabs, fish and birdlife in shallow enough water that you can actually see them from above. The sanctuary zone at Cullendulla is where they concentrate, and the tour takes you there by paddling along rock shelves first, then out over the tidal sand flats and into the mangrove estuary where the animals feed.

You start at the public car park opposite 7 Myamba Parade in Surfside, where the team issues your equipment and walks you through how the kayak works. The paddle itself is a guided tour (your guide narrates the area as you go, including the indigenous history of Batemans Bay), so you're not navigating or wondering what you're looking at. The whole outing runs 2.5 hours from start to finish. Before heading back along the bay edge, the operator provides snacks.

Children from age 3 can come if an adult is with them. The car park has no toilets on site, so plan ahead. Public transport options exist nearby if you're not driving, though the meeting point is the car park itself.

What’s included

• Use of the glass-bottom kayak and all equipment.
• a live guide in English who leads the paddle and shares commentary on the indigenous history of Batemans Bay.
• snacks before the return journey.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Region X

Is this one for you?The meeting point is the public car park on Myamba Parade, so you don't need a car to start (public transport reaches nearby), and the guide handles the route, the timing and the navigation, which settles the day if you're staying in town without a vehicle.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What marine life will I actually see from the glass-bottom kayak?

Stingrays, blue swimmer crabs, fish and birdlife live in the shallow waters of Batemans Marine Park, especially in the sanctuary zone at Cullendulla where the tour takes you. The glass-bottom hull lets you watch them on the sand flats and in the mangrove estuary without disturbing them.

Do I need kayaking experience to paddle in Batemans Bay?

No experience is required. The guide trains you on how to use the glass-bottom kayak when you arrive at the car park, and the tour is described as safe and rewarding for anyone with a moderate level of physical fitness.

How do I get to the starting point if I don't have a car?

The tour meets at the public car park opposite 7 Myamba Parade in Surfside, Batemans Bay. Public transportation options are available nearby, though you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point: hotel pickup is not included.

What's included in the 2.5-hour tour?

The tour includes use of the glass-bottom kayak and all equipment, a guide who leads you through the bay and shares commentary on the area's history, and snacks before the return paddle.

When can I book? Morning or afternoon?

You choose a morning or afternoon departure when you book, so you can pick the time that suits your schedule.