Margaret River Kayaking: 20 Native Wild Food Tastings

Paddle upstream, eat wild, paddle back downstream

A guided canoe tour on the Margaret River starting at Prevelly Beach, where you paddle a 2-, 3- or 4-person boat upstream through an untouched ecosystem, stop for lunch featuring 20 native Australian wild food tastings including kangaroo and emu, then paddle back downstream past forested kangaroo habitats. The river has no powerboat traffic, so wildlife and coastal forest stay intact. Your guide covers safety, equipment, local history and the Bussell family heritage. The tour runs 4 hours and suits all fitness levels; infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized seat.

The Experience

You meet your guide at the Rivermouth Car Park at Prevelly Beach at 9:30 am—no hotel pickup, so you drive straight to the meeting point. The guide hands out lifejackets and paddles, walks through safety, and you choose your canoe: 2-person, 3-person or 4-person boat depending on your group. Then you push off upstream on water so clear and protected that no powerboats are allowed, which is why the river still holds an abundance of wildlife and the coastal forest around it stays almost untouched.

Around midday the guide pulls ashore for lunch, and this is where the tour becomes something else. You eat 20 unique native Australian tastings: kangaroo (tender and tasty), emu with wild nut pesto, wild turkey topped with rosella chutney, crocodile, wild fruits, and vegetarian and vegan options. The spread includes locally made pestos, chutneys, dips and baked breads, all sourced from across Western Australia. After lunch you paddle further upstream past forested areas where kangaroos live, and the guide talks through the history of the river's first inhabitants and the Bussell family, early European settlers who left their mark on the region. There are stops for photos and swimming before you meander back downstream or race for a bottle of Margaret River wine.

What’s included

• Local guide leading the paddle and sharing river history.
• all canoe equipment including lifejackets and paddles.
• lunch with 20 native Australian wild food tastings including kangaroo, emu, crocodile and wild fruits, plus locally made pestos, chutneys, dips and baked breads.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Margaret River Bushtucker River &Winery Tours

Is this one for you?Meet at Prevelly Beach carpark without needing hotel pickup or a car rental—the guide is there at 9:30 am and you paddle from the river mouth, so the logistics are already settled before you arrive.

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Top questions

Do I need to bring my own kayak or canoe to Margaret River?

No. All equipment is provided: lifejackets, paddles and your choice of 2-, 3- or 4-person canoe boats are allocated by the guide at the start.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, but the guide will call you on the morning of the tour to discuss any issues and confirm the plan.

Is the Margaret River canoe tour suitable for young children?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap during the paddle, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.

What exactly are the 20 native wild food tastings at lunch?

Lunch includes kangaroo, emu with wild nut pesto, wild turkey with rosella chutney, crocodile, wild fruits, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and locally made pestos, chutneys, dips and baked breads sourced from across Western Australia.

How long is the Margaret River kayaking tour?

The tour runs 4 hours total, including paddling upstream, lunch, paddling further upstream past kangaroo habitats, and the return paddle downstream.

Where do I meet the guide, and is hotel pickup included?

You meet the guide at the Rivermouth Car Park at Prevelly Beach at 9:30 am. Hotel pickup is not included, so you drive to the carpark yourself.