Sydney Pittwater Kayaking: Ku-ring-gai Chase & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.27 (11 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/7

Duration4h 30m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

The Sound of Paddles Hitting Water at Dawn, Then Silence

You paddle around Scotland Island and into Salvation Creek, walk to a rainforest waterfall above Lovett Bay, and eat morning tea on a secluded beach — all without arranging transport, equipment or timing yourself. The guide handles navigation and knowledge; you handle the paddle and the decision to swim or stay dry. Four hours total, small groups, and you're back at the marina by early afternoon.

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and explore Lovett Bay

Equipment orientation for 30 minutes
Paddle 1.5 hours around Scotland Island
Explore Salvation Creek at high tide
Half hour bush walk to Lovett Bay waterfall
Enjoy mid morning snack
Leisurely 1 hour paddle back

The Experience

The kayak cuts through Pittwater's glassy surface as mangroves slide past on either side. You're an hour north of Sydney, but the city feels like another country — the only sounds are your paddle hitting water, a kookaburra somewhere inland, and your guide pointing out a white-bellied sea eagle perched on a branch above Salvation Creek. The Pittwater kayaking tour starts with a half-hour equipment check at the marina, then you're paddling into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a stretch of bushland and beach accessible only by water. Scotland Island appears first, then the creek narrows as you drift past mangroves at high tide, the water so still you can see straight down.

Around ninety minutes in, you beach the kayak on a small sandy inlet and swap paddles for walking shoes. The bush walk to Lovett Bay waterfall takes about thirty minutes — gum trees overhead, the sound of water getting louder as you climb. Your guide, who knows the region's native flora and fauna, stops to point out things you'd miss alone. The waterfall itself isn't massive, but it's real and it's yours for a moment before the group gathers. Back at the beach, morning tea arrives: fresh fruit, pastries, bottled water, and the kind of quiet that makes you forget you booked this on your phone three weeks ago.

The paddle home is slower, easier — the return journey takes about an hour, and by then your shoulders know they've worked. Double sit-in kayaks mean you're paired with someone (or a child with an adult), and the Personal Flotation Devices stay on the whole time. Weather can cancel the tour — wind or rough conditions and the provider reschedules you — so check the forecast, but most days the water cooperates. Bring a hat, sunglasses, quick-drying clothes that can get wet, and a change for the drive back to Sydney.

What’s included

Double sit-in kayak and paddle.
Personal Flotation Device.
half-hour equipment orientation.
approximately 1.5-hour paddle around Scotland Island and Salvation Creek.
30-minute bush walk to Lovett Bay waterfall.
morning tea with fresh fruit and pastries.
bottled water and snacks.
experienced local guide with knowledge of native flora and fauna.
approximately 1-hour return paddle to the marina.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Paddlecraft

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to paddle into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park without renting a kayak, finding a guide, or figuring out the tides yourself — the fixed schedule and small-group format mean you show up and the rest is arranged.