10 River Kayak Tours in Australia to Build a Morning Around

1.Margaret River Canoe Tour Including Australian Wild Food Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $100Our pick

Meet at Prevelly Beach for a guided paddle upstream on the quiet Margaret River. You’ll sample native foods, enjoy a wild-food lunch, spot wildlife and hear local stories from guides such as Emma, Adam and Helen. The tour ends back at the river mouth.

“Great day out if the weather is good. Even in the rain we enjoyed the paddle. Great bushtucker. I loved the kangaroo sandwich.”

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2.Brisbane: Guided River Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 175 reviews · 1h 30m · from $46

Take control of your own kayak on a 90-minute Brisbane River trip from Riverlife at Kangaroo Point. You’ll receive a full safety briefing, paddle past Story Bridge and South Bank, and hear local stories from guides such as Daniel, Oscar, Mae, and Tara. No kayaking experience is required.

“Gieran was a great instructor. He was patient and kind and made it a great experience overall. As someone who has not kayaked before, it was a terrific first time!”

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3.Noosa River: Mangroves and Mansions Guided Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 99 reviews · 2 hours · from $59

You’ll learn basic kayaking in an easy double sit-on-top kayak, then paddle from Noosaville through mangroves, past the river mouth and around Noosa Sound. Guides including Cici, Steve, Robyn, Scott, George, CeCe and Liesl offer friendly help, nature notes and a relaxed pace.

“It was a perfect mix. Very interesting, nice nature, a bit of a workout. We saw many stingrays and now we are trained to spot them from the distance ;) I can recommend this activity.”

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4.Margaret River: Guided Canoe & 4×4 Tour with Lunch & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 5 hours · from $154

Join local guide Sean Blocksidge for a five-hour Margaret River outing that combines a calm canoe trip, honey tasting, Aboriginal cultural stories, a vineyard lunch with wine, and a 4WD ride to the Wilyabrup Cliffs. The small group is limited to six adults.

“Everything. Our guide Sean was excellent, extremely knowledgeable. The morning canoeing along the Margaret Ricer spectacular, winery and lunch amazing along with honey tasting. A 4x4 drive and the walk along the coastal track spectacular. Sean even stop and bought us all coffees along the way. One of the best trips we have experienced for along time. We travel abroad frequently and this was up there with the best. Thank you Sean for a wonderful day.”

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5.Brisbane: 2-Hour Kayak Hire on Brisbane River

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 29 reviews · 1 day · from $36Best value

Hire a single kayak from Riverlife at Kangaroo Point and explore Brisbane River at your own pace. Instructors provide a safety briefing, then you choose between paddling beneath Story Bridge or toward South Bank. Bring sun protection and clothes that can get wet.

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6.Byron Bay: Brunswick River Scenic Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 27 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Join an English-speaking guide such as Matt, Nick, Maddy, Beau, or Aaron for a gentle two-hour paddle on the Brunswick River. Expect clear water, mangroves, wildlife, local ecology, photos, lifejackets, and a snack stop at a quiet riverbank beach.

“The kayak tour was a highlight of our holiday to Byron Bay. The tour guides were knowledgable and enthusiastic and the bird and sea life we saw was amazing. The paddling was not overly strenuous, making this tour easily accessible to the varied fitness levels in our group.”

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7.Brisbane: Illuminated River Night Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 25 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70

Join Riverlife for a 90-minute guided night kayak on the Brisbane River. After a short lesson, paddle your own single kayak beneath the Story Bridge or past South Bank, with English-speaking guides such as Tara leading the way. Wear clothes that can get wet.

“Stimmung, sicheres Gefühl im Kayak, Guides äusserst hilfsbereit!”

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8.Canning River Half-Day Kayak Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $55

Paddle a sheltered stretch of Western Australia’s Canning River in a stable tandem kayak with an English-speaking guide. No experience is needed. Guides such as Izzy, Simon, Tom, Ella, and Rod explain local wildlife, river history, and monitoring devices during this relaxed three-hour outing.

“I had the best time with Simon, he gave explanations of the monitoring devices in the river. Thank you for being my photographer too!”

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9.Byron Bay: Brunswick River Sunset Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 8 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Join Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay for a two-hour sunset paddle on the Brunswick River, 15 minutes from Byron Bay. Matt and the guides provide a lesson, safety gear and downloadable photos as you look for pelicans, sea eagles and stingrays from a single or double kayak.

“It was the most peaceful and relaxing adventure. The wildlife is incredible it’s a place of absolute bliss.”

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10.Melbourne: Murray River Paddle Steamer, Wildlife & Silo Art

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 5 reviews · 1 day · from $119

Travel from Melbourne to Kyabram Fauna Park, Echuca, Rochester, and the Pink Cliffs Reserve with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see koalas and kangaroos, cruise for an hour on a heritage paddle steamer, photograph huge silo murals, and explore colorful clay formations. Lunch is not included.

“Het was een fantastische excursie, mooie omgeving, koala's, kangoeroes en andere mooie dieren gezien in de dierentuin. paddle steamer was ook mooi, solo art indrukwekkend. Rotsen bij de goudmijn ook mooi. De gids Lachie was geweldig, nam de tijd en reed rustig. Vertelde veel geschiedenis en wees de mooie plekjes aan. Kon voor ons niet beter. Top!”

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