Darling Harbour Explorer - Sea Kayaking Tour
5
Darling Harbour Explorer - Sea Kayaking Tour
By Sydney Harbour Kayaks
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 10-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Instruction on safety and equipment use
- Professional and friendly kayaking guide
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Start:
- HMAS Vampire, 2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000, AustraliaOur kayaking tours start from the Australian National Maritime Museum. We are located on the Marina at the Action Stations Pavilion right next to the HMAS Vampire War-Ship
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Near public transportation
- Wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 16150P6- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult / The minimum age for a child is 10
- It is difficult to fit in our sea kayaks if the paddlers is over about 6ft 5inches - call us to discuss before booking
- It is difficult to fit in our sea kayaks if the paddlers is over 115kgs - call us to discuss before booking
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 16150P6
From
AU$99.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar experiences
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Marielgb-230 contributionsGreat experienceI had a fantastic 3-hour lesson with Eivaa/Evan (apologies don't know how to spell his name). The experience was great, we covered all the basics needed to feel confident kayaking on our own, including crossing to the other side of the bay I’ll definitely be coming back to rent a kayak and explore the bay further. Highly recommend.Written 12 January 2025
- rolande20250 contributionsSunrise Sydney Harbour kayak tourGreat experience with SHK. Shannon is a great guide. Can’t recommend this tour too highly. Great instruction and emphasis on safetyWritten 3 January 2025
- Lauren S0 contributionsA must adventureShannon and his team very friendly, fantastic morning on the water with iconic back drop. Booking again for later this monthWritten 1 January 2025
- nevboard0 contributionsExploring Sydney Harbour by kayak early in the morning.I found the tour really well organised it was a good size 5 kayaks with 10 people plus our two guides from Sydney Kayaks. Shannon is passionate about our waterways in the Harbour and the thousands of years of history behind them. He shepherded us through a busy Harbour. We had a pleasant breakfast of coffee and pastries, and fruit at Lavender Bay, paused a bit while some rain passed through, and then did the return leg again expertly guided. A great day and I think the early start is definitely the way to go.Written 26 December 2024
- T5008ZGjayneb0 contributionsFun bonding time out kayaking with the familyKate was lovely as our Kayak tour guide, great sturdy Kayaks, being my first time kayaking we felt very safe with Kate and all the tips given, great views, great exercise, yummy generous morning tea, well worth it Thank you Kate🤩Written 15 December 2024
- L9196PQnatalie0 contributionsGreat Idea for End of Year Staff Christmas EventI did this tour with my staff instead of doing the traditional staff Christmas lunch and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Shannon was a great guide and we even learnt some new things about our surroundings. Hope to do it again.Written 10 December 2024
- Roam614053488130 contributionsFabulous safety training course.My partner and I did the 3 hour sea kayak safety course. Our instructor was very knowledgeable and patient with learners. He also kept us all calm for capsizing practice and learning how to get back in our kayaks on the water. It was a great dayWritten 2 November 2024
- Denelda550 contributionsGreat experienceMy adult daughter and I did the 3 hour kayak beginners lesson. It was perfect. Jacob was a great teacher and we learnt a lot and will definitely go back to build on the skills we learnt.Written 14 October 2024
- 944yitingc0 contributionsWe had an awesom day kayakingWe had an awesom day kayaking around Sydney harbour. our tour guide Abi (apologies if I spelt his name wrong) was fantastic and knowledgeable and just an all round great guy, we will definitely be back. it was great day and a nice little picnic on the beach half way. 12/10, thank you!Written 6 October 2024
- Wanderer644908184010 contributionsAmazing Kayaking Experience for the Whole Family!We had such an incredible time at Sydney Harbour Kayaks! I brought my 3 kids along, and a friend joined with her children, and it was an unforgettable experience for all of us. From the moment we arrived, the staff and instructors were incredibly welcoming and professional. The instructors were so patient with the kids, explaining the basics of kayaking in a clear and fun way. They made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable throughout the lesson. The kids absolutely loved being out on the water, and with the instructors' encouragement, they quickly built up their confidence and had a blast paddling around. The weather was perfect, and the views were stunning, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Huge thanks to the instructors for making this day special, fun, and safe. We felt well taken care of, and the kids had a wonderful time learning new skills while enjoying the adventure.Written 6 October 2024
- G9715YAbrigitted0 contributionsWonderful activity to take part in with stunning viewsMy husband and I did the middle harbour kayaking. What a fantastic experience. Despite the sunrise being behind lots of cloud it was so tranquil out on the water. Shannon was very knowledgeable and patient. We are not experienced kayakers at all. We stopped at the beach and breakfast was set up for us. Coffee, juice, fruit, croissants. Wonderful! Would highly recommend this trip.Written 26 September 2024
- Q1728NEdanad0 contributionsAwesome Morning Kayaking AdventureWe absolutely loved our kayaking tour! Shannon was an awesome guide who was very knowledgeable about the area and willing to answer any questions we had. Loved the photos we got from the experience as well as an added bonus. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of booking!Written 19 September 2024
- nikitah7700 contributionsTeam day on Middle HarborExcellent tour through Middle harbor with Shannon and his team, it was the perfect team building activity for our Business!Written 1 September 2024
- Kim1420230 contributionsA Great Half-Day of Kayaking on Sydney Middle HarbourI had a very enjoyable half-day kayaking around Sydney Middle Harbour and highly recommend this tour. Our guide, and kayaking companions, made the experience fun and memorable. The kayaking around the middle harbour was bracing, our guide's knowledge of the area provided interesting sights and commentary. I especially enjoyed the paddle through the mangroves. I liked how the tour was a mix of faster and slower paced paddling. I had previously joined the Beginners Tour with this provider, though no experience was necessary for this tour, and even managed to get some more tips on my paddling technique and kayaking skills. Morning tea with dip, cheeses, fruit and coffee (on a cold winter's day) was perfect, enjoyed from a scenic vantage point. Can't wait to join another kayaking tour with this provider.Written 13 July 2024
- adr3560 contributionsExcellent course for beginner paddlersAs someone who used to go kayaking occasionally, many years ago, I went to SHK’s Beginners Course to get a refresher on best practices. This was a really good course, run busy a very adept and knowledgeable instructor, very good at communicating the concepts and practices, and keeping everyone in our group on track despite our wide range of competency. Definitely recommend for people getting started, who want to try it out, or brush up on best practices while out on the water. I’m going to do the Water Safety course next, so I can go out on longer trips with confidence. Thanks SHK - see you again soon!Written 30 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
19 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jamie T
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Business
We booked Sydney Harbour Kayaks in Darling Harbour (Maritime Museum) for our EOY Team Event this year. Shannon was an amazing guide who knew the history of the Harbour and ships giving us an informative tour as well as making sure we were all safe and sound. His assistant Charlie was very personable and social with the group. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, with a pitstop at lavendar bay for a nice picnic with fresh fruits, cheese and crackers. Kayaks were 2 per boat. Would definitely recommend and come back.
Written 10 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jac T
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
I'm so glad my daughter and I took this tour. We did a special version of the Darling Harbour tour to fit in with the Sydney Festival in January, to see the inflatable octopus etc, but even without that, this would be a top tour that I'd highly recommend. It went for an hour and a half but felt much longer, with great guidance from Shannon. Absolutely loved the stories about the naval ships and other boats around the Maritime Museum, and also appreciated that the equipment (from the boats to the life jackets) were in superb condition. It's worth investing in a waterproof phone bag to hang around your neck before you come along – we got some great photos of the sights.
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for the lovely detialed review. I am glad that you had a nice time out on the water. I look forward to seeing you all again on another adventure.
Regards
Shannon
Written 11 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Francesca M
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
The 6 of us had so much fun.
These guys are amazing kayak guides and story tellers and Shannon is a very passionate and patient guide. We have also done the Middle Harbour eco tour which is next level and I want to do it again.
Just remember, even though it says tour, this is better if you know you will be in a double kayak and expected to steer and control. And stay with the group. This is not for people expecting they will be in a boat that is managed by someone else.
That said, it’s cruisey and not strenuous. The kayaks are stable and steerable and you get plenty of instruction. My only request for future groups, please know where you are going and show up in plenty of time. It really throws the group if you don’t.
Sydney Harbour Kayak are amazing!,
These guys are amazing kayak guides and story tellers and Shannon is a very passionate and patient guide. We have also done the Middle Harbour eco tour which is next level and I want to do it again.
Just remember, even though it says tour, this is better if you know you will be in a double kayak and expected to steer and control. And stay with the group. This is not for people expecting they will be in a boat that is managed by someone else.
That said, it’s cruisey and not strenuous. The kayaks are stable and steerable and you get plenty of instruction. My only request for future groups, please know where you are going and show up in plenty of time. It really throws the group if you don’t.
Sydney Harbour Kayak are amazing!,
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for writing such a detailed and lovely review. I am so glad that you and your friends had a great time out on our tour.
Best Regards
Shannon
Managing Director
Written 2 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crystal H
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Friends
Me and my friend had a wonderful time on the kayak tour with Shannon. The scenery was stunning, and Shannon was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable about the area and had a great sense of humor. He also provided technical assistance when I needed it.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves nature and wants to learn about the local area. Shannon is a great guide who will make sure you have a memorable experience.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves nature and wants to learn about the local area. Shannon is a great guide who will make sure you have a memorable experience.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for the 5 Start review - this greatly helps us grow our tours. I am happy that you had a lovely time and I do look forward to hosting you again.
Regards
Shannon
Written 11 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HelenAus2019
4 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
We had a marvellous paddle on Darling Harbour during the Sydney Festival. Shannon and Miranda were our trip guides, both friendly and professional. Shannon had lots of information to share about the area's history and things that we were seeing. It was fascinating to paddle in amongst the boats and get up close to items of interest. And it was great fun to paddle over the ferry wake (at a safe distance!)
Written 25 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Helen
Thank you for bring your family to paddle with us and I am so glad to read that you had a really good time.
I hope we get to see you all again.
Regards
Shannon
Written 11 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sheila B
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Business
Corporate event. Sydney Kayaking Eco tour was excellent, and I would highly recommend. We felt safe and confident crossing the harbor even though most of us were beginners. The picnic morning tea was delightful. Shannon and team shared some really good history insights and we all thoroughly enjoyed the morning. I am planning on doing it again with family and friends.
Written 22 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for taking the time to review our corporate team-building experience. It is a lot of fun taking groups out onto the Main Harbour. We look forward to seeing you come back with your family.
Written 27 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
natalia t
Wattle Grove, Australia3 contributions
Nov 2020
Awesome day on the water.
Peter was our tour guide and kayaking instructor. he described basic skills very well, easy to understand and practical.
He was very knowledgable, showing us all his knowledge on the area.
the tour is amazing, the views are unbelievable.
the information provided just before the tour was just right with great recommendations to enjoy the tour even more!
I definitely recommend it and would love to do it again!
Peter was our tour guide and kayaking instructor. he described basic skills very well, easy to understand and practical.
He was very knowledgable, showing us all his knowledge on the area.
the tour is amazing, the views are unbelievable.
the information provided just before the tour was just right with great recommendations to enjoy the tour even more!
I definitely recommend it and would love to do it again!
Written 29 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mai T
5 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We booked the VIVID Moonlight Kayaking tour and had such an amazing experience! Saw some of the vivid features up close on the water without being squished by thousands of people! Snacks and hot chocolates were provided and we didn't even know when we were booking, cool surprise for us. Shannon and team were awesome, friendly and patient!
Written 1 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review on our guided kayaking tour, your review really helps us market our wonderful activities. Vivid tours are very important tours for us and we love to be involved with all Sydney's festivals.
Written 4 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RT G
4 contributions
Watching Sydney’s VIVID light festival from a kayak in Darling Harbour after paddling around the bay at night, with my 21yo daughter was unforgettable.
Written 4 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review on our guided kayaking tour, your review really helps us market our wonderful activities. Vivid tours are very important tours for us and we love to be involved with all Sydney's festivals.
Written 4 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beth B
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
Great tour guide who made us all feel very comfortable and in good hands. Really enjoyed the history and great fun for the kids (10 & 13) who want to do it again. Thank you for the experience.
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Beth
It's so much fun to have tours with kids onboard. Thank you for this review and for paddling with SHK. I hope we get to see you again.
Regards
Shannon
Written 11 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Buy it with
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.