Do it. Awesome sundowner paddle with Sydney Harbour Kayaks! Loved seeing the sights around Middle Harbour, and the top-quality equipment made it all super easy. The snacks and cheeses were delicious, and Shannon kept us entertained with great yarns along the way. Would 100% do it again – 10/10 experience!

Great for beginners. Great experience. I joined 3 others for the 3 hour free lesson (plus$60 rental fee) which gave us an introduction to all basic techniques. Iba was excellent. Patient thorough and ready to give one on one help when necessary. Highly recommended.

Fantastic way to experience Sydney There were so many good things about our paddle with Sydney Harbour Kayaks that I don’t know where to start. Two of us showed for the morning start where we learned that we are the only ones for the trip. That was a nice surprise as some tour companies try to reschedule or cancel if there are not enough participants. Shannon was our guide and he quickly got us on water with no drama. It helps to have previous kayaking experience. Our kayak was new and very stable which made it comfortable going through ferries’ wakes. Shannon is a paddling Wikipedia about Sydney, particularly its water aspects. We enjoyed his talk very much. We made it quickly to North Sydney where our guide set up excellent beach breakfast. I wish I had asked Shannon what coffee beans he used because coffee was to be remembered. We really felt we got a personalized tour as the route was adjusted/extended once we showed we could keep the pace. Overall a great experience that I would recommend any day. Thank you Shannon.

Great experience kayaking in Darling Harbour The family did the kayaking in Darling Harbour and really enjoyed it. There was no session available when we first looked online but the company set one up for four of us with an instructor in double kayaks so two people in each. We really appreciated this. The instructor was really helpful and encouraging and got some great pictures. You could kayak up close to the boats and out towards the bridge. Don't worry if they are a few minutes late we waited near the meeting point, the maritime museum staff told us where to wait.

Introductory kayaking course We did an introductory course with Ebi who was an excellent instructor
He went out of his way to make sure we got the most out of this course
Thanks!

A wonderful day! We had a perfect day exploring middle harbour and Scott's Creek with our guide, Eba. We are so lucky to be able to escape into nature, so close to the city. Eba provided a lovely morning tea on a secluded beach and was great company. Thanks for a beautiful day!

We had a sensational Eco tour up into several Middle Harbour bays, in a very small group. Our guide was amazing, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable of the waterway. Thankyou!

My family and I booked a tour at Darling harbour and it was the best experience. Learnt a lot and had a great time. Shannon is professional and very understanding. Overall, defiantly recommend and worth the try !

A Great Half-Day of Kayaking on Sydney Middle Harbour I 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.

Excellent course for beginner paddlers As 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!

Wonderfull Kayak Trip If you want to find unusual tour activities, please use this tour, I got a guide named Iba, he is from the Maldives.
And he explained very perfectly about our tour.
And we really enjoyed the wonderful trip on the day.
Thank you to Shanon and Iba. Until we meet again on the next trip.

Couldn’t recommend enough Did the 3 hour beginner course. Instructor was lovely, teaches a lot in the 3 hours, and overall experience was very good!

Great day out A great day out. Lovely to paddle among the mangroves. I was looking forward to trialling the Mirage and it didn't disappoint.

Moonlight Sea Kayaking Experience Was marketed as a Vivid Tour but only covered Darling Harbour and Harbour Bridge from the distance. I did not rate this as a Vivid Tour
Original session was cancelled same day after I had started my trip to the city requiring rescheduling - reason given "no guide available" but the person making the call was the guide.

I did the 3 hour safety course with Ben this afternoon. It was really worthwhile and I feel so much more confident having learnt how to rescue a fellow paddler as well as self rescue. Ben is a wonderful teacher, very experienced, patient and supportive. I highly recommend this course!

After a hectic few weeks at work, this was the perfect team activity to de stress and remind ourselves how fortunate we are to live in such an amazing place. Middle harbour was like a mill pond, the ocean was crystal clear and we even had the bonus of an unexpected visit from a sea turtle. Shannon is a great guide and only too happy to share his knowledge, his passion for his job is there for all to see. Thoroughly recommend this activity and the team at Sydney Harbour Kayaks.

Sydney Harbour up close A fantastic experience! Being on Sydney Harbour on a kayak felt very special at that quieter time of morning. Admittedly the weather was perfect which helped! Shannon was a great guide and was expert at judging when to paddle subject to the other boats / ferries etc. We even paddled right underneath the Bridge. Breakfast/coffee on a small beach (Lavender Bay) was just at the right time. Double kayaks were great and we felt comfortable the whole time. Well recommended!

Unprofessional and unsupportive I went to the Sat 27/1 Middle Harbor Eco tour by myself. Despite informing the staff my limited kayaking experience and not a strong kayaker (only done this once or twice). I was put in a solo kayak because the other 4 people were a family.
From the start, the guide consistently raced ahead, maintaining 15-25m ahead of the group. This gave the impression of impatience, which raised concern about the purpose of having a guide for safety when they remained so far ahead 90% of the time. The only time the group stayed closed was when we were in the mangroves, and there was limited open water.
Being alone in my kayak, I struggled to keep up constantly, especially as the other participates were paired up. I was expected to be as fast as them and the guide. Throughout the entire journey, I had no opportunity to rest and just flat and enjoy the view.
During river crossing to the opposite side, the guide urged the group to paddle quickly as a group due to potential dangers from passing boats/ships. However, the guide and the double kayakers immediately sped ahead, leaving me behind and struggling once again. This was dangerous and unprofessional. Was it hard to slow down and make sure the group stay together and safe?
Paying for a tour felt futile when I consistently felt stressed, tired and made to feel inadequate with my speed.
I was shouted at to ‘paddle faster!’, ‘put your muscle into it!’ were accompanied by an overall lack of consideration and understanding. While I understand my slow speed was holding the group, this should have been taken into the consideration from the beginning. Eventually, I yelled back ‘it is not the spend, it is my strength!’
What was intended to be an enjoyable trip turned into a nightmare kayaking boo camp.

Great day on the water 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.

Fun family adventure! 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!)

Water wonder Had a great time, was wonderful being on harbour, felt safe the whole time, city gives another perspective from the water as well as a workout. Thoroughly enjoyed

Harbour tour Great and for me different view of the harbour. Shannon took good care of everyone and provided a safe and interesting tour.

Could rate highly enough - it was brilliant! We took interstate family on this kayak tour of middle harbour and loved it! Kate is an excellent guide, the morning tea was wonderful and the whole experience very special.

Corporate Team Event 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.

Work Xmas Party Fun For our company Xmas party we combined the team photo challenge and made it 'deluxe' by adding afternoon tea. Everyone had a fantastic time and loads of fun was had by all. Plus we got some fantastic photos via GoPros to remember the day . Highly recommend!

Amazing experience in Sydney Amazing view with perfect weather to have a free-kayaking lesson.
The teacher - Charlie was calm, nice, patient and very easy to understand. He gave a lesson with simple but principal techniques in kayaking.
I also met new cute friends.
Totally satisfied with the lesson.

Scenic kayak on the harbour Great experience out in the water. Not only stunning views but also knowledgeable local info and friendly conversations along the way. Small group so still felt personal.

Had a fantastic sea kayaking safety lesson, free of charge. The rain didn't dampen how much fun we had. We even managed to pick up some invaluable rescue techniques. Highly recommended. Kudos to Ben and the team for the great time we had!

Great experience My husband and I had a fantastic experience today touring the harbour at sunrise.

Shannons tips and induction on using the kayak was very thorough and helpful.
His knowledge of the harbour was very insightful and educational.
We felt very safe with the team during this tour.
The package also included a picnic breakfast which was well earned and a great way to refuel for our journey back.

Highly recommend :)

Safety class excellent Safety class excellent. Program built confidence in using kayak skirt, assisted recovery, solo recovery and bracing techniques. Thanks to Ben.

Great experience, especially if you're interested in marine life. The experience was great. The kayaking in the harbour was fun to do and we had great views of the bridge. The guide had very interesting facts about the conservation of the marine life in the harbour and was very friendly. Breakfast was very nice, too!
Worth every cent!!

Awesome Experience! We recently attended your Free 3 hr introduction to kayaking course and had such a fabulous time! We always felt safe in the hands of our guide who was very knowledgeable and fun. The kayaks where easy to use and comfortable to sit on.
Thanks again Sydney Harbour Kayaks, we will be back!

Kayaking adventure The tour was absolutely amazing. You get to experience Sydney from a viewpoint that would not be possible otherwise. The sea kayaks are very good. The tour guides provided me with a lot of splendid information about the bay and the marine life.

Excellent learn to kayak lesson The introduction to kayaking was an excellent course. Paula was a fabulous instructor, explaining all aspects of kayaking from how to hold the paddle to the correct method of paddling and how to be in control of the kayak. We had kayaked before and we were surprised at how much we learnt during the morning. Amazingly the lessons are free, you only have to rent a kayak if you do not have your own.

So many surprises in this wonderful half day paddle. This was my gift for my partner. I went along so we could enjoy it together. I had never kayaked and had a moderate fear of water. I was assured when booking that the utmost care in safety was undertaken and rarely did people fall in. I also have a bad arthritic shoulder and knee.

A recipe for disaster? Possibly, but we both had the most wonderful, mystical, sun drenched day.

Ann Marie (our guide) took my limitations in her stride without over managing. She got us all in our life vests and off our group of 7 went. She knew her way around Middle Harbour and would stop at numerous points, giving us some great Middle Harbour tid-bits as we floated beside her.

Easily the highlight was cruising through the mangroves near Fig Tree Cove -mystical, and like we were 'borrowing' a half an hour from a secluded secret from a Sydney of decades gone by.

The morning tea that followed straight after was welcome and generous. "That all came out of your kayak, Ann Marie??"

I was amazed that we had paddled 14km by the time we returned to the Spit. I would absolutely recommend this half day on the water - both for locals and visitors. Oh, and the shoulder did far better than I thought it would go!

Excellent kayak safety training course I did the FREE Kayak Safety Lesson. The 3 hours flew by and it was very helpful. The instructor (Ben) was very patient, pleasant, friendly and helpful. He explained everything very clearly and was always on hand to guide us if required. The location is almost perfect for this sort of training, with all of it being done off the beach right in front of the shop in picturesque Middle Harbour. Be prepared to be wet for three hours (dress appropriately). Thankfully they have a single hot shower for afterwards. Thanks Ben and SHK for a fantastic lesson that was better than I expected.

Great experience The leader is friendly, nice and experienced. The tour is in small group with only two participants that day. It’s awesome. Middle harbour is also a nice place to get into the nature of Australia.

Both kids and adults LOVED this excellent school holiday tour across the harbour! The staff were very friendly and informative guides - we would highly recommend as a fantastic school holiday activity! We can't wait to do another longer one tour.

Loved the mangroves Being winter the demand for this tour wasn't as high as during the summer, but the weather was awesome and my small family group had the full attention of the guide. We also had the pleasure of kayaking the mangroves, before then heading to a quiet and pretty beach for morning tea. Paula the guide was super friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend this trip and company for a relaxing, informative and enjoyable trip.

The views were breathtaking and Shannon was extremely helpful! Highly recommend. The harbour was amazing although it was raining on our private tour it did not stop us from having a wonderful time. Shannon was incredible!

Such a great day out in sydney harbour, Shannon looked after us so well, he gave us all tips and helped everyone in our group to paddle and be safe, we got all the way to balmoral and back.

The whole experience was fabulous. Thanks to Shannon and kate.They were pretty good whole time ,as it was my first experience in kayaking.Vivid Sydney Was icing on the cake. Shannon provided us coffee and cookies on the board as well , just imagine having coffee and watching splendid fireworks ????. Highly recommended ☺️????????????????

Vivid Sydney night tour We did the Vivid Sydney night time harbour tour and it was fantastic. The equipment was top notch, the kayaks great, even the platform to get on and off made it very simple. We loved it - especially having hot chocolate and the delicious snack box which watching the wonderful elemental display. the project onto the vampire was our favourite vivd sydney and watching it from the water . thanks - it was a great trip.

Sydney Vivid What a brilliant experience! It was awesome to not only kayak at night with a well equipped and enthusiastic crew, but to enjoy the vista of Sydney Vivid from a completely unique perspective. Thanks so much.

VIVID Moonlight Tour The VIVID moonlight tour was absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the amazing experience!! The highlight was watching the light show at the end with a hot chocolate in hand!

Kayak vivid and darling harbour by night ! With a string focus on safety at night , and a deep understanding of the fascinating elements of the local history it was an absolute treat to explore this area by kayak at night. Ending up with a private ringside seat in our kayaks , in an area without other craft for the vivid show and fireworks. sitting there sitting hot chocolate and eating from snack boxes was quite sn experience . Suitable also for beginners and those with little experience.

Incredible VIVID experience like no other! 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!

Kayak adventure Outstanding private tour that was beyond expectations. My daughter and I enjoyed the adventure and the morning tea in this pristine setting. Highly recommend

Amazing instructor - Kayak Lessons Took my 10 year old son to SHK for proper kayak lessons and was pretty happy with the way he took to the water with encouragement and guidance by Lance the Instructor. I've learnt a lot too and will definitely return to SHK

A perfect way to spend a sunny morning in Sydney Almost better than the Harbour Bridge Climb. Sam helped us navigate our way safely through the morning harbour traffic in his calm friendly manner.

Must do kayaking experience Incredible 4hr kayaking experience in middle harbour. Beautiful scenery, friendly and knowledgeable guide, excellent equipment and tasty morning tea. Highly recommend.

Beginners’ class Went on 3 hour beginners’ class (4 clients, 1 instructor). Course was free (modest charge for kayak). Excellent instructor. Took us through basics on land, then practiced near shore. After a short break went for a paddle up to a beach & back. All great, except no invitations or follow up email about what else was on offer should we want to follow it up (other than safety course mentioned near start).

Incredible What an incredible experience. It could not have been more perfect and would do it another 100 times over!

A great experience. A great experience. Ben is a fantastic instructor and the facilities and location are perfect! We're coming back!

3 hour free kayaking lessons 3 hour free lessons. Excellent. Ben was a great, friendly and excellent teacher. Learned some great skills that I don't think I would have learned just going out on my own or with friends. A lot learned in 3 hours.

Shannon’s sunrise tour of the harbour was top class. From starting out from the maritime museum as the first rays of sunrise were creeping over the harbour to breakfast looking back at the harbour bridge and opera house. Kayaks were high sod. Making it easy to navigate the entire journey. Would recommend it for anyone up for a bit of adventure and a unique perspective of sydney. Should add that Shannon and his offsider were Super friendly and went that extra mile to ensure the group had a great time.

A fabulous experience We had such a lovely time with our guide Kate (one of the owners). The highlight for me was kayaking down a stream that wove through mangroves and sandstone outcrops. There was no one else on the stream; it was serene and magical.Kate was a fantastic guide, telling us great stories about the area, acknowledging the Gadigal people and their connection to the harbour and its waterways, and putting on an excellent spread for a mid-afternoon snack (fresh fruit, biscuits, cheese and biscuits etc), which we enjoyed on a picnic blanket on a patch of sand by the creek. The kayaks are stable and easy to paddle, and the friendly staff made sure we all had well-fitting life-jackets and knew how to hold a paddle. (I had mine upside down - don't ask.) We all had such a good day we've been talking about it non-stop since. I recommend it highly.

A beautiful morning in Sydney Harbour - a highlight!! Thank you to Shannon for a wonderful morning around Sydney Harbour. It was such a pleasurable experience and a real highlight from my time in Sydney. Shannon was very informative about the harbour, he was patient and gave pleanty of time to take beautiful photos. Our group was small, just 4 people. It was magnificent to see the harbour bridge from the water. The picnic was just gorgeous- fresh fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, croissants and Nutella.

Great fun on water Had our 13yr son birthday here. Great fun with water polo. Gazebo and bbq so handy. Safe, easy and everyone well looked after. They were patient with my 11yr old special needs son too.

Excellent kayak safety lesson I learned a lot of valuable capsize recovery skills during SHK's kayak safety lesson. Lars is a very competent and patient teacher. Highly recommended!