Hunter Wetlands National Park Kayaking
We decided to go on a Kayaking Tour of the Hunter Wetlands National Park with the School of Yak and had an amazing time. This is a small local tour company specializing in kayaking which gives you a great personalized experience of the wetlands. Glenn the owner grew up in the area and spend much of his childhood kayaking through the mangroves. His knowledge of the swamp and it’s environment was brilliant giving us details of the local bird life, trees and the local ecosystem.
Safety on the Water
The tour starts with a detailed safety briefing, to ensure that you understand what to do. This was great for beginners who had very limited experience on kayaks. Glenn ensured we all had the correct footwear and provided some for those who didn’t. You will also get wet from paddling and the spray from the water, so dress appropriately.
Safety on the water is very important and Glenn provides life jackets and makes sure they are correctly fastened. If you forgot your own sunscreen and hats, Glenn can provide those too.
The first lesson starts on land, where you are shown how to use the paddle correctly. You then get into you kayak (single or double seat, depending on what you want) and away you go. As you paddle around, your guide stays close so you have him if you need help. He also gets you to practise your skills around the entry area to make sure you are happy and confident before the tour begins.
Kayaking in the Wetlands
The guide is always watching the surrounding trees and waterways and giving local information. He has a vast knowledge of bird life and species as well as the areas we toured around. From spotting eagles in trees, to sandbanks and old causeways, they are all pointed out to you and explained.
We stopped on a small sandy beach for afternoon tea. Glenn helped us out of our double kayak, to make sure there were no slips into the water, he helps again to get back in safely. The food was excellent and we enjoyed our stop there along with a look of an old ship wreck and old ruins from World War 2.
Glenn pointed out the importance of not damaging the fragile wetlands and helped minimized the impact we had by leaving no rubbish behind. In addition, he collected plastic garbage that had washed up on the shore.
Pace of the Tour
If you are a beginner, or novice kayaker, Glenn will tailor the tour to your ability. Glenn can also tailor tour to suit what you want to see, ensuring that you get the most enjoyment out of your time on the water. The tour is undertaken at a relaxed pace, so there is plenty of time to look around and enjoy the scenery.
You will not be paddling for the full tour as the water often gently moves you forward. Glenn used the tides to advantage to help take us in the direction of travel.
What did we Think?
The tour was excellent and we came away feeling we had gained a lot of knowledge about an area we drive by regularly. We soon became confident in our ability to kayak and manoeuvre through islands. One of the highlights of our Hunter Wetlands National Park kayaking tour was going down very narrow waterways, through overhanging trees and feeling completely enclosed by the mangroves.
We had a fantastic day, finishing late in the evening which enabled us to get great pictures of the sunset.
School of Yak’s local knowledge of the swamp areas and other locations in the Hunter Valley gave us a great insight into the Hunter Wetlands, its fragile ecology and beauty.
Our Hunter Wetlands National Park Kayaking Tour was an amazing experience and we came away thinking about another adventure we would go on with him.
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.