Australia definitely has a soft spot when it comes to water sports. From Perth to Brisbane, from Darwin to Adelaide, the entire coast of Australia provides hundreds of stunning places for kayakers, surfers, divers and other water enthusiasts. However, there are slight differences that make some places more suitable for certain activities than others. North Queensland is a place that can freely called a kayaker’s paradise, with many splendid sites dedicated to this exciting water activity. Although non-kayaking water activities are also available.
Snapper Island
Situated some 90km north of Cairns and reachable from Wonga Beach, Snapper Island is a breath-taking kayaking venue. It is about 2km far away from the coast. You can get there from the mainland in two ways: by kayak or by boat. Once there, you can rent a (glass-bottom) kayak and enjoy the amazing coral strings at the bottom of the sea as well as a wide array of Queensland fish once you start cruising around the island. Also, consider fishing on days when you are taking rest from kayaking. Find out more about fishing in this part of Australia here.
In addition, when on Snapper Island, it would be a shame not to stay a few days at the West Point campsite and feel the friendly Snapper Island ambience.
Dunk Island
About 250km south of Snapper Island, kayakers can spend some great leisure time on Dunk Island. This paradise situated about 4.5km off the Queensland mainland, about three-quarters of this island enjoys the same level of protection as national parks. When you get aboard your kayak, you can take easy rides round the island and enjoy the wonderful view of crystal sea depths and some rare animals, such as dugongs or local turtles. In addition, you should set free your adventurous spirit and explore the beautiful bays with azure water and lovely sandy beaches.
As for non-kayaking activities, the 5.5km ascent of Mount Kootaloo is a true challenge for every nature enthusiast, which makes visiting Dunk Island a great mixture of kayaking and mild trekking.
Goold Island
Some 25km southward from Dunk Island you will come across Goold Island. Although it would be a real adventure, it is not recommendable to kayak the distance between those two islands. It would be smarter to start your kayak trip to Goold Island from Cardwell instead. The distance here is 17km, which is a great paddle training session for every well-trained kayaker. When kayaking around this island, you can find shelter in its secluded beaches, enclosed by unusually high sea cliffs.
Another thing that makes this island more interesting is its mixture of climates; a borderline case of continental and rainforest climate. If you like this island so much that you would like to stay there for a few days, you should try camping in Goold Island National Park.
Hinchinbrook Island
The southmost isle in this string of best kayaking places off the Queensland coast, Hinchinbrook Island is a huge island that offers a wide array of different activities. Of course, you should first try all the kayaking features this island has to offer. For instance, you can start your adventure in Cardwell, paddling to Macushla Camp, all the way across Missionary Bay and Hinchinbrook Channel. If you still haven’t had enough of kayaking, you can proceed to Cape Richards and Nina Bay. Finally, you can finish your kayaking trip in Lucinda – a town on the Queensland mainland.
Spending your holiday kayaking around Queensland islands is a unique opportunity to see an immense number of breath-taking coves, bays, forests and mountains. What’s best, you can now rent a free car and embark on an effective recovery session for your stressed body and soul, which will show you why this part of Australia is among the most attractive areas Down Under.
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