Experience the beauty and diversity of natural Victoria, all from the open water. Cast off and set adrift by kayak for a day on the water and explore an underwater shipwreck, swim at a calm Bayside beach, visit historic sites along the foreshore or kayak around the coastline of the mighty Gippsland lakes & 90-mile beach.
You’ll walk through tall trees and sandy beaches, sea kayak along dolphins and discover wild coastlines.
Take in the view from the top of a mountain, photograph Melbourne’s famous Bathing Boxes and CBD skyline, sample cakes and espresso coffee at local cafés or observe Australian birds and animals in the wild - all in an eco-friendly & sustainable way. Choose from our range of self-guided tours to suit your Discovery Journey adventure. It’s safe, fun, healthy, well prepared and detailed to ensure your time on the water is both enjoyable and memorable.
Get a sound understanding of your environment and healthy lifestyle, through:
Environmental awareness
Participate in low carbon-based activities
Water and sustainability, and
Healthy living and fitness-based activites
Self-guided tours
A self-guided journey is essentially your own discovery tour with our discovery map to guide you. We will provide you with:
Preliminary health/safety checks
Guided lesson on use & handling a Sea Kayak on the water safely
East Coast Kayaking - Sea Kayaks, paddles and personal safety & flotation equipment
Personal waterproof guided maps of the coastline, with historic site locations & descriptions of their significance
Our own ‘tried & tested’ recommended areas for kayak landing to discover sites on foot
Points of interest - Café’s, Restaurants and coastal sites for photograph lovers to shoot from!
Bayside Historic tour,
Choose your own adventure
Choose from our range of self-guided tours to suit your Discovery Journey adventure. It’s safe, fun, healthy, well prepared and detailed to ensure your time on the water is both enjoyable and memorable.
Ps: Don’t forget to take your camera & someone special to share your adventure with!
Guided tours
Your guided discovery journey will include your own personal guide instructor to assist and guide you. In addition to the self-guided journey, you will also be able to enjoy from your personal guide:
In-depth guided lesson on safely handling a Sea Kayak on the water
Receive accelerated kayaking skills learning & improvement with one-on-one assistance
Personal guided descriptions & explanations of sites of significance
Assistance to recommended ‘tried & tested’ areas for kayak landing and discover sites on foot
Points of interest – You’re guide will take you to local café’s and/or restaurants and suggest coastal sites for photograph lovers to shoot from!
Bayside has a rich history, and the coastal foreshore has a large number of historic sites. Fondly known as the History Trail, there are approximately 15 historic sites dotted along 17.5 kilometers of foreshore. You will learn of their historical significance, public interest and geographical position.
Highlights
Enjoy the amazing scenic views of the coastal area from the water, including these historic highlights:
Middle Brighton Baths & Gardens
Bathing Boxes precinct
Bluestone Sea Wall
Hampton Beach Bathing Boxes
Rotunda fountain & gardens
Half Moon Bay & the Red Bluff Cliffs (2-3hrs)
Historic Breakwater – The H.M.V.S Cerberus
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary Tour
Features
Type: Ricketts Point Marine sanctuary on the water
Highlights: Ricketts Point Marine - 'Coastal Haven in the suburbs'
Known as the 'Coastal Haven in the suburbs', his 115 hectare sanctuary is located off Beaumaris in Melbourne's southeast. The series of sandstone rock platforms extending from the shore create a diverse marine environment that is readily accessible to visitors. The high diversity of marine habitats within a small area provides a fantastic opportunity for education, recreation & photography.
The Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary incorporates a variety of marine habitats and is easily accessible making it the perfect place to explore Port Phillip Bay's marine environment.
Highlights
Enjoy the amazing sanctuary views of the coastal foreshore from the water, including these highlights:
Natural sandstone cliffs around Beaumaris
Sandstong platforms and offshore reefs
Small sandy coves created over 100s of years by the action of waves refracting betweene rocks
Bird watching, including Sea birds roosting
Rockpool rambling, explore the walls of the shore line for invertebrate life
Fauna, including seasnails that scrape the rock algae, tiny little britle stars, bristle worms & small crustaceans, such as sand hoppers and crabs
Find in the deeper waters, Black-lipped Abalone
Sight Bottlenose Dolphins, the odd fairy penguin or Humpback Whales!
Discover the beautiful heritage seaport of Williamstown. Sight container cargo ships and ferries and paddle amongst yachts and jetties from the marina. Your tour includes paddling under the West Gate Bridge, channelling to Sandridge Beach and along the Williamstown foreshore. There are some great local foodie delights to sample, such as crepes, old fashion fish & chips and Williamstown gelato. Get onto dry land and explore Williamstown's famous botanical gardens and learn about Victoria’s colonial maritime history and the beautiful historic streetscapes with lovely restored buildings take you back to a time when the hustle and bustle of the waterfront was the main focus of the town.
Highlights
Enjoy the amazing scenic views of Williamstown from the water, including these highlights:
Kayak under the Westgate Bridge
Paddle along the foreshore of Williamstown & its jetties
Photograph the sublime Melbourne CBD skyline from the shore
Take in the delights of the local cafes, restaurants and homemade fish & chips!
Explore the famous botanical gardens, with its Victorian style gardens ( very popular with wedding photographers) and waterfront marina centre.
The western most settlement on Victoria 's scenic Mornington Peninsula , Portsea has become a popular holiday destination. Most of the holiday makers come during the summer months to escape the hussle and bussle of nearby Melbourne (100 km away). Portsea has been described as "exclusive" and the "preferred holiday destination of Melbournes ' elite" however this sleepy little seaside town of 550 permanent residents have something for most tastes.
Portsea front beach is overlooked by the Portsea Hotel, and plays host to the rugged open ocean, ideal for surfing and the regular iron man competitions. Other events of note on the Portsea calandar include the Portse Pro-Am Classic, the Pier to Pub Swim, the Portsea Swim Classic, the Melbourne to Hobart and Melbourne to Davenport Yacht Races.
Highlights
Enjoy the amazing scenic views of the coastal area from the water, including these highlights:
Kayak paddle along side rugged windswept coast lines & foreshore
View the world famous "London Bridge" rock formation
Photograph historical houses along the cliff tops, beach houses & outdoor swimming enclosures
Historical ship wrecks, such as 'The Fort' and view Mud island
Sight dolphins, cormorants, and other local marine life
Visit the always lively "Portsea Pub", local attraction icon.
Take in the view from the top of a mountain, photograph Melbourne’s famous Bathing Boxes and CBD skyline, sample cakes and espresso coffee at local cafés or observe Australian birds and animals in the wild - all in an eco-friendly & sustainable way. Choose from our range of self-guided tours to suit your Discovery Journey adventure. It’s safe, fun, healthy, well prepared and detailed to ensure your time on the water is both enjoyable and memorable.
