Places In Sydney To Get Out On The Water With Kids

  • Family

It’s summertime. Who doesn’t love a day out on the water? We’ve listed below some great kayak and boat hire businesses. And if you’re thinking you can’t hire a boat because you don’t have boat license – we’ve got that bit sorted. These boat-hire businesses hire out boats that you don’t need a boat license for as the boats travel at less than 10 knots on inland waters. See you out there!

Inner West

Annandale Boat Hire

Places In Sydney To Get Out On The Water With Kids Annandale Boat Hire
The 7m Pontoon is equipped with Bluetooth stereo, snorkelling gear and swimming noodles


Annandale Boat Hire offers boat, paddleboard and kayak hire.  What type of boat is for hire, you ask? A 7m Pontoon (seats 8 adults) with Bluetooth stereo, map, shade cover, swim ladder, snorkelling gear and swimming noodles (BBQ and fishing equipment are optional extras) – no license required! This makes for a perfect day out on the harbour. Hire rates are:

  • Morning: 8.30am - 1pm - $399.00
  • Afternoon: 1.15pm - 5.15 - $399.00
  • Full Day Hire: 9am - 5pm - $699.00
  • Special Peak Day Hire: 10am - 4pm - $545.00

Please note these rates are subject to change. Please refer to the website for special day and public hire rates.

Stand-up paddleboard hire costs start at $40 for 2-hour hire per person including a jacket and help to launch.

Single and double kayaks are available for hire. 2-hour single kayak hire starts at $49 per person. Double-kayaks are available from 2-hour hire for $79.

Where: Lot 4, Chapman Road, Annandale NSW (next to Bicentennial Park)

Hawkesbury River

Luxury Afloat Eco Boats Hire

Luxury Afloat Eco Boat Hire
Cruise the gorgeous Hawkesbury River in luxury aboard the Eco-Mist


Luxury Afloat offers ECO Boats Hire in Sydney’s stunning Hawkesbury region. These beautiful eco boats have an electric engine, a fridge, covers and leather seating, plus they are environmentally friendly, making this the perfect way for you to take a short fishing trip or a tour of the Hawkesbury River.

The 'Eco-Mist' can carry 10 people and rates are $325 for 3hrs (10:00am - 1:00pm or 1:00pm - 4:00pm) and $600 for 6hrs (10:00am - 4:00pm). The 'Eco Dawn' can carry 8 people and rates are $275 for 3hrs (10:00am - 1:00pm or 1:00pm - 4:00pm) and $500 for  6hrs (10:00am - 4:00pm)

Where: Kangaroo Point Cruise Terminal, Pacific Highway, Brooklyn

Western Sydney

Horizon Line Kayak and Stand Up Paddle Board Hire

Horizon Line Kayak and Stand Up Paddle Board Hire
Adventurous families can explore the great Nepean River on a kayak or paddleboard


Horizon Line provides canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire for you to discover the nearby Nepean River. Single kayak hire rates are $15 for one hour, $40 half-day and $60 full-day. Double Kayak hire starts from $25 for one hour to $75 for a full day and S.U.P Board hire starts from $20 for one hour to for a full day.

Kayak hire takes place in-store, and trolleys are provided so that you can talk down to the river, which is about 500m from the store (or you can use roof racks). You can either hire a kayak for an hour or two and enjoy paddling on the Nepean River or you can take the boat away if you feel like a bit of an adventure.

Where: 69 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains

Eastern Suburbs

East Sail

Eastern Suburbs East Sail
Ahoy captain! Get aboard a luxury self-drive motorboat on Sydney Harbour


For those of you who already have some boating experience or would be happy to take some lessons, East Sail have the Arvor 23’ Weekender, a luxury self-drive motorboat, available for hire. This boat can carry a maximum of 7 people and it comes complete with a fish finder, gas cooker, bar fridge, private bathroom, deck shower, cockpit awning, CD stereo and iPod jack.

This boat is available for overnight charter (5 people can stay on board overnight). East Sail has a mooring in Taylors Bay where you can tie up overnight. As a guide, hire rates are $540 for a 4-hour charter up to $1690 for 48 hours. These rates do not apply to public holidays. 

Where: D’Albora Marinas, New Beach Road, Darling Point

Lower North Shore

Lane Cove Boatshed 

Lower North Shore Lane Cove Boatshed 
Lane Cove National Park offers a tranquil, picture-perfect setting


Have a Notebook moment with the kids when you hire a rowboat from Lane Cove Boatshed. Nestled in the National Park, you can hire rowboats, pedal boats and kayaks by the hour. We especially love the swan pedal boat! Then cool off with an ice-cream by the water. It's a lovely day out and you can combine it with a bushwalk if you're feeling particularly energetic.

Rowboats start at $40 for one hour and fits 4 people. A 5-man boat starts at $45. Kids love the Paddle Boats - they start at $45 per hour (max 2 adults and 2 small children) and Swan Paddle Boats from $55 per hour (max 5 people).

Kayaks start from $40 per hour or $50 for a double. Aqua Trike from $45 per hour (max 2 adults),

Where: Lane Cove National Park, Riverside Drive, Lane Cove

Balmoral Boatshed

Balmoral Boatshed
Balmoral Boatshed at Middle Harbour offers great value boating fun with no licence required


Balmoral Boatshed offers boats, kayaks and paddleboards for hire.

Their boats are licensed for 4 adults max, or a maximum capacity of 400kg (so 2 x adults and 3 x kids are fine). Boat hire rates vary depending on the number of hours hire, but as a guide, the 1-hour rate is $90 and the 2-hour hire rate is $150 (we all know 2 hours can be a LONG time with kids!). Safety equipment, including life jackets, are included in the hire rate. Bait and ice are also available for sale.

Paddleboards are available for hire by the hour, half-day or full-day, with rates starting at $30 per hour with discounts per hour after that.

Where: Balmoral Beach

The Shire

Audley Boat Shed

Audley Boat Shed
A serene experience in the stunning Royal National Park at Audley Boatshed


Audley Boatshed is a whimsical spot tucked away in Royal National Park, south of Sydney.  Row a boat, paddle a canoe or kayak along Kangaroo Creek or the Hacking River, and head upstream to one of the beautiful nearby picnic areas including Ironbark Flat or Wattle Forest. For something a little different, hire an aqua bike – great fun for all the family and the kids will love them. Look out for native animals along the way, and discover secluded swimming holes for a little dip.

Audley Boat Shed is open for boat, kayak, canoe and aqua bike hire from 9am to 5pm seven days a week, 365 days a year. Row Boats, Canoes and Kayaks are $40 for half-day hire  (9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm) and  $50 for full-day hire (9am-5pm). Hourly rates are also available. Aqua Bikes are $20 per half hour.

Where: 150 Audley Road, Audley, Royal National Park

Please note: Audley Boat Shed is closed for refurbishment and is due reopen around June/July 2021.

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