6 top SA kayaking spots
We may be the driest state in the country, but there are plenty of fascinating waterways to explore with a kayak or canoe.
From the Murray to the Fleurieu and beyond, we look at six of the best spots in SA to wet a paddle.
1. Myponga Reservoir (Fleurieu Peninsula)
Although Myponga Reservoir is only 60km south of Adelaide, it could be mistaken for a Swedish lake. On the Eatts Street entrance road from Myponga, you’ll be greeted by eucalypts, but other sections of the lake’s shore are forested with pine trees.
Start your exploration of the reservoir at the kayak launching area, just inside the reserve.
Keep an eye out for more than 120 species of birds that call the region home.
Fisherfolk can buy a fishing permit online, then drop a line in search of Murray cod (catch and release), golden perch, silver perch and plentiful redfin that inhabit the reservoir.
After an appetite-stimulating paddle, enjoy a picnic among the trees.
2. Port River dolphins (Garden Island)
A short drive from the CBD, the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is home to a pod of about 30 bottlenose dolphins. One of their favourite hangouts is the area around Garden Island. Launch your kayaks from the boat ramp and keep an eye out for the antics of these playful aquatic mammals.
The rules state you must not approach within 50m of a dolphin, but sometimes they have other ideas and thrillingly pop up beside your kayak.
As well as dolphin fun, there are channels into the mysterious mangroves to explore. There’s also a ships’ graveyard of abandoned vessels, including the rusting hulk of the 19th-century barque, Santiago.
If you’d like someone in the know to show you around, RAA members save on expeditions with Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours, based at Garden Island.
3. Second Valley (Fleurieu Peninsula)
The stretch of coastline along the far south of Fleurieu Peninsula is stunning from every angle, and the views are particularly spectacular from the sea.
Launch at Second Valley or Rapid Bay to discover secret sandy coves beneath rocky cliffs, spooky sea caves (keep an eye on the tide), and fish galore if you choose to snorkel.
For maximum enjoyment, be sure to pick a calm day when the water is clear and still.
4. Loch Luna Game Reserve (Riverland)
There are plenty of great places to kayak on the mighty Murray, with many paddlers being drawn to Loch Luna Game Reserve.
The reserve occupies an extensive wetland and it would be easy to spend a few days exploring the many billabongs and backwaters.
Birdlife is prolific, with regular sightings of pelicans, black swans, spoonbills and parrots, plus the occasional glimpse of a rare white bellied sea eagle.
There are two recognised paddling trails; Nockburra Creek Canoe Trail, and Chambers Creek Canoe Trail, which opens into Lake Bonney. There’s a dedicated kayak/canoe launching site at the end of Shueard Road on the northern side of Sturt Highway, between Kingston-on-Murray and Cobdogla.
If your paddling adventure includes an overnight stay on the river, there are several bush campsites that can be booked online.
Keep in mind this is a game reserve and hunting is permitted at certain times of the year.
5. Harriet River (Kangaroo Island)
Although Harriet River meanders through cultivated farmland, you may think you’re deep in the bush.
The river’s narrow channel and still waters are flanked by thick vegetation, creating a sense of wilderness.
Launch near the river mouth before heading upstream on a koala-spotting and birdwatching excursion.
If you’d like the locals to show you around Harriet River, RAA members save on Kangaroo Island tours.
6. Coorong National Park (South from Goolwa)
Sheltered from the wilds of the Southern Ocean by towering sand dunes, the waters of the Coorong offer a relatively safe haven for kayakers.
The volume and diversity of the region’s birdlife has seen the Coorong listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. (Ramsar is the Iranian city where the convention was signed in 1971.)
The Coorong is about 140km long, so paddlers can enjoy a new adventure on every visit.
For a trip among the western waterways near Goolwa, launch from the small reserve at the end of Mundoo Channel Drive on Hindmarsh Island. For an overnight or multi-day trip, book a campsite at Barker Knoll (no facilities) or Godfreys Landing (long-drop toilet and a picnic shelter).
Both camping areas are accessible only by watercraft. Walking trails across the dunes connect the campgrounds to the ocean.
RAA members save on guided tours of the Coorong.
Main photo: South Australian Tourism Commission/Murray River, Lakes & Coorong
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