Paddling and kayaking in the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes waterway system offers some of the most varied flatwater paddling on the NSW coast — from a calm morning loop around the Wallis Lake nature reserves to a multi-day expedition through Myall Lakes National Park's 10,000 hectares of interconnected waterways.
Wallis Lake: day paddles from Forster
Wallis Lake is the most accessible paddling base in the region, with several hire operators on Little Street and the Forster waterfront providing kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or day. The northern end of the lake, around the Forster-Tuncurry entrance, has a cluster of small nature reserves and island-like foreshore sections that reward a half-day exploration by kayak. Early mornings offer the best conditions: calm water, good birdlife, and the chance of encountering dolphins that move through the main channel regularly.
The Booti Booti National Park estuarine foreshore on the south-eastern lake edge is a particularly scenic paddle — 11 km of undeveloped shoreline accessible only by water or walking track. Paddling this stretch and stopping for a swim along the way is a full half-day out.
Hire: Kayaks, canoes, SUPs and aqua trikes are available from operators in Forster. Book ahead during school holidays. See Boating for operator details.
Myall Lakes: multi-day paddling
Myall Lakes National Park contains NSW's largest coastal lake system — the interconnected Myall, Smiths and Broadwater lakes, separated from the ocean by high sand dunes. The park is regarded as one of the premier multi-day kayaking and canoeing destinations in the state, with the calm, sheltered waterways and multiple campgrounds accessible only by water making it well suited to paddlers of all levels.
A well-established route runs from Nerong Inlet through Bombah Broadwater and Boolambyte Lake to the campground at Violet Hill — a route that a strong paddler can complete in half a day but that is perfectly suited to a leisurely full day for beginners in canoes. A longer point-to-point paddle follows the Myall River from Mungo Brush south to Hawks Nest, a journey that can be broken over multiple days using the park's waterside campgrounds.
National park entry: Camping within Myall Lakes National Park requires advance booking via the NSW National Parks website. Paddlers should also note that open stretches of the Myall Lakes can develop chop in afternoon winds — plan paddling for mornings and allow time to camp or shelter before the afternoon sea breeze builds.
Guided paddles
Guided kayak tours operate in the Great Lakes region for those who prefer not to navigate independently. NSW National Parks runs guided paddling programmes in Myall Lakes at certain times of year — check current availability at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au. For private guided tour operators offering half-day and full-day paddles on Wallis Lake and through Myall Lakes, contact the Forster visitor centre (1800 802 692) for currently operating providers.
Nearby
Wallis Lake
The calm-water hub for day paddles, with hire operators based in Forster and the Booti Booti foreshore as a scenic destination.
Wallis Lake activities →Myall Lakes National Park
The multi-day paddling destination — 10,000 hectares of interconnected waterways with campgrounds accessible only by water.
National Parks →Boating
Hire operators in Forster for kayaks, canoes, SUPs and larger powered vessels on Wallis Lake.
Boating →