Paddle paradise: 10 must-do kayaking spots every Australian traveller needs to see

Some homegrown highlights are best seen from the water, writes David Whitley.

1. THE WHITSUNDAYS, QUEENSLAND: The glorious thing about the Whitsunday Islands is that the eyes always have something to feast on. The horizon is studded with dreamily green-topped outcrops, plus some of the greatest beaches on Earth. Salty Dog's kayaking tours heading out from Airlie Beach capture a solid sample of this greedy magnificence, weaving between Repair Island, Tancred Island and Shute Island before parking up amid the white sand and limestone boulders of White Rock. On the way, there are fringing reefs, turtles and - if you're lucky during winter - migrating humpback whales to keep you company. saltydog.com.au

2. BYRON BAY, NSW: Many kayaking tours are genteel and relaxing, but that's not how the adventures in Byron Bay start and finish. To get to the calmer waters, kayakers need to battle through the surf. Learning how to do so without tumbling out into nature's washing machine is part of the fun. Once beyond the crashing waves, guides are on the lookout for the resident dolphin pods. Kayaking alongside the dolphins is an absolute joy. They're inquisitive, playful and you can get close to them - providing they approach you rather than the other way round. capebyronkayaks.com

3. APOLLO BAY, VICTORIA: The Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary covers 12.5 hectares just off the Great Ocean Road, protecting the fish that live there. Protecting them from humans anyway. The Australian fur seals that hang out on the reefs' outcrops effectively have a buffet to help themselves to. Seeing the seals in action is the highlight of Apollo Bay Surf and Kayak's tours. This colony is mainly adolescent males, and they regularly pick fights with each other, heaving themselves along the rocks and leaping around in the water. The lads provide marvellous entertainment for passing kayakers. apollobaysurfkayak.com.au

4. MULGUMPIN/MORETON ISLAND, QUEENSLAND: Three factors make paddling around the largest of the Moreton Bay islands special. The first is that a series of deliberately wrecked ships have created an artificial reef that teems with marine life. Secondly, the kayaks have clear bottoms, meaning you can see what's going on beneath as you weave between the wrecks. Spotting parrotfish, stingrays and turtles is a distinct possibility. Thirdly, if you pick the evening tour, the paddle action takes place at dusk, when the fish are most active and lighting tubes are wrapped around the kayaks, giving a slightly space age vibe to the proceedings. tangatours.com.au

5. MELBOURNE, VICTORIA: The Victorian capital is another spot where the paddling becomes much more atmospheric as the sun sets. Kayak Melbourne's moonlight tours start in the Docklands, and pass under the Bolte Bridge before approaching the towers of the CBD and gleaming lights of the Southbank. It's this sense of building spectacle that makes kayaking along the Yarra River so enjoyable - everything gets bigger and brighter with each stroke. There's also a novelty dining experience thrown in towards the end of the tour - eating a fish and chips dinner while seated in the kayak. kayakmelbourne.com.au

6. THE COORONG, SA: Turning the corner to see the mouth of the Murray, where Australia's longest river finally enters the ocean, is one of many magical moments during a day out on the Coorong lagoon system, about a two-hour drive south-east of Adelaide. They include watching dozens of pelicans strut along a sandbar. Or paddling up to the Younghusband Peninsula, then walking across the dunes to search for pipis on the country's longest beach. Mostly, though, kayaking on the Coorong is about the serenity. The sun twinkles on the gently rippling water and the cares of the world seem far, far away. canoethecoorong.com

7. SYDNEY HARBOUR, NSW: There are Sydney kayaking options that take in the obvious highlights, including passing under the Harbour Bridge. But there's a more intriguing alternative departing from by the Spit Bridge on the North Shore. Sydney Harbour Kayaks takes guests into the lesser-explored crags of Middle Harbour, pulling over for tea and biscuits on dainty deserted beaches and pointing out the mansions perched high on the surrounding cliffs. The tours also glide into a gorgeously natural part of Sydney that many locals don't know about - the charmingly dappled mangrove forests of Garigal National Park. sydneyharbourkayaks.com.au

9. NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK, NT: The soaring walls of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge are impressive from a cruise boat, but it's a whole different sensation when low to the water. The rugged Northern Territory scenery seems so much more grand and intimidating. Paddling allows you to get closer to the gorge wall, seeing the natural gardens of vegetation that appear in the cracks, and hopping out for a swim from the riverbank. It's a more peaceful experience that allows you to take in the wildlife - which can include freshwater crocs sunning themselves - at a much slower pace. nitmiluktours.com.au

10. TASMAN PENINSULA, TASMANIA: There's a big difference between a half-day pootle and a multi-day expedition, and Tasmania is the place for those bigger challenges. The Gordon River and the South-West Wilderness are prime spots for multi-day kayaking tours, but for sheer drama, Roaring 40s Kayaking's four-day adventure around the Tasman Peninsula from Hobart is tough to top. With sheltered bays and coves only accessible from the water, there's ample chance to see seals and eagles. But the truly enthralling element is Cape Hauy's towering dolerite cliffs, which make the humble kayaker feel very small indeed. roaring40skayaking.com.au