Kayak to Goat Island in Sydney Harbour with Local
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Come enjoy a morning sea kayak adventure on Sydney's beautiful harbour. No engine noise or fumes, just the sound of your paddle in the water and the sea birds squawking above! We'll experience the built environs and get up close and personal with many of the harbour's natural wonders and marine inhabitants. We'll paddle to the center of the harbour where we'll get some photos of you framed by the Harbour Bridge (I'm a professional photographer in my other job so expect good pics - no charge of course!) We'll then land and explore Goat Island (Memel in the local Aboriginal Language) before paddling back via Darling Harbour. Goat Island is closed to the public and landing is by special permit only. Your permit is included as part of the tour. After we're finished your welcome to have a hot shower before treating yourself to a great lunch at the famous Sydney Fish Markets a short walk away.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 18 years
Guests must be able to swim and be comfortable around water
Guest should not weigh more than 100KG (205 pounds)
HIGH FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED
Must not have any serious medical issues
A waiver needs to be signed
Not recommended for XL sized travelers
What To Expect
We'll use professional grade sea kayaks and high end paddles to kayak right to the heart of Sydney Harbour. After getting some spectacular photos of you framed by the famous Harbour Bridge we'll land our kayaks in a secret cove on the seldom visited Goat Island (Me-mel) where your guide will take you on an exclusive tour of this very special place. Goat island is a designated conservation zones with lots of bird life, remnant native bush and some of Sydney's oldest convict built sandstone buildings. Your National Parks Landing permit is included as part of your tour. We then get back in our kayaks and head back to where we started at Blackwattle Bay right next door to the new Sydney Fish Markets and lots of other great cafes and restaurants where you can treat yourself to a well earned feed. Please note the tour is determined by the fitness and ability of the whole group. We'll only make it as far as the Opera House if everyone has that ability! We will make it as far as the Harbour Bridge though!
Options
Kayak To Goat Island - At The Heart of Sydney Harbour
What‘s Included
Carbon fibre paddle
Sun Screen
Top notch composite sea kayak - we have singles and doubles and can help you choose the best option on the day
PFD (Life jacket)
We'll send you a link to your photos later - professional quality!
Expert Kayak Guide (your guide is a born & bred Sydney local who is fully qualified sea kayaking expert)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
134 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great morning on the water!
Lori F,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you’re an experienced paddler or looking for a workout, you might want to message the guide and arrange for a separate session. If there are other less experienced paddlers in the group you’ll paddle less but it’s still a great time being on the water. It’s a lovely area and Matt shares a great deal of history. He’s super knowledgeable and a great kayak instructor. I enjoyed this experience a lot and took time after to visit the Fish Market which is next door! Don’t miss it!
Very much enjoyed.
A277JXgeorgep,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A wonderful experience with a fantastic tour guide in Matt. I personally didn’t find it strenuous but found it to be a nice paced relaxing experience.
Matt was an excellent...
Drew J,Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Matt was an excellent host and treated everyone with kindness, while being aware and welcoming of any skill level. The trip itself was informative, both in terms of the vessels themselves and of the areas and history we were traveling around. This is among my favorite activities I’ve experienced in Sydney.
Great Experience
T4105MYluker,Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time with Matt on the tour! It was a beautiful day and was a perfect way to start a morning. Highly recommend!
Fantastic experience and tour guide - highly recommend
Kristine J,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My husband and I did this tour and it was such a fantastic half day! Matt was very knowledgeable and shared a number of interesting stories about Sydney and what we saw around us. Matt tailored the tour to the perfect adventure based on our abilities, risk level and preferences. Highlights of the trip included being able to properly kayak in the Sydney harbour (inc. under the bridge), and confidently paddling between the boats and ferries in the beautiful harbour. Matt took lots of photos of us and we’d consider doing this again. This is a must do tour for anyone looking to experience one of the world’s most beautiful harbours up close, and to see Sydney from its best. We’d recommend this to local Sydney siders and to visitors.
highly recommended for kayak adventure
Kristine M,Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was my very first kayak tour and it was such an amazing experience! Matt was a fantastic guide.He didn’t just show us how to pose for pictures, he really taught us how to kayak the right way. He also shared some great history and stories about Sydney, which made the whole experience even more special. Matt is such a friendly and easygoing guy, and I highly recommend him if you’re looking for a fun and memorable kayak tour.
Matt was very informative...
Angela G,Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Matt was very informative about what we kayaked past but also gave us a good tutorial on the true way to kayak in great sea kayaks! We were able to paddle under the harbour bridge due to a small experienced group and he gave us tips to take on all the boat wake as well. It was so much fun!
Great time Kayaking
Faith M,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time going under the Sydney Harbor bridge. I’m not very experienced but the guide helped us know what to do to cross the Harbor and avoid tipping over. He had lots of great stories about the area.
Exciting experience while in Sydney
Patty W,Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This kayak tour was fantastic! Novice or experienced kayakers will love paddling into Sydney Harbor and passing under the Harbor Bridge. I had never kayaked and was out of my comfort zone on the ocean but it was fun, not too difficult and a memorable experience with a great group of people. I highly recommend giving this your a try. Our guide was the most positive, happy, helpful tour guide we’ve ever had.
Wonderful experience
geronimoi733,Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful and very special experience with Matt! He was a friend more like a tour guide, he explained history about the harbour and we had a chat about many other things during our kayaking. His guidance when kayaking was exceptional, perfect for unexperienced kayakers. And the pictures he took were truly stunning. So much fun!! Absolutely recommended
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Operated by Matt Bezzina