Here is how to have the best fun on the water, from open-sea sailing to lazy lake punting. Our reliance on air travel has come to a halt, as Australia’s foreign borders remain closed. Fortunately, for us, the phrase “girt by sea” is in our national song for a purpose.
Our nation’s spectacular waterways, from our coastlines to rapid rivers and calm lakes, are open and ready to help wash away those Covid blues. Whether it’s kayaking, canoeing, river cruising, or putting your skills to the test, our nation’s spectacular waterways are open and ready to help wash away those Covid blues.
Hitch a Ride with the Hawkesbury River Postman – NSW
Forget being pursued down the road by an enraged Pomeranian; life is a little different for the Hawkesbury River postman.
Board the Riverboat Postman for three hours as it distributes mail (along with milk, newspapers, and the occasional bottle of rum) on behalf of Australia Post to the secluded water-access-only residents of the spectacular Hawkesbury River.
Spot Whales along Humback Highway – NSW
Enjoy morning tea and a traditional Australian ploughman’s lunch on board, as you take in the breathtaking beauty of the lower Hawkesbury River, replete with an entertaining and educational commentary from the local skippers. It has never been so much fun to deliver the mail. riverboatpostman.com.au.
Punt through Pretty Gardens, VIC
Although it is a long way from Cambridge University in England, punting can be done much closer to home and is just as lovely. Relax on a gorgeous wooden punt – distinguished by their square-cut bows – afloat on Ornamental Lake at Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens as your professional punter clad in vest, necktie, and straw boater recite historical information about the area and its wildlife.
Journey to Skull Rock, VIC
Join a cruise in the Bass Strait on a custom-built amphibious boat to see the magnificent granite coastline at South Point, mainland Australia’s southernmost point. Enjoy Mount Oberon’s rugged rock formations and prehistoric boulders, as well as the eerie Skull Rock, which has been sculpted over centuries by crashing waves and sits surrounded by deep blue waters, unspoilt.
According to tour operators, the mystery island has seen fewer visitors than the moon. While people are only passing through, the area is home to thousands of barking fur seals that are more than willing to entertain tourists.
Cruise Kakadu, NT
With so many different trips available, picking how to see Kakadu can be difficult. Guluyambi Cultural Cruises helps make the process a little easier. This boat excursion, which is owned and maintained by the traditional owners of the land, takes you along the stunningly stunning East Alligator River in Kakadu.