Most people picture the open bay when they think about kayaking in Jervis Bay. Turquoise water, white sand, a long way from anywhere. It looks wonderful and it is a lot of work.
There is a calmer option, and it leaves from the same wharf our cruises do. Currambene Creek runs in behind Huskisson, sheltered from the swell, and it is the part of the water most visitors never see. You can paddle it with a guide or take a kayak out on your own.
Here is how it works, from the crew who launch off that wharf every day.
Why the creek beats the open bay for a paddle
The bay is beautiful and exposed. The creek is neither. It is sheltered, the water is calm, and there is something to look at the whole way.
Below you, you might meet our giant stingrays. On the banks you can see kangaroos, and overhead there are pelicans, cormorants and plenty of other local and migratory birds. The upper reaches hold mangrove forests, and at high tide you can glide straight through them.
It is one of the region’s most peaceful and wildlife-rich waterways, and it asks very little of you as a paddler.
Two ways to do it
Both leave from Fishermens Wharf at Huskisson, on the left side of the public wharf.
A guided tour, if you want someone who knows the creek
Our guided kayak tour runs all year round and takes two hours. It does not start with a paddle. You board Tripoon first and cruise out past the sand spit, the well-known gateway to Jervis Bay, and into the calm water of the creek. Your guide helps you into your kayak once you reach the upper sections.
From there it is a relaxed paddle through the creek, with simple commentary and local insight along the way. At high tide the route goes in among the mangroves for a closer look at that habitat.
Everything is supplied: kayak or stand up paddle board, paddles, life jackets, an experienced guide and full marine safety equipment. Beginners through to advanced paddlers are welcome, and it is easy, fun and safe for the whole family. Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure for the safety briefing and to get your gear sorted.
Hire, if you would rather set your own pace
Kayak and SUP hire is the do-it-yourself version. You take a kayak or a paddle board straight off the wharf and paddle the creek for as long as you like.
Hire hours are not the same all year, so check before you plan a day around it:
- December and January: 9am to 3pm, seven days including public holidays.
- February to November: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Hire is also subject to equipment being available on the day, so on a busy summer weekend it pays to book ahead rather than turn up hopeful.
Who can paddle
You need to be a confident swimmer. That applies to hire and to the guided tour, and on the tour you also need to be able to follow safety instructions.
Beyond that, the creek is forgiving. It is flat, it is sheltered and there is no surf to get through to reach it, which is what makes it easy, fun and safe for the whole family.
Kayak or stand up paddle board?
Either. Both are available to hire, and both are options on the guided tour.
A kayak is the easier first go, because you are sitting down and your balance is not doing any work. A paddle board puts you higher, which is genuinely better for spotting a stingray gliding underneath you, and it is harder in a breeze. On a still morning on the creek there is not much in it.
What to bring
For the guided tour we suggest:
- Quick-dry clothing, and no jeans
- Swimmers or a rash vest
- Enclosed water shoes, or shoes with straps
- Hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen
- A drink bottle
- A towel and a change of clothes
- A waterproof phone case or dry bag
For hire it is much the same: protective clothing and a hat, swimwear and a towel, sunglasses and sunscreen, water and a camera.
The dry bag is the one people skip and then wish they had not. You will want a photo of the mangroves.
Finding us
Hire and tours both go from the public wharf at Huskisson, near Fishermens Wharf Restaurant, on the left side of the wharf. Look for the large white umbrellas, right on the waterfront. Our booking office is at 58 Owen Street, Huskisson, on the main street.
Huskisson is about two and a half hours’ drive from both Sydney and Canberra, which makes the creek a very reasonable day out and an even better weekend.
Make a day of it
A paddle and a cruise go together nicely, because they show you two completely different sides of the same water. If you have the afternoon free, our Sunset River Cruise runs up the same creek with the sun going down over it, and you get to sit still for that one.
Kayaking in Jervis Bay is at its best when the water is flat and there is a stingray under the boat. That is the creek, most mornings.
Book a guided kayak tour and let someone else watch the tide for you.
