Guided kayak adventures at Smiths Island

Hunter Wetlands National Park

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Overview

Spend a day exploring mangrove forests and islands by kayak on this tour of Hunter Wetlands National Park with the friendly guides from the School of Yak. It’s a great way to reconnect with nature in this birdwatchers’ paradise around Smiths Island.

When
Contact the School of Yak for tour schedule.
Accessibility
No wheelchair access
Grade
Easy. Modest level of fitness is required. Tours suit all levels of experience and basic lessons are provided prior to going out on the water.
Price
Contact the School of Yak for pricing.
Bookings
Bookings required. Book online or email or call the School of Yak on 0417 421 174.
Please note
Half-day and full-day experiences available.
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This wetland tour by the School of Yak is a wonderful way to discover stunning RAMSAR-listed wetlands just outside Newcastle. Their expert guides will give you all the advice you need to get out on the water safely. Before you know it, you’ll be padding across tranquil wetland waters and through mangrove forests.

Be sure to bring your binoculars to enjoy the diverse birdlife of the islands. This twitchers’ paradise is home to white-bellied sea eagles, brahminy kites and ospreys, to name just a few. At lunch time, step ashore for a tasty meal prepared by your guide. You’ll also have a chance to stretch your legs with a beachside walk, and take in scenic sites including military ruins and a shipwreck.

The School of Yak is a licensed commercial tour operator with a Parks Eco Pass.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/guided-tours/guided-kayak-adventures-at-smiths-island/local-alerts

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Park info

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Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Guided kayak adventures at Smiths Island.

Getting there and parking

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Get directions

    Contact School of Yak for directions.

    Parking

    Contact School of Yak for information on parking.

    Maps and downloads

    Accessibility

    Disability access level - no wheelchair access

    Learn more

    Guided kayak adventures at Smiths Island is in Hunter Wetlands National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    All-ages adventure

    Stockton Sandspit lookout, Hunter Wetlands National Park. Photo: Susan Davis

    The action all starts at Riverside Park. Here, you'll find a picnic area and paths leading off around Ash Island. They're all flat and wide, so perfect for getting kids on their bikes for some fresh air. Take a walk through the wetlands and identify different species of birds. Head to the deepwater jetty and do some fishing. There's quite the underwater bounty around here and, whether your spot is the jetty or the river foreshores, you can haul in flathead, whiting, tailor and bream.

    • Rainforest walk to Riverside Park Rainforest walk to Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is suitable for walking or cycling and crosses Ash Island, ending by the river where you can fish and birdwatch.
    • Riverside Park The family-friendly Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is the perfect base for cycling, walking, fishing and birdwatching on Ash Island.
    • Scotts Point Way to Riverside Park trail Enjoy an easy walk or bike ride along the river on the Scott Point to Riverside Park trail, Ash Island, as it takes you past excellent spots for fishing and birdwatching.

    Early evidence

    World War II Radar Station, Hunter Wetlands National Park. Photo: Susan Davis

    Get a taste of some of the area's history. From the picnic area at Riverside Park, you can walk through the Kooragang City Farm precinct and find the ruins of the farmhouse and dairy built by William Milham, who ran a property here with the first European owner of Ash Island, AW Scott. Also on the island is a heritage-listed World War II radar 'igloo'.

    • Rainforest walk to Riverside Park Rainforest walk to Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is suitable for walking or cycling and crosses Ash Island, ending by the river where you can fish and birdwatch.
    • Scotts Point Way to Riverside Park trail Enjoy an easy walk or bike ride along the river on the Scott Point to Riverside Park trail, Ash Island, as it takes you past excellent spots for fishing and birdwatching.

    Feather bluster

    Sunset over Hunter Wetlands National Park. Photo: Susan Davis

    The Hunter River and its estuaries are home to a number of habitats - freshwater wetlands, mangroves and coastal rainforest among them - making the area a haven for birdlife. More than 200 species of birds live here or pass through on their migration. Head to Stockton Sandspit, where shorebirds - plovers, oystercatchers and curlews, to name a few - roost and feed on the mud flats. Along the river foreshore, you'll also likely see pelicans, spoonbills, black swans and, sweeping over the water searching for fish, sea eagles and swamp harriers.

    • Guided kayak adventures at Smiths Island Spend a day exploring mangrove forests and islands by kayak on this tour of Hunter Wetlands National Park with the friendly guides from the School of Yak. It’s a great way to reconnect with nature in this birdwatchers’ paradise around Smiths Island.
    • The Earth's environment Did you know that over 10 per cent of NSW is a national park? That’s over 7 million hectares. This Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Geography excursion is delivered Hunter Wetlands National Park.

    World-class wetlands

    Wetlands, Hunter Wetlands National Park. Photo: Susan Davis

    Hunter Wetlands National Park makes up part of the Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar site (the Ramsar convention recognises wetlands of international importance). This peaceful area is important for many species of birds, including 45 that migrate internationally. The green and golden bell frogs, both threatened species, breed in the freshwater lagoons. The mangroves here also provide maternity roosts for tiny bats, including the eastern free-tail bat.

    • Rainforest walk to Riverside Park Rainforest walk to Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is suitable for walking or cycling and crosses Ash Island, ending by the river where you can fish and birdwatch.
    • Riverside Park The family-friendly Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is the perfect base for cycling, walking, fishing and birdwatching on Ash Island.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Profile view of a grey-headed flying-fox flying past eucalupt trees. Photo: Shane Ruming © Shane Ruming

      Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

      The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.

    • A tiny green and golden bell frog sits on a green strawberry plant leaf. Photo: Stuart Cohen © Stuart Cohen and DCCEEW

      Green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea)

      The green and golden bell frog is an endangered Australian frog. Once common on the NSW coast and tablelands, populations have plummeted around 90 percent.

    Plants

    •  Grey mangrove, Towra Point Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer

      Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)

      Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.

    Education resources (1)

    School excursions (2)