Kayaking

The Gold Coast Bush walkers Club offers a broad range of activities including kayaking. The club holds regular paddles in the Gold Coast Broadwater, the rivers and the extensive system of canals and lakes. 

Logistics:

Types

Sit On They are cheap to buy but leave you open to the elements and do not have a rudder.
Sit In They have a cockpit that you sit in and with the use of a skirt you get full protection from the elements. They should have a rudder which is godsend when kayaking in tidal rivers or in windy conditions. They also have two waterproof hatches to store your food etc. and camping gear or multi day adventures.
Storage, you need a handy place to keep it at home. Everyone has their own ideas but ours are just placed on their sides leaning against a fence.
Transport. Roof racks are the simplest means coupled with the Holders and tie down straps. Trolly wheels are a terrific way to get your kayak from your car to the water's edge. However, mostly we all help each other to carry them across. 

Where do we go, and what do we do?

Tidal Rivers are a favourite. Our usual choice ranges from Northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast.The trip Leader will research the tide times to eliminate any undue stress. Meeting at 8am for an 8.30 start is usual. Morning tea at the turnaround point and then back to the cars to pack up and have lunch together.
Dams and Lakes. These are usually local and include Hinze and Clarry Hall plus a few around the Gold Coast suburbs.
Broadwater. Starting around Southport and kayaking to South Straddie or wave brake islands. Sometimes we camp on South straddie and explore the area up there.
Base Camps. The locations include Jacobs Well Brunswick Heads and Toobul. We can usually fit in 3 days of Kayaking at these places.
Multi Day overnight long-distance events. The most popular one is the Brisbane River from Wivenhoe to Kola near Ipswich. Takes 3 nights to do. Awesome scenery. Plus, the Everglades at Noosa. Again 3 nights.
Your trip leader will pick the best tides, M tea spot etc and if anyone gets into difficulty or just needs a bit of help then we all are happy to do just that.
Why do it  Well, it's a terrific way of seeing mother nature from a unique perspective. When kayaking you can look upwards for a lengthy time span and check out the birds and tree blossoms. It captures life in the slow lane for all to enjoy. The paddling gives your upper body a good workout not forgetting especially the Jaw muscles as with holiday stories to share plus putting the world right takes a lot of energy. It takes you to places not accessible by road or foot and you can sometimes forget that you are so close to a major city. The overnight camping is magical and is well worth the effort.
If anyone is genuinely interested then let the committee know, and I am sure that a meet-up can be arranged. 

Kayak Activity Grading

It is important that members understand the requirements of a particular paddle before nominating to participate. They must have the appropriate craft for the conditions and required level of fitness. To help members determine if a particular kayak is suitable for them the Kayaking Grading activities.