NSW has some fantastic canoeing and kayaking spots. Even Sydney, a city of more than 4 million people, is surrounded by plenty of options for flatwater kayakers.

Here are some great resources to build up your paddling skills:

http://www.rivercanoeclub.org/flatwater-skills
http://www.rivercanoeclub.org/sites/default/files/policy/RiverCanoeClubCompetencies2013.pdf
http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/index.php/homepage/basic-skills
http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/index.php/homepage/about-the-club/paddler-grading-system

Happy canoeing and kayaking!

NSW is blessed with an amazing number of canyons, that is, narrow cuttings through rocks formed by running water. Around Sydney, canyons are typically ‘slot’ canyons. Slot canyons are surrounded by high walls of rock, and limited light reaches the water in the bottom.

Canyoning is the activity of following a watercourse through a canyon. It usually involves bushwalking to an upper section of the watercourse, following the water for a while, then exiting via a bushwalking route at the bottom. Often, canyoning involves scrambling, swimming, abseiling, jumping, balancing, climbing and anything else required to travel downstream. Some canyons have well-worn tracks to get in; others are accessed purely by off-track navigation.

Canyoning is a fun activity but requires a significant amount of technical knowledge and skills.

Find out more here:
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/
http://climbingadventures.com.au/canyoning-blue-mountains/canyoning-courses

Happy canyoning!

P.s. Did you know that people go ‘kanyaking’ on Reunion Island? It’s a mixture of kayaking and canyoning!

Abseiling or ‘rappelling’ is a fun activity where you use ropes to make your way from the top of a cliff or steep incline to the bottom. It’s done in areas where it’s impossible to make your way safely down by foot. Taken to its extreme, abseilers can rig up multiple ropes one after the other and descend cliffs that are several hundreds of metres high.

Abseiling is a technical skill that takes time to learn and requires specific gear also.

Find out more from these links:

http://climbingadventures.com.au/abseiling-blue-mountains/abseiling-courses
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/abseiling/

Camping is always great fun for everyone. It’s a way of getting out of the city, relaxing, spending time with good friends and enjoying some delicious treats.

NSW has many camping spots to choose from. We certainly are spoilt!

Here are some websites with general information to get started:

http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/
http://www.outbackcrossing.com.au/Camping/Camping_Tips_and_Hints.shtml
http://wikicamps.com.au/

Happy camping!