Hot sands, wild rivers, bays with towers of coral and waves that curl like a rockabilly quiff – Sydney is a paradise for adventure on and under the water. For adrenaline-chasers, there are world-class waves and whitewater runs, foils and jet boats built for speed, and reefs home to sharks and turtles. For the quiet adventurers, try paddleboard expeditions, SUP pilates and a sauna in Sydney Harbour.

Your next adrenaline hit

Surfing may be the famous action-hero of the NSW watersports scene, but the state’s rivers, lakes, bays and beaches also host a huge diversity of aquatic adventures to get the heart racing. Take in Sydney Harbour’s icons, while spinning, splashing and thundering past in a jet boat with Oz Jet Boating or Thunder Jet Boat. In Western Sydney, Penrith is a hub for adventure. Penrith Whitewater Stadium, purpose-built for the 2000 Olympics, is uniquely set up for both beginner paddling and intense raft adventures, as well as kayak courses where you can test yourself against Olympic times; Cables Wake Park teaches you to wakeboard via zipline (jumps and obstacles included); and Jet Pack Adventures lets you feel like a water-powered Iron Man.

In Brooklyn, on the Hawkesbury River, Jet Ski Safaris will take you around the bends of the river at 30 knots, while Fliteschool Manly and OzFoiling (with multiple locations on the Mid North Coast) will teach you how to cruise the coastline via eFoil, a motorised surfboard that glides above the water like an elegant seabird. 

You can also practice on a perfectly shaped, perfectly reliable wave (with multiple options suitable for beginners or experts) at URBNSURF, Olympic Park’s surf park, and finish off with a meal at RAFI, the onsite Applejack-run restaurant and bar that overlooks the waves.

Soar high above the harbour

Gaze down in awe at Sydney Harbour and a string of golden surf beaches on an unforgettable scenic flight with Sydney Seaplanes. If you’ve never been on a seaplane before, you’re in for a treat as your pilot taxis away from a wharf in the pretty harbourside suburb of Rose Bay, points the nose at the grand houses lining the foreshore, thuds over the chop and lifts the roaring seaplane up into the air. 

Buckle up for a 30-minute Sydney Secrets scenic flight, which heads up to Palm Beach at the tip of the Northern Beaches, returning via the picture-perfect Pittwater and passing over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House before landing at Rose Bay. Fly over Bondi’s famous crescent-shaped beach as well as Sydney Harbour on the 15-minute Sydney Highlights flight, or book a dine-and-flight package to be whisked away by seaplane to an exclusive waterfront restaurant such as Berowra Waters Inn or Cottage Point Inn for a delicious leisurely lunch.

Cruise into summer

If heights aren’t your thing, there’s no better way to soak in the summer on Sydney Harbour than from the water itself. Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney offers a way to sightsee while indulging in the best of NSW’s culinary offerings. Step aboard the Spirit of Migloo, a 78-foot cruiser, and be welcomed with a glass of sparkling before settling in for a 2.5-hour all-inclusive dinner cruise. 

For those seeking a more intimate connection with the water, Manly Sailing offers a unique blend of heritage and adventure aboard Southwinds, a beautifully restored 1950s sailing yacht. Begin your journey with a powerboat transfer from Barangaroo, then sail across the harbour to enjoy lunch or dinner at the historic Boilerhouse Kitchen & Bar at Manly’s Quarantine Station. Alternatively, take the helm yourself on a Luxury Sydney Harbour Cruise or join a sailing lesson to learn the ropes. And for a taste of the Mediterranean right in Sydney, Solaré, a floating restaurant, cocktail bar, and beach club, brings three levels of sun-drenched hospitality to the harbour, with coastal Italian cuisine and refined drinks curated by top chefs Pablo Tordesillas and Nick Mathieson. It’s a world-first experience that redefines summer on the water.

Paddling sunrise to sunset

Every river, bay and lake has a different scene and a different story, and cruising on a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lets you discover at your own pace. NSW is also full of explorers and local experts ready to guide you along the way. In Sydney, Sydney Harbour Kayaks and Sydney by Kayak will introduce you to the harbour at its multicolour best with dawn and dusk paddles. Manly Kayak Centre has both hire and guided options for kayaks and SUP, as well as giving you the opportunity to try your hand at SUPBALL, which is like polo but replaces the horse with a SUP. Cronulla SUP and Balmoral Paddlesurf let you explore less famous, but no less beautiful, beaches of Sydney’s south and north respectively.

Wellness on the water

Sydney’s iconic harbour is now home to two transformative wellness experiences that invite guests to reconnect with nature and themselves. Wellness Afloat offers a Nordic-inspired journey aboard The Ark, a sustainable floating sanctuary crafted from recycled materials. As guests glide past landmarks en route to Berry’s Bay, they’re immersed in contrast therapy with panoramic cedar sauna views, invigorating cold plunges, herbal teas, and nourishing snacks, all surrounded by a living reef and ocean roof garden. Meanwhile, Aqua Sculpt Floating Pilates & Sound Baths in Double Bay blends gentle movement and mindfulness with floating pilates sessions followed by immersive sound baths, creating a serene fusion of fitness and relaxation. Together, these experiences redefine wellness by harmonising body, mind, and the natural beauty of Sydney’s waterways.

Reel in a new experience across NSW

With pristine rivers and wild oceans, NSW is a dream for fishing for both newbies and those looking for the next big catch. Out on the oceans of the South Coast Kiama Charter Service will help you pull in your first deep-sea fish (go for blue-eye trevalla, gemfish or hapuka). While Port Macquarie Fishing Charters, Reel Ocean Adventures (in Tuncurry) and Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters, provide the boats, deep-sea equipment and vibes on the North Coast. Inland, learn traditional yabbying in the bush at Narrabri Fish Farm, or set up your own line on NSW’s most epic jetties at Coffs Harbour, Lake Macquarie and Lake St Clair in the Hunter Valley. If you know the ways of a fly fisher, the Snowy Mountains and Blue Mountains are the hot spots.

Explore NSW’s coral reefs

The pristine, ecologically rich seas of NSW have seen the development of 10 protected marine parks covering more than 100,000 square kilometres, offering a haven to wildly diverse range of sea life. Beyond those areas, in the harbour and the bays of the coastal cities, there are also vibrant ecosystems ripe for snorkel or scuba dive trips. Self-guided snorkelling can be done in most places along the coast and, provided you have the equipment and training, so can diving. Or learn the ropes with a tour. Woebegone Expeditions and Courses will teach you how to explore the reefs of the South Coast with safe, freediving techniques; Region X Snorkel Tours has you jumping off a kayak with a snorkel around Batemans Bay; and Ecotreasures fits in a headland walk between time in the aquatic reserve around Manly. For new divers, you can explore the lower North Coast with Jetty Dive Centre or the tropical far North Coast with Cooly Eco Adventures. While Sydney Underwater Scooters will set you up with a handheld swim-assister and show you the clear waters and underwater fauna of Sydney’s Gordon’s Bay.

On the Sapphire Coast combine your next river adventure with a story, like on Navigate Expeditions’ Aboriginal Culture Tour, where you journey into the land’s Indigenous heritage, or a Kayak and Shuck Tour where you visit the oyster farms. On the North Coast, social enterprise and SUP tour guides Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours offers cultural eco-tourism on a paddleboard around the pristine waters of Solitary Island Marine Park. Not far away in The Tweed, Watersports Guru offers SUP lessons and hire, allowing you to cruise the waters Cudgen Creek while taking in the local birdlife – if you’re lucky you may even see a pod of dolphins.