Port Hacking Estuary

The Port Hacking Estuary is in South Sydney’s Sutherlandshire. It is fed from the Hacking River that originates in the Royal National Park. The estuary can be paddled from its tidal reach at the Audley Weir to its heads at Cronulla and the Royal National Park near Bundeena. The estuary has many bays on its northern side, running into the suburbs. On its southern side is the Royal National Park and there are some wonderful creeks that provide access into the National Park. A chart of the estuary can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/9f-port-hacking.pdf

Throughout the year, the River Canoe regularly paddles the Port Hacking Estuary. It offers a good variety of paddling opportunities for beginners through to experienced paddlers.  In places it is sheltered and enclosed by bushland. Many bays are lined with luxury houses, marinas and mooring for yachts providing plenty of interest. There are stretches of open water that can be choppy especially where currents flow. Tidal flows can be significant. At Simpson’s Bay, near Bundeena, surf is often available to play in.  Close to the heads’ paddlers can experience more open water and ocean swell.  As this is a shared waterway, paddlers need to be mindful of fast moving boats and, where possible, avoid paddling in deep water channels when power boats are nearby.

There are numerous places to launch a kayak or canoe. Listed below are some of the club’s favourites launch spots and destinations.

Audley – Reids Flat Picnic Area

Reids Flat is in the Royal National Park a few hundred meters from the Audley Weir at the end of Riverside Drive. There is easy car access subject to National Parks access charge. The waterway here is sheltered and generally still unless after significant rain. As this is at one end of the Port Hacking Estuary, it provides a great starting location for anyone wishing a significant paddle towards Bundeena and the heads. It is also a safe place to practice certain paddle skills such as rolls, exits and rescues. If a long paddle is planned it is a good idea to find a day when the tides assist.

Good return trip paddles from Reids Flat include:

Grays Point – 5km
NorthWest Arm – 12km
Yowie Bay Boat Ramp (Wonga Road) – 15km
SouthWest Arm (Winifred Falls) – 24km
Simpson’s Bay (Bonnievale) – 24km
Jibbon Beach via Bass and Flinders Point and Jibbon Head (includes open water crossing) – 27km

Some powerboats may be encountered between Grays Point and Audley but should be travelling slowly as speed limits are in place.  East (seaward) of Grays Point faster boat traffic may be encountered. After significant rain, the Audley Weir is prone to closure due to deep water running over the weir into the tidal estuary. All weirs are dangerous to kayaks and canoes due to recirculating currents that can capture a kayak or swimmer. The weir should be avoided at these times. Car access to Reids Flat is also closed when the weir is closed. The closest access point to Audley is then from Swallow Rock at Grays Point.

Yowie Bay

Yowie Bay is one of many bays that run into the Sutherlandshire suburbs that is surrounded by housing. It has an excellent public boat ramp to launch, although this can become busy. The bay has several marinas and many yachts making it an interesting place to paddle. Yowie Bay also provides easy access to the southern side of Port Hacking Estuary, including the South West Arm, Bonnievale and Simpsons Bay

Good return trip paddles from Yowie Bay include:

Audley/Reids Flat – 15km
South West Arm (Winifred Falls) – 15km
Simpson’s Bay (Bonnievale) – 14km
Jibbon Beach via Bass and Flinders Point and Jibbon Head (includes open water crossing) – 19km

South West Arm Creek

The South West Arm Creek entrance is opposite Lilli Pilli and runs into the Royal National Park for about 3.5km. It is a pretty paddle that is easily accessible from the various boat ramps on the northern side of Port Hacking. It is best paddled around high tide as the shallow water can make it impassable at other times.

Getting to the entrance of the South West Arm from the northern side of Port Hacking requires a crossing of around 600m. This crossing is usually calm but can be affected by wind and chop. It also requires crossing the boating channel. Paddlers should cross in a group, avoiding boats, and minimise the time spent in the channel. The headland at Warumbul is prone to strong tidal flow and is often choppy. The outer entrance to the South West Arm is usually sheltered and calm making it an attractive destination for fast power boats and occasionally water skiers. Keeping close to shore should be enough to keep clear of these watercraft. Once further in, fast boats are unlikely to be encountered, albeit the area is also popular with kids in tinnie’s (aluminium boats with an outboard engine).

Bonnievale and Simpsons Bay

Bonnievale is a beach located in the Royal National close to Bundeena that has good car access (National Park access fees apply). It sits on Simpsons bay which, in the right conditions can be a heap of fun. Bonnievale provides a great place to launch kayaks, but can become very busy in the summer. This is because it is a family friendly beach with calm water that shelves very slowly. Simpson’s bay is a large expanse of often shallow water which can become choppy with the effects of wind and tidal flow. Simpsons Bay is close to 1km wide and features a large sandbar that, in places, can become exposed at low tide. Simpsons Bay is often flat but in right conditions the swell from the ocean 2km away creates very nicely formed waves across the sandbar. These waves are a popular for surfing by kayakers and paddle boards. They are an excellent place for a group of kayakers to practice important surf and rescue skills in relative safety whilst having a lot of fun.

Note: the entrance to Simpson’s Bay from the other parts of the Port Hacking estuary is via a narrow channel less than 100m wide at the and of Deeban Spit. There is often very strong (fast) tidal flow through this channel and heavy boat traffic. This can be challenging for less experienced paddlers, especially where tidal flow, wind, and boat wakes combine. The channel can be avoided by carrying your kayak over the narrow spit.

Good return trip paddles from Bonnievale

Cabbage Tree Basin – 5km
Gunnamatta Bay – 7km
Burraneer Bay – 8km
South West Arm (Winifred Falls) – 16km
Yowie Bay – 14km
Audley/Reids Flat – 24km

Cabbage Tree Basin

Cabbage Tree Basin is nestled behind Bonnievale. It is reached via a shallow inlet on the southwestern corner of the beach leading to a narrow foot bridge that can be paddled under. It is a large, sheltered bay surrounded by low cliffs and trees and is well worth a visit. Avoid low tide as the basin is too shallow to paddle. At the far end of the basin is a creek running to a small waterfall.

With such a narrow entrance to a large bay the tidal flow rushes under the footbridge. Large tides provide an excellent opportunity to safely play in a strong current and practice river skills such as breaking in and out of the flow, ferry gliding and rope rescue. Capsizes are likely so only paddle in the flow if you are confident to wet exit. Beware also of oyster shells around the bridge.

Bundeena Bay

Bundeena Bay is about a 1.5km paddle from Simpsons Bay. It is possible to launch from Bundeena Bay but car parking can be difficult especially at busy times of the year. Bundeena Bay marks the transition from the smooth to partially smooth water, hence from this point the conditions become increasingly closer to those in the ocean as you paddle outwards towards the Port Hacking entrance which is 1.5km away. Whilst conditions can be smooth, especially in a southerly wind and swell, the bay is generally less sheltered than Simpson’s Bay, and can be choppy. The effects of ocean swell can often be felt. For these reasons the bay can be challenging for less experienced paddlers.

Close to the ferry wharf the beach is generally very sheltered, offering a good launch and exit point. This point is also close to shops and cafes.

Jibbon Beach and the Port Hacking Entrance

Jibbon Beach is a beautiful, quiet beach on the southern side of Port Hacking close to the entrance. The transition to Open (Ocean) Waters is considered to be from Port Hacking Head across to the Cronulla Peninsular near Oak Park, a distance of a little over 1km. However the effects of the ocean waves and swell often impact the area and therefore it is unsuitable for less experienced paddlers unless they are well supported by an experienced group. Jibbon Beach itself is often calm and sheltered when the wind and swell are from a southerly or easterly direction. At other times it may be necessary to negotiate choppy or rough conditions and surf on entry and exit.

Paddlers getting to Jibbon Beach from the southern shoreline may well encounter choppy and confused waves particularly around Gunyah Point where swell is reflected back from low rocky cliffs. Keep a safe distance from these cliffs and nearby rock platforms. The same conditions can also be encountered from the rocky shoreline between Jibbon Beach and Port Hacking Head. Swell at the head can also be elevated from rocky reefs and paddlers need to keep well away from breaking waves .