I’ve written before about the frustration of trying to keep a canoe straight and about the techniques that make paddling smoother, from the forward stroke through to the elusive J-stroke. Those two PaddleMag articles were all about the mechanics: how to get from zigzags and bickering to gliding with grace and efficiency.

The great thing about a half day canoeing adventure is how easy it is to just go. Unlike a full day of paddling which requires a bit more planning to make sure you have the food you’ll need for a longer adventure and are ready for whatever the weather may throw at you later in the day, a half day splash doesn’t need much thought beyond looking out the window and seeing what the sky above has in store for you.

You don’t need to know any technical terms to be able to enjoy canoeing, but if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about then start with this handy guide.

Unexpected capsizes are rare when canoeing, but no one wants to get all their gear wet when they haven’t planned for it. Waterproofing your gear is easy and can be cheap too. Most waterproof solutions also result in gear that floats – a critical consideration so that it doesn’t end up on the bed of the waterway. Here are our top tips for waterproofing.

Canoe paddles come in so many sizes, shapes and materials. But to have fun you only need one. This handy guide will tell you why – out of all the paddle designs across the globe – you’ll typically only find two different types of paddles in most canoes across Australia.