Family Adventures That Bring You Closer

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This summer, trade screens for sunshine and spend a day on the river together. Whether it’s your first time paddling or you’ve done it all before, a family canoe adventure in KangarooValley is the perfect way to slow down, laugh a little, and reconnect with each other and nature.

The Best Kind of School Holiday Adventure

Every summer, we see families arrive in Kangaroo Valley looking for something simple but special to do together. Something real. Not just another day out, but an experience that brings everyone a little closer.

For us, canoeing ticks every box. It’s adventurous, but easy to learn. Peaceful, but still full of fun. And best of all, it gets everyone working together; paddling, laughing, problem-solving, and sharing a moment that’s totally different from the usual rush of daily life.

Why Canoeing Works for Families  

I’ve seen kids go from hesitant to confident in just a few strokes. I’ve seen parents light up as they watch their kids take the lead. There’s something about the rhythm of paddling that naturally brings people into sync.

A canoe trip gives families a chance to:

  • Work as a team — learning to steer, balance, and move together
  • Build confidence — especially for kids trying something new
  • Enjoy nature — spotting birds, lizards, and native wildlife
  • Be present — no Wi-Fi, no rush, just water, trees, and time

It’s amazing what happens when you give everyone a paddle and a shared goal.

The Magic of Kangaroo Valley

There’s no place quite like Kangaroo Valley for family adventures. The lake is calm and accessible, winding through bushland and deep gorges with plenty of shady spots to stop for lunch or a swim.

Our guided tours are a great choice for first-timers or families with younger kids. Our guides know the safest sections, share stories about the landscape, and make sure everyone’s comfortable. For those with a bit more experience, canoe hire gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Either way, the Valley does the rest.

Tips for a Smooth Family Paddle

EA little preparation goes a long way. Here are a few of my top tips for making the most of your family adventure:

  • Pack smart: hats, sunscreen, reusable water bottles, and snacks.
  • Dress light: quick-dry clothes, swimmers underneath, and sturdy footwear.
  • Bring curiosity: let the kids lead the way, ask questions, and look for wildlife.
  • Take your time: enjoy the stops, the swims, the laughter — that’s what it’s all about.

We’ll take care of the gear, safety equipment, and planning so you can focus on having fun together.

More Than Just a Day Out

What makes canoeing special isn’t just the scenery, it’s the shared experience. The teamwork, the little challenges, the joy of discovering something new together.

At Valley Outdoors, that’s what we love most. Watching families reconnect, hearing laughter echo across the river, seeing kids’ faces light up when they realise they’re actually steering straight. Those are the moments that make what we do worthwhile.

So, if you’re looking for something different these school holidays — something calm, real, and full of connection — we’d love to see you on the water.

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Plan your family canoe adventure these school holidays at valleyoutdoors.com.au. Join one of our guided tours or hire a canoe and see how a day on the river can bring your family closer together.

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Tourism Tribe
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We had the pleasure of working with Valley Outdoors, an outstanding guided tour business based in Kangaroo Valley. The team offers bespoke experiences — from abseiling to canoe journeys — with a genuine focus on connecting people with nature. The recent acquisition of the iconic Kangaroo Valley Safaris is a real testament to their passion for growing adventure tourism in the region. A wonderful Australian tourism business doing it the right way. 100% recommend!
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Omar
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Met the owners and they are lovely!!
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Joe Nissim profile picture
Joe Nissim
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Had a brilliant trip with Valley Outdoors. Trev and Sarah were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The trip itself was spectacular and thoroughly enjoyable too- beautiful scenery and great to be exploring Kangaroo Valley for a few days.
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Alekya Polu
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We have recently visited Kangaroo valley and have done River Cannoying had a very good experience, we are glad that we have chosen Valley Outdoors for Hiring our Cannoying boat and equipment, the owner was so kind and gentle and professionally guided us and well prepared us with all the necessary information for Cannooying in the river, we told them we are not professionals,doing it for very first time.Their equipment including the quality of boats were really good.I also ended up in buying some swim warmers with decent prices,they were of so good quality with rare colours available which you barely can find outside I definitely recommend my friends to this shop.
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Lisa Shakhovskaya
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Had the best experience ever! Trav is an amazing guide, we had so much fun. We got to see a few azure kingfishers (dream come true!), a wallaby and a bunch of water dragons. Highly recommend for anyone visiting KV!
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Y B
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The absolute BEST time. Thank you Sarah for your pleasant and kind nature. Andy our kayak guide was brilliant. Highly recommend
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Alexander Iskrenov
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We had a great afternoon in a canoe cruising down the river. Sarah was extremely friendly and patiently walked us through what we should expect. Brie took us to the place and everyone received an excellent crash course on how to handle the equipment. The density of wildlife is truly astonishing - wombats, lyre birds, kingfishers, red belly blacks to name a few. We are looking forward to visiting again!
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Irene Bartlett
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From the first contact with Sarah I was blown away by her kindness and gentleness. My friend and I had an awesome adventure with valley outdoors and our guide Matt was just incredible. His knowledge of the river and wildlife was so educational. I would highly recommend this business to anyone who is looking for something different to do and to see parts of kangaroo valley that most people don't get to see . Thank you everyone for a fabulous experience.
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Michael Marr
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4 person expedition in single kayaks from Hampden Bridge to Bendeela Camp ground with Ken. Beautiful day, perfect temperature. Some fun, small rapids and 45 mins to a small beach for a coffee, chocolate and Lilly stop and then another 45 mins to the end. Stunning scenery, has the river to ourselves. Highly recommend doing this with Valley Outdoors,who are so well organised and friendly. Pleasure to deal with.
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Georgia S
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What a trip. The scenery!!! Incredible and I can't recommend Valley outdoors enough. An incredible professional team. We felt so supported with planning and in the execution of our trip - the hire gear was all in great condition. We enjoyed having the company of many wallabies, goannas, cheeky food stealing possums and Mountain Goats. So cool and especially our kiwi friends enjoyed seeing them in there natural environment Memories forever. Thank you

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the Wodi Wodi People, of the Dharawal language constellation, as the traditional custodians of the Gangagruwan/Kangaroo Valley in which we live and work. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities and we pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past, present and emerging.