Family Canoe Adventures in Kangaroo Valley

For many international visitors, Australia is all about nature, freedom, and unforgettable landscapes. In Kangaroo Valley, you get all three - and so much more. Just two hours from Sydney, this peaceful pocket of rainforest, rivers, and rolling farmland invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect to what matters.

Why Visit Kangaroo Valley on Your Australian Holiday?

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the real Australia - not just the cities or the icons, but the soul of the land - Kangaroo Valley is waiting for you.

Nestled between the Southern Highlands and the NSW South Coast, this valley is one of the most scenic and serene destinations in the country. Known for its rich Aboriginal heritage, untouched landscapes, and deep sense of community, it offers a slower kind of travel. One that’s all about “time in nature together.”

There are no chain stores here. No traffic lights. Just winding roads, historic charm, and warm hospitality. It’s not just a place to visit - it’s a place to simply be.

Here are the top three nature-based experiences to enjoy in Kangaroo Valley as an international visitor:

1. Paddle the Kangaroo River

Canoeing or kayaking along the calm waters of the Kangaroo River is one of the most peaceful and iconic ways to experience the Australian landscape.

The flat, gentle water makes it accessible for all ages and experience levels. Paddle beneath the Historic Hampden Bridge, through tree-lined corridors alive with birdsong, and past sunbathing water dragons and munching wombats.

You can book a short 2-hour paddle, a full-day guided tour with lunch, or even an overnight canoe camping adventure through Shoalhaven Gorge.

This is the heart of Valley Outdoors - and we’re proud to be the trusted local experts in family-friendly and inclusive paddling experiences. You’ll leave feeling grounded, connected, and wildly refreshed.

2. Explore Rainforest Trails & Waterfalls

From misty morning walks to sunset lookouts, Kangaroo Valley’s walking trails are a dream for nature lovers.

Some favourites include:

The Pioneer Village Museum Walk (right in the village, easy and scenic)
Fitzroy Falls East and West Rim walks (accessible boardwalks with sweeping views)
The Three Views Trail in Morton National Park (panoramic escarpment vistas)

These walks let you experience Australian native plants and wildlife up close - without needing any special equipment or hiking experience. Just bring water, a camera, and a sense of wonder.

3. Soak Up Small Village Life

One of the most charming parts of Kangaroo Valley is the village itself. With heritage shopfronts, friendly locals, and homegrown delights, it’s the perfect place to unwind.

Stroll through boutique stores, enjoy lunch in a local café, try handmade fudge or gelato, and don’t miss the photo opportunity at the famous red phone booth and Vespa outside The Friendly Inn.

Take your time here - walk, talk, eat, laugh, rest. This is what time in nature together really means.

The sun sets on an image of a big canoe with a group of tourists paddling.

Travel Tips for International Visitors

Getting Here: Kangaroo Valley is 2 hours from Sydney, 2.5 from Canberra, and 45 minutes inland from the coast. You’ll need a car to access the region easily.

Where to Stay: Choose from cabins, eco-lodges, farm stays, glamping, or riverside camping. There’s something for every comfort level.

When to Visit: The Valley is beautiful year-round. Spring and autumn offer mild weather. Summer is perfect for swimming and paddling. Winter brings crisp air, wood fires, and starry nights.

We Can’t Wait to Welcome You

At Valley Outdoors, we believe that travel should be meaningful - not rushed. We’re here to help you explore at your own pace, with experiences that celebrate nature, connection, and community.

👉Book a canoe tour or guided adventure
👉Contact us for help planning your visit

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Kind Words
“We came from Canada and booked a family canoe tour with Valley Outdoors. It was the highlight of our trip. We felt like we’d discovered a secret corner of Australia that most tourists miss.”– Marc & Rachel, Vancouver

Tourism Tribe

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!

Omar

Met the owners and they are lovely!!

Joe Nissim

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.

Alekya Polu

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.

Lisa Shakhovskaya

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!

Y B

The absolute BEST time. Thank you Sarah for your pleasant and kind nature. Andy our kayak guide was brilliant. Highly recommend

Alexander Iskrenov

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!

Irene Bartlett

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.

Michael Marr

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.

Georgia S

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

Why International Travellers Fall in Love with Kangaroo Valley

Sarah Frenay