Canoe Bournda Lagoon
Bournda National Park
Overview
Paddle along pristine Bournda Lagoon on a guided canoeing adventure in Bournda National Park. Find out about the park's waterways and see the park from a unique perspective on this family-friendly tour.
- When
Dates: Wednesday 12 April, 19 April, 27 September 2023.
Time: All tours 10am to 12pm, meet at 9.45am
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Easy. Suitable for adults and teens 17 years and over. No canoeing experience needed.
- Price
-
Adult/child $42 per person.
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- Meeting point
- Bournda Lagoon carpark
- Equipment
provided - Yes. Life vests, canoe and instructions are provided.
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water, snacks, insect repellent, sturdy shoes
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
- Availability
- Group bookings available on request, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Earliest start 10am, latest finish 3pm. Minimum $500 per group (6 participants minimum). For group bookings, email or phone 02 6495 5000 or 0448 765 381.
Join an NPWS guide on an easy canoe trip along beautiful Bournda Lagoon in Bournda National Park. You'll be paddling one of the most picturesque waterways of the Sapphire Coast.
Previous canoeing experience is not required. The waterway is calm and sheltered, making this the perfect family-friendly activity. Keep your eyes peeled for rock orchids, water dragons, kingfishers and the occasional sea eagle as you make your way across the lagoon.
Afterwards, why not enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of the paperbarks before cooling off with a dip or taking a self-guided walk through the park.
Bring drinking water and snacks, and wear a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and enclosed shoes.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/guided-tours/canoe-bournda-lagoon/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Bournda National Park in the South Coast region
Bournda National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.
-
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. This park uses a self-registration fee collection system, please bring correct change.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Canoe Bournda Lagoon.
Getting there and parking
Bournda Lagoon is in the southern part of Bournda National Park. To get there:
- Travel along Sapphire Coast Drive
- Turn onto Bournda Road, which has a signpost to Hobart Beach campground, and follow this road into the national park.
- Take the first right to Bournda Lagoon and follow to the end
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Bournda Lagoon carpark.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Not wheelchair-accessible.
Learn more
Canoe Bournda Lagoon is in Bournda National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Birdwatchers haven
With around 200 species of birds in the area, Bournda is a birdwatcher's paradise. The estuarine wetlands at the eastern end of Wallagoot Lake provide roosting and feeding areas for a large variety of waders and waterfowl. Keep your eyes out for threatened species like the little tern, hooded plover and pied oystercatcher. Bondi Lake is the largest freshwater lake situated behind coastal dunes in the region, and is another important habitat for waterbirds.
- Bournda Lagoon Bournda Lagoon is an ideal spot within Bournda National Park, near North Tura, where kids can swim, fish and go paddling and picnic among the paper barks.
- Bournda workshops to awaken your wild side Activate your wild self and boost your sense of well-being on these delightful workshops with Wild Cherry Nature Connection, inspired by the natural beauty of Bournda National Park, near Tathra.
- Canoe Bournda Lagoon Paddle along pristine Bournda Lagoon on a guided canoeing adventure in Bournda National Park. Find out about the park's waterways and see the park from a unique perspective on this family-friendly tour.
- Kangarutha walking track Kangarutha walking track, in Bournda National Park, is a hiking route with scenic coastal views and birdwatching, picnicking and swimming opportunities along the way.
- Sandy Creek loop track Taking in Bournda Lagoon, Sandy Creek and pockets of dry sclerophyll forest, Sandy Creek loop track is a hike in Bournda National Park on the far South Coast.
Get active
With so much to do, there's no excuse not to get active in Bournda. The beaches and waterways offer a range of options for watersport enthusiasts - waterskiing, boating, paddling, sail boarding, fishing, swimming and surfing. The coastal walk is perfect for hikers and those hoping to spot migrating whales. And for cyclists, the roads throughout the park are an extensive network to navigate on your bike.
- Bournda workshops to awaken your wild side Activate your wild self and boost your sense of well-being on these delightful workshops with Wild Cherry Nature Connection, inspired by the natural beauty of Bournda National Park, near Tathra.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 2 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
Ships ahoy
There's plenty of fascinating heritage in Bournda, dating back to the 1830s when European settlement of the district began. Today, you can still see anchor bolts at Kangarutha Point, which was established as a port with Kianinny Bay in 1859. It's also believed the existing track to the point, and parts of the coastal walk, were once used to supply ships anchored there, and transport produce and passengers. Some building remains can also be found around Games Bay, which was cleared for dairy farming by settler Mr Games.
The land of generations
Bournda has been a special place for the Dhurga and Yuin people for thousands of years, with its plentiful food supply and quarry for making tools. As you explore the park and its wildlife, it'll be no surprise that 'Bournda' means 'place of tea tree and kangaroos'.
- Bournda bush tucker tour Walk alongside an NPWS Aboriginal guide on this easy stroll through Bournda National Park. Join the search for traditional bush tucker and medicine plants on this cultural tour near Bega.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 2 HSIE excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Traditional weaving workshop: Bournda Get creative on a traditional weaving workshop in Bournda National Park, near Bega. Learn Aboriginal weaving techniques and see how these ancient skills carry a strong connection to Aboriginal culture.