Water Sports in Australia and the Pacific

Tackle the grade II and III rapids of the Barron River on this adrenaline-pumping half-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Prepare to get wet and wild as you hurtle over the rapids, then float downstream past the jagged cliffs, plunging ravines and lush rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Best of all: with gentle rapids and full instruction provided, this tour is suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.

Enjoy a private 2-hour cruise on the Yarra River with this self-drive boat rental in Melbourne. No license is required to drive this vessel, which has a fully enclosed cabin option if needed. Bring up to 10 friends and family members on board for a relaxing and scenic cruise. Create your own sightseeing tour by passing top attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Southbank, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Federation Square and the Docklands. You can even disembark at Herring Island Park to walk around its outdoor sculpture park.

Experience Sydney Harbour in a unique way: during a 30-minute wild ride on 'Thunder', a jet boat capable of slides, twists, wave riding, and fishtails. Enjoy some sightseeing between tricks with views of Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, Rose Bay and other famous Harbour landmarks.

Go white-water rafting on the Tongariro River on a 2-hour rafting trip that's ideal for families and first-time rafters. Paddle through a series of small, easy-going rapids with an experienced river guide to show you the ropes, then warm up with a warm cup of coffee or tea. This 2-hour tour includes round-trip transport from your hotel in Turangi or Taupo, and is limited to 15 people for a personalized experience. Both morning and afternoon departures are available.

Explore the waters off the coast of Perth on a Jet Ski tour from Hillarys Boat Harbour. With a guide, you'll cruise out to sea to look for Indian Ocean marine life.

See colorful marine life within Batemans Bay on a 2.5 hour kayak tour in glass-bottom kayaks. Your guide leads a fun and family-friendly tour of the Bateman Marine Park Sanctuary in stable kayaks, the perfect way to explore this otherwise inaccessible area and observe the underwater world. Light refreshments and use of equipment are included.

Get out on the water at Bora Bora with this combo Jet Ski and snorkeling tour that includes a shark and stingray boat safari. Select a single or double jet ski and zip around the Polynesian paradise with an experienced guide. After lunch at Bloody Mary's, hop in a powerboat to a shallow lagoon for a close encounter with black-tip reef sharks and stingrays.

Save money and explore the waters of Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island National Park at your leisure with this single or double kayak rental, which is far less expensive than a guided tour. The park is full of beaches and lagoons, and a great place to spot stingrays, sea birds, and kangaroos. Your kayak, paddles, and lifejacket come with a safety briefing and instructions for first-timers.

See the best of Cairns with a two-day package that provides the ultimate reef and rainforest experience. First, explore the town of Kuranda, traveling via the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Then discover the aquatic wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on a 5-hour ocean cruise with stops for snorkeling and scubadiving. Return to Cairns by helicopter, taking a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Have the option to add on admission to Rainforestation in Kuranda to learn about Aboriginal culture and Australian wildlife.

Airlie Beach is a popular basecamp for visiting the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef, but there are plenty of opportunities for adventure activities without leaving town. This 30-minute jet boat ride will get your adrenaline soaring, as you zoom past the glitzy marina; perform daring turns, drifts and power stops; and enjoy magnificent views of the Whitsundays as you cruise around Pioneer Bay.

Go Waitomo black-water rafting (cave tubing) for a memorable adventure in the Waitomo Caves. Choose a 3-hour Labyrinth experience that takes you floating underground on an inner tube, including a small waterfall jump. Or upgrade to the 5-hour Black Abyss for an exhilarating abseil (rappel) down limestone walls; instruction and equipment included. The resident glowworms, stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you! Finish with a hot shower, soup and bagel.

Step aboard the AquaQuest, a luxury dive and snorkel vessel, for an 8-hour cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Visit dive sites such as St. Crispin's Reefs, Opal, and Agincourt. Comfortable seating area, freshwater showers, and Nitrox available on board the boat. Lunch and snacks provided, all snorkel equipment (including wet suits) provided.

Experience Melbourne at sunset from the water on a 2.5-hour kayak tour on the Yarra River. Your guide takes you around Victoria Harbour and along Southbank where you pause to see the fire-ball display at Crown Casino. Enjoy an on-the-water dinner of fish and chips, then see downtown Melbourne before your tour ends next to Princess Bridge. Includes guide, use of equipment, light dinner, and kayak tour.

Paddle a kayak through Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, then step on the shore for a 45-minute guided walk to the Rangitoto crater, where you'll enjoy panoramic views of Auckland's skyline. This 6-hour evening sunset tour is led by a kayaking and hiking guide, which ensures that you can focus on the scenery and the activities rather than navigation and directions. You'll learn much more about the geography, flora, and fauna of the region than you would by exploring independently.

Discover the natural wonders of Lake Mapourika on this 4-hour kayaking adventure. Paddle around the lake against a backdrop of the Franz Josef Glacier, head ashore for a hike around the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, and learn more about New Zealand's famous Kiwi birds.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to swim with dolphins in the wild during an Akaroa Harbour cruise. Strap on your provided wetsuit, flippers and snorkel gear, then slip into the water to swim alongside inquisitive Hector's dolphins. This full-day trip from Christchurch includes a drive through the South Island countryside to Akaroa. You'll admire breathtaking points of interest such as Governor's Bay and Lake Ellesmere en route, enjoy free time to explore Akaroa, then visit a cheese factory for a tasting session in Barry's Bay.

Discover the Brisbane River either by day or night on a 90-minute kayak tour. Enjoy a water perspective on the Story Bridge or the South Bank Parklands after learning the basics of paddling from your expert guide. If you choose the night tour, you’ll hop into illuminated kayaks and enjoy the multicolored displays on the Story Bridge or glide past the evening lights of South Bank. This kayak tour is suitable for all levels of experience and provides a fantastic look at the city’s vital waterway.

Bora Bora may be a small island but there is a lot to see and do. If you make independent tour plans, you may miss out on some spectacular sights. Instead, book this combo excursion that includes a tour of the island in a 4WD open-air safari truck, lunch at the world famous Bloody Mary's Restaurant, and a cruise of Bora Bora lagoon to snorkel the coral gardens and encounter stringrays and black-tip reef sharks.

Enjoy a guaranteed shark encounter as you plunge into the warm waters of the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA). Mingle with seven different shark species, plus turtles, stingrays, and a wealth of fish as you snorkel with our qualified divemasters in a group no larger than three. Start with a comprehensive briefing; leave with a certificate.

Choose your own adventure on an overnight trip to Moreton Island from Brisbane. Cruise over to the paradise island on a luxury ferry, and spend the day scuba diving, sea kayaking, snorkeling among shipwrecks, or practicing your balance on a stand-up paddle board. If you prefer more low-key activities, you can relax on the beach beneath an umbrella, get a massage, or explore the reefs without getting wet on a glass-bottom boat tour. Stay overnight in a shared room at the Tangalooma Island Resort.