What to Expect

Join us on a memorable sea kayaking adventure with our Half Day Inner Island Turtle Tour with daily departures from Shute Harbour just near Airlie Beach, perfectly crafted to cater to both experienced sea kayak paddlers and beginners. This tour is our most popular offering, designed with an emphasis on fun, relaxation, and the exploration of the stunning natural environment of the Whitsunday Islands.

Features and Highlights

Half Day Inner Island Kayaking Turtle Tour

• Tour Overview:

• Enjoy a half-day sea kayaking journey that takes you from Shute Harbour over fringing coral reefs to explore the nearby tropical islands. This tour combines the excitement of kayaking with the serene beauty of the Whitsundays' Great Barrier Reef.

• Diverse Marine and Bird Life:

• These waters are a haven for an incredible variety of marine and bird life. Paddle in areas frequented by sea turtles and soaring eagles, and, if you're here between July and September, you might also encounter the annual humpback whale migration.

• Relaxing Stops and Educational Insights:

• Our half day kayaking tour includes stops at unique local beaches or islands such as White Rock or Cane Cockie's Beach, where you can swim, snorkel (equipment provided free of charge), or simply relax. During these stops, our knowledgeable guides will share insights about the local ecosystem and wildlife.

• Refreshments Provided:

• Enjoy cold drinks, muesli bars, and a fruit platter during a break, providing a perfect time to refresh and soak in the surroundings before heading back.

• Suitability and Accessibility:

• This family-friendly half day kayaking tour is suitable for participants as young as 7 years old, making it an ideal choice for a family outing. With no need for rigorous paddling, the focus is on enjoying the scenery and wildlife.
• Daily departures from Shute Harbour ensure easy access for those staying in or near Airlie Beach.

Important Notes

• Fitness and Conditions:

• A medium level of fitness is required, although the emphasis is on enjoyment rather than exertion. Weather conditions can influence the kayaking experience, with adaptations made as needed for safety and comfort.

• Comprehensive Experience:

• This half day kayaking tour is an excellent way to intimately experience the Whitsunday Islands' marine life and pristine environments through the engaging and active pursuit of sea kayaking.

Join us for the Half Day Inner Island Turtle Tour to explore the Whitsunday Islands in a fun, relaxed, and informative setting. Whether you are a seasoned kayaker or a first timer, this tour promises an unforgettable adventure in one of Australia's most beautiful natural landscapes the Great Barrier Reef.

All cancellations must be in writing.

We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.

In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.

Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.

Operators policy:

Booking and Payment
Advance booking of kayaks is advisable, especially in school holidays. 
Cancellation by client – We understand that travel plans vary and that occasionally you may need to alter or cancel your reservation with us. Provided that sufficient notice is given, this is not usually a problem and we can usually organise a rescheduling of trip to a more suitable time or a partial refund. Short notice cancellations however means that we may have turned down other clients and will have occurred expenses for permits, food, transport, staff etc. In these instances, a refund is not available. Full details of our policy is set out below.
No-Shows & Cancellation Fees
HALF DAY AND FULL DAY TRIPS AND KAYAK HIRE/RENTALS
Cancellation of half day and day trips and rentals within 48 hours will occur a 100% cancellation fee. No refunds are made for cancellations within 48 hours. All other cancellations incur a 20% of full trip price cancellation fee.
No-Shows & Cancellation Fees
6 DAY AND EXTENDED TOURS
If you cancel your 6 Day or Extended tour more than 60 days prior to departure date, you agree to forfeit your deposit.
If you cancel your 6 Day or Extended tour between 60 days and 15 days prior to departure date, you agree to be liable for 75% of the full cost of your tour.
If you cancel your 6 Day or Extended tour less than 15 days prior to departure date, you agree to be liable for 100% of the cost of your tour.
All other cancellations incur a 20% of full trip price.
Please note that in the event of a no-show, full payment is required. At our discretion this fee may be used as a  credit towards a future trip or hire.
Note: For sea kayak rentals, once your trip has commenced, there are no refunds for any reasons, including bad weather. This includes an individuals or group that returns before their period of hire has finished. If strong winds or sea conditions on the last day of your hire means you can’t safely kayak back to our base at Shute Harbour, you should contact us as soon as possible. We will usually offer a couple of alternatives including:
1 Staying out an extra day until it is safe to kayak, there will be no extra cost for this day, or
2 Catching the water taxi back to Shute Harbour, any costs incurred with this option will need to be Covered by yourselves.
Groups – Occasionally only part of a group with a booking arrives with no prior notice of the partial Cancellation. In this situation, the redundant booking is payable by the group in full.
Cancellation by Salty Dog Sea Kayaking
Salty Dog Sea Kayaking reserves the right to delay, postpone, substitute or cancel a trip as a matter of safety for our guests and guides. We will make the final call whether to cancel for safety reasons on site at the time the event is scheduled to begin. If we must cancel for any reason, we are happy to reschedule where possible or we give you a full refund less any booking fees payable to your booking agent (please check their policies at time of booking). Please note we have a minimum number of 4 on overnight trips. We highly recommend you take out suitable travel insurance to cover any refund shortfall. Overnight and extended trips – If the forecast is for improving weather conditions, we will ask our clients if they can accept a delayed start or reschedule onto another trip.
If the weather deteriorates once the trip has commenced to the point where safety is compromised, we may have to transfer clients via water taxi (we cover this cost). In this case a partial refund will be given based on a pro-rata per day for each day not spent in the National Park.
Half Day and Full Day Guided Trips – Once your trip has commenced there are no refunds. Occasionally, the guide may need to change the route of the trip for safety reasons or to suit the abilities of the group. If a situation arises such as a dramatic worsening of weather during the trip and the guide deems it unsafe to continue, Salty Dog Sea Kayaking will cover the cost of the water taxi for our clients back to our base at Shute Harbour.
Kayak Rentals – Occasionally we need to cancel a client’s Sea Kayak Rental where it is evident that they don’t have the ability or skills required to safely undertake this activity. Where this situation arises, rental fee less commission payable to booking agents (usually around 15%) is refunded.
Note:
1 Salty Dog Sea Kayaking reserves the right to cancel a client’s tour in the event of non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the rental – in this situation, there is no refund.
2 Salty Dog Sea Kayaking reserves the right to cancel or change the itinerary of a trip due to such things as prevailing weather conditions and group abilities. Such a change is not just cause for a client to cancel a trip without application of the cancellation policy.
3 If Salty Dog Sea Kayaking cancels the trip or hire, you agree that Salty Dog Sea Kayaking will not be liable for any further amounts, including but not limited to, airfares, accommodation and any additional expenses incurred by you due to such a cancellation.
Travel Insurance
We strongly advise all clients to consider arranging appropriate travel insurance. With rentals, clients are solely responsible for their personal equipment, including any luggage or personal belongings left behind at the Salty Dog Sea Kayaking Depot.
AGE POLICY
Guided Trips – On our guided trips, we need to consider the expectations of all of our guests as well as safety aspects. For this reason, Guided Trips longer than a half day are usually restricted to paddlers 16 years and over, unless specific arrangements have been made (eg school trips, customised family tours).
We have taken children of all ages from toddlers to 80 years of age, but please discuss your options with us prior to booking, we can help find a time with conditions suitable for your family’s needs.
Freedom Rentals – Kayakers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian 18 years or older. Please discuss your options with us before hiring kayaks for youths or children.