Stand up paddle (SUP) boarding has grown immensely in popularity in Australia (particularly in warmer locations) over the last ten years, after originating in Hawaii as an alternative to surfing. Whether you choose to SUP board for leisure, exercise or means of exploring a beautiful location, you can be guaranteed to develop some killer core and upper body strength while having a blast out in nature all at once! Perfect for all ages (so long as you can swim and have a relative degree of fitness) and relatively easy to learn, SUP boarding is not only tons of fun but often generates barrels of laughs as you begin to master your skills!
If you don’t own a SUP board, no worries, many beautiful locations all around Australia have boards and paddles for hire, whether it be for an hour to give the activity a crack, or a week to master your new found skills and love for this ever-growing sport! Some locations, such as magnificent Fitzroy Island off the coast of Cairns, even have SUP boards with glass viewing panels built in, in order for you to experience the beauty of the ocean (or in the case of Fitzroy Island, the Great Barrier Reef!) below you.
Searching for some amazing locations near Cairns to whip out a SUP and get paddling? We’ve got you covered – read on to uncover four of the most incredible locations nearby to Cairns to get outside and get SUPing.
Mulgrave River, Wooroonooran National Park
With the opportunity to see turtles, fish and eels beneath you in the clear, pure water of the Mulgrave River alongside unique birdlife, SUPing (and drift snorkelling!) through the Goldsborough Valley of Wooroonooran National Park on a six-hour tour with What’s SUP Cairns is one of our top picks for amazing SUPing in the Cairns region.
This tour includes pick-up from your Cairns accommodation before heading on a 60-minute drive to Goldsborough Valley. You shall start with a beautiful rainforest hike to Kearney’s Falls and then gear up for your SUP adventure down the Mulgrave River. Finish your experience with a river snorkel and a yummy morning tea before your return trip to your accommodation.
Double Island, near Palm Cove
Looking for an ocean SUP experience? Then you should consider the Kayak Turtle Tour offered by Pacific Water Sports, which shall have you adventuring from Palm Cove to the reefs that surround the nearby Double and Haycock Islands.
If you’re in luck, you may witness several turtles frolicking in their natural habitat, as well as rays and shovel-nosed sharks as part of your adventure. Depending on the tide, you may find yourself SUPing your way through a limestone cave to explore the small stalacites above. The tour is completed with some beach time, a snorkel (if you wish!) and some fresh juice and fruit to re-fuel, before making your way back to the mainland via SUP.
Mossman River
Running its way through the oldest rainforest on the planet (the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest) is the exquisite, crystal clear Mossman River. A guided SUP tour down the Mossman River is one of the best ways to experience this exquisite and untouched location for yourself.
Run by WindSwell (based in Port Douglas), this tour includes your stand-up paddle beneath the canopy of the rainforest, local fruit snacks and ends with a beautiful natural body scrub (using ochre from the banks of the Mossman River itself).
Image Credit: windswell.com.au
Fitzroy Island
One of the most beautiful places in all of Australia to get SUPing is Fitzroy Island, located right on the Great Barrier Reef, just 45-minutes by Fast Cat from nearby Cairns. With glass-viewing panel SUP boards and paddles for hire from the Fitzroy Island Activities Centre, you can explore the exquisite beauty of the Great Barrier Reef for yourself by launching straight off the beach. That’s right – straight off the shore of the island!
Whether you choose to visit for just the day or take advantage of one (or more!) of the island’s many accommodation options, SUPing the aqua waters of Fitzroy Island is sure to be an experience you will not forget! With an array of sea turtles, tropical fish galore and numerous species of coral to discover, witnessing the beauty that surrounds Fitzroy Island is an absolute must-do activity.
And when you are finished SUPing, we have plenty more activities to keep you entertained – from snorkelling to sea kayaking, hiking to the giant ocean trampoline, not to mention the resort pool and our Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, the choice is yours. So, what are you waiting for? Come and experience the outstanding natural beauty of Fitzroy Island for yourself!
