Eco Kayak Tour

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Enjoying the local area whilst helping to ensure its protection is our passion at Newquay Activity Centre! We’ve pioneered an educational version of our popular kayaking tours with a specific focus on marine habitats and sustainability.

Once you’re warm and safe in our top quality kayaking kit, you will negotiate Newquay’s ‘Gazzle’ route with one of our enthusiastic and highly qualified kayaking instructors. During the tour you will learn about and understand the importance of local wildlife and the part it plays in Newquay’s ecosystem. With imposing cliffs, epic views and wild natural weather – there’s never been a better classroom in which to learn!

The session is also pitched to suit the group’s dynamic. This will include regular stops to up-skill, enjoy the location and play games.

NATIVE WILDLIFE

We’ve developed our kayaking routes in collaboration with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. This has helped to provide our instructors with an in-depth knowledge of the area’s flora and fauna. Together you’ll discover the local seal colonies, lobsters, seabirds, crabs and smaller wildlife that call our coastlines home.

LEARNING THE FUNDAMENTALS

From the comfort of our on-site heated changing rooms, you will be kitted up with a Rip Curl wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet and paddle. Following an in-depth kit familiarisation talk from your instructor, you will move on to learn basic paddle techniques, emergency signals and water safety information before grabbing a kayak and heading down to the beach.

From here you will prepare yourself for adventure with a short warm-up prior to launching your kayak from a sheltered stretch of coastline.

We launch and land from two of Newquay’s lush, semi-secret coves. The start to experience is an adventure, as we walk down a rock path to the water’s edge. It’s worth it as the scenery is breath taking, there is some incredible coastal wildlife in the area, and you really are experiencing the best of Newquay’s coastal fringe. We take the walk down to the water slowly, the kayaks will be waiting in the cove for you.

We pride ourselves in sharing a well-rounded learning experience, which will on many tours see you given the opportunity to experience both a double and single kayak. If you start in a double kayak but want to try a single, we swap mid-way on either one of the secret beaches that we visit or in the ocean environment. We cannot guarantee that you will have a single or a double kayak for the duration of the tour. But will have the opportunity to experience both, or one or the other.

Your instructor will be on hand to help and guide you through the break, answering any questions and allowing you to put into practice your land-based learning.

STUNNING SCENERY

Smugglers caves, natural rapids, craggy inlets and hidden coves; our coastline holds a host of secrets just waiting to be discovered. Kayaks provide a great perspective from which to see the dramatic cliffs, caves and caverns of our craggy cliff lines.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS EXTREME WEATHER?

We are super fortunate to operate many of our activities in the shelter of Towan beach. We choose the tide and weather times that deliver the very best conditions for Kayak Tours. However, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature and sometimes she may have different plans for us. We always check the forecasted conditions but if the wind or swell picks up unexpectedly, we will move your session on to our Super SUPs, this will ensure you still cover the same route and session content but will be on a craft that is more resilient against the conditions. Alternatively, we may offer a different time or location for your tour.

Over 95% of our tours go ahead unaffected by the weather but, in the unlikely event that this does happen, we have excellent back-up options for you to choose from. We appreciate your understanding.