Paddle Board Tours, Lessons and Hire in Australia: 9 Providers to Know

Quick answer: For a first paddle in Australia, book a lesson on sheltered water with a school whose instructors hold a Paddle Australia (PAQS) or Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) qualification. Good examples include Noosa Stand Up Paddle on the Noosa River, Manly Kayak Centre and Balmoral Paddlesurf in Sydney, and Stand Up Paddle HQ in St Kilda. For simple self-guided hire, Rose Bay Aquatic Hire in Sydney and Freycinet Paddle Boards in Tasmania publish clear prices.

We opened each provider’s own website in September 2026 and only list businesses showing current information. Prices are in Australian dollars and only included where the provider displays them. Check the provider’s page for current times, weather policies and age limits before you book.

At a glance

Provider	Area	Best for
Noosa Stand Up Paddle	Noosa River, QLD	Lessons, eco tours, delivered daily hire
Boardwalk Boats	Noosa Heads, QLD	Hire with free on-shore tips
Terrace Marina	Noosa River, QLD	Hire straight from the river
Manly Kayak Centre	Manly Cove, NSW	Lesson plus an hour of hire
Rose Bay Aquatic Hire	Rose Bay, NSW	Walk-up hire, no lesson needed
Balmoral Paddlesurf	Balmoral Beach, NSW	Small private lessons
Jervis Bay Kayaks	Jervis Bay, NSW	SUP hire and group programmes
Stand Up Paddle HQ	St Kilda, VIC	Weekend group lessons
Freycinet Paddle Boards	Coles Bay and Bicheno, TAS	Delivered hire

What a first lesson usually covers

The lessons listed below follow a similar pattern. Balmoral Paddlesurf, for example, covers basic safety, self-rescue and reading the weather, then three ways to turn, correct posture, power strokes, paddling upwind and using your paddle for balance. Manly Kayak Centre pairs an hour of instruction with an hour of general hire so you can practise straight away, and Noosa Stand Up Paddle adds a full hour of board hire after its group lesson. Manly Kayak Centre says that, on average, first-timers begin to feel comfortable on a board within an hour.

How to choose a paddle board provider

Qualifications: The Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme separates Guides, who can lead novice trips, from Instructors, who are assessed at a higher level to teach skills so you can paddle independently. Qualifications (apart from Basic Skills) must be renewed every three years, so ask if your instructor’s is current.
ASI accreditation: The Academy of Surfing Instructors Level 1 SUP Instructor award covers teaching, short tours and rentals on flat, enclosed water with no breaking waves, no more than 250m from shore. Ocean and surf sessions need further qualifications.
Safety briefing and kit: A good hire business gives a safety briefing, supplies a leash and offers a lifejacket. State rules differ, but authorities in every state recommend wearing one.
Wind policy: Afternoon sea breezes are common, so look for operators who recommend early sessions and will reschedule in strong wind.
Group size: Private lessons for one to three people progress faster than big groups.

Queensland

1. Noosa Stand Up Paddle, Noosaville

Location: Noosa River, Noosaville. Offers: Group lessons with board hire, eco river tours, private lessons and tours, hourly and daily hire, SUP yoga.

Noosa Stand Up Paddle runs group lessons with an experienced coach followed by a full hour of board hire to practise. Its eco river tour starts with a quick lesson on shore and then follows the mangroves and shoreline of the Noosa River with commentary. Daily hire boards can be delivered to and collected from your Noosa accommodation free of charge.

2. Boardwalk Boats (Noosa Heads Boat Hire)

Location: Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort jetty, Noosa Heads. Offers: Hourly, daily and weekly SUP hire.

Boardwalk Boats hires stable epoxy boards from 9’8″ to 11’6″ seven days a week, with complimentary on-shore instruction for beginners if you ask. It suggests paddling the protected canal system of Noosa Sound first to test your skills before heading further along the river.

3. Terrace Marina, Noosa

Location: On the Noosa River. Offers: Stand up paddle board and kayak hire.

Terrace Marina launches boards straight from its doorstep on the river, so there is no carrying involved. Staff offer advice and basic handling tips for newcomers.

New South Wales

4. Manly Kayak Centre, Manly

Location: Manly Cove, Sydney Harbour. Offers: Public and private SUP lessons, SUP and kayak hire, kayak tours.

Manly Kayak Centre runs two hour sessions made up of one hour of instruction and one hour of general hire. Public group lessons were listed at A$55 on Saturdays and Sundays, and private lessons from A$95 for one or two people down to A$55 each for groups of 13 or more (checked Sept 2026, with a 20% public holiday surcharge). Public lessons are for ages 12 and up, private lessons from age 6.

5. Rose Bay Aquatic Hire, Rose Bay

Location: Rose Bay, Sydney Harbour. Offers: Stand up paddleboard hire, plus other watercraft.

Rose Bay Aquatic Hire says you do not need a lesson to hire, just turn up. Prices were listed at $30 for one hour, $40 for 1.5 hours and $50 for two hours (AUD, checked Sept 2026), including a board, paddle and safety briefing. Boards are limited, so it suggests arriving early and avoiding 11am to 1pm.

6. Balmoral Paddlesurf, Balmoral Beach

Location: Balmoral Beach, Mosman. Offers: Private and group SUP lessons, gift vouchers and a SUP shop.

Balmoral Paddlesurf teaches on hard epoxy boards with carbon paddles rather than inflatables. Lessons cover basic safety, self-rescue and weather, turning, posture and paddling upwind, and private lessons are for one to three people. It now offers free board hire or a demo from the store after your lesson.

7. Jervis Bay Kayaks, Jervis Bay

Location: Jervis Bay, South Coast. Offers: SUP and kayak hire, guided kayak and paddle and snorkel tours, school and group programmes.

Jervis Bay Kayaks hires stand up paddleboards for self-guided trips and runs water programmes for schools, clubs and commercial groups that include stand up paddling. When we checked, its site also carried a notice that the business is for sale, so confirm bookings directly.

Victoria

8. Stand Up Paddle HQ, St Kilda

Location: St Kilda, Melbourne. Offers: Open group lessons, private lessons, hire, school groups and kids’ parties.

Stand Up Paddle HQ calls itself Melbourne’s original SUP school. It is accredited by the Academy of Surfing Instructors and its staff are qualified ASI instructors. It opens on Saturdays and Sundays and recommends early morning sessions for lighter winds. You can join an open group lesson on your own.

Tasmania

9. Freycinet Paddle Boards, Coles Bay and Bicheno

Location: Freycinet Peninsula, Coles Bay and Bicheno. Offers: Mobile hire of SUPs, sit-on-top kayaks, surfboards, snorkelling and camping gear.

Freycinet Paddle Boards delivers gear to your accommodation or a chosen coastal spot. Stand up paddleboards were listed at $55 for a half day (two to four hours) and $75 for a full day or overnight, with a PFD included and wetsuits from $15 (AUD, checked Sept 2026).

Before you book

A lesson on flat water is the fastest way to learn, so start there even if you plan to hire later. Check the instructor’s qualification, the provider’s wind and refund policy, and whether a lifejacket and leash are included. In Victoria, remember that a lifejacket becomes compulsory beyond 400m from shore.