Glide along Newquay’s coastline on an eco-focused kayak tour that combines adventure with learning about the local environment. With expert tuition and a relaxed pace, you’ll explore cliffs, caves, and coves while spotting wildlife and understanding the area’s ecosystem. Suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, this tour is both educational and enjoyable.
The session begins with a safety briefing and introduction to kayaking techniques in our on-site heated changing rooms. You’ll be fitted with a Rip Curl wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet, and paddle, before heading down to a sheltered cove for a short warm-up and your first strokes on the water. Instructors will provide guidance on paddling, water safety, and emergency signals, ensuring you feel confident before exploring further.
Once afloat, you’ll follow the “Gazzle” route, navigating semi-secret coves, natural inlets, and small rapids along Newquay’s coastline. The tour is flexible, with stops to practise new skills, take photos, or simply enjoy the surroundings. Your instructor will also share insights into the area’s biodiversity, pointing out seals, seabirds, crabs, and other marine life that make the coast their home.
The experience is designed to be educational as well as relaxing. You’ll learn about the local ecosystem, sustainable practices, and the history of the coastline, from smuggler caves to coastal folklore. There’s also the opportunity to swap between single and double kayaks during the session, giving you a hands-on chance to develop new skills in different types of craft.
The tour takes place along Newquay’s northern coastline, a mix of rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and sheltered bays. Launch points are carefully chosen to provide a safe, calm start while giving access to dramatic scenery and wildlife habitats. These areas are rich in biodiversity and ideal for observing seals, seabirds, and other marine creatures.
Newquay itself sits on Cornwall’s north coast, offering a mix of lively surf beaches and quieter coastal areas like the ones visited on this tour. From the water, you’ll enjoy a unique perspective of cliffs, caves, and sandbanks that are otherwise difficult to access, providing a more intimate view of the region’s natural environment.
No previous kayaking experience is required, and all necessary equipment is provided. The tour is suitable for beginners and those with some paddling experience alike.
Participants should be comfortable in water and able to manage light physical activity. The pace is adjusted to suit the group, making it accessible to most people aged 8 and above.
The centre is dedicated to providing safe, enjoyable, and environmentally conscious kayaking experiences. Instructors are fully qualified and knowledgeable, ensuring your session is informative, supportive, and engaging. Their focus on sustainability and local ecology makes this tour unique, combining learning with recreation.
With heated changing rooms, secure storage, outdoor showers, and free photography, the centre ensures every aspect of your visit is comfortable and convenient. Recognised with awards for excellence, the team’s professional yet friendly approach guarantees a memorable and rewarding experience on the water.
There’s much more to kayaking than simply paddling in a straight line from start to finish. Your session can include much, much more! Learning advanced paddling techniques. Fun games and races. Exploring smugglers caves. Getting up close with wildlife in the natural environment, especially the local Seal population and possibly dolphins. Navigating narrow gullies and riding the natural rapids created by the ocean swell. Learning about local history and points of interest. Watching our coasteering groups as they jump off cliffs is also a great spectator sport!
What better activity to do in the rain than a water activity? Rain or shine our kayak sessions are the ultimate activity for the family.
As you will be undertaking your session in one of our sit-on-top kayaks, falling in pretty unlikely, and even if it does happen, it is not a problem. You can just flip the kayak upright and climb back in. One of our qualified instructors will be on hand to make sure that you are ok and give you any assistance needed.
We can provide a wetsuit so you only need to bring a towel and swimwear. You can wear your own wetsuit if you have one or if you have your own kayak specific waterproofs you may bring these too. Footwear will also be required so bring either a pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or you can hire from us for £3 a go. Most importantly please bring a sense of adventure and fun!
Your trip will take you on one of a couple of different routes that we use. The main route is along the Gazzle which is a large headland just a short paddle from our centre. Alternatively, we will take you along a sheltered stretch of river located a short drive from the centre. We are happy for you to let us know your preference, and we will use the conditions on the day to help us decide.
Our ocean-based route along Towan headland is rich in wildlife. Common sightings include Grey Seals, and an array of birdlife. There is also the possibility to see Dolphins, Sun Fish, Lion’s mane jellyfish, and Basking Sharks have previously been spotted in the area (don’t worry, they are completely harmless and have no teeth). Our river-based route in the Gannel estuary is very in rich in Birdlife including Herrings, Iceland and Franklin Gulls.
Providing you have fulfilled the minimum requirement of 50 metres swimming capability and you have no current health issues or injuries preventing you from participating in an adventurous activities you are welcome to come! Don’t worry, it’s not a race and you are not expected to be an Olympic-level paddler! Your instructor will make sure the group moves at the pace of the slowest paddler and will assist weak paddlers when needed.
All our Instructors are fully qualified British Canoeing Paddlesport leaders as well as Beach and Surf Safety Lifeguards. Our instructors have years of personal experience in the water, and attend regular site-specific staff training. We also work in close partnership with the RNLI to ensure your safety in and out of the water.
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
We both loved it , the instructor was a gentleman . Clear , concise instructions and very helpful . Can’t remember his name sorry , very tall with long hair
It was brilliant- wish it could've been longer (a half day, for example, to explore further afield). Harrison was our guide, and he set the perfect amount of challenge to relaxation. Very knowledgeable about the area, pirate/tea caves and local animal life. We were also asked in advance if we…
Jamie was a good instructor but a bit disappointed with the time snorkeling and not seeing anything. The sighting of the seals and info about the coast was great
ActivityEco-Kayaking Tour in Newquay
Had a fantastic time, the instructors were great and would definitley do again in the future.
Everyone was so friendly. My crew leader Alex was really supportive and encouraging as I am not an avid swimmer and so easing my way into kayaking and coasteering was a breeze. The team back at their headquarters were amazing ... keeping my baggage safe as I toured and even…
Staff are very helpful! My boyfriend, dad and uncle really enjoyed this. They saw a playful seal ❤️ would recommend!
We had a really good time with Heath today. He showed us all the safety information and kept checking we were all okay. Instead of just staying out snorkelling he showed us some caves and told us about the history and cool knowledge about the caves and rocks. Had a…
We had an amazing time with heath. He was so lovely and gave us a bit of history as we went along. Very caring and made sure we had a fab time
Operated by Newquay Activity Centre, a partner of adventuro.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £50
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £50
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £70
