Beginner Course

Our kayak courses are designed to build your skills and confidence on whitewater in a safe, supportive, and fun way. Whether you’re brand new to paddling, have a little experience, or have picked up bits and pieces from friends, our Beginner and Beginner+ courses are the perfect place to start.

We keep things friendly and relaxed, with qualified and experienced instructors who create a warm, welcoming environment for every paddler. You’ll learn the essentials at your own pace, with the right balance of encouragement and challenge — always with safety at the heart of what we do. By the end, you’ll feel more confident, capable and ready for your next adventures on the water.

Our course starts right from the very beginning, so no previous experience is required.

We structure each course to suit the group, covering:

• Gear and equipment essentials.
• Fundamental strokes, skills, and techniques.
• Rolling your kayak and rescue skills.
• Reading and navigating Grade 2 whitewater.

A typical day has three sessions: a pool session, a training session, and a river trip – with time to come back to the lodge in between. Daily rolling sessions combined with on-river practice give you lots of time to practice and refine your roll, and work steadily towards becoming an independent kayaker.

We are three minutes away from our local school pool, and with five rivers nearby, there are many options for training sessions and river trips. You’ll also benefit from video feedback and off-water theory, helping you see your progress and fine-tune your technique.

Because every group is different, our instructors are constantly adjusting the plan – choosing the river section or skill focus for each session to make sure you get the most out of your time with us.

Already a packrafter or sea kayaker? Come and sharpen your skills in a whitewater kayak – you’ll take your new techniques straight back to your chosen craft.

Looking for your Grade 2 Certificate? Check out our Grade 2 Certificate Course.

We tailor each course to your experience level and match you with a suitable group, with both Beginner and Beginner+ courses on offer.

Contact us and we’ll help you find the right course.

Our purpose-built lodge is designed for comfort and relaxation. Kayaker-designed for your off-water time, our lodge includes a fully-equipped kitchen, shared bunk-rooms, hot showers, drying lines, cosy couches, a winter fire and a spacious summer deck.

With multiple river sections just a short drive away, you’ll spend less time travelling and more time paddling. Between sessions, come back to the lodge to eat, warm up and relax (with enough time to sneak in a quick nap if you need) before heading out for your next session.

Nervous? Curious? Excited? We have a world-class team of qualified and passionate instructors and support staff – extraordinary both on and off the water.  Our teaching team customises information on the go, making sure you get exactly what you need.

We are more than just kayaking – we build supportive, trusting connections, and teach both physical skills and the mindset strategies to help you thrive on the water. Ask as many questions as you like  – we’ll make sure you leave with confidence, clarity, and what the next steps are in your paddling journey.

• World-class team | Qualified, passionate instructors with strong backgrounds in kayaking and teaching. We have an on-site support team and are fully Adventure Activity Safety Audit-certified.
• Purpose-built kayaking lodge | Kayaker-designed for off-water comfort with a fully-equipped kitchen, shared bunk-rooms, hot showers, drying lines, cosy couches, a winter fire and spacious summer deck.
• Gear, accommodation and transport included  | Four nights’ accommodation at our lodge, access to our full equipment fleet, and transport during the course are included. You just bring your food.
• Maximum paddling time | With five rivers close by, you spend more time paddling and less time in transit.
• Weather-proof courses| We can run in all manner of weather thanks to our expert local knowledge and close access to a range of rivers, lakes, our onsite pond, and swimming pool.
• Personalised gear advice | Learn about the right gear for you, whether in person at our shop, or second-hand shopping online. We’ll give you clear, honest and accurate information.