We qualified for an exemption. We chose not to use it.

During the 2018 to 2019 bushfire season, Sydney was living through drought, water restrictions and an increasing awareness that every drop mattered. As an outdoor tourism business, Sydney By Kayak qualified for an exemption that would have allowed us to keep using council water to rinse our kayaks. We chose not to. Instead, at the end of every tour, our guides wade the kayaks back into Sydney Harbour and rinse them using the same harbour water our paddlers have just spent the morning exploring. It is simple, practical and, to us, it makes perfect sense. What began as a decision during one of Australia's toughest droughts has become part of our daily routine. Years later, long after the water restrictions ended, you will still see our team standing knee-deep in Lavender Bay, washing colourful kayaks in the harbour rather than reaching for a hose. Sometimes sustainability isn't about doing something extraordinary. It's about creating better habits and choosing to keep them.

6,570 litres of fresh water saved every year

Our kayaks were designed for this cup. We were not prepared to lose it.

Back in 2015, Sydney By Kayak made a decision that seemed simple at the time. Every sunrise coffee would be served in a reusable, spill-proof, splash-proof Thermos cup instead of a disposable one. We loved those cups so much that when we designed our custom Australian-made kayaks, we built the cup holders around them. They became part of the experience, keeping coffee secure while paddlers explored the calm waters of Sydney Harbour at sunrise. Then Thermos discontinued them. Most businesses would have switched to something else. We couldn't. During COVID, while the harbour was unusually quiet, Laura spent almost two years emailing Debbie at Thermos, sharing photos of the cups in use on our kayak tours and explaining why they mattered so much. Debbie kindly sent several alternative designs to trial, but like Cinderella's glass slipper, none of them fitted our custom cup holders quite right. Eventually, Thermos agreed to manufacture another production run. We purchased hundreds of them, ensuring they would continue to be part of every Sydney By Kayak experience for years to come. Today, every paddler still enjoys their sunrise coffee from the very same reusable cup, sitting securely in the holder it was designed for. Sometimes sustainability isn't about finding something new. It's about refusing to let a great idea disappear

72,328 disposable cups avoided since 2015

We serve Floating High Teas, Champagne Breakfasts and cheese platters on Sydney Harbour without relying on single-use packaging.

When Laura designed the custom grazing boards that attach securely to the front of our kayaks, she wasn't just thinking about presentation. She wanted to create a beautiful dining experience that reflected the same sustainability values as the rest of Sydney By Kayak. Every detail was considered. Freshly baked in-house scones, reusable glass jars, stainless-steel cutlery, cotton napkins, reusable serving boards and containers. Instead of disposable packaging, everything is collected, washed and prepared for the next adventure on the harbour. It's easy to assume that luxury and sustainability don't belong together. We believe they can. Every Floating High Tea, Champagne Breakfast and cheese platter has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the beauty of Sydney Harbour while leaving behind nothing more than wonderful memories and a few happy kayaking photographs.

We wanted people to enjoy ice cream on Sydney Harbour without leaving behind a trail of disposable packaging.

Our Ice Cream Kayak Tours are some of the happiest experiences we offer. Drifting across Sydney Harbour with a scoop of artisan gelato in hand is a simple pleasure, but we didn't want that experience to come at the cost of unnecessary waste. Working with our friends at Bravo Trattoria, every gelato is delivered to us in reusable stainless-steel containers that are collected, washed and used again. From there, we serve each paddler in reusable bamboo bowls with real stainless-steel spoons, creating a completely reusable serving system from start to finish. Most people simply remember the delicious gelato and the incredible harbour views. That's exactly as it should be, but behind the scenes, a thoughtful system ensures there are no disposable bowls, no plastic spoons and no unnecessary single-use packaging. It's one of those small details that reflects the way we approach everything at Sydney By Kayak. If there's a more sustainable way to do something, we'll always try to find it.

Regular sunscreen washes into Sydney Harbour every time a paddler gets their arms wet. We wanted a better option.

When you spend your days on Sydney Harbour, sunscreen isn't optional, but many conventional sunscreens contain ingredients that can wash into our waterways and affect the marine environment we're working so hard to protect. We wanted our choice of sunscreen to reflect the same values as everything else we do. That's why we use SunButter, a marine-safe sunscreen supplied in reusable aluminium tins on our kayak tours. No single-use plastic bottles. No unnecessary plastic waste. Just a high-quality sunscreen that's kinder to both people and the harbour. We loved it so much that we decided to stock the full SunButter skincare range in our Eco Hub sustainability store, giving paddlers the opportunity to continue making ocean-friendly choices long after they've gone home. It's one of those small decisions that many people never think about. But once you understand the impact, choosing a better alternative feels like the obvious thing to do.

Our guides wear the harbour. Quite literally.

Every day, our guides spend hours on Sydney Harbour, introducing visitors to its marine life, history and conservation stories. It felt only fitting that what they wear should reflect the same values. That's why we choose uniforms from Waterlust and Sharkskin, brands that manufacture technical outdoor clothing using recycled materials, including reclaimed ocean plastics and post-consumer fibres. Both companies also give back by supporting marine conservation initiatives. It's a small detail that most paddlers would never notice. But for us, sustainability isn't about one big decision. It's about hundreds of thoughtful ones. When our guides zip up their uniforms each morning, they're not just getting ready for another kayak tour. They're wearing clothing that reflects the very harbour they're out there helping people fall in love with.

Sian said the words that changed everything. "Why don't we just take three?"

Back in 2016, Laura pulled up on a small beach during a kayak tour and was confronted by far more rubbish than the group could possibly clean. It felt overwhelming. Where would you even begin? One of the paddlers, Sian, quietly said, "Why don't we just take three?" Laura asked what she meant. "Take three pieces of rubbish," Sian explained. "That's all." So everyone picked up three pieces. Then someone picked up another three. And another. Before long, the entire beach was clean. It was such a simple idea, but it changed everything. From that day forward, the Take 3 message became part of every Sydney By Kayak experience, and weekly community clean-up paddles soon followed. Then, in 2018, another conversation opened the next chapter. The team at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium saw the work we were doing and suggested we could do more than simply remove rubbish from the harbour. Together, we could start funding projects that prevented pollution and restored marine habitats. That conversation led to our first conservation project: a Seabin in Darling Harbour, co-funded with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in 2019. Since then, every conservation dollar we've contributed has come directly from Sydney By Kayak's own profits. We've never relied on government grants. Every paddler who joins us helps make these projects possible, allowing us to invest back into the Sydney Harbour we love.

43,082kg of rubbish removed since 2018. $103,130 raised for conservation (to the end of June 2026).

We wanted to do something lasting in Lavender Bay. Something paddlers could be part of.

After years of funding marine conservation projects across Sydney Harbour, we dreamed of creating something in our own home bay, Lavender Bay. Something every paddler could see, connect with and return to year after year. Our first idea was to install Living Seawall panels. But there was one problem. The seawalls in Lavender Bay weren't suitable for the standard design. Instead of giving up, we asked a different question. What could we create instead? Working alongside the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), North Sydney Council and Reef Design Lab, we helped develop something that had never been built anywhere in the world: Living Seawall Habitat Boulders. Designed to mimic natural rock pools, these freestanding habitat boulders were installed just 100 metres from where every Sydney By Kayak tour begins. Today they are home to more than 71 recorded marine species, a 61% increase in biodiversity in just one year. Every single one of our kayak tours paddles past them. Every paddler hears the story of how collaboration, science and a shared love of Sydney Harbour turned one simple idea into something extraordinary.

71 marine species recorded. Biodiversity up 61% in one year. $30,000 invested.

The first seedlings went in while Laura was pregnant with Isla. Those mangroves are now taller than she is.

We began planting native mangrove seedlings in Berry's Bay, one for every Clean-Up Paddle and Eco Tour paddler, with a simple goal: to give something back to Sydney Harbour that would continue growing long after each kayak tour had finished. Those early planting days were muddy, physical and incredibly rewarding. Many of the very first seedlings went into the harbour while Laura was pregnant with her daughter, Isla. As Isla grew, so did the mangroves. Today, those tiny seedlings have become a thriving mangrove forest more than three metres tall, creating vital nursery habitat for fish, crabs and countless other marine species along the Berry's Bay foreshore. They also play an important role in tackling climate change, storing more than four times as much carbon as many terrestrial forests. Every year, our Eco Tours paddle across to visit the mangroves. One of our favourite moments is when past paddlers return years later to see "their" mangroves. What was once a tiny seedling is now a flourishing forest, quietly protecting Sydney Harbour every single day.

985 mangroves planted. Now over 3 metres tall.

We funded a home for seahorses and sponsored captive-bred seahorses at the aquarium. Then wild seahorses moved in too.

The White's Seahorse is an endangered species found only in the coastal waters of south-eastern Australia, with Sydney Harbour providing some of its most important remaining habitat. When the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) introduced us to their Seahorse Hotel program, we knew we wanted to help. The specially designed underwater structures provide a safe place for White's Seahorses to shelter, breed and thrive. We proudly funded one of those structures in Chowder Bay and named it The SBK Sea-Suite. Alongside this, we also sponsored captive-bred White's Seahorses being raised through the conservation breeding program at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium before their release. Then something wonderful happened. Wild White's Seahorses were recorded choosing to live alongside the captive-bred seahorses, using the very habitat we had helped create. For us, that was one of those rare moments when conservation stopped being an idea and became something tangible. Seeing wild animals choose a home that our paddlers helped fund is a powerful reminder that, together, small actions really can make a lasting difference.

$5,500 invested. Wild seahorses recorded in residence.

Bruce has no fuel, no emissions and no days off. He quietly gets on with the job.

Our paddlers collect rubbish on every Clean-Up Paddle, but they can only be on the water for a few hours each day. The rest of the time, plastic and floating debris continue to drift into Berry's Bay on the tide. Bruce is our quiet helper. Powered entirely by the sun, Bruce sits patiently in Berry's Bay, passively collecting floating debris without fuel, engine emissions or anyone needing to operate him. Day and night, he intercepts the litter that would otherwise continue drifting through the harbour. Bruce is especially important to us because he helps protect our mangrove nursery. Those young mangroves provide vital habitat for marine life, and Bruce quietly works nearby, catching floating plastic before it can become tangled among their roots. We love the idea that while we're sleeping, while our guides are at home, and while the kayaks are safely tucked away for the night, Bruce is still out there doing his bit for Sydney Harbour.

Our very first conservation project still sits in Darling Harbour, quietly collecting rubbish every single day.

Back in 2019, before the Living Seawall Habitat Boulders, before the mangrove nursery and before Bruce, there was a Seabin. It was the very first project funded through the Sydney By Kayak Conservation Fund, made possible in partnership with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. A Seabin is a simple but ingenious device. Floating at the water's surface, it continuously draws in water, capturing floating litter, oils and microplastics before returning cleaner water back to the harbour. It works quietly, every hour of every day, whether anyone is watching or not. For us, the Seabin represented something much bigger than a single piece of equipment. It was the moment we realised we could do more than remove rubbish with our own hands. We could invest in long-term solutions that would continue protecting Sydney Harbour long after each kayak tour had finished. That simple idea became the foundation of everything that followed. Today, the Seabin has removed more than 10 tonnes of marine debris from Darling Harbour, and we're incredibly proud that it was the first chapter in what has become a much bigger conservation journey.

Over 10 tonnes of marine debris removed since 2019.

The Berry's Bay foreshore was slowly being overtaken by invasive weeds. We decided that was something we could help change.

Just a short paddle from where our Eco Tours launch sits a stretch of Sydney Harbour foreshore that had gradually become overgrown with invasive weeds. Rather than simply paddling past it, we rolled up our sleeves. Working alongside community volunteers, we sought permission to remove invasive species and replanted the area with hardy native coastal succulents, creating what we now affectionately call the Ocean Garden. Today, around 20 metres of foreshore has been restored with native vegetation that provides habitat for insects and small animals, helps stabilise the shoreline, and creates a healthier, more beautiful place for both wildlife and people to enjoy. The original Ocean Garden planter boxes were painted by local children during the COVID lockdowns, bringing colour, creativity and community spirit to the project. Like several of Sydney By Kayak's conservation initiatives, it also became one of Laura's pregnancy projects, lovingly nurtured while she was expecting Isla. It isn't our biggest project, and it probably won't ever make headlines. But every time we paddle past, we're reminded that meaningful conservation is often made up of hundreds of small acts of care. The birds, insects and tiny creatures living among those plants don't know who restored their home, and that's exactly how we think conservation should be.

Approximately 20 metres of foreshore habitat restored.

Every conservation project starts with someone choosing to join us on the water.

When we introduced our Clean-Up Paddles and Eco Tours on Sydney Harbour, we wanted every booking to leave a lasting legacy. The question wasn't whether we should contribute to conservation. It was how much. Too little wouldn't create meaningful change. Too much would feel like an added surcharge rather than a shared commitment. We settled on $15. It was an amount that allowed us to invest in real marine conservation projects while keeping our kayak experiences accessible for visitors from around the world. More importantly, it meant we could show every paddler exactly where their contribution was going. The beautiful thing is that our conservation story doesn't end when the tour finishes. Many paddlers return to Sydney years later and are able to visit the very projects they helped fund, from the Living Seawall Habitat Boulders in Lavender Bay to our mangrove nursery in Berry's Bay. Their morning on the harbour has become part of something that's still growing long after they've gone home. We have never relied on government grants to fund these projects. Every dollar invested has come from Sydney By Kayak's 2018 pledge and the people who choose to paddle with us.

The conversations that started on the water needed somewhere to continue on shore.

For the first 12 years of Sydney By Kayak, every kayak experience began and ended at the Lavender Bay boat ramp. Our paddlers would arrive, launch onto Sydney Harbour, discover incredible wildlife, hear stories of conservation and history, then head home. We always felt there was another chapter missing. We wanted somewhere people could slow down after their Sydney Harbour kayak tour. Somewhere they could enjoy breakfast together, ask questions, discover the conservation projects they had just seen on the water and connect more deeply with Sydney Harbour and the community working to protect it. That idea became the Eco Hub. Today, it's much more than a place to enjoy a coffee. It's where fresh scones come out of the oven before dawn. Where school children turn old milk bottle lids into pens. Where guides continue conversations that began on the harbour. Where scientists, volunteers, paddlers, local families and visitors from around the world find themselves sitting around the same table. The Eco Hub isn't just a building. It's the physical home of Sydney By Kayak's values. A place where sustainability isn't displayed behind glass, but baked into the walls, shared over breakfast and lived every single day.

Most cafes open at 6am. We open at 4:30am. There is a reason for that.

The Speakeasy wasn't part of our original business plan. It began with a simple challenge: finding consistently great coffee for our Sunrise Kayak Tours before most cafes in Sydney had even turned on their coffee machines. So we decided to create our own. Bringing our barista in-house meant we could serve exceptional locally roasted PureBean coffee exactly when our paddlers needed it. Opening the coffee window to the local community was the natural next step. Now, while much of Sydney is still asleep, The Speakeasy is already alive. Shift workers finishing a long night, runners, dog walkers, early risers, people on their way to Sydney Airport, new parents who have been awake since 3am and our Sunrise paddlers all find themselves standing together under the fairy lights, warming their hands around a great cup of coffee before the sun rises over Sydney Harbour. From the very beginning, we made another decision too. No disposable cups. Ever. Instead, we built a mug library, welcomed reusable cups and designed The Speakeasy around the same sustainability values that guide every part of Sydney By Kayak. Because the best conversations often begin long before sunrise.

Ben came home with a van load. Then another. Then another.

When we built the Sydney By Kayak Eco Hub, we made one simple rule: if we could rescue, restore or repurpose something instead of buying it new, we would. It quickly became a way of thinking rather than a building project. The blue bathroom tiles were rescued from a discarded box during a council clean-up and became the inspiration for the entire bathroom colour palette. The vanity was handcrafted from timber salvaged from a demolition site in nearby Crows Nest. Kitchen doors were given a second life. Plants were rescued from skip bins outside neighbouring offices. Furniture, shelving, pots and light fittings were all restored instead of replaced. Almost everything inside the Eco Hub has a story. Visitors often ask where something came from, and that conversation is exactly what we hoped for. It's a gentle reminder that waste is often only something that hasn't been given another chance yet. Perhaps our favourite piece is the custom-built reception desk, complete with Paddy the Port Jackson Shark. Laura had a long list of ideas and a vision for what the space could become, and Ben brought it to life using reclaimed timber rescued from skip bins. It's a project that perfectly reflects how we work together, and how we see the world: full of possibility, creativity and value where others might only see waste.

Most people are asleep when the Eco Hub kitchen starts its day.

Long before the first kayaks touch the water, the Eco Hub kitchen is already buzzing with activity. Fresh scones are baking in the oven. Fruit is being prepared. Coffee is brewing. Breakfast is carefully laid out for the Sunrise Kayakers who will return from Sydney Harbour a couple of hours later, hungry, smiling and ready to share stories from the morning. Behind the scenes, the same care extends to what happens after breakfast. Every day, fruit scraps and eggshells are collected and composted on site, returning nutrients back to the garden instead of sending them to landfill. It's a small routine in a very busy morning, but it reflects the way we approach sustainability at Sydney By Kayak. Caring for the harbour starts with caring about the little things, even the ones most people never see.

2,000+ happy worms in the Eco Hub compost garden

Yesterday's morning coffee helps grow tomorrow's gardens.

For years we served great coffee on our Sydney sunrise kayak tours, but we had no control over where the coffee grounds ended up. When we opened the Eco Hub and began serving coffee in-house, we also took responsibility for everything that came with it, including the waste. Every morning, our baristas produce kilograms of fresh coffee grounds. Rather than sending them to landfill, we partner with Reground, a local organisation that collects used coffee grounds and gives them a second life in community gardens, farms and composting systems across Sydney. Their mission aligns beautifully with ours: helping people see waste as a resource rather than a problem. It's a simple partnership, but one that allows yesterday's morning coffee to help grow tomorrow's gardens. In our first summer season alone, approximately 380 kilograms of coffee grounds were diverted from landfill and returned to local soil through Reground.

Approximately 380kg of coffee grounds diverted from landfill last year

We have never introduced a disposable cup. Not even when it would have been the easier option.

When we opened The Speakeasy, our zero-waste coffee window, we knew not everyone would arrive carrying a reusable cup. We also knew we didn't want convenience to become an excuse for single-use waste. So instead of introducing disposable takeaway cups, we created a mug library. Visitors are welcome to borrow a mug, borrow a reusable Huskee cup, enjoy their coffee, and return it afterwards. Many locals bring their own favourite mug, and our Sunrise Kayakers still enjoy their coffee in the reusable Thermos cups that have become part of the Sydney By Kayak experience. We've occasionally been asked if we'd consider disposable cups. We understand the convenience, but we've chosen to stay true to our values. We'd rather find a better solution than create more waste. And when our kayak tour cups finally reach the end of their life with us on the harbour, they don't go to landfill. They're donated to a local homeless shelter, because a cup with life left in it deserves to keep being used. Sometimes the most sustainable choice isn't the easiest one, but we believe it's the right one.

Freshly baked scones, personalised cookies and marine conservation. They're not three things you'd normally expect to find together.

Every morning before sunrise, the Eco Hub kitchen is alive with the smell of freshly baked scones, pastries, hot coffee and the excitement of another day on Sydney Harbour. The personalised cookies began as a simple idea. We wanted every paddler to leave with something unexpected, so we started printing their favourite tour photos onto edible cookies as a fun keepsake. Then we realised those same cookies could tell a much bigger story. Today, many of our cookies feature QR codes that link directly to our conservation projects, from the world-first Living Seawall Habitat Boulders in Lavender Bay to the work our paddlers help make possible. It's a small idea that turns morning tea into a conversation about protecting Sydney Harbour. And if a cookie can inspire someone to learn more about marine conservation, we'd say that's a pretty good day's work.

Every wall in the Eco Hub tells part of Sydney Harbour's story.

When paddlers step off the water, the experience doesn't end. It simply moves indoors. The walls of the Sydney By Kayak Eco Hub are filled with hand-painted murals celebrating Sydney Harbour, its remarkable marine life and the conservation projects our paddlers have helped make possible. Around them hang artworks created from sea glass, discarded fishing lures and other items collected from the harbour, giving materials once considered waste a second life. Together, they transform the Eco Hub into more than a cafe or meeting place. They create a space where every wall sparks a conversation, every piece has a story and every visitor is invited to look a little more closely at the harbour they've just explored. For many people, the murals become the starting point for questions about marine life, conservation and the projects they can see just outside in Lavender Bay. For others, they're simply a reminder that nature, art and community can all tell the same story. Because sometimes the best way to help people care about a place is to surround them with its beauty.

One large accessible bathroom instead of two smaller ones. That was always the plan.

When we designed the Eco Hub, we wanted accessibility to be part of the original vision, not something added later to meet a requirement. That meant making some big decisions. Instead of building two smaller bathrooms, Ben completely rebuilt the space to create one generous accessible bathroom with plenty of room to move comfortably. He even relocated the doorway to create a clear, straight pathway from the workshop, through the Eco Hub and out onto the deck. Outside, the deck was built level with the footpath on Blues Point Road, allowing visitors to move seamlessly from the street to the coffee window, through the Eco Hub and into the accessible facilities without negotiating steps. For us, accessibility isn't a feature. It's part of making everyone feel welcome. Because the best experiences are the ones more people get to share.

We kept collecting plastic from Sydney Harbour and putting it in the recycling bin. We knew there had to be a better way.

For years, every Clean-Up Paddle ended the same way. We carefully sorted the plastic collected from Sydney Harbour and placed it in the recycling bin, hoping it would be recycled but never really knowing what happened next. We wanted to be part of the entire journey. So we partnered with Reshaping Waste and invested in plastic shredding and extrusion equipment at the Eco Hub. Today, plastic collected from the harbour and ocean-bound plastic donated by our local community is transformed into useful everyday items such as pens, combs and other practical products. More importantly, it becomes a conversation. Every paddler who visits the Eco Hub learns about plastic pollution, the importance of keeping waste out of our waterways, and how materials we often think of as rubbish can become valuable resources when we rethink the way we use them. Last year, approximately 4.6kg of plastic were recycled in-house, with a further 9kg donated for future community projects. They might seem like small numbers, but every piece represents plastic that won't find its way back into Sydney Harbour, and multiple passionate people educated along the way. Sometimes the most powerful part isn't the product that comes out of the machine. It's watching someone realise that waste can have a second life.

Approximately 4.6kg recycled in-house and 9kg donated last year.

Before we shared a single First Nations story on the water, we asked permission.

When Shona returned to the Sydney By Kayak team in 2026 after having her baby, she brought with her the opportunity to share Sydney Harbour through a First Nations lens. We knew from the beginning that these weren't our stories to tell. Before introducing any cultural experiences or incorporating First Nations knowledge into our kayak tours, we sought guidance and permission from respected local Elder Aunty Margaret Campbell. We wanted to ensure that every story shared on the water was done with respect, authenticity and the support of those who have cared for this place for countless generations. Today, Shona leads dedicated cultural experiences and also delivers cultural learning sessions for our team, helping First Nations perspectives become a natural part of the way we interpret Sydney Harbour. Rather than being limited to one specialised tour, this knowledge gently influences the way we share the harbour's stories across many of our experiences.

Some of the children who joined our very first Bushcare Paddles are now old enough to book their own Sunrise Kayak Tours.

For ten consecutive years, Sydney By Kayak has proudly partnered with North Sydney Council to introduce local children and families to the beauty of Sydney Harbour through our Bushcare Paddles. Every school holidays, families join us on the water to explore the harbour, learn about its wildlife, discover why healthy waterways matter and experience a place that many had only ever seen from the shore. We've continued these paddles through changing seasons, bushfires, floods, COVID and all the challenges that come with running a small family business, because inspiring local families to connect with nature has always felt worth it. These aren't commercial tours. They're about helping people build a lifelong relationship with the harbour. One of our favourite parts is seeing the next generation grow up with us. Some of the children who climbed into our kayaks during those very first Bushcare Paddles are now adults, returning to paddle Sydney Harbour in their own right.

10 consecutive years with North Sydney Council.

They were paddling with us before COVID. They are still paddling with us now. Every Tuesday morning.

Long before the Eco Hub, before The Speakeasy, and before many of the conservation projects that define Sydney By Kayak today, there was a small group of locals who simply loved getting out on the harbour together. More than a decade later, they're still here. Every Tuesday morning, our Local Legends meet us on the water. Through bushfires, floods, COVID lockdowns and all the ups and downs that come with running a small family business, they've kept paddling. They've celebrated milestones with us, welcomed new faces into the group and introduced countless friends and family members to Sydney Harbour. After every paddle, many gather for coffee at The Speakeasy, where conversations often last longer than the tour itself. Some of them know the harbour almost as well as our guides. To us, the Local Legends are much more than regular paddlers. They remind us that Sydney By Kayak has never just been about kayak tours. It's about creating a community of people who genuinely care for one another and for the harbour we all love.

Watching a four-year-old hold up a pen they just made from old milk bottle lids is one of our favourite parts of this job.

The name Liddle Legends is a little play on words. It celebrates the children who join us while also recognising that many of the products they create begin with something as simple as a humble plastic milk lid. Our after-school program runs at the Eco Hub in partnership with Reshaping Waste, welcoming children aged 4 to 12 to explore the world of plastic pollution, recycling and ocean conservation through hands-on learning. Using plastic collected from Sydney Harbour and donated by our local community, the children help shred, process and transform what was once considered waste into useful everyday products such as pens and combs. The magic isn't really in the machine. It's in the moment a child suddenly realises that the plastic they held in their hand hasn't disappeared into a bin. They've turned it into something useful with their own hands. We hope those lessons stay with them long after they've left the Eco Hub, because caring for our oceans doesn't begin in adulthood. It begins with curious little hands and big imaginations.

The community has supported Sydney By Kayak since day one. This is one way we say thank you.

Every year, Sydney By Kayak donates experiences to local schools, charity galas, Mother's Day fundraisers, daycare events, community raffles and fundraising auctions. Most often, those donations take the form of Sunrise Kayak Tours, Floating High Tea experiences and other unforgettable moments on Sydney Harbour. We've been doing it since the day we launched. As a small family business, we know that our community has played a huge part in our journey. Local schools, families, businesses and community groups have paddled with us, supported us, recommended us and celebrated alongside us for more than a decade. Giving back feels like the natural thing to do. There's something incredibly special about knowing a kayak tour or Floating High Tea can help a school raise money, support a local charity or contribute to a cause that matters. One recent example saw our donated experiences raise more than $4,000 at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science Gala Dinner, helping to support vital marine research and conservation. It's one small way we can give back to the community that has given so much to us.

We thought we knew Lavender Bay. SIMS showed us there was still so much more to discover.

After more than a decade of paddling Sydney Harbour every day, we thought we knew Lavender Bay pretty well. Then we met the scientists at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS). What began as a conversation about Living Seawalls quickly grew into a partnership built on curiosity, collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting Sydney Harbour. We asked countless questions. What species would arrive first? How long would it take? What would success actually look like? Together with SIMS, North Sydney Council and Reef Design Lab, we helped bring the world-first Living Seawall Habitat Boulders to Lavender Bay in 2023. Today, SIMS continues to monitor the boulders through annual biodiversity surveys, sharing the latest discoveries with us so that every Sydney By Kayak guide can pass that knowledge on to our paddlers. Instead of simply pointing at the water, we're able to tell the stories of the species living beneath it, backed by real science happening just 100 metres from where we launch every kayak tour.

71 marine species recorded in the latest survey

Some partnerships are built in meeting rooms. Ours has been built on the water.

Every year on World Oceans Day, we welcome the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium team onto Sydney Harbour for a series of Clean-Up Paddles at sunrise. Together, we collect marine debris, share stories and spend time caring for the harbour that connects us all. Over the years, this relationship has grown into one of our most valued partnerships. Through the wider Merlin Entertainments family, we've collaborated on conservation initiatives, including our first Seabin project and more recent Seahorse project, while the aquarium team has welcomed our guides behind the scenes to deepen their understanding of Sydney Harbour's remarkable marine life. Those experiences have transformed the stories we share with our paddlers. Whether we're talking about White's Seahorses, Port Jackson Sharks or the incredible biodiversity beneath the surface, our guides can draw on real conversations with the scientists and conservation teams working to protect these species every day.

8 consecutive years of World Oceans Day collaboration.

We went to help. We came back having learned.

Some of the most valuable conservation lessons aren't taught in a classroom. They're shared by the people who have cared for a place for countless generations. The Gamay Rangers are an Indigenous-led conservation organisation working to protect Sea Country around Botany Bay. Their work brings together Traditional Knowledge and contemporary science, caring for Country in a way that has been practised for thousands of years. In March 2026, we joined the Gamay Rangers and Clean Up Australia at Frenchmans Bay for a community beach clean-up. We arrived ready to lend a hand, but we left with something far more valuable. As we worked together, we listened to stories of Sea Country, learned about Indigenous approaches to caring for waterways and gained a deeper appreciation of the connection between people, place and conservation. It was a powerful reminder that protecting Sydney Harbour and its surrounding waterways isn't only about removing rubbish or restoring habitat. It's also about listening, learning and recognising the knowledge that has existed here for generations.

We joined looking for like-minded businesses. We found ideas, friendships and opportunities that helped shape who we are today.

When we joined the Better Business Partnership (BBP) six years ago, we hoped to connect with other businesses that cared about sustainability as much as we did. What we discovered was far more valuable than a networking group. BBP introduced us to partners who have become part of our daily operations, from Reground, which gives our coffee grounds a second life, to Huskee reusable cups and Neo Organic Tea. They organised an energy efficiency audit for our Eco Hub and connected us with local councils, community organisations and fellow business owners who continually challenge and inspire us to do better. Perhaps the greatest gift has been the conversations. Being surrounded by people who openly share ideas, celebrate successes and encourage one another has reminded us that sustainability isn't a competition. It's something we're all working towards together. We're incredibly proud to have been recognised as the Better Business Partnership Champion of Change (2025) and North Shore Sustainable Business of the Year (2023).

No printed waivers. No printed menus. No printed communications.

Long before going paperless became common, Sydney By Kayak had already built its business that way. Since launching in 2013, every booking, waiver, customer communication and operational document has been managed digitally. Visitors book online, complete their waivers electronically and receive all the information they need before arriving at the harbour. It wasn't a sustainability initiative we introduced later. It was simply how we chose to build the business from the very beginning. Less paper, less waste and a smoother experience for both our paddlers and our team. It's one of those quiet decisions that often goes unnoticed, but like so many of our sustainability choices, the small things add up over time.

It sounds like a logistics decision. It is actually a sustainability one.

Every morning, our team starts the day at the Eco Hub before making the short walk down to Lavender Bay. Like many businesses in Sydney, we could spend time driving around the surrounding streets looking for parking every day. Instead, we do something much simpler. Our vans stay parked in the same nearby car park, housing our kayaks and equipment. That means our guides can walk or cycle to the Eco Hub, fill their reusable water bottles with fresh Purezza filtered water, say good morning to the baker and barista, and walk to the vans, knowing everything they need is already waiting for them. It's a small operational decision, but one that reduces unnecessary driving, saves fuel, cuts emissions and creates a smoother start to every Sydney Harbour kayak tour. Like many of our sustainability initiatives, it's not complicated. It's simply a matter of stopping to ask, is there a better way to do this? Once we made the change, we couldn't imagine doing it any other way.