When Is the Best Time to Kayak in 1770? A Local Guide to Tides, Wind & Conditions

If you’re planning to go kayaking in the Town of 1770, one of the first questions is usually:

“What’s the best time to go?”

And the slightly annoying local answer is: it depends...

After more than 15 years of running kayak tours on Round Hill Creek, we can tell you that there is no magical hour that is always perfect. Wind, tide, weather and the season all play a part, and conditions can change considerably from one day to the next. Even from morning to afternoon!

That’s also one of the things we love about kayaking here. The creek is never quite the same.

Does the tide matter when kayaking in 1770?

Very much.

Round Hill Creek is tidal, so the amount of water moving through the creek, and the direction it’s moving, changes throughout the day.

That can make the difference between a lovely cruisy paddle and wondering why the same kayak suddenly seems to have acquired a handbrake or you don't seem to be moving at all.

Some days and times are simply much easier and more enjoyable than others, particularly if you’re not an experienced paddler.

If you’re unsure, ask us before heading out.

What about the wind?

Wind is the other big factor.

A weather forecast might look perfectly fine to someone planning a day at the beach, but kayaking is different. Even a moderate breeze can make paddling harder, particularly when it’s blowing the same direction as the tide.

And of course, wind direction matters as much as wind speed. Maybe even more!

This is where knowing Round Hill Creek becomes rather useful.

We’ve spent a ridiculous number of hours (more likely days!) staring at this water over the years. We know which parts of the creek are more exposed, where you can find some protection and which route is likely to work best with the conditions on the day.

It’s one of the reasons our guided tours don’t always follow exactly the same route.

Is morning or afternoon better for kayaking?

Neither is automatically better.

Some beautiful paddling conditions happen in the morning. Some happen later in the day.

Our Family Tour and Nature Tour both run in the morning, while the Sunset Tour runs later in the day.

The tours have set departure times so we can organise the day properly, but the route itself can change depending on the tide, wind and conditions.

That’s the bit that gives us flexibility. We don’t just paddle exactly the same route every day regardless of what the creek is doing.

Why does the Sunset Tour departure time change?

Because sunset changes throughout the year.

Seems obvious when you say it like that, but it catches people out surprisingly often.

Our Sunset Tour is timed so we can paddle, explore the creek and coastline, stop at a secluded beach or sandbank and then be in the right place for sunset.

So the departure time changes as sunset gets earlier or later.

If you booked well ahead, we ask you to confirm your departure time with us 24 hours before the tour.

What if it’s cloudy?

We still go kayaking.

The Sunset Tour is about considerably more than the final few minutes of sunset.

There’s paddling, wildlife, local history, a beach stop, snacks and drinks, and several hours on the water before the sun actually goes down.

And cloudy skies can produce some pretty spectacular sunsets anyway.

Will the weather affect wildlife sightings?

It can affect where we paddle and what we happen to see, but wildlife is unpredictable regardless of the weather.

Round Hill Creek is home to dolphins, turtles, stingrays, fish, crabs and a huge variety of birdlife.

Sometimes wildlife is everywhere.

Sometimes apparently every living creature in the creek has received a memo saying:

“Tour at 3pm. Hide.”

We never guarantee wildlife sightings.

What we can do is use years of experience to know what to look for, where to look and when something that appears to be a dark blob in the water is actually worth stopping for.

Quite often, it is.

Occasionally it’s a plastic bag. Which we obviously will be picking up.

Are some days easier to paddle than others?

Definitely.

All of our guided tours are suitable for beginners, but kayaking is still a physical outdoor activity.

Wind and tide can make one day easier than another.

For our Nature and Sunset Tours, you should have a moderate level of fitness. You’ll be sitting in a kayak for a prolonged period and need to be able to get in and out several times.

If you’re worried about your fitness, age, an existing injury or simply whether kayaking is right for you, call us before booking.

We would much rather have a quick chat than have you discover halfway through the tour that kayaking and your dodgy hip are not friends.

Guided tour or kayak hire?

If you’re confident and simply want to explore at your own pace, kayak hire is a great option.

You can paddle Round Hill Creek, stop somewhere for a break and make your own little adventure out of it.

A guided tour is different.

You have someone there to help with your paddling if needed, choose a route around the tide and conditions, share local knowledge and, importantly, help spot the wildlife you might otherwise paddle straight past.

After years on this creek, we tend to notice things.

A stingray buried under a layer of sand.

A dolphin fin that appeared for approximately half a second.

A sea slug most people would regard as an insignificant blob but which may cause your guide to become far too excited.

It happens.

So... when is the best time to kayak in 1770?

The best time to kayak in 1770 is when the tide, wind and weather work together to give you good paddling conditions.

And that isn’t necessarily the same time tomorrow.

If you’re looking at the forecast before your visit and wondering whether it looks good for kayaking, just ask us. We are always happy to give advice and we are honest about the conditions.