Get out on the water this summer

IF you’re looking for a way to cool off and maybe try a new activity on a weekend this summer, Bendigo Water Sports hires out kayaks at a Kangaroo Flat reservoir.  

Craig McDonald said he and his wife Amanda McDonald love getting out on the water and the business started as a hobby that “got out of hand.” 

He also said people come from all over to give kayaking a go, and the owners are quick to jump into a boat themselves if anyone needs a hand. 

“Generally, we get a lot of people who haven’t tried it before, people drive down from Melbourne who’ve never been on the water before,” said Mr McDonald. 

“We just give them a few pointers on how to turn, how to paddle, kit them out with all the safety gear. 

“At Crusoe, we have the luxury where if they’re having a bit of trouble, I can go out and paddle with them and just sort of help them along with hand placement and paddle efficiency, that sort of stuff.” 

Mr McDonald said he bases the operation at Crusoe as there are no water vehicles to potentially interfere, and the surrounds are quite pretty. 

“It’s a bit out of the way, but there’s no power boats there, so it’s very safe, there’s no jet skis or speedboats or anything like that and it’s quiet,” he said. 

“A lot of people go walking around there, and we just think it’s a really beautiful spot and we’d love to see more people out there. 

“There’s lots of turtles, lots of fish, heaps of wildlife, different breeds of ducks.  

“Dragonflies around this time of year are out of control, there just beautiful, there’s little red ones, green ones, blue ones, it’s just fantastic.” 

The business also holds occasional events on the Campaspe River and stand-up paddle board sessions at Golden Square Pool, with the next to be held sometime in January.  

Bendigo Water Sports normally operates on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to the late afternoon.