
easy
1 hour
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires basic balance and the ability to swim short distances
Paddle the sheltered waters of Pumicestone Passage from Golden Beach—ideal for beginners and wildlife seekers. This one‑hour SUP hire pairs calm water, exposed sandbars, and the chance to see dolphins, turtles and shorebirds.
You push off from the shallow lip of Golden Beach and the water closes around the board with a clean, cold embrace. The passage stretches east like a muted highway—glass at high tide, a maze of sandbars at low—and the small lighthouse on the Esplanade keeps a patient eye on arrivals. For an hour you become a slow-moving explorer: paddling past oyster‑lined mangroves, skirting sandbanks where ghostly soldier crabs explode like confetti, and tracking the occasional bow wave of a dolphin that arcs and disappears as if testing boundaries.

Tides change how far you can travel and whether sandbars are accessible—check the local tide table before booking.
Bring reef‑safe sunscreen, a wide‑brim hat, and sunglasses; reflected sunlight off the water intensifies UV exposure.
Use a leash and a dry bottle or pouch for phone/keys—losing grip on small items is common when you transition from kneeling to standing.
Keep distance from turtles and feeding birds; avoid dragging boards through seagrass and stay out of marked marine habitats.
The Pumicestone Passage was shaped by longshore drift that formed Bribie Island; the Gubbi Gubbi people have fished and lived along these shores for millennia.
Use reef‑safe sunscreen, avoid disturbing seagrass beds, and carry out any rubbish to reduce impacts on sensitive marine habitats.
Provided by the operator and required for safety on open water.
Protects skin and eyes from strong UV reflected off the passage.
summer specific
Keeps valuables and water dry while you paddle and if you tip out.
Useful for comfort on cooler mornings and when stepping onto sandy or shelly bars.
spring specific