Lessons, Trips, Adventure and Adrenaline Experiences
CALL US ON 1 8000 KAYAK
unit 1, 543 Cooper St, Epping, Vic 3076
How to choose the best packraft for your Adventures.
Essential Paddle Strokes every kayaker must know.
Build Kayaking Confidence.
Intermediate and Advanced River Running Skills for Confident River Running
Kayak Courses Melbourne | Packraft Training & Adventure Experiences
Canoes Plus Kayak School & Adventure Experiences is one of Australia's most experienced providers of kayak courses, canoe instruction and packraft training. Serving Melbourne and Victoria with kayak courses, packraft training, whitewater kayaking instruction and guided paddling adventures since 1972, we have helped thousands of paddlers develop their skills, confidence and safety awareness on rivers, lakes and whitewater for more than 50 years.
Whether you're looking for beginner kayaking lessons in Melbourne, advanced whitewater kayaking courses, or specialist packraft training, our highly qualified Paddle Australia instructors deliver practical, hands-on learning tailored to your experience and goals. All our instructors hold Paddle Australia qualifications, Swiftwater Qualifications and Wilderness First aid.
We offer a full range of paddling courses and adventures, including:
- Learn to Kayak Courses
- Learn to Packraft Courses
- Whitewater Kayaking Courses
- Intermediate and Advanced Packrafting
- River Reading and Navigation Skills
- Rescue and Self-Rescue Training
- Rolling Clinics
- Guided River Trips
- Wilderness Journeys
- School Adventure and Outdoor Education Programs
- Outdoor education programs that include hiking, biking, and other disciplines
What happens in a kayaking course? A beginner course is designed for complete beginners covering everything from getting in and out of the kayak to the strokes needed to manoever. Our courses combine technical skills, river safety, rescue techniques and real-world experience to prepare paddlers for recreational and wilderness adventures. We tailor each lesson to suit the participants, while still covering all the skills needed to learn quickly and safely
Good instruction is more than demonstrating a technique. It’s about creating learning that lasts.
Our Skills Days focus on repeatable, transferable skills — giving you the opportunity to understand a technique, practise it correctly, receive feedback and repeat it until you can reproduce it independently.
We focus on the why as well as the how, helping you develop an understanding of boat control, movement, river dynamics and decision-making that can be applied across different boats and environments.
Whether you paddle a packraft, kayak, canoe or another craft, you’ll learn principles that transfer.
The goal is simple:
Learn it. Practise it. Understand it. Repeat it.
So when you're back on the river without an instructor beside you, the skill is still there.
Any boat. Any paddler. Skills that stick.
How long do our lessons and trips last? Skills lessons last about 2 hours. Guided Whitewater trips near Melbourne last about 3 hours.
Who are the Canoes Plus Instructors? Each lesson or trip is run by highly skilled instructors, all with industry recognized qualifications and years of experience.
Dita is a Paddle Australia Senior Instructor in all craft — the highest instructor qualification available. She is a five-time World Champion, a long-time Whitewater Slalom Coach, and holds Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness First Aid qualifications.
With more than 25 years teaching, coaching and leading trips, Dita understands that great instruction isn't about showing someone something once. It’s about creating a learning process that allows people to understand, practise, repeat and retain the skill. Meet our other instructors.
Canoes Plus has been delivering packraft training in Australia for over 15 years and remains a leader in developing safe, capable and confident packrafters. From your first paddle to advanced whitewater skills, Canoes Plus Kayak School is your trusted destination for kayak courses in Melbourne, packraft training and guided paddling adventures.
We also specialise in school outdoor education programs, Duke of Edinburgh journeys, club activities and guided expeditions, providing memorable experiences that build resilience, teamwork and confidence. We deliver courses, guided trips and outdoor education programs throughout Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Gippsland, the Victorian High Country, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and regional Victoria, with selected programs operating interstate and across Australia.
Many of our lessons are run by Dita Pahl, who brings an exceptional combination of paddling, coaching, instructional and river-safety experience.
Our son has been with Canoes plus for the last year and a half and has loved every minute. Dita is a brilliant coach and is always supportive and encouraging. He has just returned from a pack raft trip that he absolutely loved. The whole trip was wonderfully organised and Dita went above and beyond to ensure he and the rest of the group had the best time. If you enjoy being outside and want to get out on the water then honestly I couldn’t recommended them more highly.
Jens Altheimer
I had an absolutely fantastic experience with Canoes Plus Kayak School! I joined them for a two-day guided trip down the Thompson River and was thoroughly impressed by the professionalism, skill, and passion of the instructors. The trip was not only well-organised and safe, but also filled with great tips, support, and encouragement—perfect for building confidence on the water.Their slalom and other training sessions are top-notch, catering to all levels. What really stood out was the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere—whether you're a seasoned paddler or just getting started, you feel part of the crew from the get-go.