We start you on calm, protected water and keep the whole first session there. Before you get in a kayak, we run through the gear on land: how to hold the paddle, how to sit, and what to do if the boat feels wobbly. Then we get you on the water in a stable beginner boat where you can build up slowly.

A typical first lesson covers:

• Getting in and out of the kayak safely from a low bank or beach
• Balance and posture so the boat feels steady under you
• The core forward stroke, plus stopping and turning
• What a capsize actually feels like and how to stay calm if it happens (only if and when you are ready)
• Reading the water and staying near shore

For nervous paddlers, the pace is yours. We do not push anyone into deep water or a capsize drill before they want it. Most people are paddling in a straight line and turning on purpose within the first session. Small groups mean you get real coaching time rather than watching from the back of a pack.

No. Most people in a beginner session are starting from zero, and the whole lesson is paced for people who have never been in a kayak. We start on flat, calm water, not moving current, so there's nothing to fight while you find your balance. Nobody is timed, ranked, or pushed past what they're comfortable with.

The teaching is hands-on and progressive. You learn one skill, practise it until it feels natural, then move to the next. If a stroke isn't clicking, your instructor breaks it down again rather than moving the group on without you.

I'm scared of tipping over. Can I still do a beginner lesson?

We teach on the flat, sheltered water that makes Melbourne good for learning. The Yarra River is a popular starting point because it is wide and gentle. Most lessons will be at Westerfolds Park in Templestowe, which is a fairly central location.

We serve Melbourne, greater Victoria, and Geelong. If you are coming from further out in regional Victoria, tell us where you are based and we will suggest the closest calm-water spot.

Group lessons start at $180. Private lessons $250. Kayak, paddle, and a properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD) are included, so you do not need to buy or bring anything except clothes that can get wet and a change of clothes for after.

We run lessons in a few formats so you can pick what suits:

• Group lesson: First-timers who like company. Small-group coaching on calm water.
• Private lesson: Nervous paddlers, or anyone wanting focused time. One-on-one pace and attention. Private lessons cost $250 for around 2 hours.
• Family or friends booking: Parents with kids, small groups. A private session for your own group.

We make sure that you get the skills you need, when you start in either the group or private lesson. Our lessons are private, or small-group instruction with provided gear. This gives you the best basis from which to lay down foundation kayaking skills. From there you can move on to more affordable options through our club based system. Club coaching is weekly and costs much less, but does not have the same attention to skills and technique that you get from a lesson from an instructor, and usually you need to provide your own gear.

We have been running a kayak school in Victoria since 1972, so beginner nerves are not new to us. Over that time we have taught paddlers from complete first-timers through to people preparing for whitewater and multi-day river trips. That range matters for a beginner: your instructor has seen where a nervous start can lead, and can grow your skills at a sensible pace instead of leaving you stuck at "I can go straight."

Our instructors are highly qualified, Paddle Australia accredited, first-aid certified, rescue certified. We also run the full ladder of paddling: once you are comfortable, you can move into intermediate lessons, guided river trips, or learn to packraft, all with the same school. You can choose which style of craft to learn in, so we can tailor the lessons to suit your style and needs. We are the local seller for many kayak Brands including Jackson, Prijon and Exo, as well as distributor for Lattitude Packrafts and Kayaks, so if you decide to buy your own boat later, we can fit you to the right one.

We keep beginner groups small on purpose. Fewer people on the water means more coaching time for you and closer supervision, which is exactly what a nervous first-timer needs.

A few things that set the school apart:

• Instructors qualified through Paddle Australia, Australia's national paddling body.
• More than 15 years running structured packraft training, as one of the earliest organisations to bring it to Australian paddlers.
• More than 60 years teaching kayaking from beginner to elite.
• Instructors and athletes with experience competing at national and international level, including World Championship competition, so once you progress there's a clear pathway.
• Programs for schools, Duke of Edinburgh Award journeys, clubs and community groups, alongside individual lessons.

The same people who coach competitive paddlers also teach the beginner sessions, which means the person showing you how to get in a kayak actually knows how the sport works all the way up. Our main instructor and COO is Dita Pahl - with more than 25 years experience in teaching and also competing, you are in good hands. Dita has great experience in teaching in many different styles and environments, and is able to adapt lessons to suit each learning style. Dita can utilize her elite competition experience to help those wanting a more in depth lesson to upskill, or pass on her in depth knowledge of exploration and expedition paddling in either packraft or kayak.  Check out a more detailed description of our instructors here.

Call us on 18000KAYAK or book through our website www.learntokayak.net. Tell us three things and we will sort the rest: whether you have paddled before, how you feel about the water, and where you are travelling from. From there we will confirm a calm-water location, a time, and what to wear.