ABSEILING, KAYAKING, BUSHWALKING, SCHOOL PROGRAMS
SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO ESCAPE….
Walking Rivers, Newcastle’s premier outdoor company, focuses on providing you, your family, and friends with an unforgettable experience. Let us show you some of the best kayaking, abseiling, and bushwalking adventures NSW has to offer. We strive to be your teacher, guide, cook, and friend at all times, encouraging you to fully immerse yourself in each day’s adventure activity. We understand that our journeys create lifelong memories for people like you. Every Walking Rivers adventure guarantees a five-star experience thanks to well-maintained equipment, qualified guides, and precise logistics.
ADD SPICE TO YOUR LIFE
When Abseiling is high on your bucket list.
For people that want to mix some adrenaline with their time in the outdoors, our license allows some great cliffs for you to play on. People of any age and physical ability can do this, all it takes is some courage.
LEARN TO NOT GET LOST
Bushwalking that’s more than a walk through the bush
Let us provide the opportunity for you to reconnect with nature. More than just a walk through the bush, you will learn navigation and survival skills in addition to using the bush as a therapy to de-stress.
TRY MEANDERING DOWN A RIVER
Let Kayaking enter your life and you might get addicted
Enjoy a fully guided single day or multi-day Kayak journey on some of NSW premier waterways. Catering to all levels of experience and supplying everything you need to soak up some water therapy.
LEARNING CAN BE FUN
When You Can’t Find The Right School Program
In addition to a comprehensive list of Duke of Edinburgh adventurous journeys, all levels, we can tailor a full range of activities to suit individual school group requirements and outcomes.
Don’t take our word for it, read below what our clients are saying about us……..
Matt Forsyth
1700790924
We had a fantastic time paddling the Snowy River with Ivan and Pete. Superb scenery, fabulous food and a great adventure. The wildlife, company and banter along the way was a highlight!
Candy
1689644017
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! Best kayaking experience. Ivan and Glenn went out of their way to make sure the group had an excellent time. The views on the lake were breathtaking.We were visiting from California with work and we booked our tour for our last weekend in Newcastle. Our day kayaking was the pinnacle of our trip!Throughout the trip both Ivan and Glenn provided information about every animal we encountered and historical facts about the different areas throughout the lake we explored. I’ve been kayaking throughout the United States, but never experienced anything like this before. Being mid winter, we felt we had the entire lake to ourselves with great company. Definitely recommend exploring the lake and kayaking with Ivan and Glenn!! Thank you both!! 🙏
Rebecca L
1689564421
Ivan is an awesome guide and instructor. We completed the 4 hours abseiling experience on my partner's birthday. Definitely a bonus that it comes with the 4 x 4 drive through the national park. After the abseiling we also had some time for a short hike then enjoyed the afternoon tea with an amazing view. Thank you for going beyond and making my partner's birthday brilliant!
David Taylor
1687772611
Ivan was easy going, knew his stuff, made us 1st timers feel totally comfortable with abseiling and took safety to the next level. My daughter and I did the 20mtr and 60mtr drop and we couldn't have had a better day. Great alternative if you aren't into the wine tasting tours.
Steve Hillman
1680564984
Celebrated my birthday with a surprise 60m abseil last wknd. Ivan was fantastic. Loved that there is no limit or massive rush to have to push through the day. He made everyone feel that we could do the abseiling all day if we wanted to and the Gluten Free lunch he put on for my partners intolerance was spot on! Would 100% go again. Highly recommend. Thanks again.
Travelling Delirious
1679109585
My family enjoyed spending the day abseiling with Ivan.Thankyou for a fantastic experience Ivan.
Anoush Sarkissian
1676965286
My twins completed a 7 day kayaking journey with Walking Rivers in September 2022 and had a wondeful and the most positive experience. The leader, Ivan has a wealth of experience and was able to provide the kids and parents with all the required information prior to the journey. He is very approachable, professional but also sensitive and understanding at the same time. Ivan was supportive of the kids at the same time he was able to challenge them in order to get the best out of their kayaking journey. As a parent, we felt the kids were in good hands with Ivan leading them in their journey. I highly recommend this experience.
Timo Gobius
1674194025
We had a really great day with Ivan who kindly took us for the day as a couple after our booking went through. Ivan said usually he takes groups of 6 or more so we were very privileged. Ivan was easy to get on with, very particular about his rope set up, very thorough in our preparation for the abseiling, and generous with his time.We abseiled a 20 metre cliff a number of times (after clearing a big snake from the bottom of the cliff), then tackled the 60m cliff after a nice lunch of vege burgers with egg and salad cooked by Ivan. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the 6 hour abseiling package to anyone considering giving it ago. Do yourself a favour and make a day of it!!
Shane K
1673823256
We abseiled the 20 metre cliff, 60 metre cliff and the cave drop. All get the adrenaline going and are a great test of both your body and mind.A very nice lunch was provided and Ivan was a good motivator.Definitely recommended!
Wendy Saunders
1673133382
Great personalised experience. Ivan picked us up and dropped us at our door. Ivan provided some additional navigation techniques as well as taking us to beautiful lookouts and swimming hole. Highly recommend this tour.
Katie Lee
1667187494
Ivan was very accommodating to the experience I was hoping for with my 2 young daughters. For their first time abseiling at only 9 and 12 years old the girls had an absolute ball. Not only did Ivan provide encouragement and praise, he did it in a calm way that the girls felt comfortable to be able to go at their own pace. And they loved it! Thank Ivan, we’ll be back with more kids in the future!
Iryna Gatsenko
1664121961
Maddy Strik
1653301951
Had a great day absieling for the first time! Ivan was a great instructor and really helped talk me through the nerves!
Ryan Bruin
1653174710
Absolute cracker of a day, cannot recommend Ivan enough, he talked us through everything and made sure it was safe and informative. Lunch was served hot and had options for everything we could want.
Zac Schneider
1653172958
What an amazing day out I had the time of my life awesome instructor and awesome company we had a blast
Philip Hoitink
1651704230
Great day spent with amazing people! Felt quite comfortable backing off a cliff with Ivan over and over again. He was a great host, full of knowledge. The scenery was amazing, highly recommend for a good day out.
Jennifer Preston
1650285989
Ivan from Walking Rivers is the real deal – a highly skilled and knowledgeable guide who is passionate about the wilderness and in helping others experience the natural beauty and hidden secrets of the local area which he clearly knows so well. The Abbott’s Falls hike was absolutely spectacular, and a lot of fun too. No question that Walking Rivers would be my first choice for any future trips.
Sandy
1641982998
AMMAZING 4 day white water rafting adventure that we'll never forget. We booked a 4 day snowy mountain kayaking adventureWe never kayaked on such a strong river before and it was a good decision booking with walking river. There were 2 guides and 4 of us learners. On the first day they taught us the white water kayaking techniquesThey included fresh food every meal and cooked every meal in front of us - never had the same me twiceI would definitely book with these guys again
Jessica Yu
1641514895
If you are after adventure, this is it! My friends and I had the fortune to do the 4 day Snowy River kayaking trip with Ivan and Glenn, and we could not have asked for better guides. Though the trip was full of ups and downs, they somehow managed to get 5 complete kayaking newbies down 65 km of river and rapids safely and packed with laughs. Ivan and Glenn taught us so so much about not only kayaking, but also camp cooking as well as some extremely esoteric bush skills.I would not hesitate to recommend Walking Rivers and would love to go on another trip in the future. Thank you both so much for an amazing time!
Kate
1634588261
What a great day! I went with Ivan to learn about navigation, orienteering and basically how to NOT get lost in the bush. I learned so much more.Ivan took me on a well paced day of adventure through beautiful country, where I was able to use each skill he taught me over and over, til at the end of the day, I was making decisions on where we were going and how we were going to get there.Ivan is professional, funny and his knowledge and passion for the bush and it's conservation is contagious. We had some exciting moments, but I always felt completely safe. And he's not a bad cook either. (Lunch was yum!)I would highly recommend Walking Rivers, and I can't wait for my next adventure with them.(I wish I could post the photos!)
Kimberley Goodwin
1627291634
Annie Kuang
1623752664
It was a pleasure to have Ivan as a guide. He took us on a great day out to learn the basics of orienteering, and our day's itinerary was broken down in a way where we could absorb knowledge and then practically apply our skills. I have no regrets participating in this course, and will be back for more adventures in the future. Thanks Ivan!
Andrea Johns
1622968266
Very informative, fun, engaging day with great company & lunch in a beautiful scenic location. We are inspired to buy a compass and get out bush. Thanks Ivan! We felt safe at all times. Looking forward to our next adventure with Walking Rivers in a months time.
Fletcher O'Connor
1622608979
Ivan is an experienced professional in outdoor adventuring and more than willing to share impart his knowledge. He made an effort to ensure everyone understood each each matter and placed the group in circumstances where we could apply what we’d learnt. I feel that I now have better orienteering and outdoor survival skills than before I participated in the session.
Otis Dhanji
1618617434
Had a great weekend paddling the Barrington with Ivan and Glenn. They provided a fantastic experience for our group of 4 beginner paddlers, taking us from grade 1 rapids to grades 2-lower 3. Glenn demonstrated an exceptional mastery of the camp kitchen, treating us to sticky date pudding by the fire on our second night. Ivan organised all the tents for us, all we had to do was rock up and paddle. Would highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves nature, good company and wants to try kayaking in river rapids.
Hament Dhanji
1618486247
A great experience. Ivan and Glen were fantastic - we really enjoyed kayaking the Barrington River, but the whole experience was terrific. We felt completely looked after - tents were all set up for us and the best camping meals we have ever had. Highly recommend it.
Kathy
1614699450
Ivan was the best guide that I could have ever asked for. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional, incredibly friendly, patient, and goes miles above and beyond to provide the best experience possible. Kayaking the extraordinarily beautiful Myall Lakes was positively a luxury with Ivan doing everything in his power to make it a wonderful, memorable experience. He is the very embodiment of a good, honest, and caring Aussie bloke. I have no hesitations in recommending booking an adventure with Walking Rivers and would certainly love to come back again myself. Ivan, thank you so much for all your time, effort, and care; and all that you have taught me!
R
1613971348
Our group had a great morning with Ivan in the Watagans. The rains had changed the path so we had an adventure finding it with our newly learnt bush skills. Everyone enjoyed finding out about the forest and it's history. Ivan is a wonderful advocate for the bush and natural environment - sharing knowledge about how to experience it while keeping it safe for future generations.
Katie Hislop
1613023434
My son spent 5 days on Myall Lake doing a kayaking tour for his silver Duke of Edinburgh camp. He had a fabulous time. Communications prior to the camp were excellent, including camp lists and support around menu planning. There were 6 boys in the group who were well supported in their training when they arrived, they saw dingoes, quokka, goannas and more on the trip. All came back tired, happy and keen to continue on to the gold qualification - that is saying something. And the post support to ensure the administration is completed is so helpful. Thank you Ivan. I will highly recommend you to others!
D K
1605507352
Awesome day out - especially for my boys.Small group, professional operation with quality equipment in good condition, and the day was tailored to our needs.Safety was always at the top of the list with fun a close second.Worth it just for the look on my sons face when he made it to the bottom of the 60m cliff if nothing else.Highly recommended.
Ben Fong
1605009851
Recently, 3 of my friends and I took a chance to join Ivan and Glenn on a half-day trip abseiling day trip in Watagans NP and what a fantastic decision that was. First thing to note is that these 2 gents are the exact opposite of what you might think of when you think of a typical, tourist hotspot experience. They're knowledgeable, funny, happy to go through things at each person's pace, and genuine (a great atmosphere if you have friends who are new to outdoors activities). In other words - fantastic guides for an outdoor experience.Take my advice - if you can spare the barely 90 minute (that's nothing!) drive out of crowded, loud Sydney, you'll be richly rewarded with one of their tours. It's one of those gems that you stumble upon by luck - a slower paced, banter-filled trip into nature guided by 2 brothers who have been abseiling, kayaking, Duke of Ed-ing and more for years. Thanks fellas. We'll be back!
Lucy Rooker
1604560487
I had such a great day Abseiling with Ivan! I can’t wait to go again.
Kath Gahan
1604526894
Highly recommend.
Wendy Kokegei
1604442872
Kerry Neville
1604438702
Awesome day abseiling with Walking Rivers. 10 crazy women (all friends) aged between 40 and 63 who had not abseiled before "what could go wrong" NOTHING !!! Ivan and Glen had everything to ensure we all had the best day, from picking us up in a mini bus to venture into the beautiful Watagons, great food and plenty of it, professionalism and maximum fun. We all abseiled after detailed safety instruction and they made us feel as though we all had this, and we did, conquering the 20m and the 60m drops. 🧗♀️ Best day, highly recommended !!!!
Jakki Riggien
1602578340
Our son went on a wonderfully organised 6 day/5 night kayak adventure on beautiful Myall Lakes for his Practice & Qualifying Journey, Silver Award for Duke of Ed. He loved it from packing everything into his kayak to changing campsites every night. Paddling every day from one campsite to the next and exploring in between. They enjoyed the remoteness of each campsite, some only accessible by boat. Guide, Ivan is a true bushman with incredible knowledge of the Myall Lakes area.
Kate G
1602132237
Wonderful day out learning to navigate through the bush - we were a group of four with different levels of knowledge, and Ivan made sure everyone was kept up to speed, or had their skills sharpened. Lunch a highlight!
Robert Segal
1601942539
Fantastic experience. Before the course I could read a map. By the end I was able to navigate through thick bushland, with the skills learnt.
Jasmine Hutchinson
1601851403
Horrible
Sophie Darton
1601784188
I just completed my Gold Duke of Ed Adventurous Journeys at the Myall Lakes and I had an absolutely wonderful time. Ivan was very knowledge, kind and patient with us all! He taught us lots and ensured we stayed safe along the way. It was a very fun journey and I would highly recommend it! If you ever go with Ivan, don’t forget to ask him to tell you the rabbit story!! Thanks for a great week Ivan!!
Naomi Menday LEE
1600982231
Enjoyable day with friendly, patient, and encouraging instructors in a gorgeous setting in the Watagans. Novice group at abseiling, one of us scared of heights and Ivan and Glenn got her down not only the 20m but also the 60m descent. Two of us had managed to botch our starts and Ivan and Glenn kept us calm and got us upright and to the bottom and we still continued with further descents. Equipment proven to be safe. Flexible with itinerary to meet groups needs/requests. Morning tea was substantial and a chance to take a break and sit and enjoy the magnificent view and gorgeous surroundings. And all of this pretty much at our backdoor.
Adam Van Dyck
1600949071
We went as a small group of friends for a fun day out and to challenge ourselves.We laughed, we (nearly) cried, drank coffee, ate crackers and dips and, yes, went backwards off a cliff, some of us even went upside down.The staff were professional and made us feel safe and relaxed, as much as possible.We'd all recommend this business to others.
Stevo Wallace
1600765215
Went out for the half day Abseiling Experience and absolutely loved it. Ivan made you feel very welcomed and made the whole experience great. The cliffs you abseil off really get the adrenaline pumping! Highly recommend and cant wait to go back to give the other experiences a go!
Sazzie 2421
1600688573
Ivan and the team are professional in what they do, they take the time to get to know your strengths a d weaknesses and know just how to get you to over come your fears especially if it’s heights, they are absolutely amazing on just how much knowledge they have for there service specifically abseiling, I couldn’t recommend them enough
Rita P
1600668208
Fantastic abseiling experience! Thank you Ivan and Glenn who looked after the four of us so well. We'll definitely return for more challenges on the cliffs or in the river, as we know we can definitely trust the equipments and both of you to be the guides:)
Shanta Velaiutham
1600554297
I am afraid of heights, they got me off the 60m cliff safely and am going back for more . Get 5 stars for that !Great communicator ,flexible and fun guides.
Melissa Wyllie
1599571830
Amazing abseiling experience! What an incredible birthday activity, I felt on top of the world! Ivan & Glenn could not have looked after our small group better. We felt completely safe in experienced hands with all the right gear and Ivan gave us the confidence to really have fun and make the most of the day! Glenn’s photography and morning tea were added highlights. A wonderful day out in nature, easy to organise and coordinate, thrilling abseiling for the first time, couldn’t recommend highly enough.
Hayley Frazer
1599544222
Everything about this experience was quality. Location, safety, company and morning tea! we had such a great time with Glenn and Ivan and would recommend this to anyone wanting to get out of their comfort zone, trying something new or having a blast with good yarns and fabulous views - this will truly take your breath away! thank you both for the experience you gave us! we will remember it forever!H
m t
1599543717
Went abseiling with Walking Rivers 04/09/2020 with two mates and myself.We had a great day led by a professional team, The location had great scenery. Thanks for being so encouraging.
Debbie Millard
1595998590
I recently attended a one day bush navigation course with Ivan from Walking Rivers. We started at a beautiful lookout in the Watagans and went for a bush walk. Along the way Ivan taught me how to use a compass and topographic map, he also gave me some bush survival tips. We ended the day walking through dense and reasonably challenging bush where l got to use my compass to keep us on track. I struggle with navigation and was worried l wouldn't be able to understand what was being taught, however Ivan was a capable teacher and was careful l fully understood the lessons. The day was excellent value for money, I not only learnt navigation skills but enjoyed a scenic tour in the Watagans with a cooked lunch and much appreciated coffee. Ivan was knowledgeable, professional and a good teacher and l look forward to more navigation/survival training once I've practiced what I've learnt so far.
