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Discover the breathtaking beauty of Australia’s coastline like never before with a sea kayak adventure.
With crystal-clear waters and stunning landscapes, kayaking is a must-do experience for any outdoor enthusiast.
Get ready to paddle your way through Australia’s most epic coastal waters as we uncover the best sea kayaks on the market.
Our top pick?
The Bay Sports Quest 518 ABS, but we’ve also handpicked ten more of our favourite sea kayaks for you to explore. Join us on a journey to find your perfect kayaking companion.
Top 11 Best Sea Kayaks In Australia Reviewed
1: Bay Sports Quest 518 ABS Superlite (best overall)
- Length: 518 cm
- Width: 61 cm
- Weight: 27.5 kg
- Weight capacity: 158 kg
The Bay Sports Quest 518 ABS Superlite has just about everything you could need for an Australian sea kayaking adventure.
It’s made from thermoformed ABS plastic, which tends to offer increased abrasion resistance and more glide compared to polyethylene kayaks. This helps to improve speed for more efficient paddling.
This is built for long distances and features a rudder system for improved tracking and manoeuvrability.
This durable, Australian-brand sea kayak ticks all the boxes when it comes to space.
There’s a roomy cockpit that’s ideal for medium to large paddlers, with enough leg room to suit long legs. And there’s a comfortable padded seat that can be adjusted forwards and back to suit paddlers of different sizes.
You’ll find bow and stern hatches plus a centre day hatch. There are also deck bungees for securing additional gear at the bow and stern, and reflective perimeter lines for safety.
The multi-chine hull is designed to handle waves and currents, with a high level of secondary stability and good edging ability.
It has toe-controlled adjustable foot rests but one feature it lacks is thigh braces.
Pros
- Spacious cockpit
- Great for larger paddlers
- Fast and efficient
- Good storage space
Cons
- No thigh braces
2: Mirage 582 (best runner-up)
- Length: 582 cm
- Width: 55.5 cm
- Weight: 17.9 kg (Carbon), 25 kg (fibreglass)
- Weight capacity: 100 kg (paddler weight)
The Mirage 582 is one of the best sea kayaks on the market in Australia. But it doesn’t come cheap, especially if you opt for carbon construction, which is why it’s our runner-up pick. That, and the standard seat is a foam seat pad with a floating back band, so you may want to upgrade the seat if you’re planning a long trip.
The good news is this lightweight kayak is custom-made in Australia by an Australian design team. So you can add extra features to personalise the kayak to your requirements. You can also choose the type of construction, with the heaviest and cheapest option being fibreglass – although this is still very lightweight compared to polyethylene.
This sea kayak is built for speed to cover long distances efficiently. It’s a very long and narrow kayak, so it might not be the easiest to manoeuvre if you’re a new paddler. But it is designed for all levels, from beginners to advanced paddlers.
It has lots of space for gear for extended trips, including three dry storage compartments with snap-on lids for easy access. There is also elastic deck rigging to store additional gear.
The Mirage 582 has reflective perimeter lines for safety and an integrated rudder system to help with tracking in strong winds and ocean currents.
Pros
- Fast
- Ideal for long expeditions
- Suitable for all skill levels
- Designed and made in Australia
Cons
- Pricey
- Standard seat is not the most comfortable
3: Bay Sports Hug 5.2m Touring Kayak (best tandem sea kayak)
- Length: 523 cm
- Width: 70 cm
- Depth: 35 cm
- Weight: 36.5 kg
- Weight capacity: 280 kg
The Bay Sports Hug 5.2 is billed as Australia’s favourite 2-person touring kayak and it’s our pick for the best tandem sea kayak. This durable kayak offers incredible value for money at an affordable price. It comes with two paddles, and two padded seats with backrests.
The Hug offers excellent stability, making it a good choice if you’re new to sea kayaking. The foot-controlled rudder system also lets you counter the effects of wind and moving water when you’re in the open ocean, helping to improve tracking.
This tandem kayak can also be paddled solo from the rear cockpit, adding extra versatility to this sea craft.
There is plenty of room for gear for a few nights away. There are two large storage hatches for camping equipment. Plus there’s a day hatch that has the added advantage of an inner bag, giving waterproof protection for small items.
You’ll find deck rigging, with reflective perimeter lines and bungee cords for added storage.
This has a good capacity for two people plus gear. However, this is not a lightweight kayak. It should be easy for two people to carry, but if you’re on your own, you may need a kayak trolley.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Ideal for new sea kayakers
- Good storage
- Two paddles included
Cons
- Heavy
4: Advanced Elements Airfusion Evo Inflatable Kayak (best inflatable)
- Length: 396 cm
- Width: 61 cm
- Depth: 28 cm
- Weight: 14.6 kg
- Weight capacity: 106 kg
The Advanced Elements Airfusion Evo is a high-quality inflatable kayak with some unique features.
This sit-inside inflatable sea kayak features drop-stitch technology in all three of its main air chambers: the floor and the two sidewalls. This, along with the aluminium frame, gives it increased rigidity so that it performs like a skin-on-frame kayak. It’s also compatible with spray skirts.
It benefits from having a V-shaped hull, which helps with speed and tracking, making it easier to paddle over long distances.
At under four metres, this is a pretty compact kayak. But it can be ideal if you want a kayak that can handle the sea as well as navigate smaller bodies of water. This could be a good choice if you want to pack it into your car or take it on holiday with you. It’s also very lightweight, so it’s easy to carry on your own.
This is not built for multi-day expeditions, as it doesn’t have the storage space to handle a lot of gear. It also lacks the capacity to hold it. But there is a small storage hatch at the stern. Plus the bungee rigging on the front deck lets you store a jacket or small dry bag.
This can be better suited to small and medium-sized paddlers.
Pros
- Drop-stitch construction
- Sit-inside cockpit
- V-shaped hull
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- Not for larger paddlers
- Storage space is not great
5: Bay Sports Expedition 2 (best budget)
- Length: 515 cm
- Width: 59 cm
- Depth: 30 cm
- Weight: 28 kg
- Weight capacity: 155 kg
The Bay Sports Expedition 2 is a quality sea kayak with an affordable price tag. It’s designed with a V-shaped hull and hard chines for excellent tracking and performance on waves.
It also benefits from having added rocker to help you navigate ocean swells with ease, along with the included SmartTrack Hybrid Foil rudder system.
This is a durable kayak that’s made with HDPE plastic with a three-layer foam core for strength. It combines Swedish kayak design with Australian branding. And it comes with a five year warranty.
This budget sea kayak is designed to handle long expeditions, with plenty of space to store your gear in the three waterproof storage hatches. You can also tie additional items to the deck using the bungee cords.
The cockpit is designed with a supportive backrest and padded seat. However, you may want to add more padding to the seat cushion if you plan to paddle for a few hours.
There are also adjustable footrests and moulded knee braces for comfort and stabilisation.
The Expedition 2 includes a touring paddle.
Pros
- Good tracking
- Efficient paddling
- Affordable sea kayak
- Durable
Cons
- Seat is not the most comfortable