Dampier Archipelago and Murujuga Sea Kayak Expedition

Sharks are not really a concern on this trip but if you are lucky, you will see some small reef sharks in the shallows. Sharks are not something to be worried about and the guides have policies around not swimming at dawn and dusk.

On this trip you will be paddling in the Dampier Archipelago which is approximately 1000km south of where saltwater crocodiles are sighted on a regular basis. The Dampier Peninsula is generally where saltwater crocodiles start being sighted which is not where you will be paddling. In saying this, there is a rare chance that a crocodile may venture further south. This sometimes happens once every 5 – 6 years and the company is advised by Parks & Wildlife if there is a crocodile sighted in the area that you will be visiting and the company has strict guidelines that they adhere to if something like this was to occur.

Minimum age for this tour is 14 years old, due to the remote location and the physical aspects of the tour.

Sometimes, you will park the kayaks on the beach then snorkel, while other times you will anchor/attach to a buoy and go snorkelling. If you are out in the water, there is a technique to getting out of the water and back into your kayak that your guides will show you, which is easy to manage.

All levels of swimming ability are welcome. All of our guests wear PFDs (lifejackets) whilst kayaking and are welcome to wear them whilst snorkelling if needed. However, as there can be some strong currents in this area, if you are not a confident swimmer/snorkeller, our guides may ask you to refrain from going into the water at some locations.

We need a minimum of 6 people to confirm tour departure, and take a maximum of 12 guests, plus guides and volunteers.

Yes, prior sea kayaking experience is required to participate in this tour. We usually paddle anywhere between 8 and 20 kms over the day, depending on how the group is travelling and prevailing weather conditions. The distances and daily paddle time will depend on the conditions and the group. The group will try to paddle for a couple of hours at a time with 4 to 6hrs of active paddling per day which might be crossing bodies of water between islands or easier paddling near the shore. There may be some longer days if the conditions require it. The daily itinerary is designed to make the most of the conditions on the day. We make stops on the beach for lunch, and to view points of interest.

This tour is ‘expedition’ style, meaning we carry all of our gear (including food, water, camping and personal gear) with us in the kayaks for 5 days, and set up camp at a different location each day. We provide all the gear to make you as comfortable as possible: quality tents, self-inflating mattresses (Thermarest-style), sleeping bags and liners, inflatable pillows, camp chairs. The campsites we use are un-developed with no established facilities; we carry a portable toilet with us. Access to fresh water for washing is very limited as we carry all our fresh water in the kayaks.

Yes, as long as we have ample notice, it is no problem catering for specific dietary requirements, intolerances and allergies. Please note there is a $25 surcharge to cover catering costs for specific dietary requirements (except vegetarian).

There is limited mobile phone reception in the tour area, we carry a satellite phone for emergencies. This is usually reserved for outgoing calls only (to preserve battery life). If you need to be contacted urgently, our office can be contacted on 0477 685 123, and if necessary, our emergency plans can be actioned to deliver a message.

With the exception of night one, when we are camping at a campsite in Dampier town, we are completely off-grid on this tour. We recommend bringing spare batteries for camera and Go Pros, and switching your phone to 'flight mode' to save battery. If you have a small power bank or solar charging device, these can be handy to bring to recharge your devices if necessary.