She SUPs Canberra

📍on Ngunnawal country
We pay our respects and show gratitude to the Ngunnawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land we meet and paddle on.

 

Join She SUPs for our annual trip to Canberra to witness the fun & festivities of the Enlighten Festival and explore the beautiful waters of Lake Burley Griffin.

Join a fun group of likeminded souls (ages typically range between 30 - 65+), as we get up early each morning to paddle Lake Burley Griffin at sunrise, and spend our afternoons exploring local restaurants and exploring the many unique corners and bays of Lake Burley Griffin! We run these trips once a year at the same time as the Balloon Spectacular Hot Air Balloon Festival. While seeing the balloons on this trip isn’t guaranteed, we do guarantee you the best chance of seeing them due to our exclusive contacts with the hot air balloon pilots which ensures year on year that She SUPs paddlers have the best seats in the house!

STYLE/VIBE OF THE TRIP: 

“I want to experience something unique”
”I’m keen to make friends and meet new people”
”I’m keen to see Canberra in a different way”
“I’m on the hunt for a bucket list SUP experience”

SUP ABILITY LEVEL
(She SUPs trips range from Level 0-4 in SUP ability): 

Level 1: This trip is open to beginner paddlers but you must be comfortable turning, stopping and paddling in a straight line. You must have experience standing-up on your SUP, be comfortable standing for up to 40 minutes at a time and be confident that you won’t fall in when standing. However you’re of course welcome to kneel or sit when you need a break.

FITNESS LEVEL
(She SUPs trips range from Level 0-4 in Fitness Level):

Level 1: A basic level of fitness is required to enjoy this highly active trip featuring lots of paddling opportunities.

TRIP DATES

March 2025

“I’ve traveled all over the world but this experience is right up there and exceeded my expectations. The group of girls were great and Vikki is a fantastic organiser. Vikki is so well connected that we got to maximise our experience, she guided us where to be to see the most balloons and we even got to tag behind a hot air balloon. I couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you Vikki.”
— She SUPs Paddler, 2022

WHY EXPERIENCE THE BALLOON SPECTACULAR WITH SHE SUPS?

  • We are one of the only people on the water with direct contact to the balloon pilots so we are fed ‘intel’ on the balloons status before anyone else - this also means our paddlers are always in the best vantage spots if the balloons rise!

  • The Balloon Spectacular event can be hectic on the water. There are a lot of people, many different crafts and many different view points. This will be our 5th year attending this event so we know the safest routes, the best launch spots and will keep you safe on the water.

  • If the balloons don’t fly, we have plenty of alternative paddle plans up our sleeves to ensure you experience the best of SUP in Canberra during your weekend.

  • You’ll have friends to share this unique experience with! Our groups are always made up of like-minded, supportive, SUP-loving women. Most women travel alone to these trips, meaning that everyone’s in the same boat and bonds quickly.

  • We take photos and videos of you so you don’t have to! There is so much happening on the morning, that selfies don’t really capture the whole experience. So let our qualified guides be your photographer so you can enjoy ‘being in the moment’ and focus on absorbing the atmosphere!

What if I live in Canberra and just want to SUP with you?

If you live in Canberra, we’d love to meet you! During this trip our responsibility is for the paddlers who join us for the hosted weekend but you’re more than welcome to paddle up to us during our Sunrise balloon paddles and join us for a chat and some photos as we take in a magical morning on the water! If you have any questions, please email hello@shesups.com.au to find out more. We also hope to host a She SUPs dinner on Saturday 16th March. Details of this will follow shortly.

Sample itinerary:

Friday:

  • We can help arrange car shares prior to the trip (where possible and where safe to do so) and you’ll be invited to arrive at our accomodation anytime from 3.30pm. If you arrive early in Canberra we recommend grabbing a coffee on Kingston Foreshore or perhaps checking out one of Canberra’s many museums.

  • On arrival, we’ll host a meet and greet so you can meet your new SUP buddies, and learn about the weekend’s itinerary. We’ll have discussions about the wind forecast and understanding this new waterway we are about to explore.

  • We’ll then head to the lake for our first group dinner (lakeside BBQ if the weather allows!) and enjoy a magical sunset SUP experience. If you want to improve your technique or get some advice on your stroke, this is a great time to learn and play!

Saturday:

  • It will be an early start for our first attempt at a sunrise paddle! We will wake up at around 5am to give us plenty of time to head to our launch location and secure a great vantage spot on the lake.

  • You will be taken on a 2 hour guided paddle around Lake Burley Griffin - hopefully paddling under the hot-air balloons, but if not, simply enjoying the first light hit the water!

  • Following our paddle, we will have a healthy warm breakfast (provided) at a local whole foods cafe.

  • After an adventurous morning, it’s time for some downtime. You’ll have time to go exploring, take a nap or simply chill out at a local coffee spot (naps are popular after such an early start!)

  • That afternoon we will set off on our 2-3 hour afternoon SUP adventure with picnic lunch (location TBD on the weekend depending on wind - lunch provided)

  • Saturday night we will walk into town to soak up the atmosphere of the Enlighten Festival (checking out some of the light installations on offer) and have dinner at a local restaurant (at own cost).

Sunday:

  • It’s another early start as we attempt sunrise paddle number two!!

  • We will aim to paddle a little further this morning and depending on the group’s energy levels, we can stop for breakfast halfway or head home for a warm shower before heading to one of Canberra’s most highly rated breakfast venues.

  • After breakfast, it’s time to check out of our apartments.

  • Sunday afternoon is a great opportunity to explore the many museums and galleries in Canberra, or hire an e-scooter, and go on a self-guided tour of the city! If the weather allows we will head off for a short hike on Black Mountain before parting ways.

**this is an example itinerary, each weekend will vary just a little depending on the weather conditions and the Enlighten Canberra schedule. We will always try to prioritise paddle time to ensure you see all the best SUP spots in Canberra!

“Every time I visit Canberra I get a different Canberra. This was ‘Canberra from the water, with delicious food and friends’, which is different from ‘Canberra with Mum, by train’ or ‘a Canberra protest ‘. This trip was so much fun, we had a small, cheeky bunch of women who shared the same interest in adventure, sharing stories, and enjoying the good things like food and laughs. SheSUPs made me like Canberra!”
— She SUPs paddler, 2022

Where we are staying

We are staying at a series of simple serviced apartments in Kingston, Canberra, within walking distance to Telopea Park, Manuka Oval, Lake Burley Griffin and the Parliamentary Triangle.

We have three apartments for our group and each apartment sleeps 3 guests, with the option of a private double room, or a twin share room. Apartments also include a fully equipped kitchen, in-room laundry and separate living areas. Complete with a balcony or courtyard you can enjoy an early morning coffee or a late afternoon wine while soaking in the fresh Canberra air.

Investment & Inclusions

3 days, 2 nights She SUPS Canberra Hosted Trip - starting at $889 per person (inc GST) for twin share room.

$1089 per person for Private DOUBLE room.

Inclusions:

  • 3 days of hosted water-based activities

  • 2 Nights stay at Serviced Apartments

  • 1-hour Sunset SUP

  • 2-hour Guided Sunrise SUP on Lake Burley Griffin

  • 3-hour Guided River Paddle & Paddleboard Picnic

  • 2-hour Guided Sunrise SUP on Lake Burley Griffin

  • ALL Meals included (minus one evening out) featuring BBQ lake-side dinner, Healthy & Warming breakfast at local cafe Saturday morning, picnic lunch, tea and light snacks during our adventures, breakfast at renowned local cafe on Sunday morning.

  • Full weekend of SUP tuition guidance and learning (including understanding how to read the weather/ wind forecast for SUP)

  • Exploratory bush walk on Black Mountain (if weather allows)

  • She SUPs is the only provider to have direct access to the hot air balloon pilots (and we are often the first on the water to know what the balloons are doing and if they’re flying!)

  • Opportunities to explore Canberra by foot, e-scooter or visit local museums

  • Photos and videos of your trip sent to you on the last day of the trip

  • 1 x Qualified SUP Instructor + Host to support your adventure

  • All water and land based logistics taken care of for you

  • She SUPs cap and stickers as a souvenir from your experience

Add-ons:

  • Full Weekend SUP Hire $200

“The Canberra trip was my third She SUPs trip and my favourite one so far! Vikki’s (hot air) balloon chasing was loads of fun - and hilarious! This was my first ever trip to Canberra and between the paddling and the time on land, I feel like I’ve really got to experience a beautiful place and I look forward to seeing more. Vikki does a great job of balancing activities and down time and is every part a brilliant host. Highly recommend!”
— Lyndal, She SUPs Paddler 2022

How To Book

Click on the calendar below to book - please double check the room you are booking to ensure it matches your preference. You will be required to pay a $350 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. The remaining amount will be due a minimum of 45 days prior to the trip.

For full details on the She SUPs trip cancellation and refund policy, please see ensure you read our FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS HERE.

If there are no spots left available for your desired date, please click HERE to join the waitlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • That’s perfect!! She SUPs trips and retreats are designed with single travellers in mind. 90% of our attendees book in without knowing anyone. We guarantee that within the safe supportive environment that She SUPs cultivates, by the end of the weekend you’ll leave having had an awesome time with some new water-loving friends!

  • To make it easier to understand what’s in store for a trip, we rate our trips on a 0-4 Fitness Rating. This trip is a Level 1. This means a basic level of fitness is required to enjoy this highly active trip featuring short walks and lots of paddling!

  • To make it easier to understand what’s in store for a trip, we rate our trips on a 0-4 SUP Ability Rating.

    This trip is a Level 1: This trip is open to beginner paddlers but you must be comfortable turning, stopping and paddling in a straight line. You must have experience standing-up on your SUP, be comfortable standing for up to 40 minutes at a time and be confident that you won’t fall in when standing. However you’re of course welcome to kneel or sit when you need a break.

  • With all outdoor based trips and retreats, the final itinerary is always weather dependent (with paddle boarding in particular being wind dependent). The weather forecast will be monitored daily (and in many circumstances hourly) by your instructors, and our itinerary will be adjusted each day to make the most of the forecast. If the wind is looking challenging for our paddles we will aim to find an area that may be protected so that we can still take to the water in a safe manner, however our route and distance may be reduced. If the conditions look unsafe to paddle for the whole weekend, your Host will find alternative activities for you to do.

    We ask you to understand that we cannot offer a refund if the itinerary is different to your expectations or any itineraries referenced on the She SUPs website.

    If we need to change an activity due to the weather or other forces outside of our control, you can guarantee that our team will be working hard to ensure you still have an action-packed weekend.

    On this trip Alternative Wet Weather activities may include: bush walks, visiting local galleries, a yoga class or a Float Yoga class.

  • She SUPs Trips are open to all women (and non-binary individuals) over the age of 18. Typically most guests are between the ages of 25 - 70, but there is no maximum age limit.

    When we’re out exploring on our trips, age becomes irrelevant as the whole group always bonds over their shared experiences and love of the outdoors regardless of the year they were born!

  • Go for it! Staying on before or after a trip is always an awesome way to make the most out of visiting an area.

    Please note, She SUPs does not have the capacity to support you in finding accomodation before or after a trip, but you’re welcome to ask for suggestions from others in the trip WhatsApp group.

  • She SUPs aims to offer a mix of shared and private rooms on each trip.

    Many light sleepers or snorers choose to book a private room.

    We offer shared rooms as a way of making trips more affordable and accessible to all. All shared rooms feature individual beds for each individual so you will never be required to a share a bed.

    For many women, sharing a room with others is a new experience (or something they haven’t experienced since their teens!) But fear not, 9 times out of 10, it’s absolutely fine as an adult too.

    If you’re a light sleeper and sharing a room, please let us know before arrival so we are aware. You host will have ear plugs in case of snorers, and we advise that you bring anything else that may help you sleep better such as your favourite pillow, an eye mask, a heat pack, lavender oil, chamomile tea etc.

    After hosting hundreds of women on our trips, we have found that some guests don’t sleep very well on the first night as they are often subconsciously apprehensive about the weekend. But once they relax into the retreat and we’re keeping active every day, they sleep soundly every night! Please keep your host notified of your sleep patterns if you’re not getting much sleep. There will be plenty of nap opportunities during the day time too.

  • We do our best to cater for all dietary requirements where possible. Please share with us all requirements, allergies and intolerance’s at time of booking so we can take these into consideration when planning the trip menu.

    If you have completed dietary requirements or are concerned about food, you are welcome to email the She SUPs team at hello@shesups.com.au (once you have confirmed your booking) to ask to see a rough plan of the trip menu prior to the trip so we can ensure you’ll be comfortable with what’s offered. Please note; the final trip menu may not be available until 1-2 weeks before the trip.

  • We hope you do not need to cancel your trip, however, if cancellation takes place the following will apply.

    Cancellation of a booking by you must be made in writing. It is up to you to cancel your booking. We will not regard a booking as cancelled unless and until written notice is received by She SUPs.

    On cancellation the following charges will apply:

    More than 45 days notice before the trip, there is no charge. You will receive a refund minus your $350 non-refundable deposit.

    44-20 days before the scheduled trip there is a 30% administration fee on top of your non-refundable deposit.

    19 days or less before the scheduled trip the full fee will be charged (100%).

    Please be aware that if you cancel your trip once it commences or you do not attend, you forfeit all fees.

    Late arrival may also result in a forfeited fee. We may reduce, transfer or waive the loss of fee for any reason at our sole discretion.

    You must have adequate travel insurance that covers you for cancellation.

    Please familiarise yourself with our full terms and conditions here.

  • You should have adequate travel insurance that covers you for cancellation.

    Any transfers to other Trips are at our sole discretion and are subject to numbers and availability. Any transfer requests received within 45 days notice before the trip will result in the $350 non-refundable deposit being forfeited and not transferred to the new trip.

    To the extent permitted by law, any refunds are at our absolute discretion. We do not provide refunds for your change of mind, or where you failed to provide us with adequate information. On occasion we may permit you to transfer to another Trip.

    Please see our full cancellation policy here.