Water recreation
Kayak and canoes Boating maps and tide tables Fishing and diving Beaches
One of the best ways to enjoy the Tweed’s beaches, rivers and waterways is from the water.
Take care on the water and head to NSW Water Safety for tips and information on beach, swimming and boat safety.
Council is responsible for the maintenance and management of foreshore facilities including public pontoons, boardwalks, jetties and boat ramps.
View a list of Tweed boat ramps and NSW boat ramps.
Kayaks, canoes and water craft
The Tweed River and its tributaries are well worth exploring. Paddle down our rivers, creeks and lakes for spectacular scenery. (Take care as tidal currents can be strong.)
Discover one of the largest estuarine habitat areas in the Tweed on the Rous River canoe trail and view other places for kayak and canoe trips.
Launching and navigation
If launching paddle craft from a river bank, take care not to damage plants or cause erosion.
Watch out for seagrass when navigating or anchoring in shallow waters. Seagrass is easily damaged by boat propellers.
Be aware of the impact of your vessel use on others. Large wake producing craft can disturb other vessel users and creates river bank erosion.
See navigation marks and signs on the Transport for NSW website.
Boating maps and tide tables
Download or purchase boating maps from Transport for NSW.
For tide tables see WillyWeather.
Speed limits on the water
Make sure you know local water craft speed limits, including:
- 4 knot zones for all canal estates
- 4 knot speed limit within 100 m of dredges
- 4 knot speed limit in Stotts Creek channel and the lower Rous River
Fishing and diving
The Tweed coast is where the warm tropical waters of Queensland meet the cooler waters of New South Wales. The variety of marine life means the area is popular for scuba diving and fishing.
Take care as tidal currents can be strong.
The Tweed River is a busy channel used by many boats. Watch out for divers around Jack Evans Boat Harbour.
(Both are managed by NSW Department for Primary Industries).
Make sure you know the fishing rules. See Tweed recreational fishing guide
For more information:
Houseboats and river tours
Cruise the Tweed River on a houseboat. There are several companies offering houseboats for hire, and no boat licence is required.
Several companies offer boat tours on the Tweed River.
Beaches
The Tweed has 37 kilometres of coastline with some of the most stunning beaches in NSW. Map of Tweed beaches
There are 4 Surf Life Saving Clubs on the Tweed coast:
For more information, head to beaches and lifeguards.
Best places for kayak and canoe trips
Along with the Rous River canoe trail, there are lots of places to take your kayak or canoe. We've included 3 spots below.
Ukerebagh Island
Located at the mouth of Terranora Inlet, this is a great place to see coastal mangrove, saltmarsh and rainforest. The area is of special importance to the local indigenous community.
A paddle around the island takes around 2 hours. Plan your trip to avoid paddling against the current as tidal flow can be strong in the Tweed River.
Ukerebagh Passage is off limits to powered water craft due to its sensitive seagrass meadows and shallow depth.
The nearest boat ramp is on the Tweed River at Fingal Head. Kayaks can also be launched from the foreshore at Terranora Inlet if you’re prepared to carry them a short distance to the sandy beaches off Keith Compton Drive or Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads.
Stotts Island
Stotts Island is part of a protected nature reserve (landing on the island is not allowed). It is home to the largest remnant lowland rainforest on floodplain in NSW.
A paddle around Stotts Island will take 2-3 hours and is best at high tide.
Launch from the bank near the carpark at Bruce Chick Park on Tweed Valley Way.
Terranora Creek
The mangrove and seagrass lined channels and islands of Boyds Bay provide rich fish habitat and some of the best paddling in Tweed estuary.
Resident ospreys like to fish in this area, you can spot a large nest high on a pole at Dry Dock Road.
Best explored at high tide. Launch at either Dry Dock Road or Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads.