A Team You Can Trust

Valley Outdoors is an experienced team of outdoor professionals based in Gangagruwan/Kangaroo Valley. 
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About us and our team
Based halfway between Sydney and Canberra, we deliver portable tours at a range of locations across the Southern Highlands, the South Coast, and further afield. We offer a range of accessible, inclusive adventures in the natural world, including canoeing, abseiling, hiking and camping.
About us - team member
We are passionate, patient, competent, and caring. Our professionalism and experience is what sets us apart.

Meet the management team

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About us - team member

I teamed up with Trav as Paddle & Portage Canoes expanded, now fulfilling our dream in Kangaroo Valley. Together, we run Valley Outdoors, an ecotourism adventure company, aiming to inspire outdoor connections. With a diverse background, I'm dedicated to supporting customers for seamless and enjoyable experiences. We are passionate about Mother Nature and hope to instill the same love in others.

Sarah Frenay

About us - team member

With over 15 years of outdoor leadership and teaching experience in the Australian bush, I previously ran my own successful outdoor adventure business for a decade. I advocate for non-competitive outdoor activities in natural places, fostering positive outcomes for participants, the environment, and society. Though my early outdoor memories involved challenges, my perspective has evolved, and I now contribute in various capacities, often behind the scenes.

Dylan Jones

About us - team member

In 2004, I moved to the Southern Highlands, driven by my love for the outdoors and proximity to Morton National Park. Exploring hidden gems, I noticed a gap in adventure offerings for the public. With a background in Environmental Science and extensive outdoor career, I founded Paddle & Portage Canoes in 2011, expanding now to offer diverse guided experiences. I’ve had a love for the outdoors for as long as I can remember and can’t wait to share it with you.

Travis Frenay

About us - team member

Guiding initially for personal enjoyment, my journey evolved as I witnessed the transformative impact of wilderness experiences on individuals. Over a decade, I've cultivated skills, managed outdoor education programs, run the Duke of Edinburgh programs and contributed to Valley Outdoor's growth as well as help with Paddle & Portage Canoes. This allowed me to fuel my gear and paddling addiction which is growing more with each day.

Daniel Rice

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FAQs

How do I get to Kangaroo Valley?

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The Kangaroo Valley is just over 2 hours from Sydney and Canberra. 

Here are some great driving routes from Sydney and Canberra.

The Valley Outdoors office is located at 2 Jenanter Drive, Kangaroo Valley.

To get to our office:

- from the Kangaroo Valley Village: head west on Moss Vale Road. Turn left onto Jenanter Drive about 50 metres after the Mobil Service station (the only petrol station in the town), then right into the first driveway.

- from Hampden Bridge: having crossed the single-lane historic Hampden Bridge over the Kangaroo River, after 250 metres take the first right onto Jenanter Drive, and then right again into the first driveway.

We strongly recommend that you check for any local road closures before planning your trip to the Gangagruwan, Kangaroo Valley. Please check livetraffic.com for up to date information.

Here is a handy Google Map location for our office.

Free all day parking is available at our office.

What is the weather like in Kangaroo Valley?

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The Gangagruwan, Kangaroo Valley is nestled between the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven Coast. The Valley regularly begins the day with a misty morning that burns off by mid morning. This is caused by air cooling at the bottom of the valleys overnight, which rises as the day begins.

The climate here is mild, and generally warm and temperate (globally speaking). Temperatures are rarely below 3°C (37°F) or above 35°C (95°F). Summer can be muggy, and winter can be foggy.

Rainfall varies throughout the year. While summer has fewer days of rain, it has a higher likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms and large downpours. Winter is drier and when it does rain it tends towards persistent light drizzle.

This link has some excellent information about the climate in the area: https://weatherspark.com/y/144490/Average-Weather-in-Kangaroo-Valley-Australia-Year-Round for details

The weather is often very localized: just because it is raining in one part of the Southern Highlands or Shoalhaven Coast, does not mean the weather for the whole area is the same.

What if the weather isn’t perfect?

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We generally run our experiences in all but the most extreme weather conditions. Moderate wind, drizzle, rain and mist do not impact on the safety of our operations and your adventure will depart as normal. Of course if we have concerns about the weather we’ll try to let you know in advance, and if you’re concerned then please feel free to give the office a call; we are always happy to chat.

On the rare occasions that the weather surprises us we sometimes find ourselves making safety decisions on the day of your adventure. In the event that we are unable to run the adventure that you had booked in for, we endeavour to provide you with 3 options:

1) We’ll try our darndest to find a suitable alternative location or adventure that is protected from the weather, and we’ll happily take you there so you still have a great time. We’d hate for you to miss out! But if this alternative isn’t suitable for you, then…

2) We’ll give you a full credit for the adventure you had paid for. We’ll also try and book in an alternative date that suits you because we’d still love to adventure with you one day. Of course, sometimes you can’t make it back on another day (e.g. you’re visiting the area from overseas). If that is the case…

3) We don’t think you should be penalised if we make a safety decision, so there are no “admin fees”, and certainly no “cancellation charges” - we’ll provide you with a full refund and do our best to recommend some other excellent things to do for the day. We want to make sure you have a great time in the Kangaroo Valley and surrounds no matter what the weather is doing.

Having said all that, our full booking terms and conditions are available online in our terms and conditions and you should still read them before booking with us.

But don’t worry too much about the weather. We are well equipped and have a lot of local knowledge to ensure you have a great experience in just about any conditions. 

What if I can’t swim?

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We regularly have non-swimmers participate in canoeing tours and hire. We provide life jackets for all participants. Lifejackets are available for all body sizes and ages (including infants).

Please ask us about any concerns that you have. Your guide will ensure that you have a great time and can participate safely in the activity.

What is included in my tour?

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Our tour prices are all inclusive; you’ll find no hidden charges or extras when you arrive. We’ll provide you with all the gear you need, pay any national parks entry fees, and on full day adventures we have a delicious lunch for you too. Generally, all you need to bring is comfortable clothes appropriate to the weather and the activity and we’ll look after the rest. Of course, when you book in we’ll provide you with a comprehensive information sheet outlining all the details for the day including what to expect, how to find our office and some advice about what clothing would be best to have with you on the day, but if you have any specific questions then please don’t hesitate to ask. Finally, we thoroughly encourage people to bring and use their own cameras to capture their experience but recommend that you only bring waterproof cameras on any canoeing trips.

Food is a very important part of your day. We’ve worked hard to provide food for all of our experiences that will provide enough fuel for your adventure. And food that is tasty too! We are able to cater for most other dietary requirements with notice.

WHAT THEY SAID

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These guys are so passionate about their offerings and have lots of in-depth local knowledge of the waterways. They will do everything to ensure you have a comfortable, enjoyable time on the water. They are such lovely people, running fantastic experiences. Would give more than 5 stars if possible.
Holly
"Divine slow time. Recommend Sarah & Travis' exceptional organisation & guiding skills. Such delightful people!"
Sarah
“What a wonderful time we had, thank you so much for pulling this off for us last minute."
Demi
"Dylan and Travis were absolutely awesome. We had the big canoe for a tourism corporate event. Excellent quality time in nature, very serene, beautiful river beaches, highly recommend!"
Dimitri
"Just had an incredible day with Valley Outdoors' one-on-one canoe instruction—unbelievably valuable skills learned. Surpassed expectations & now feel confidently independent for solo trips. Highly recommend their instruction—just go for it! No regrets."
Dan
"Joined a guided bush walk near Belmore Falls, offering a unique and less-traveled path with stunning Australian flora, three waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. A thrilling experience as a local tourist, with expert guidance making it a must-do in the Highlands. Kudos to our fantastic guide and host!"
Tasch
"Valley Outdoors deserves a perfect 10-star rating! Their expertise, passion, and thorough advice, especially from Dan, made our remote camping expedition on Shoalhaven & Kangaroo Rivers seamless, stress-free, and truly enjoyable!"
Damien
"Grateful to Valley Outdoors for the chance to canoe in a stunning hidden gem. Fantastic staff with impressive paddling skills. Eager to return, explore more, & eventually master the art—especially keen on an overnight stay at the camping spots!"
Mel

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the Wodi Wodi People, of the Dharawal language constellation, as the traditional custodians of the Gangagruwan/Kangaroo Valley in which we live and work. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities and we pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past, present and emerging.
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