Paddlers of shared boathouse unite for Sunday outing

The day was overcast but paddlers of a variety of boats brought a splash of colour to Lake Illawarra this morning

by Genevieve Swart

Published November 01, 2026

About 70 colourful kayakers, outriggers and dragon boaters paddling to the beat of the drum brought a splash of colour to Lake Illawarra on Sunday morning.

A special event to boost camaraderie and publicity, Sunday’s combined paddle was a big success, bringing together a variety of paddlers and boats based at the Illawarra Rowing Centre in Warrawong.

Four clubs share the boatshed on Northcliffe Drive: the Illawarra Canoe Club, the Illawarra Dragon Boat Club, The Five Islands Outrigger Canoe Club and the rowers of Lake Illawarra Boat Club.

Ordinarily, the clubs paddle on different days and at different locations, so Sunday’s event was a rare chance to get to know members of other clubs. As the clubhouse has only a small carpark, the combined paddle involved a fair bit of traffic management, with members asked to unload their boats then move on and park in the big car park near the Illawarra Yacht Club.

The paddlers set off from the clubhouse at 8am, paddled to Hooka and Gooseberry Islands, then back to the rowing centre for morning tea and friendly banter.

The Illawarra Canoe Club paddles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, with new members welcome. The club offers recreational paddlers the chance to explore not only the lake and the creeks that feed into it, but Minnamurra River and the ocean, when the sea's right. The club also has a junior division of sprint kayakers.

The Illawarra Dragon Boat Club is for anyone who wants to paddle for fun, fitness or competition. It's a friendly environment and the dragon boaters are known for their annual Biggest Morning Tea fundraisers for breast cancer.

Members of the Five Islands Outrigger Canoe Club enjoy lake and ocean paddling, with new members invited to learn, train, race and connect. First three paddles are free. After the third paddle, you need to decide if you want to join.

The Lake Illawarra Boat Club – co-founded by Kevin Wall and Mark Partridge in 2024 – offers flat water and coastal rowing.