Paddlesports – Steer Your Own Course

Our Pay & Play sessions allow you to hire canadian canoes or sit-on-top single or tandem kayaks and explore Craigavon Lakes from the water. The tandem boats enable us to take both young and old, experienced or not, on an adventure the whole family can enjoy and share.

These hire sessions are FREE to getactiveabc single, family and corporate members. Simply enter your membership number when booking online and present your membership card on arrival at the centre for your activity.

Prices for non-members for 60 min session:

Kayak Hire: £12.50 | Adult & Child £20.90

The hire price includes wetsuits and buoyancy aids but you will need towel, toiletries, swim suit, water shoes or spare pair of trainers. Extensive changing facilities are available at South Lake Leisure Centre.

Check out our range of activities and combine a paddlesport session with an additional water or land-based activity session. Our bicycle hire facility is open daily so why not challenge yourself with our 10k mountain bike trail, pump track or take things at a gentler pace on the family friendly tarmac 5k path

What’s Sup? Stand-up padddleboading is an outdoor water sport  activity in which a rider stands up on a large board and uses a paddle to move through the water. This low impact activity helps build balance, reduces stress levels, boosts cardiovascular health and gives you the optimal environmental experience on South Lake.

Most SUPs are 10 – 11 feet but South Lake Watersports has a mammoth 18 foot board that will hold all your passengers!  Used for up to 10 people, this Aqua Marina board is built for families and groups to travel together- TEAMWORK!  Get ready to never adventure alone again at our ‘Pay & Play’ sessions!

These hire sessions are FREE to getactiveabc single, family and corporate members. Simply enter your membership number when booking online and present your membership card on arrival at the centre for your activity.

Prices for non-members for 60 min session:

Paddleboard Hire: £12.50 | Adult & Child £20.90

The hire price includes wetsuits and buoyancy aids but you will need towel, toiletries, swim suit, water shoes or spare pair of trainers. Extensive changing facilities are available at South Lake Leisure Centre.

Check out our range of activities and combine a paddlesport session with an additional water or land-based activity session. Our bicycle hire facility is open daily so why not challenge yourself with our 10k mountain bike trail, pump track or take things at a gentler pace on the family friendly tarmac 5k path

Don’t miss the opportunity for our qualified BCU/CANI Instructors to steer you in the right direction with our 2 hour ‘Learn to Kayak’ and ‘Learn to Canoe’ courses on the beautiful Craigavon lakes. Suitable for beginners who are interested in taking up the sport of kayaking or gaining some experience before joining a local club.

Suitable for total beginner or intermediate SUP paddlers, our Learn to SUP course will take your skills to a new level. During your two hours on the water, our BC/CANI trained coaches will take you through the basics and will look at the key elements of effective and efficient SUP paddling, tuition covering everything from launch to rescue techniques and making this valuable learning for aspiring and intermediate SUP paddlers.

Courses suitable for ages 12+ years. 

Please turn up 20 minutes before session start time. We supply wetsuits, buoyancy aids and all equipment but you will need towel, toiletries, swim suit, water shoes or spare pair of trainers and any medication you may require. Extensive changing facilities are available at South Lake Leisure Centre. If you already have your own equipment, please bring along and suitability can be assessed.

Family Learn to Kayak sessions are designed to get the whole family on the water. Using Tandem Sit On Top Kayaks, an adult paddles a kayak along with a child age 6 +, or an older sibling age 14+ pairs with a child age 6+. With the purchase of multiple kayaks even the largest of families can be catered for. Our highly qualified coaches will ensure a fun-filled learning experience for all in the scenic sheltered water environment of South Lake.

Learn to Tandem Kayak with your nearest and dearest and take a journey round the scenic South Lake under the guidance of one of our qualified coaches. Six boats are available for each session  and this could be the start of many paddles together.

Once you have mastered the basics, why not join our kayak club, meeting every Wednesday from 6pm-8pm between April and October. Indoor pool sessions are available by arrangement during winter months. The club offers a family friendly environment with opportunities to gain qualifications and paddle new locations throughout Northern Ireland.

South Lake Paddler Trips run from 10.30am to 4pm and for more information on upcoming trips exploring local lakes and rivers for club members, please contact

If you have no prior experience you must attend a Learn to Kayak or Canoe course before attending the club. Once you have completed one of these courses you will receive you Paddle Northern Ireland Start Award in either canoeing or kayaking, mastery of the beginnings of the skills for basic paddling techniques.

You are then encouraged to join South Lake Paddlers and undertake further qualifications. All canoe and kayak courses are run by Paddlers UK/Paddlers Northern Ireland qualified instructors. The Discover Award is an improvement award that helps develop fundamental paddlesport skills in canoe and kayak. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding of how the paddle, boat and water interact. For provision of further awards and safety and rescue training, please chat to a member of the team.

WHERE & WHEN DOES THE KAYAKING CLUB MEET?

South Lake Watersports

Club sessions run every Wednesday evening from 6-8pm April- September and every Saturday from 2pm – 4pm (October -March)

WHAT DOES THE CLUB OFFER?

The club offers members the opportunity to get out onto the water to practice their paddling skills under the supervision of one of the Centre’s qualified Paddle Norther Ireland coaches and club volunteer instructors. The club is suitable for those aged 10 and above who have completed our Learn to Kayak or Canoe Adult or Junior courses, or those who have completed a BCU/CANI START award in the last 6 months.

DO I NEED MY OWN BOAT AND EQUIPMENT?

No, the club uses the Centre’s equipment i.e. boats, wet suits, cags and buoyancy aids etc. You will need to bring with you the following: swimsuit, old trainers you do not mind getting wet, towel and toiletries.

DOES THE CLUB OFFER MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN BCU QUALIFICATIONS?

The club offers members personal performance awards and safety and rescue certificates.

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

Having completed our Introduction to Paddle Sports Part 1 & 2 or having completed the BCU 1 Star or equivalent in the last 12 months you can fill in a membership form and join.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Daily session fee: £8.20 per adult, £6.20 per concession – Payable each week

DO I NEED TO BECOME A MEMBER TO GO PADDLING?

No, please see the Centre’s ‘Pay and Play’ activity here.

Explore Craigavon Lakes or take a journey along one of our local waterways enjoying the river and wildlife on view. Expertly guided by our Paddle Northern Ireland recognised River Leaders, stopping for lunch mid-paddle to stretch the legs before resuming the journey. No experience is necessary as full instruction will be offered on the day.

We ask for a ratio of 1 adult to 2 children age 6+.

Each raft can hold 8 individuals or 2 families of 4. We supply all equipment including buoyancy aids. We recommend you dress for outdoors and bring lunch or refreshments in waterproof bags (bin liner works well).

Please arrive at destination 20mins before start time. Once a place is secured online, book a buoyancy aid by emailing (state date location, adult or child, and estimated size.)

These trips are an opportunity to learn the basic skills of canoeing led by qualified instructors, explore local flora and fauna, and get active whilst improving motor and communication skills, and the ability to work successfully as part of a team.

For sessions not based at South Lake Watersports. Craigavon, please contact  to submit your wetsuit and buoyancy aid size once you have booked online (state time and date booked). You will be expected to come beach ready as changing facilities or showers will be not available at other venues and we ask that public decency is adhered to at all times, changing robes are recommended. For the more hardy paddler, shorts and t-shirt will be acceptable but buoyancy aid and water shoes (old trainers) are compulsory.

A fun-filled day trying every type of paddlesport available awaits at South Lake Watersports, Craigavon. Junior Learn to Paddle Days are suitable for ages 8-15 years and could be the start of a new hobby in paddlesports.

Over the day you will develop skills in canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding and gain a Paddle Northern Ireland recognised qualification in the process. Adult Learn to Paddle Days are suitable for ages 16+ years.

The price includes lunch from Cafe Incredable at South Lake and wetsuits and buoyancy aids but you will need to bring towel, toiletries, swim suit, water shoes or spare pair of trainers. Extensive changing facilities are available at South Lake Leisure Centre.

If you’re a new or novice paddler and want to raise your awareness of paddling safely, then the Paddle Safer course and award is for you! It will help you develop a better understanding of how to be safe when taking to the water.

During this award, your instructor will work with you to develop your knowledge around equipment and environmental factors, as well as practical rescues, giving you confidence on the water.

What is the Paddle Safer Award?

The Paddle Safer Award is exactly what it says on the tin. This practical course gives you top tips and considerations to support you to paddle safer. Over the two hours, you will learn how to choose appropriate equipment. You will also develop an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling, such as the environment.

During the session, you will develop your knowledge, experience and ability to plan your paddles and trips. It will highlight what to expect and look out for, based on the places you paddle.

You will practice a range of rescue techniques, and learn how to support each other and explore possible solutions to common mishaps.

Who is Paddle Safer for?

It is for anyone of any age who wants to develop their awareness and skills on the water. You don’t need any previous experience to take your Paddle Safer Award, just the desire for fun and learning! You can use any craft, including kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, sit on tops and inflatables.

What is covered in the Paddle Safer Award?

1. Clothing and equipment information, it covers everything you need to know to physically get yourself on the water, covering all the types of equipment you’ll need, as well as any additional safety equipment you could consider.

2. The paddling environment, you will discuss and observe the sheltered water environment, based on the places you usually paddle, as well as what to look out for with the changing weather forecast.

3. Learn to plan your journey, with top tips around what to expect and look out for, considering your experience and ability.

4. The fun bit, practicing your rescues, you’ll learn about how to stay safe and make the most out of your paddling session, providing practical solutions if you get into difficulty, how to support each other and call for help.

School Awards

Schools multi-activity packages are available at South Lake Watersports and schools can choose a four-hour activity package incorporating:

• Sailing
• Kayaking/canoeing
• Cycling
• Archery

Start Award: We know it can be intimidating taking your first step into a new hobby, but there’s nothing to worry about this will be fun!

Discover Award: This will help you develop a better understanding of the fundamentals of paddling.

The fun does not stop there, we also offer the Explore Award and discipline specific Personal Performance Awards in Canoe, Touring and White Water.

South Lake Watersports can offer your school the opportunity to achieve kayak and canoe qualifications, as part of their G.C.S.E PE or Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Sessions can be booked by contacting the South Lake Watersports Centre.

Private Lessons

South Lake Watersports can offer small group and one-to-one tuition in kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboards.  All equipment is provided and the training is delivered by a qualified Paddler Northern Ireland coach. A private lesson costs £100 for a two-hour session and can be booked by contacting the Centre. Private lessons can be taken on a one to one basis or maximum of eight paddlers working on specific topics to suit individual or group needs.

✅ Please turn up 20 minutes before session start time. We supply wetsuits, buoyancy aids and all equipment but you will need towel, toiletries, swim suit, water shoes or spare pair of trainers and any medication you may require. Extensive changing facilities are available at South Lake Leisure Centre. If you already have your own equipment, please bring along and suitability can be assessed. Families, friends or small groups, of all ages, abilities and experience, are welcome. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult, with no more than two children per adult.

✅ All crafts must be launched from the designated area on the slip way. You will need to bring a towel, swimming costume or swim shorts, pair of lace up trainers you don’t mind getting wet, waterproof sunblock and a hair band to tie back long hair. The Centre will provide wetsuits, waterproof tops, buoyancy aids and helmets.

✅ You need to be able to swim and are advised to take a mobile phone with you whilst out on the water.

✅ All hire rates are subject to availability so it’s advisable to book in advance and activities are weather permitting

✅ Hire equipment is available outside the online times but needs to be arranged in advance by contacting the centre directly.

✅ Helmets are issued with the bikes and should be worn at all times. A deposit of a credit card or car keys will be asked for and will be returned when the equipment is returned.

You can choose from:

Mountain bikes | Touring bikes | Tandems | Trikes | Piggy back trikes | A buggy for towing small children.

✅ Cafe Incredable at South Lake Leisure Centre is open seven days a week and  has an extensive menu to keep you energised. Showering and changing facilities are available in the centre.

Users must stay together, minimum 2 people at all times

Users must remain in the craft at all times

Users must not take on additional passengers

Users must not remove buoyancy aid

Users must stay within the designated areas

Users must return all equipment issued to them after your session

Users must return to the centre at the allocated time

Do not cross main lake if powerboats are out

There must be one adult per 2 children to participate