# PaddleSafe Waterways Guide — Australia's paddling guide

> Australian waterway guide for paddlers with maps, conditions, and trip planning. (iPhone/iPad app by Quoll Designs Pty Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paddlesafe-waterways-guide/id909974968 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Quoll Designs Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/668470109)
- Category: Sports, Navigation
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 51 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2014-09-24
- Data updated: 2026-06-11
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paddlesafe-waterways-guide/id909974968/reviews.md

## What is PaddleSafe Waterways Guide?

Discover the beauty of our Australian waterways, many accessible only by canoe or kayak. 

The Paddle NSW Waterways Guide is maintained by the paddling community to help you explore the many lakes, rivers, bays and coastlines of New South Wales and beyond.

All major waterways are described, with trip suggestions and handy maps showing public access points, nearby accommodation and great camping spots. 

The whitewater rivers have detailed notes on rapids and the grade for each river section. The flatwater and coastal waterways have suggested itineraries and points of interest to see. 

Plan safe and enjoyable trips by viewing current river levels (updated hourly), and see local weather forecasts, marine forecasts and sea conditions for your chosen destination.

Organise your trips by creating "Float Plans" to mark your intended route and let someone know before you go. Once on the water you can record waypoints to update someone with your progress (updates sent when mobile reception available).

Whether you are a whitewater adrenalin junkie, a kayak fisher, an ocean paddler, or just want to explore an idyllic waterway with your canoe, the PaddleSafe Waterways Guide is your guide to having fun on the water!

## Key features

- Waterway descriptions and maps
- Trip suggestions and itineraries
- Public access and camping spot info
- Whitewater rapid details
- Real-time river levels
- Weather and marine forecasts
- Float plan creation

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paddlesafe-waterways-guide/id909974968/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Excellent app but…

*2022-12-26, version 1.21.5*

I can’t create an account in the app. I can on the website version, but in the app it says ‘there is no user with ID login’. If I try to create an account it says ‘sorry, unable to create an account at this time’ . ☹️

In all other regards, a really helpful app with lots of info on kayaking locations and trips.

### 1/5 — Trying to create an account for 3 days now!

*2022-09-13, version 1.21.5*

I am busting to use this app. Went for first paddle in brand new canoe yesterday.

I have managed to create an account on the website, but the app seems incapable of managing anything to do with accounts, IDs, emails, password resets etc

Hopefully someone will come to my aid.

Should I have submitted a “Paddle Plan” before venturing into the app wilderness??

### 3/5 — Was good, but functionality now missing

*2019-03-13, version 1.18*

I used this a lot last season to plan kayak trips, but the river height data that used to be part of the app doesn’t seem to work.

Update: got a reply today...

Our web site support has finally had time away from other clients to fix the river level process on the waterways guide. So we now have the information available from the Bureau of Meteorology being updated on the Waterways guide. We are still working on the data from the NSW office of water and will also look at other sources in other states.

 

I am pretty sure this has been as frustrating for you as it has been for us . Now all we need is some rain.

### 5/5 — When to call the police

*2016-06-23, version 1.14*

Last Sunday a friend and I went for a training paddle.  The weather forecast for the day was for a major east coast low to hit with 50 mm of rain and 50 knot winds, but that would be the afternoon.  I meet Dee at our launch site at Kogarah Bay and discussed our plan to paddle up the Woronora River.  Once our plan was set, I completed the Paddlesafe plan and emailed to my wife - return by 1pm, call police at 3pm.

A combination of tide, wind, ran in (and my need for a second cup of coffee at the Wororona Boat Shed) meant we did not return to the boat ramp until 3.45pm.  I then sent a text to my wife tell her I was safe - my phone was full of calls and texts from my wife.

When I got home, I asked her when she was going to call the police, she thought 4pm (maybe).

For my mind, she made a mistake.  If she called the police at 3pm, it would have taken them an hour to assess the situation, get down to Kogarah bay, find our cars and call for a maritime search.  The only boat we saw all day was a maritime rescue boat which was comforting.  I doubt a maritime search would have commenced before 4pm, one hour before dusk.

But my mistake (other than paddling on the eve of a storm, taking my slow kayak, having a second cup of coffee, not considering the impact of tides on timing) was not talking throughout the implication of when to call the police to my wife. She was unsure when to make a fuss, even though my nominated time had passed.

The Paddlesafe app worked perfectly - it communicated to my wife my launch point, my route, my paddle partner, my rego, my return time and my ‘call the police’ time - all completed as Dee and I stood in the carpark of Kogarah Bay - but it did not give my wife the confidence and urgency to call the police when she should have. That was my failing.

I think all paddlers should be using this technology - it better than the paper float plan - its connection between intention, maps, planning and the email is fantastic.  The limitations are in what we do with the information.  A good lesson was learnt and I am sure my wife will panic appropriately next time.

Andy

### 5/5 — Brilliant for trip planning!

*2016-04-11, version 1.14*

Constantly using - excellent for planning trips. Love it - thanks for making it!!

### 5/5 — Cool app very helpful

*2014-11-24, version 1.04*

Good info will use the trip planner

## Frequently asked questions about PaddleSafe Waterways Guide

### What waterways does PaddleSafe cover?

PaddleSafe covers major waterways across New South Wales and beyond in Australia, including lakes, rivers, bays, and coastlines. It provides detailed descriptions and maps for each.

### Can I get real-time information for my trip with PaddleSafe?

Yes, PaddleSafe provides current river levels updated hourly, along with local weather forecasts, marine forecasts, and sea conditions for your chosen destination.

### Does PaddleSafe offer offline functionality?

The app allows you to record waypoints and send updates when mobile reception is available, suggesting it relies on connectivity for real-time progress sharing. Detailed descriptions and maps may be accessible offline.

### How does PaddleSafe help with trip safety?

PaddleSafe aids safety by offering detailed waterway information, current river levels, weather forecasts, and the ability to create 'Float Plans' to inform others of your intended route.

### What kind of paddling activities is PaddleSafe designed for?

PaddleSafe is designed for a wide range of paddling activities, including whitewater rafting, kayak fishing, ocean paddling, and general exploration of waterways with a canoe.

### Is PaddleSafe available on Android devices?

Based on the provided data, PaddleSafe is supported on iPhone and iPad. Information regarding Android compatibility is not available in this dataset.

### How often is PaddleSafe updated?

The app was last updated on August 17, 2020, to version 1.21.5. While the last update was in 2020, the description mentions community maintenance for waterway information.

### Does PaddleSafe have ads?

No, PaddleSafe does not contain advertisements. It is a free application that focuses on providing waterway information and trip planning tools without commercial interruptions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.21.5 — 2020-08-17

Filters now display correctly for the Guide and River Levels. Improved error message when logging in with incorrect password.

### 1.21.4 — 2020-08-12

Updated for all screen sizes including the iPad.

### 1.18 — 2017-10-14

Fixed crash when adding trip participants from your contacts.

### 1.17 — 2017-09-23

Improved the way we present content to support sea kayak trips better.

### 1.16 — 2016-07-10

Added more river level gauges and new dam level gauge readings. Gauge levels are now sorted by region, making it easier to find your favourites!

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## More apps by Quoll Designs Pty Ltd

- [Sydney Climbing Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sydney-climbing-guide/id554116475)
- [Environmental Weeds of Sydney](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/environmental-weeds-of-sydney/id914766739)

All apps by Quoll Designs Pty Ltd: https://appshunter.io/developer/668470109

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-11.*
