We hope everyone is enjoying this Festive Season with it's varying weather conditions!!!  We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us this last year, it has been much appreciated!

Our shop hours for this Festive Season are as follows:

Thurs 22 Dec 2016 - Closed

Fri 23 Dec 2016 - Closed

Sat 24 Dec 2016 - Closed

Sun 25 Dec 2016 - Closed MERRY CHRISTMAS

Mon 26 Dec 2016 - Closed

Tues 27 Dec 2016 - Closed

Wed 28 Dec 2016 - Closed

Thurs 29 Dec 2016 - Closed

Fri 30 Dec 2016 - Closed

Sat 31 Dec 2016 - Closed

Sun 1 Jan 2017 - Closed HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!

Mon 2 Jan 2017 - Closed

Tues 3 Jan 2017 - Open for business!!!  Please call 0407 741 748

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2017!  May the new year bring much prosperity, success, happiness and good health to you and your families!

From the team at Adventure Outlet

We now have back in stock Mantra Kayaks products! So if you are chasing great kayaks at great prices make sure to pop in and see us!  Accessories including paddles for both adults and children are also back in stock!  We hope to be of assistance in getting you out there on the water!

It seems winter has arrived a few days early!  After having had such a great run of warm outdoor weather it really is a cool change to have this cold wind blowing through!  As the amount of time spent doing watersports slows down, so do we!  Our current store hours will be as follows:

Mon: Closed

Tues to Fri: 10am - 2pm

Sat: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Sun: Closed

If you need to contact us, please feel free to email us on info@adventureoutlet.com.au as we will still be checking our emails outside of these hours.  

We will be open for the following times over the Christmas and New Year period. Should you need to contact us urgently, please feel free to send us an email as we will monitor our emails outside of store opening hours.

Tues 16 Dec 14 to Fri 19 Dec 14: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Sat 20 Dec 14: 9.30am to 12.30pm

Sun 21 Dec 14: 11am to 2pm

Mon 22 Dec 14 to Mon 29 Dec 14: CLOSED

Tues 30 Dec 14 to Wed 31 Dec 14: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Wed 1 Jan 2015: CLOSED

Thurs 2 Jan 2015 onwards: NORMAL SHOP HOURS

It's that time of year again with all of the shows in town!  Please be aware that this Friday, 29 August 2014 is the Gold Coast Show Public Holiday and so we will be closed for the day. 

Normal trading will resume on Saturday with the store open from 9.30am to 12.30pm.   Thank you to everyone for your continued support.  Wishing a great day to all of those lucky enough to have it off!

Just a quick thank you to everyone for liking our Facebook page!  We've nearly reached 200!  Although our blogs and FB pages have been quiet, we've been flat out!  With Craig away most of the start of this year paddling around the Solomon Islands, Palua and then Papua New Guinea it's given me a chance to clean out the store!  I've found lots of great items that we need to sell!  So hopefully there will be some nice bargains coming up soon!  Hoping everyone is keeping warm with this cooler weather!  Looking forward to putting more life into the website and FB page! ;)

Adventure Outlet teamed up with Go Vertical to run the first ever South Stradbroke Island SUP Camping Weekend!  It was a great success with lots of core muscle workouts!!!  The crew covered 24km in 2 days which is an awesome effort!  Camping was excellent at Dux Anchorage and luckily the weather held out for the crew!

Young Dylan, had a good go at paddling also, proving SUP's are suitable for all ages!

Looking for the best family SUP package at the most ridiculous price?  Well, you've found it at Adventure Outlet!  Just arrived and great for the whole family, this is the board that will make having fun on the water possible for everyone!  Introducing the Elite Soft SUP!  Priced at only $699!!!  Order yours today before they sell out!!

Exciting News!  The world's best SUPs (Stand Up Paddle Boards) are coming to Adventure Outlet in early November!  These are the original SUPs coming all the way from Hawaii.  If you have been waiting to buy a board and want a quality board with the best design features then you must take a look at the C4 Waterman range.  With prices starting at just $1250 for the inflatable SUP it's definitely worth a look!  Here is the range we will have coming in: C4 Waterman SUPs

It's official!  The Watersports Festival will be held on Sunday 17 November 2013!!  Please feel free to download the attached PDF with the day's itinerary!  If you are interested in participating, please download the registration form below and either email, post or drop in the form! 

The event is open to anyone interested in watersports!  Just bring your craft down and have fun!  You don't need previous racing experience or be a super skilled kayak fisho to take part in this event!  This festival is all about having fun on the water and making use of the amazing Broadwater we have on our doorstep!

So spread the word and let's make this a wonderful family event!  There will also be prizes galore up for grabs!!! So don't miss out!  Hope to see you there!

Please feel free to complete the Registration form below to enter any of the events.  Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us on 07 5571 2929

Please be aware, we will be closed on Monday 7 October for the Labour Day Public Holiday and will re-open on Tuesday at 10am for normal trading!   Wishing everyone a wonderful day off, keep cool to those in Brisbane, forecast is for 35 degrees!!

Great news!  We've finally found a new date for the Watersports Festival - Sunday 17 November 2013!  Pencil that date in your diaries!  As soon as we have an updated copy of the flyer and registration form, we'll post them up here for you to download!   Thank you to everyone for their patience!  Enjoy the gorgeous weather we're spoilt with at the moment!

Please note that we will be closed on Friday 30 August for the Gold Coast Show Holiday!  We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to be of service when we re-open on Saturday 31 August from 9am.

The weather is finally starting to warm up and we've something exciting to get everyone out there dipping their toes in the waters again!  Adventure Outlet is presenting it's first ever Watersports Festival!  It's a grand affair of all things to do with the water!   There's something for everyone with activities including races, demonstrations, sailing programs, kayak fishing competitions and presentations!  If you love being on the water, don't miss this event!  For more information download the PDF below and spread the word!  It should be a fantastic social event! 

All participants will be required to complete a registration form which will become available soon and will be posted up on our website.  If you are interested in participating, please register your interest by filling in your details below so that we can email you a copy of the registration form once it becomes available.

We look forward to having you join us on this exciting day!

I don't know about you all but this weather is out of control!  And more than anything it can stop some of you from going out there because you know you'll just freeze if it starts to rain! This item of clothing might just be your solution.....

 Well, I'm hoping this may be an answer for many of you who want to still enjoy your time on the water without getting cold.  CAGs or waterproof jackets are a great option.  Generally bought a littler larger than your usual size to fit over your PFD (personal flotation device or lifejacket) they work great as a windbreak and therefore help to keep you warm by reducing the effects of the wind chill factor.

Check out our clothing page which lists CAGs we currently have available.

What is this wind chill factor that everyone talks about during cold and rainy days?  It's interesting to understand as it could affect anyone out on the water easily if ill prepared.  Here is some information about the wind chill factor below.

If you are considering a propel drive fishing kayak, then look no further!  The Native Watercraft series of propel drive / pedal drive sit on kayaks are perfect for our conditions!  With their unique pedal drive functionality, it's no wonder they are taking the Australian market by storm!

What a task it is uploading all of kayaking products on our new website!  Thank you to everyone for their patience, there are still quite a few products to go so it is taking a little longer than expected!  If you are chasing anything kayaking or kayak fishing, we'll most likely have it!  Please feel free to contact us on 075571 2929 to see if we have it in store!

Just advising the store will be closed on Monday 10 June for the Quuensland Day public holiday.  Enjoy your long weekend!  We will reopen for usual trade at 10am on Tuesday.

If you've been hanging out to see the results of the Wilderness Systems Kayak Fishing - Straddie Challenge that took place over last weekend, well here they are!  A big thank you to all participants for a fantastic weekend and congratulations to all the lucky winners!

Well here it is at last!  The break down of the Wilderness Systems Kayak Fishing - Straddie Challenge.  If you have any questions regarding it, don't hesitate to contact Craig on 07 5571 2929 or email him on info@adventureoutlet.com.au

Looking for an absolute bargain?  Then check out our current specials!  They're almost too good to be true!  There's limited stock so once sold out the standard recommended retail price will apply for future orders.

Love your kayak fishing?  Why not join in with other keen kayak fishos in Adventure Outlet's first ever Kayak Fishing Competition on South Stradbroke Island!  With over $2500 worth of prizes up for grabs and an ideal fishing location for kayakers, it's a great way to get out and have some fishing fun!!

We will be closed on Anzac Day and will re-open on Friday at 10 am for normal trading.  Thank you for your continued support.

Join us on an amazing kayaking adventure of Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands.

Mantra Kayaks Noa, the latest small fishing kayak to hit Australia, is quickly becoming one of Australia's favourite fishing kayaks!  Read below to find out why and see if you don't fall for the Mantra Kayaks Noa!

Could this be the ultimate sea kayak that ticks ALL the boxes?  Read on to see what Craig thought of his initial paddle in the latest from Tiderace Kayaks!

Come and try 3 new ski’s….New Epic V10, Vajda Hawx, New Epic V8!

Greenland Rolling - this is opportunity to get some help with your rolling and/or tune up with a few new Greenland Rolls.

Tiderace Demo – be one of the first to paddle the new Tiderace Pace 17, possibly the best engineered sea kayak to hit our shores, ever! 

Ocean Kayak put a lot of thought into the design and features of the Prowler Torque.

Ocean Kayak are one of the leaders in the sit-on top kayak market and were one of the first manufacturers to start making purpose built fishing kayaks with the initial Prowler kayaks coming on the market over 10 years ago.

This is the boat that launched the brand, the original and still #1 seller for Native Watercraft!

In September (2012) we will land the first shipment of Tiderace Sea Kayaks in Australia.  These high performance sea kayaks have been stimulating interest amongst sea kayakers around the world with cutting edge designs from Aled Williams in the UK.  Models such as the Xplore, Xcite, Xtra & Xtreme have been redefining what is possible in a sea kayak in rough water.  If you're looking for a performance touring kayak, play boat or speed machine Tiderace have a sea kayak to suit the adventurous enthusiast.  For more details go to www.tideraceseakayaks.co.uk

If you are interested in a kayak in the Tiderace range feel free to email or call Craig to discuss models, email info@adventureoutlet.com.au or Ph. 07 5571 2929.

On Sunday 25th March, 2012, Adventure Outlet are holding a sea kayak demo day in Brisbane.  The demo will be held in conjunction with the Qld Sea Kayak Club Open day, details for the club event can be found athttp://www.qldseakayak.canoe.org.au/

Anybody interested in testing some performance sea kayaks are welcome to attend.  Details are as follows:

Date: Sunday 25th March, 2012

Location: Landsborough Avenue, Scarborough, Brisbane. Park entrance is between Burton and Rock St.

Time: from 7:30am to 1:30pm

Kayaks Available:  models from Tahe Marine, Zegul, Epic & Prijon.

PLease check out these kayaks at: http://www.adventureoutlet.com.au/seakayaks.html

Please call to ensure the kayaks you wish to paddle are at the event.  Phone Craig at 0407741748.

From Sat 28th April to Sat 5th May Adventure Outlet will host Greenlander.  Details can be found in the following attachment (see below) Check out Cheri & Turner's Bio's at http://kayakways.net/bios.html

Even if not interested in participating in any training, all sea kayakers are welcome to the grand opening (for sea kayakers) of our new store.........Adventure Outlet - Paddling Superstore!

Where: Shop 5, Jackman St, Southport (Southport Trade Centre)

When: Sat 5th May, 2012, from 5:30pm.

Guests: Cheri & Turner will be attending to see what an Aussie BBQ is like and will conduct a short slide presentation.  We also hope to have personally signed copies of there new "This Is The Roll" DVD.

BBQ:  We'll have plenty of sausages, bread, sauce & soft drinks.  BYO alcohol, alternative meat, salads, etc.

Specials: We will be offering 20% off all kayaking accessories on the night.

RSVP:  Please email us at info@adventureoutlet.com.au if you can make it.

Hope to see you there!

Specifications:

Length:3.05m

Width: 75cm

Weight: 20kg                                                                           

Capacity: 125kg

First Glance

Last month we reviewed one of the more expensive fishing kayaks fully equipped with a pedal drive system, rudder, deluxe seating and loads of accessories.  This month I thought we’d look at a much more basic option, particularly good for flat water fishing in the rivers and estuaries.  The Impulse 10 by Perception is a sit-in kayak (SIK) which does have some pros and cons over your much larger range of sit-on top fishing kayaks (SOT).  Most SIK’s lack the storage options of your typical SOT that commonly have hatches & storage pockets within easy reach of the paddler.  The Impulse 10 is a little unique with its storage tray at the front of the cockpit and rear tank well (most SIK’s have hatches at the rear which are far less useful for the angler’s storage needs.)

A SIK offers a little more protection from the elements, such as wind and drips from the paddle, than offered by its sit-on counterpart.

A SIK will generally paddle a little nicer than a SOT of similar length.  As the seating of a SIK is generally closer to the floor of the craft, lowering the paddler’s centre of gravity, they can be a little narrower than the comparable SOT.  They also don’t have the scupper holes of a SOT which creates less drag and a dryer ride.

The Impulse is also an easy kayak to throw on your shoulder for a carry of some distance that would have you looking for a trolley with most other kayaks.  This is not only because it is light weight but also the shape of the cockpit coaming sits nicely on your shoulder.

Comfort

The combination of the adjustable footrests and the padded backrest make this a comfortable kayak to paddle. The shape of the cockpit coaming allows you to lean your outer leg against the cockpit for even more support.

The Impulse 10 could easily be set up with lots of accessories such as rod holders, sounders and anchor kits but in an effort to keep things simple and lightweight we have used a fishing accessory that utilises a milk crate to accessorise the Impulse.  This bag has 2 rod holders, storage for tackle boxes and loads of other gear.  It is also a great place for your bait and fish as it keeps all your gear and mess contained in the one place making for an easy clean up afterwards.

As your rods are stowed directly behind you I found the best way to access them was as though you were drawing an arrow from your back.  Alternatively, if the water is warm, it is easy enough to sit side saddle allowing easy access to your gear.

Getting in and out of a SIK takes a little more practice and technique than accessing a sit-on-top kayak. I’d recommend securing your paddle under the front bungy when launching or landing so that you have both hands free to maintain your balance.

The moulded-in handles either end made for a really easy 2 person lift.

Performance

The pronounced keel in the hull of the Impulse makes it track well for a small kayak.   Most small kayaks ‘Yaw’ from side to side as you paddle on alternate sides.  The Impulse does it less than most other 3m kayaks.  It is no racing kayak but cruises at slower speeds fairly effortlessly.  It is very easy to manoeuvre making it a great option for fishing around the mangroves or pontoons.

A small sit-in kayak such as the Impulse is not designed for open water such as Moreton Bay or the ocean.  If unfortunate enough to capsize, you would need to take this kayak to the shallows in order to empty the water.  It would not sink but would be extremely difficult to empty in choppy open water.  Larger SIK’s such as sea kayaks are fitted with bulkheads to build more floatation into both the bow and stern making them a more sea worthy option.

The Wash-Up

If you are not aiming to cover large distances in your kayak and want something small, simple and lightweight for ease of transporting and handling the Impulse 10 would definitely be worth a look.  I enjoyed the secure feeling of a sit-in kayak and think this would be ideal for accessing some skinny waters in the upper creeks and rivers.

Want One!!

The Perception Impulse retails for $799.  An Angler version is available for an extra $100 that includes 2 rear flush rod holders, 1 Scotty adjustable rod holder and an anchor kit.

For Perception dealers in Australia, visit www.perceptionkayaks.com.au  

Reviewer

Craig McSween of Adventure Outlet who is also a Sea Kayak Instructor with Australian Canoeing conducted this review.  For feedback on this review you can contact Adventure Outlet (Kayaking, Camping & Outdoor Store) in Southport on (07) 55712929 or info@adventureoutlet.com.au 

For more kayaks go to www.adventureoutlet.com.au

We are pleased to anounce the arrival of Mantra Kayaks at Adventure Outlet, Gold Coast.  This new range of sit-on-top kayak has some great options for the recreational paddler or keen fisherman.  Please check the website www.mantrakayaks.com.au for more details.

Saturday 30th July we will be at Bribie Island at 2pm demoing our range of sea kayaks.  The demo kayaks will include  our composite range of Tahe Marine sea kayaks as well as the Epic 18Xsport (which has just recently been improved.....For details read Mark Sundins review of the new Epic 18X Sport at www.epickayaks.net.au )

Location:

Brennan Park, Bribie Island, 2pm

Wesby Parade (just past the jetty)

(If strong westerly is forecast we will move locations to the park at the end of Kal ma Kuta drive)

If you have any questions you can call me on 0407741748.......Craig

Specifications

Length: 3.73m

Width: 76cm

Weight: 29kg

Capacity: 159kg

First Glance

As with most fishing kayaks the Tarpon 120 comes with 4 carry handles at the bow, stern and sides, has a large rear well area and 8 scupper holes to drain water quickly from the cockpit.  The difference with the Tarpon is that it's list of other features is almost too many to mention.

The large oval hatch at the front, and the 8 inch hatch directly in front of the paddler, are both hinged with a very easy to operate lever closure.  Inside both hatches are attachment points to attach smaller items so that they don't slide around to unreachable parts of the kayak.  On this kayak I would be splitting all my fishing gear into containers that can fit in this centre hatch and clip onto the attachment strap with a plastic carabiner.  The other unique characteristic of the 8 inch hatch is way that it is angled so that a 6 ft rod & reel can easily be stowed inside the hull, under the seat, which is important for the kayak to have any offshore capabilities.

Probably the most outstanding feature of this kayak is its Phase 3 Seating System which is explained in the next section.  It also has the SlideTrax system that allows for additional rodholders, sounders, motor brackets and attachment points to be added without drilling any holes in your kayak.  (See the Scotty rod holder added to one of these SlideTrax, forward of the paddler, on the left hand side.)  The yak also has further attachment points for gear keepers and rod holders, 2 storage pockets either side of the centre hatch, straps for a Plano tackle box and paddle parks in front of the cockpit and on both sides of the kayak.

The demo kayak had 2 rear flush rodholders with caps and a Scotty rodholder added.

Comfort

The Phase 3 seating on the Tarpon is first class with a configuration that has the most adjustment of any seat on the market.  At the front of the seat is a handle that conveniently changes the height of the backrest.  There are also adjustable straps that lift the front lip of the seat so that it contours your body shape.  This has the effect of spreading your weight across a larger surface area of the seat allowing you to sit more comfortably, for longer.  The seat pan is raised up off the deck and 2 scupper holes are located under the seat. This means any water that splashes into the cockpit area is drained away without you getting a wet but!  You also benefit from adjustable footrests which round off a very comfortable paddling and fishing position. 

The Tarpon 120 has all attachment points for an optional rudder already installed on the kayak.  Thus if you decide you'd like a rudder this can be fitted in a matter of minutes without drilling any holes in your kayak.

Performance

When looking closely at the hull design of most of the fishing kayaks on the market, most are built more for stability than for speed.  The Tarpon 120 nails both!  Even big guys who have never paddled before can jump straight on to the Tarpon and feel comfortable.  If you look at the kayak while sitting in the water you can see that the hull cuts the water cleanly, disperses the water to the widest point of the kayak and then tapers of cleanly to a fairly pronounced keel at the rear.  This allows the Tarpon to create only a very small bow wave and stern wave when moving through the water which are important factors when looking at the efficiency of the hull.  (Tip - If you want to be able to tell what a kayak will paddle like you need to look at the shape of the hull at the waterline level when loaded with a paddler & their gear.)

The 120 tracks well for a kayak under 4m and could easily be used to cover large distances to get to your fishing spot at a good cruising speed.

In the Surf

We tested the Tarpon in 1m surf at Narrowneck and found that it performed exceptionally well.  The bow of the kayak has sufficient volume to lift up and over the smaller waves while paddling out.  While punching through bigger breaking waves the bow cut through the wave as long as you maintained sufficient speed.  Where the 120 really excelled was on the return trip back to the beach.  The issue for most paddlers coming in on a wave is either nose diving when on a steep part of the wave or tipping over towards the beach once broached sideways on a wave.  The 120 handled both these situations with ease.......in fact it was possibly the most forgiving fishing kayak I've had the pleasure of paddling in the surf!  While catching a wave the large rear well would fill with water which planted the pronounced keel of the craft firmly in the wave and assisted the paddler in maintaining a straight line for the beach.  If the kayak did go around sideways the paddler only needs to maintain a slight lean into the wave and the craft will slip, broached on the wave, with only a small paddle stroke required to straighten the kayak and continue in on the wave to the beach.

If you've had trouble paddling your fishing kayak back in through the surf zone, you should really try the Tarpon 120.

The Wash-Up

The Tarpon 120 is a fantastic fishing kayak!  It is tremendously versatile not only being extremely capable in the rivers, dams & estuaries but also a pleasure to paddle in the surf and ocean.  The ability to be able to stow 6ft rods and all your fishing gear for a surf launch or landing makes it a great fishing option for the closer reefs.  The deluxe seating is also a winner.  If you have a close inspection of this kayaks fit-out, finish, hull shape and performance it represents not only a great option but also great value.  To add even more value all Wilderness System kayaks come with a lifetime warranty on their hull!

Want One!!

The Wilderness System Tarpon 120 retails for $1299.

For more info please contact us at 07 55712929 orinfo@adventureoutlet.com.au or check out www.adventureoutlet.com.au or visit us at our Gold Coast store at 74 Marine Pde Southport.