Botany Bay is a large coastal estuary located just 12 kilometers south of Sydney, offering paddling opportunities for many skill levels. Its waters are often calm, making it a popular destination. The bay features several distinct areas for paddlers, including the Cooks River, Wolli Creek, and the open bay itself. A notable paddle trail runs along the Cooks River from Tempe to Carrs Bush Park. Paddlers can explore mangrove-lined sections along Wolli Creek or attempt beach landings on the shores of Botany Bay. The bay's broad, open reaches present a different challenge, with potential for wind and waves. For open water and surfski paddlers, Botany Bay provides routes sheltered from significant ocean swell, though paddlers should be aware of potential rebound waves near headlands and steep shorelines. Several specific routes are popular, including crossings from Dolls Point to La Perouse, Kurnell to the Cooks River mouth at Kyeemagh Boat Ramp, and runs from Tom Ugly's Bridge boat ramp to Kurnell. These routes often involve crossing major shipping channels, requiring careful attention to boat traffic. Key launch and take-out points include dedicated facilities like the Port Botany Foreshore Road boat ramp, which has four launch lanes with pontoons and trailer parking. Other access points include Carrs Bush Park, Kyeemagh Boat Ramp, Silver Beach at Kurnell, and Dolls Point. The Kamay Botany Bay National Park at Kurnell provides scenic cliff-top views and is a prime location for whale watching from land, with humpback whales passing close to shore during their northern migration from mid-May and again in October and November. The area holds historical significance as the site of first contact between the British and First Nations peoples.