Downunder in Rowayton: Kayaking & Paddleboarding

Downunder is owned by Kim Beaumont who hails from New Zealand, so she has a natural affinity with water and the outdoors. It specializes in stand-up paddleboards (SUP) and sit-on-top kayaks letting you rent them out or take lessons. There are currently two locations - in Rowayton and Westport.

With the recent changeable weather, we made a last minute decision yesterday to take our children Kayaking. We arrived at 4pm and were told it was a 2-hour minimum rental but we had to be back just before 6pm because they closed then. No problem.

It's a simple set up with all the equipment, wetsuits, beachwear and changing rooms set out in the store by the dock. Upstairs are restrooms, Rowayton Market and an outdoor patio for people to eat, drink and kayak / SUP watch.

We rented two single kayaks for the adults and a double kayak for the boys (9 and 10 years old). We were all given a life jacket, helped onto the kayaks, handed a paddle each and given a friendly push off the dock. I'm not a very coordinated person, but even I could handle steering and controlling my kayak. I loved it, even towing the boys behind me when they got tired. In my head I was Pocahontas with a touch of Xena Warrior Princess. Feeling the sun on my face, seeing a host of beautiful riverside houses and toning up my bat wings with every paddle. What a fantastic upper body workout!

We set off to the right, which is the tranquil river route, where the water is quite shallow in places. When we reached the end we turned back, passing Downunder and continued onwards towards the sea. The wind picked up but we battled on, avoiding hitting the docked boats along the way. The closer we got the more the waves picked up and the boys really enjoyed that, giggling with every splash. Despite us believing they would not last a full 2-hours, they never complained once. Heading back to Downunder, we found a calm area for them to cool off and jump in.

My advice throughout the summer is to take bottles of water, slap on the sunscreen and put a hat on smaller ones.

To hire 3 kayaks it cost us just over $150 so it isn't cheap, but we were all beaming from ear to ear afterwards. I cannot wait to go back - next time I'm going all out to sea!

Downunder, 157 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton CT 06853 / 203-642-3660