ABOUT US
(02) 49477899Hunter Water Sports (HWS) is Australia’s premiere authorised Hobie kayak dealer. Based in Belmont, NSW we offer the best service and the biggest range of Hobie kayaks and kayak accessories. Whether you’re shopping in-store or taking advantage of our convenient online catalogue with Australia-wide shipping, we pride ourselves on giving every customer the best possible experience!
Established in 2012, HWS has cemented itself among Australia’s leading Hobie and kayak fishing experts thanks to our dedicated team of passionate Hobie enthusiasts and pro tournament anglers. Providing genuine and reliable advice is the cornerstone of our business. We take the time to ensure you get the right gear to maximise your time on the water.
THE HWS DIFFERENCE
Experienced staff, honest advice and the worlds best pedal kayaks
For us, spending time on the water is all about fun and relaxation. Our job as a company that helps create those cherished recreational experiences is one we take pretty seriously. We understand that bad advice, dodgy workmanship and pushy sales tactics lead to unhappy customers and can prevent you from properly experiencing kayaking at its best.
We’ve built HWS on valued repeat customers. We keep them happy and they keep us doing what we love! For us, it’s never about maximising the value of a sale, it’s always about maximising client satisfaction and maximising joy on the water.
Don’t just take our word for it, check out what some of our clients have to say about us!
WHAT WE DO
Hobie Kayak Advice, Sales and Service
Kayak Parts, Gear and Accessories
On Water Demos and Test Drives
Kayak Fitouts and Installations
We can install everything we sell, from Fish Finders to Roof racks and everything in between, our trained staff will get the job done! Here at HWS, we pride ourselves on quality work, delivered on time and on budget. All accessory installations are free with the purchase of any kayak
We conduct obligation-free on-water demonstrations by appointment 7 days a week. Our Belmont showroom is just a 2 minute walk from the shores of Lake Macquarie. We love getting you out on the water (seriously, its the best part of our day) so contact our team and book in a test-drive today!
OUR STAFF
James Kilpatrick – HWS Founder, Owner Operator and Manager
Industry experience: Over 18 Years in the marine and fishing industry. James started working with Hobie in 2011 and founded HWS in 2012 – Hobie Certified, Lowrance Certified.
Specialty: Sailing kayaks and spare parts knowledge.
Loves: Kayak fishing both competitively and recreationally and getting out sailing with the family on the Tandem Island.
Kayak of choice: “The convenience of the Lynx means it gets a lot of use! It’s perfect for quick after-work sessions and family getaways, just throw it on the ute and you’re good to go. You can’t go past the PA-14-360 for comp work!”
Stats: Hobie Kayak Fishing Series Anglers Choice Award – 2020 & 2022
Memberships: Hobie Kayak Fishing Series, Yak Hunters NSW, Kayak Fishing NSW
The best thing about working at HWS: I love that I get to sell fun and recreation! This is something I’m passionate about, so being part of that process for others is really rewarding. It’s great to interact daily with so many people who love being on the water as much as I do.
Andrew Taylor – Assistant Manager
Industry experience: Andrew joined HWS in 2018 bringing his 8+ years of experience over a wide range of Hobie kayak models to the team.
Specialty: On-water kayak demonstrations, unrivalled real-world product experience, and a customer relations expert.
Loves: Recreational kayak fishing locally on Lake Macquarie and throughout the Hunter and Central Coast
Kayak of choice: “I own both the Compass and the Lynx but it’s the Lynx I spend the majority of my time on the water with lately. Its lightweight and simplicity mean getting out there is easy and fuss-free. I even use the Lynx as my daily driver to commute to work”
Stats: Qualified for the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series Australian Championships 2017
Memberships: Hobie Kayak Fishing Series, Yak Hunters NSW, Kayak Fishing NSW
The best thing about working at HWS: “This is an industry that I really enjoy being a part of! Every day is different, whether I’m out on the water doing demos, on the road making deliveries, or in-store offering advice on kayak fit-outs it’s always interesting. Plus I get to be out on the water pretty regularly and I can kayak to work.”
Mark Young – Sales and Service
Industry experience: Mark began working at HWS in 2021 bringing over 8 years of experience as a Hobie owner and pro tournament angler to the team.
Specialty: Kayak fit-outs and repairs. An expert in all things kayak fishing.
Loves: Competitive tournament angling and lake/estuary fishing.
Kayak of choice: “I run the Pro Angler 14 – 360 because it’s Hobie’s premium angling model and it provides the performance I need for tournament fishing.”
Stats: Qualified for and competed in the Hobie Fishing World Championships – 2018 & 2019, Qualified for and competed in all Hobie Kayak Fishing Series Australian Championships since 2015, Winner of the Hobie AOY Sootie Grunter Invitational – 2018
Memberships: Hobie Kayak Fishing Series, Yak Hunters NSW
The best thing about working at HWS: “It’s hard to beat working with something you’re passionate about! It’s great getting new people into a Hobie and seeing it take their excitement for kayaking to a whole new level.”
HWS PRO TEAM
HWS are proud sponsors of some of the leading tournament anglers and kayak fishing content creators in Australia. Whether it’s detailed feedback and reviews on products and systems or representing team HWS nationally and internationally in competition, these partnerships help us to give back to the community we love.
Creators
Tournament Team
