A world class venue with an Olympic legacy
Purpose built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Penrith Whitewater Stadium was the competition venue for canoe/kayak slalom events. The construction of the Stadium was a joint venture between Penrith City Council, the International Canoe Federation and the Olympic Co-ordination Authority.
The whitewater course is one of only a few man-made rivers of its kind in the world, and was constructed using a combination of both natural and man-made materials to recreate the characteristics of a wild river.
The river is 320 metres long and drops 5.5 metres from top to bottom and is constructed in a ‘U’ shape. A moveable obstacle system makes it possible to change the whitewater channel which is concrete and varies in width from 8 to 14 metres.
14,000 litres per second of raging whitewater flowing over a moveable obstacle system has proven to be a challenging and exciting ride even for the best paddlers in the world. The water is drawn from the nearby warm-up lake by up to five 300kw submersible pumps. Each pump delivers 2,800 litres (2.8 cubic metres) of water per second to the start pool at the top of the course, from where it flows down to the finish pool. A conveyor carries rafts, canoes and kayaks along with their occupants from the bottom of the course to the top start pool.
The venue caters for whitewater rafting, kayaking, swiftwater rescue training and hosts local, national and international kayaking competitions.
Operating hours

Main entry gate hours
Monday – Sunday
7am – 7pm

Stadium hours
Monday – Friday
7am – 5pm
Saturday – Sunday
Hours vary depending on bookings

Office hours
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm
Café Whitewater closed
The café is currently closed until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Venue regulations
The purpose of these regulations is to:
- Prevent any damage to the Penrith Whitewater Stadium (“Venue”)
- Protect visitors from suffering any physical injury or harassment while at the Venue; and
- Notify of risks in engaging in recreational activities at the Venue.
The co-operation of all visitors is sought to preserve and protect the Venue for the enjoyment of all.
The following is a list of activities that are prohibited at the Venue.
If any visitor carries out any of the listed prohibited activities, they will be asked to leave the venue immediately and may be reported to NSW Police.
- Bringing any domesticated pets onsite
- Use of indecent, obscene, insulting or threatening language or images
- Being intoxicated
- Being in possession of or under the influence of illicit drugs
- Behaving in an offensive or indecent manner
- Smoking and e-cigarettes (except where designated smoking areas are provided)
- Failing to comply with a reasonable request or direction from a Venue authorised person
- Depositing any domestic or industrial waste
- Leaving any litter except in the litter receptacles provided
- Polluting any waterways
- To drive, ride or park any vehicle including motor vehicles, bicycles or rollerblades on any grassed or landscaped area unless so directed by a Venue authorised person
- To drive or park on any pathways without prior approval from a Venue authorised person
- To drive, ride, park or act in a manner contrary to any signs
- Abandoning any vehicle
- To damage, destroy or remove any grassed area, tree, plant or other vegetation
- To dig any soil or deface any rocks
- To damage, destroy or remove any building, structure or equipment
- To capture, annoy, injure, kill or otherwise interfere with any animal
- Interfering in any way with any habitat
- Causing a nuisance through the use of radios, loud music, or any other broadcasting equipment
- Protesting and exhibiting protest banners that are offensive to other users
- To play or practise golf, archery or any activity that might be hazardous to others
- Lighting a fire or using barbeque heat beads
- Discharging fireworks unless authorised to do so for a recognised event
- To carry, discharge or otherwise have within one’s possession or control any firearm or any other weapon including knives
- Camping or residing within in the Venue
- Throwing rocks into the lakes
- Entering areas that are fenced off, locked or closed to the public
- Obstructing an authorised person from performing his/her duties
- Riding a bicycle, skateboard, or motorised scooter anywhere within the Venue
- Running, roller blading or roller skating
- Having any items made of glass –please note that the Venue is a glass-free zone
Venue Management reserve the right to check bags as a condition of entry.
- The collection of money
- The sale or hire of any goods or services
- Conducting amusements, entertainment, venue tours, personal training or performances
- Participation in, or organisation of, any protest, march, demonstration or public meeting
- The display or distribution of any advertising or political material
- Commercial filming (whether cinematic or video) or photography
- The erection of any structures such as marquees, awnings, etc
- The distribution or use of balloons or stickers
- To erect, place or affix any banners or signage within the Venue or on any Venue infrastructure
- The use of any public address system including a hand-held megaphone\
- Bringing any animals on to the site
- Bathing, wading or swimming in the lakes
- Sailing, rowing or paddling any water craft in the lakes
- Fishing in the lakes
- Teaching any person how to drive a car or ride a motorcycle
- The operation of motorised model aircrafts, boats or cars
- Conducting any kind of survey of visitors to the Venue
- The speed limit for all motor vehicles is 20kph
- Motor vehicles at the Venue must remain on sealed roads and be driven in accordance with all signs
- Motor vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas in accordance with signs, not on any other areas including any grassed areas, unless directed by a Venue authorised person
Visitors may suffer injury or death as a result of participating in any recreational activities at the Venue. Visitors participate in recreational activities at the Venue at their own risk.
The Penrith Whitewater Stadium has unfenced access to the water and pedestrian paths that at times are used by vehicles. Parents are required to supervise children at all times.