You meet your guide Tim on a quiet bend in the Ovens River down behind the residential streets where no tourist would think to look.

Standing there with eight others in your wetsuit listening to Tim's safety briefing as the river surges by, you start to feel nervous. But nerves will have to wait – it’s time to launch.

Tim holds the kayak steady as you step in, heart pounding. This is what it’s all about, right? Pushing yourself to the limits, living on the edge. Besides, how hard can it be? It’s a beginner’s run after all – at least, that’s what you tell yourself.

One by one you push out into the current; the water quickens beneath you, its rippling white fingers reaching up and pulling you along.

“Stay left,” Tim yells. You thrust your paddle ahead to your right and turn your torso as you stroke. Amazingly, your kayak moves left. You smile proudly.

The pace quickens. You move through some boulders, your hips pivoting beneath you as you keep your torso straight. Sunlight flickers on the water’s surface as you carve your way down the river. Birds in the towering gums along the water’s edge watch on, calling out songs of encouragement.

Up ahead, you notice the water drop over an edge to a place you can’t quite see. The kayak moves toward it, faster and faster and you realise you're going to go over. You stop breathing, you try to keep straight, and then the moment arrives: you plummet over the edge, landing, thankfully, upright.

Woah, you laugh, realising you only dropped 30cm or so.

The hour passes as fast as the water runs, and soon you’re helping to drag your kayak out of the river near a footbridge. A minibus is there to take you back.

“How was that?” beams Tim, reading your smile as he collects your wet gear. “You should come back for one of our other tours.”

He hands you a brochure: 'Rock climbing, abseiling, caving, kayaking and paddleboard hire'.

You’re keen, but those adventures are for another day. There’s still so much you haven’t done… like visit the brewery. And you’ve had your heart set on going to the snow for a sled dog ride.

The clock is ticking. Which one do you do next?