A new breed is arriving in droves at the Kingston Foreshore – and they're emerging from the lake.
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Instead of the lycra-clad cyclists, groups of paddleboarders and kayakers are parking their water vessel of choice on the pontoons and visiting the cafes.
While it's a favourite among runners and cyclists, traditionally, Lake Burley Griffin is loved in a "look but do not touch" capacity, partly because of sporadic blue-green alga blooms.
But more people are taking to the water.
Stand-up paddleboarder Matthew Scott can often be found leading a group bound for the foreshore on Sunday mornings.
"It's great having this resource so close to where everyone lives," he said.
"Unfortunately, people don't understand you can utilise it. There's this misnomer that you can't paddle on it; it's just there to look at and that it's full of diseases," he said.
He is keen to encourage people onto the water and his dream is to run tours on the lake.
"You see people on Segways; I'd rather have people on paddle boards and show them along the parliamentary triangle and point towards all the landmarks from the water," he said.
Fellow lake lover Scott Hunter has been in Canberra for 24 years and has been kayaking, windsurfing, paddleboarding and swimming at the lake for just as long.
As the owner of Wetspot Water Sports in Fyshwick, Hunter has noticed a steady increase in people on the lake and in the store.
"Our business has definitely grown over the past 10 years. We're probably more than double turnover-wise, which is a fair bit," he said.
"Stand-up paddling and kayaking are really increasing in popularity. We see lots of triathletes swimming, and a lot of people are using the lake for fishing."
With developments planned for the lake, it looks set to play a more central role in Canberra life.
This month, the shores of the west basin become home to a temporary shipping container village and events space, with a rooftop bar and cafes.
The City to the Lake development plans also include residential areas, restaurants, a sports stadium and urban beach.
Scott believes the lake will play a bigger role in the future, and can envision a day when people paddle to work.
"There's guys that live in Seattle and Portland on the lakes there, and that's what they do; they lock their boards up in bike racks so they can get back there at night and paddle home. It'd be awesome to do here" he said.
Hunter agrees, and loves watching everybody drive to work as he kayaks.
"You're in this really tranquil, peaceful spot and off in the distance you can see the cars all screaming to work, tail-gating each other, and I'm just sitting there thinking, 'this is nice'."