North Star Beach is one of the best access points for Newport Beach’s Back Bay. This small sandy beach is adjacent to the Newport Aquatic Center. NAC rents kayaks (singles and doubles) and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) on a first-come first-served basis for exploring the calm waters of Back Bay, Upper Newport Bay Ecological Preserve, and Newport Harbor. These rentals are super convenient, but anyone can launch their own watercrafts at this hand-carried boat launch.