Lifesaving Victoria said eight kayakers, six students and two teachers from Warrnambool, were caught unaware by the conditions were rescued at Anglesea, south-west of Melbourne, about 9:30am.
Matthew Solly from Anglesea's Surf Life Saving Club said the kayakers were overpowered by winds and taken up to 1 kilometre out to sea.
"The wind virtually blew the boat away from where they were and they were in the water," he told 774 ABC Melbourne.
He said the students remained calm during the rescue.
"It's a great result to have them here alive," Mr Solly said, and warned people to take heed of weather warnings.

Didn't see the forecast this morning, but with today's weather, surely coastal kayaking would have been an obvious no no...