The waters of Gulf St Vincent and the Port River offer many opportunities to spot dolphins and other wildlife.

For adventure seekers after an up close and personal experience, Glenelg offers you the opportunity to dive into the water and swim with the dolphins. For an experience that is a little drier but just as intimate, you can paddle a kayak from Garden Island. If river cruising is more your thing, there are a variety of options and locations to choose from, with many cruises featuring delicious catering and the chance to take in a stunning sunset.

If you’re a 100% land dweller, there are some great viewing spots to try your luck spotting these playful creatures. Our picks are the Port River waterfront near the lighthouse or Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide.

Marine Park

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary

This marine park is home to around 30 resident bottlenose dolphins, with another 400 transient dolphins that visit at various times. These wild dolphins come here to feed, play, socialise and nurse their calves. There are several locations that offer a great vantage point to observe wildlife on water and land.
You will find a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest, seagrass, salt marsh, tidal flats, and tidal creeks, which all provide habitat and food for the dolphins. Other wildlife that can easily be spotted within the Sanctuary are sting rays, long-nosed fur seals and endangered Australian sea lions.

The Sanctuary is a part of South Australia's largest port, with many Aboriginal and European cultural and historical places of interest.
parks.sa.gov.au
66 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

Tours

Adventure Kayaking SA – Garden Island

Adventure Kayaking SA offers both kayak and stand-up paddle board tours and hire.
adventurekayak.com.au
LOT 204 Garden Island Road, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

The One and All – Port Adelaide

A tall ship based on the original rig of an 1850s Brigantine. Cruise in style aboard The One and All - they offer day sails, high tea sails and twilight sails.
oneandallship.com.au
Dock, 2 Honey Street, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

Archie Badenoch – Port Adelaide

Take a cruise along the Port River on the SA Maritime Museum's historic vessel Archie Badenoch. Built in 1942 at GMH for the Royal Australian Navy, the Archie Badenoch served as a supply vessel during WW2. From 1946 to 1978, the vessel was operated by the South Australian Police as their premier Water Police launch. The Port River cruise takes about an hour, and you'll see many historical areas and points of interest along the Port River. Operates every second Sunday. Bookings are essential.
trybooking.com
Black Diamond Square, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours – Garden Island

Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours offers tours and kayak hire at Garden Island.
dolphinsanctuarykayaktours.com.au
Lot 204 Garden Island Road, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

Port River Cruises - Port Adelaide

Enjoy a small boat river cruise in Port Adelaide with dolphin cruises, cruises to the 'ships graveyard', seafood and wine cruises, cultural tours and charters.
www.portrivercruises.com.au
1 McLaren Wharf, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

Portobello River Cruiser – New Port

Shaped like a donut, you can hire a river cruiser for 2 hours with up to 6 people per boat, Tuesday to Sunday. The river cruiser is super easy to navigate, plus you don’t need a boat license to drive one! You will need a full driver’s license and be aged over 21.
portobellorivercruiser.com.au
1-2 Tarni Court, New Port SA 5015