Port Adelaide Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: 90 minutes
Wrecks, dolphins and birds in one Port River cruise
This 90-minute guided cruise from Port Adelaide takes you through three distinct marine zones: the Ships Graveyard, where at least 40 abandoned vessels lie half-submerged in the backwaters; the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, home to around 30 resident bottlenose dolphins plus transient visitors; and the International Bird Sanctuary spanning over 60km of coastline. Your skipper narrates the maritime history and local ecology as you move through each site. Toilet facilities are onboard. The pace suits all fitness levels.
Step-by-step itinerary
Port Adelaide Dolphin and Ships Cruise
- Board the cruise in Port Adelaide
- Cruise the Port River and learn maritime history
- Visit the Ships Graveyard and view abandoned vessels
- Cruise through the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
- Spot wild bottlenose dolphins and calves
- Pass by the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
- Enjoy guided commentary from the skipper
What’s included
- Guided commentary from your skipper covering maritime history and local ecology.
- dolphin viewing in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
- passage through the International Bird Sanctuary.
- toilet facilities onboard.
Times
- Every day 09:00 11:00 13:30 15:30
Before you book
Operated by Port River Cruises
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The experience
The cruise departs Port Adelaide and heads straight into the Ships Graveyard, where your guide walks you through the history of the wrecks (sailing vessels, steamships, motor boats, barges and dredges) now embedded in silt and half-hidden by mangroves. This is the only way to see the collection up close. The backwater channels are navigable only by boat, and the guide's commentary ties the rusted hulls to Port Adelaide's working maritime past.
From there the boat moves into the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, one of the few wild dolphin populations living inside a city. Around 30 resident bottlenose dolphins use these waters to feed, play and nurse their calves, and another 400 transient dolphins visit at various times. The guide knows where to look and what to watch for. During warmer months, newborn calves often travel with their mothers. You stay on the boat and scan the water: sightings are not guaranteed, but the sanctuary's resident population makes encounters common.
The final leg passes through the International Bird Sanctuary, which stretches across four local council areas and over 60km of coastline north of Adelaide along Gulf St Vincent. The guide points out species and explains the sanctuary's role in the region. Informative commentary runs throughout the entire cruise, and toilet facilities are available onboard. The whole outing takes 90 minutes and requires no walking or physical exertion beyond sitting and looking.
Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and delivers live commentary throughout, so you follow the history and ecology without needing to read a map or app: ideal if you're new to Port Adelaide or want the local stories behind what you're seeing.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How far is Port Adelaide from central Adelaide, and how do I get there?
Port Adelaide is about 15 minutes north of the city center. Public transportation options are available nearby, so you can reach the departure point by bus or train without a car.
Will I definitely see dolphins on the cruise?
The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is home to around 30 resident bottlenose dolphins that use these waters regularly to feed and socialise, so sightings are common. Another 400 transient dolphins visit at various times, and during warmer months you may see newborn calves with their mothers. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the resident population makes encounters likely.
What exactly is the Ships Graveyard, and why can you only see it by boat?
The Ships Graveyard holds at least 40 abandoned vessels (sailing ships, steamships, motor boats, barges and dredges) now half-submerged and embedded in silt within the hidden backwaters of the Port River. The narrow channels and mangrove-lined banks are only accessible by small cruise boat, making this the only way to enter and see the wrecks up close.
What is the International Bird Sanctuary, and will I see it on this cruise?
The International Bird Sanctuary encompasses over 60km of coastline north of Adelaide along Gulf St Vincent, spanning four local council areas. The final leg of the cruise passes through this zone, and your guide will point out bird species and explain the sanctuary's role in the region.
Port Adelaide Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: 90 minutes
1h 30m · EN
from AU$ 88 per person
≈ US$ 63 in your currency
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