Images and Video
90 Minute Dolphin and Ships Graveyard Cruise
Highlights
- Cruise past giant wrecks in the Ships Graveyard, uncovering the rich maritime history of Port Adelaide.
- Spot playful dolphins in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, experiencing one of the few wild populations in a city.
- Observe migratory shorebirds at the International Bird Sanctuary, including rare species like the Curlew sandpiper.
- Relax on a guided tour as you soak in stunning views and learn about iconic local history and locations.
This is a must do activity when visiting Adelaide! See the iconic Ships Graveyard, the unique Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, the wonderful International Bird Sanctuary and so much more.
A Guided Tour
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views as your guide talks you through the local history, famous ships and iconic locations you are cruising through.
A Rich Maritime History
The Port Adelaide River is steeped in a rich maritime history that you will discover as you cruise along its length, seeing famous ships and locations.
The Ships Graveyard
Don’t miss out! For the first time you are able to enter Port Adelaide’s completely unique Ships Graveyard on a guided cruise. Be amazed as you cruise past giant wrecks, half-submerged in the hidden backwaters of the Port River and learn their history.
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
Enjoy cruising through the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary searching for local dolphins, one of the only wild dolphin populations living within a city. Keep an eye out for some of the famous local residents and, during the warmer months, newborn calves!
International Bird Sanctuary
Travel towards the bird sanctuary where there’s an opportunity to see migratory shorebirds, including threatened species such as Curlew sandpiper.
Itinerary highlights
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary provides a home to one of Adelaide’s best-loved creatures, the Bottlenose Dolphin. These wild dolphins come here to eat, play, socialise and live and can be seen most days from both water and land look outs.
Port Adelaide Ships Graveyard
The remains of at least 40 abandoned vessels lie embedded in silt and partially hidden by mangroves in the backwaters of the Port River, in Adelaide’s north west. The collection includes large and small sailing, steam and motor vessels, barges, pontoons and dredges.
Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary – Garden Island
The Bird Sanctuary sits right at the southern end of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) and is one of the key feeding and roosting sites for migratory birds who use the flyway each year. Birds fly from as far as Siberia and Alaska, passing through 22 countries. The area acts as a crucial habitat on this migratory route which is used by more than 5 million birds a year, 27,000 of which call Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary home.
Tour details
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Available from 1 September 2022 to 31 May 2027
Features
Service facilities
Disabled access available, contact operator for details.
Operation information
Port River Cruises
Port River Cruises provides exceptional marine cruises from Port Adelaide.
Ttours are immersive maritime experiences, highlighting the rich culture, history and abundance of wildlife only 20 minutes from Adelaide CBD. Board comfortable, under cover vessels, to view the Port River Dolphins – one of the only wild dolphin pods living within a city precinct in the world. The Port River is home to 40 resident bottlenose dolphins, with another 400 transient dolphins that visit at various times.
Visit the Ships Graveyard and delve into the histories of the ships scattered there. You will learn the history of ships such as the ‘Santiago’ the oldest iron hulled ship in existence, and the Dorothy H Stirling the largest abandoned ship within the graveyard.
An abundance of birdlife lives within the Port River and adjacent International Bird Sanctuary. Admire the 10,000-year-old mangrove forests along the way, some of the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere!
Port River Cruises departs from the heart of the Inner Harbour at Port Adelaide, located next to Port Adelaide’s iconic lighthouse and is only a short 20-minute drive from Adelaide CBD.
We provide daily marine tours, private functions, Cultural Cruises, and live-music events from our comfortable 16-seater and 32-seater covered vessels. Our vessels are safe, comfortable, with onboard toilet facilities, as well as custom-made mobility ramps to ensure all customers are catered for.
Accreditations
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ECO Certified (Nature Tourism) by Ecotourism Australia
Memberships
- Tourism Industry Council of SA
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