About Us
Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours is the only kayak company at Garden Island, Port Adelaide to operate from private facilities – there is a club house, private toilets, private beach and ramps and we have secure lock up parking whilst you are out on your tour.
Our eco friendly tours operate within the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary which is a hub of marine adventure. Immerse yourself in the serenity of nature on our guided tour through some of SA’s most beautiful waterways and along the way you get the opportunity to view one of the oceans most playful and friendly creatures.
In the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, you can visit places where boats can’t go. Paddle down creeks lined with mangrove forests which have been there for over 10,000 years, it is the ultimate feeding and resting grounds for local dolphins and paddle past spectacular shipwrecks that have been abandoned from a bygone era (when conditions allow) . The sanctuary is also home to abundant bird life and other wildlife that make up the intricate eco system.
Join us for an immersive and informative experience on our guided kayak tour or hire a kayak and create your own adventure.
OUR ACCREDITATIONS
Our Tours
3-HOUR GUIDED ECO TOUR
Join us for a 3-hour guided kayak tour exploring mangrove creeks with the opportunity to spot dolphins, other marine wildlife and paddle past shipwrecks. Children must be 10 years and older to participate in this tour and must be in a double kayak with a parent/ guardian and able to paddle throughout the tour. Participants under 18 require parental permission. Bookings are essential. Deluxe seats are fitted to all our kayaks. For groups of 12 or more, please contact us directly.
Adult guided tour: $79.00 pp
Child guided tour (10-15): $49.00 pp
2 HOUR GUIDED TWILIGHT TOUR
This is a relaxing paddle at twilight to explore the sheltered mangrove creeks, keeping an eye out for nesting sea birds and other marine life that frequent the area. Head torches are used for this tour.
Ideal for couples. Bookings are essential
16 years of age and over only.
Adult guided tour: $75.00 pp
Deluxe seats are fitted to all our kayaks.
SELF GUIDED/HIRE
Hire a single or double kayak and explore the waters around Garden Island at your own pace. We provide maps and guidance of where to kayak depending on wind and water conditions. Bookings are essential
Children must be 10 years and older to participate in this tour and 10-15 years old must be in a double kayak with a parent/guardian and able to paddle. Participants under 18 require parental permission.
Single kayak up to 3 hours: $50.00
Double Kayak up to 3 hours: $80.00
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
What to bring:
Protection from the sun
Drink bottle & Snack
Camera/phone (waterproof is a safer option but we do provide dry bags)
Shoes that can get wet or slip on shoes/flip flops than can easily be taken off
What’s included:
Kayaks, paddles and life jackets
Water to refill your drink bottle
Waterproof bag
Our Dolphin Sanctuary Experience
It’s not every day you get to paddle your way down creeks lined with a mangrove forest which has been there for over 10,000 years , see shipwrecks up close and have the opportunity to view the local Port River dolphins along the way. All this and so close to Adelaide CBD. It’s a special experience that simply can’t be replicated, which is why Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours is a must-do!
Our lead guide is a Marine Biologist who has over 10 years experience working with marine mammals and wildlife, so there are plenty of interesting facts you will learn along the way.
Participants don’t need any prior kayaking experience, and we travel at a comfortable pace to accommodate all participants, but you do need reasonable fitness levels.
Whether you join our guided tour of just hire a kayak, demonstrations and all equipment—including life jackets—will be provided; Children must be aged ten or older to participate and must be in a double kayak with a parent/guardian and able to paddle. Those under 18 years of age must have parental permission. During the tour, we stumble across a number of wildlife and shipwreck sighting opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera! Participants are also welcome to bring snacks as they see fit. Depending on the weather conditions and your kayaking technique you may get wet, so it’s best to bring a change of clothes just in case.
We’ll paddle through mangrove lined creeks; view the abundant bird life, marine mammals and other creatures that make up this intricate eco system. The Sanctuary is part of South Australia’s largest port. It has a rich Aboriginal and European cultural background with a number of noteworthy landmarks to explore.
The Sanctuary boasts a 10,000 year-old mangrove forest, which makes the ultimate feeding grounds for dolphins due to the abundance of seagrass, saltmarsh, and the tidal flats and creeks. For those interested in bird watching, the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary shares a big part of the northern coastal habitat.
There are several other locations which make perfect spectating grounds to watch local residents like fur seals, sting rays, and even the endangered Australian sea lion.
This is a wildlife sanctuary and therefore the animals are free to come and go as they please, so we cannot guarantee we will be lucky enough to see them on the day. However, our sightings are frequent!
