Adventure Kayaking SA: The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships Graveyard
Home > Adelaide > Adventure | Sport
Adelaide-based writer with a passion for good coffee, beach walks, bike riding, the great outdoors and writing about my experiences!
Published April 30th 2012
A three-hour guided kayaking trip through the Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships' Graveyard, just north of Port Adelaide, is a great way to experience the outdoors.
Kayak tours by Adventure Kayaking SA – where all the organising is done for you - launches at Garden Island Reserve Boat Ramp on the Port River. Our guide Tom, gave us quick, on-land 'how to' instructions which covered sitting in the kayak, steering, handling the oars, some paddling technique and we were off.
The Dolphin Sanctuary is home to a pod of 30 bottlenose dolphins. We saw three including a baby and while kayaks are excluded from moving closer than 50 metres to dolphins, they often move closer to the kayaks. We were struck by the abundant bird-life on the water, which included cormorants, ibis' and pelicans to name a few.
After about half an hour, Tom led us into the shallow, shady area of the mangrove creek. This narrow waterway, covered with a canopy of mangrove trees was a pleasant change from the open expanse of the river. Our guide explained the nature of the system and its environmental significance as a fish breeding area.
Next up, we headed to the spectacular Ships' Graveyard! The iron hull of the 49 metre-long Santiago is still almost intact and stands high above the water level. Built in Scotland in 1856, it has remained in its final resting place since 1945.
Not quite as impressive, but also full of history is the wreck of the Dorothy H Stirling. Originally 81m in length, this ship was abandoned during the Great Depression and gradually broken up and stripped of its valuable wood. Visible today at low tide are the remains of the iron strutting which would have formed the hull.
Following a close-up paddle around the wrecks we headed back to base. All up - a great experience. The paddling would rate as gentle exercise and the pace - slow enough to be comfortable for novice kayakers.
Cost: The Adventure Tour (3 hours)
Adults: $70
Concession: $50
Child: $40
Family Special (2 Adults and 2 children): $180
The Family Tour (2 hours)
Adults: $50
Concession: $40
Child: $25
Family Special : $130
Kayak Hire and self-guided tour per person (3 hours)
Adults: $45
Concession/Children: $30
Family Special: $120
Kayak tours by Adventure Kayaking SA – where all the organising is done for you - launches at Garden Island Reserve Boat Ramp on the Port River. Our guide Tom, gave us quick, on-land 'how to' instructions which covered sitting in the kayak, steering, handling the oars, some paddling technique and we were off.
The Dolphin Sanctuary is home to a pod of 30 bottlenose dolphins. We saw three including a baby and while kayaks are excluded from moving closer than 50 metres to dolphins, they often move closer to the kayaks. We were struck by the abundant bird-life on the water, which included cormorants, ibis' and pelicans to name a few.
Next up, we headed to the spectacular Ships' Graveyard! The iron hull of the 49 metre-long Santiago is still almost intact and stands high above the water level. Built in Scotland in 1856, it has remained in its final resting place since 1945.
Not quite as impressive, but also full of history is the wreck of the Dorothy H Stirling. Originally 81m in length, this ship was abandoned during the Great Depression and gradually broken up and stripped of its valuable wood. Visible today at low tide are the remains of the iron strutting which would have formed the hull.
Following a close-up paddle around the wrecks we headed back to base. All up - a great experience. The paddling would rate as gentle exercise and the pace - slow enough to be comfortable for novice kayakers.
Adults: $70
Concession: $50
Child: $40
Family Special (2 Adults and 2 children): $180
The Family Tour (2 hours)
Adults: $50
Concession: $40
Child: $25
Family Special : $130
Kayak Hire and self-guided tour per person (3 hours)
Adults: $45
Concession/Children: $30
Family Special: $120
Related Articles
Why? Exercise and enjoy the great outdoors
When: On Request
Website: www.adventurekayak.com.au
Where: Garden Island Reserve Boat Ramp
Cost: Adventure Tour - 3 hours, Adults, $70 - Children $40 - Family (2 Adults and 2 Children) $180
Categories
Your Comment
More Adelaide articles
Articles from other cities
Featured
