Garden Island is situated at the end of The Grand Trunkway in Port Adelaide over the Torrens Island Bridge; about a 30 minute drive from Adelaide's CBD. Most of the island is crown land and fenced off. Garden Island Road leads to an extensive boat launching ramp with a long jetty running parallel to the mangroves.
shipwrecks viewed from the bridge to Garden Island
The island is flat and just above sea level and the waters of the Barker Inlet and Angas Inlet which border the island are sheltered and usually calm.
Mangrove habitat on the island
The mangroves and associated narrow tidal, muddy areas are home to a wide variety of fish species including juvenile recreational and commercial species like bream, whiting and mullet. Birdlife ranges from small whistlers, fantails and honeyeaters to cormorants, herons and egrets. An occasional kestrel and hawk hunt on the fringes. As there are no extensive mudflats, there are few waders.
Dolphin and Australian Pelican hunting together near the mangroves
commonly cruise along the edge of the mangroves and in the deeper Barker and Angas inlet channels. A variety of marine invertebrates, including many shellfish (Molluscs) live in the muddy mangrove substrate and small mangrove crabs are common in holes and under rocks whereas the larger Blue Swimming Crabs are seasonal. Butterflies and small insects as well as spiders live in the mangrove foliage.
Walkway close to the Barker Inlet and mangrove stands
Grey Mangroves, samphire and saltbush are main plants with some plantings of native bushes and trees on the grassy fringe near the jetty.
Kaurna people hunted numerous bird species but Black Swans were left because of their cultural significance
First NationsThe mangrove forest and low island samphire and saltbush ecosystem of Garden Island would have provided a rich environment for
Kaurna hunters and gatherers. There would have been both temporary and permanent campsites depending on the seasonal influx of birdlife and different fish and crustacean species such as crabs and prawns.
Conservation parks in the area are cared for by biologists and rangers
Garden Island has been crown land since 1836. Between 1909 and 1945 it was the site of a Ships' Graveyard with 25 identifiable wrecks some of which can still be seen today, the most prominent being the Santiago, Dorothy H Sterling, Glaucus and Sunbeam. In 1962, the whole of Garden Island became a dedicated reserve and the first public road was opened in 1968. From 1973-2021, the surrounding waters have been part of an ever-growing marine reserve that includes Barker Inlet Aquatic Reserve, Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and the Torrens Island Conservation Park. In the 1970s, the area was used for landfill and in 2015 gas extraction technology was installed to use the methane generated by landfill. During this latter part of the island's history, an extensive boat launching facility and recreational jetty were constructed.
Early morning paddle boarders find some unexpected company
General attractions/facilities
There are boat launching ramps, public toilets, parking, a shelter with barbecues and a lawned area. A 400m boardwalk runs parallel to the mangroves which is used for fishing and nature observation. A kayaking trail starts at the boat ramp and follows the mangroves allowing close observation of natural features, including plant and wildlife as well as the
historical ships' graveyard.
