Dolphin Sanctuary Mangroves Tour (up to 90 mins)
Duration:
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The Dolphin Sanctuary Mangroves Tour is 90 minutes of fun exploring the Dolphin Sanctuary one of Adelaide’s “secret spots”. Located just 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD it is an area of surpassing beauty. The sheltered mangrove lined creeks are home to a fascinating array of marine life, birds and the Port River Dolphins.
It’s an amazing adventure for all ages, and kayaking is the most environmentally sensitive way to explore and interact with the dolphins. The tour is very easy paced with plenty of time for photos, storytelling by your guide, and searches for the Port River Dolphins. When the Port River Dolphins come to play it is a memory you will treasure for ever!
If you have never kayaked before this is the best way to give it a try…you will want to come back for more!
“Paddling with the Dolphins” has been voted one of the top FOUR MUST DO activities in Adelaide!
INCLUSIONS
- The Dolphin Sanctuary Mangroves Tour is 90 minutes of fun with a qualified kayaking guide who will lead you on an unforgettable adventure
- Tours are conducted in stable, very comfortable 2-person kayaks which are suitable for all levels of fitness and experience
- The tour includes basic tuition in safe kayaking
- We launch from a boat ramp covered in non-slip matting. You simply step into the kayak and we slide you onto the water. You won’t even get your feet wet!
REQUIREMENTS
- Children must be a minimum of 8 years old
- All Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult
- Children 12 and under will need to be accompanied in a kayak by an adult
- Maximum weight (2-person kayak): As we use sit in kayaks we generally find people 140+kgs can have trouble fitting into the kayaks. Please call us if you have any concerns.
LOCATION
We meet you at the Garden Island Boat Ramp and Reserve, Lot 204 Garden Island Road, Gillman (click to see Google map). This is a public reserve and we have no office at this location. Look for the Adventure Kayaking SA vehicles! Please note we do not offer shuttle or transfer services to this location, participants must make their own way. We recommend you travel by car or taxi/ride-share as there is no close public transport options.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
If on the date of your booking it has been deemed unsafe to operate due to weather you will be contacted as soon as possible. Whilst we frequently check forecasts in the days leading up to your booking, there are some occasions where weather is worse than forecast resulting in last minute cancellations of sessions.
OPTIONS
1 person kayaks may be available upon request on the day. Please see one of our friendly staff upon arrival to check if they are available.
WAITING LIST
If the date you want is sold out you can go on the “waiting” list by completing all booking details. We will get in touch if we can add you to the tour. Your credit card won’t be charged until you have accepted our offer for a place on the tour.
CONFIRMATION OF YOUR BOOKING
- Full details will be sent via email immediately following the receipt of your booking. If you do not receive this, please contact us straight away.
- Please review the details taking note of the starting time and location map and sign your waiver.
- Please check the terms and conditions also included.
- We will contact you the day prior to your tour if any of the details change due to weather or other conditions.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have further questions, specific requirements or wanting to make a large group booking please call us on 08 8472 0922
*Please note that a non-refundable 1.5% surcharge is applied to all card payments*
We look forward to sharing a great paddling adventure with you, your family or friends!
Thank you for booking in to our Dolphin Sanctuary Family Tour
Please be prepared for a fun experience on the water! If you have not provided an Australian mobile number, please call us 24 hours prior to your tour to confirm booking details and that the weather is suitable.
Please arrive at the site a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your start time as you will need to complete and sign a medical form and waiver.
Your meeting point at the start of the day will be Garden Island Boat Ramp and Reserve, Lot 204 Garden Island Road, Gillman. For exact directions please click the Google maps image on this confirmation email. This is a public reserve; We are a mobile business and have no office at this location. Look for the Adventure Kayaking vehicles, lots of kayaks/SUP’s and happy people!
YOU WILL NEED
- Medications
- Clothes and Footwear you don’t mind getting wet (bare feet or thongs not suitable)
- Closed toe footwear is a must
- Towel
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses (with strap is recommended)
- A camera
- We supply a small waterproof container suitable for mobile phones or similar sizes cameras.
GETTING TO GARDEN ISLAND
You can drive your vehicle to our Garden Island location. Please use the Google links in this confirmation to get the exact location and directions. Note the road out to Garden Island goes through an industrial zone and is not very nice! It gets better, a lot better at the end of the road!
There is no public transport to Garden Island.
Unless otherwise requested we supply 2-person kayaks for this tour.
WEATHER
We operate in most weather conditions, including rain. We have been doing this
a long time and understand safe operating conditions. If we are concerned, we
will stop, pause, delay or shorten the session for a break in weather.
If we assess the weather to be unsafe, Adventure Kayak SA may have to cancel or postpone/delay the session. We will attempt to do this prior to the day. On the actual day of service, weather conditions may still require our immediate intervention.
Extreme weather conditions where Adventure Kayak SA may have to cancel, or postpone/delay include:
- Fire Danger Ratings where it is extreme or catastrophic in the experience locations or if there are any fires near the experience locations that would make it unsafe
- Severe thunderstorms & lightning
- Extreme temperature (hot or cold)
- Severe wind
- Flooding
If we have to change the session, we will offer the next
time slot or cancel providing the opportunity for rescheduling.
For a full list of FAQs for your experience, including our cancellation policy, please see the attached PDF.
Thanks again for booking, have a great time!
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Ship wrecks were fascinating, which we got very close to. Saw lots of birds, fish and dolphins. This was my first kayaking experience and I loved it, thank you.
Enjoyable day with great weather.
The guides had good knowledge of history and mangroves.
Recommend to anyone.
Adventure Kayaking SA at Garden Island is an absolute gem – perfect for all ages and abilities. From the moment we arrived, the staff were warm, welcoming, and super accommodating. Whether you're a seasoned paddler or it's your first time in a kayak, they make it easy and enjoyable. The equipment is top quality, and the tour is well-paced and accessible – even for people who might not be super confident on the water.
The mangrove trails are peaceful and stunning, with heaps of wildlife and birdlife to spot along the way. We were lucky enough to see wild dolphins up close, which was a real thrill! It's also great for families – safe, calm waters and lots of interesting stops to keep everyone engaged.
What really stood out was how respectful the tour was of the environment and local culture. The guides spoke thoughtfully about the Kaurna People and the deep connection they hold with this land and water. They also highlighted the importance of protecting the delicate mangrove ecosystem and ship graveyard. It’s not just a fun day out – it’s educational, sustainable, and culturally grounded.
Highly recommend this tour for locals and visitors – it’s a uniquely South Aussie experience that leaves you feeling more connected to Country.
From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Our guide, Luke, was amazing—knowledgeable, friendly, and always ready to share interesting facts about the area. I learned so much about the environment and the cultural history, which made the experience even more enriching.
Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for a memorable and enjoyable adventure and outdoor excises. We really enjoyed it.
As a family of 5, with 2 kids aged 8 and 10 (both who have never done kayaking before), they made sure we weren’t left behind, gave us enough breaks so we didn’t feel worn out and a good amount of history of the area.
The youngest said this was his best day since we have moved to Adelaide and wants to do it again.
All I would suggest is wearing aeroguard (for those who get bitten by mozzies) as there were a few when going through the mangroves.
recommend to nature and outdoor lovers
the tour operators was lovely and pleasant
Super friendly and knowledgeable guides. Very interesting information about the mangroves provided (coming from 2 ecologists)
Although, our tour guide offered to take some photos of myself and my friend and said he would email them through the next day. I was so thankful! Unfortunately, I have now followed up twice via email over the few past weeks to have these photos sent through with no response yet. Quite disappointed.
Unfortunately, we did not see any dolphins, but the mangroves were amazing! The information Angus supplied about the mangroves was fascinating- especially about the sacrificial leaves.
I will definitely kayak again!
Cheers
Susan
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our kayaking adventure was nothing short of amazing! From start to finish, every moment was filled with excitement and beauty. The cost was incredibly reasonable, making it a fantastic value for money. The staff were friendly and helpful, ensuring we had everything we needed for a smooth ride. Gliding through the calm waters and exploring hidden mangrove forest was an absolute delight. I enjoyed every bit of it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling outdoor experience with kids.
Just before Christmas my wife passed away and this was very valuable for me to help take away the pain.
Thank you team for such and adventure.
Jim
There were some strong currents and wind, but the guides work in pair and made sure no one gets left behind :)
Only due to the water flow was too strong that day, so some people have little accident, so need to wait a long to to resume, therefore finally, the rout is cut. A little bit disappoint on this, but overall, i am very happy and appreciate the staffs' great help on everything.
Booked for two the day before and got super lucky with the weather. It took a little while to get used to the double kayaks but had a grand time amongst the mangroves and shipwrecks. We even saw some dolphs!
Great for groups with even numbers.
Could do with a sea shanty at the wrecks haha.
Thank you Callum for making sure we didn’t get trapped in the mangroves for too long.
Recommendation if you go with a partner try the other person knows swim, it will b easy and make sense how to turn get kayak to the right or left.
1. Ensure people arrive 20 mins earlier. We had a very late group who had no urgency, or apology and spoilt it for others
2. Separate beginners who need more support. Waiting in a tidal channel against the current is not pleasant even for experienced paddlers while beginners catch up. They may need a shorter route. Adjust your info form.
3. Encourage quiet and environmental sensibility. The tour leader missed the opportunity to expand on the importance of the wetland area and point out the many birds in the area.




































