Adelaide Sightseeing & Dining Cruises

Adelaide cruises leave from four spots: Glenelg for dolphins and sunset sails, Port Adelaide for the Port River and a working tall ship, and Goolwa and Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula for the Coorong and the Southern Ocean. For what else fits around a cruise, the full list of things to do in Adelaide is one page up.

Dolphin cruises from Glenelg

Glenelg is where most Adelaide dolphin trips start. A 58-foot sailing catamaran leaves the Holdfast Shores Marina Pier at 8am for a 3.5-hour outing. The Adelaide Swim with Wild Dolphins Cruise from Glenelg is a popular choice for anyone who wants to get in the water, and the snorkelling gear and wetsuits are supplied.

Prefer to stay dry? The Adelaide Dolphin Watching Cruise from Glenelg uses the same departure point and has marine biologists on board for commentary. Both trips are seasonal, so check the dates before booking.

Port River cruises from Port Adelaide

The Port River is sheltered water a short trip from the city, which suits a shorter outing. The Port River Dolphin Cruise is a 90-minute loop from McLaren Wharf past the Ships Graveyard, the bird sanctuary and the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, with departures at 9am and 2pm. The Dolphin and Maritime River Cruise is a 2-hour cruise on selected days at 12pm that adds the working port and its history, with covered decks and toilets on board.

For something with more going on, the Tall Ship Day Cruise with Lunch is a 5-hour sail on the One and All from Dock 2, Honey Street. Guests can help set the sails, take a turn at the helm with the captain or climb into the bow nets, and lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea are on board. Boarding starts at 9.30am, and it makes a 6-hour day. The Port River Tall Ship Cruise is a 2-hour sail from the same operator.

Coorong and Murray River cruises

The Coorong cruises leave from Goolwa Wharf, a 1-hour drive from Adelaide, and head out through the Goolwa Barrage into Coorong National Park. Nobody collects you, so you drive to the wharf. The Coorong Full Day Cruise including Lunch is a 6-hour trip with two guided walks over the Younghusband Peninsula dunes, a lunch of cold meats and salads, and afternoon tea on the way back. It runs on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10am from October to May, and it is a popular choice.

The Coorong Half Day Cruise including Lunch is a 3.5-hour trip over the same waterways with one guided walk, leaving at 1pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On both, the guide talks through the area's Aboriginal history and the birdlife.

If you would rather have someone else do the driving, the Murray River Day Tour with Cruise from Adelaide leaves the Adelaide Central Bus Station at 9.15am on Mondays and returns at 5.15pm. It includes a 2-hour cruise on the Proud Mary and a 2-course lunch, free time in the river town of Mannum, and stops at Melba's Chocolate Factory and Woodside Cheese Wrights on the way through the Adelaide Hills.

Whale and seal watching cruises from Victor Harbor

The Victor Harbor Southern Ocean Adventure Cruise is a 90-minute boat trip from the Granite Island Causeway. It goes past Seal Rock, where New Zealand fur seals haul out, and Wright Island, with common and bottlenose dolphins along the way. In winter, southern right and humpback whales can sometimes be seen from the boat. Departures are at 11am and 2pm, and the route shifts with the weather.

Twilight and city river cruises

The Glenelg Twilight Catamaran Cruise with Drink starts at 7.30pm, timed for the sunset, for a 90-minute sail, with a drink from the on-board bar included.

In the city itself, the Adelaide Walking Tour and River Cruise is a 3-hour outing that starts with a 2-hour guided walk from outside the Adelaide Visitor Information Centre on Pirie Street, then moves onto a 45-minute cruise along the River Torrens on a heritage boat.

How to choose an Adelaide cruise

Length is the quickest filter. Port River cruises are short, the Glenelg dolphin trips take most of a morning, and the Coorong, tall ship and Murray River days fill the day. Then decide how much driving you want to do: Glenelg and Port Adelaide are close to the city, Goolwa and Victor Harbor sit on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Murray River tour includes the transport.

If you'd rather paddle than sail, the Adelaide water sports page has kayak tours through the same dolphin sanctuary. Longer day trips such as Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley sit under Adelaide tours.

Frequently asked questions

Where do dolphin cruises leave from in Adelaide?

Adelaide dolphin cruises leave from two places. The Glenelg catamaran trips depart from Holdfast Shores Marina Pier at 8am, and the Port River Dolphin Cruise departs from McLaren Wharf in Port Adelaide at 9am and 2pm.

Can children join the Adelaide dolphin swim?

Children must be 9 or older to take part in the Adelaide Swim with Wild Dolphins Cruise from Glenelg. There is no age restriction for watching from the boat on the Glenelg dolphin watching cruise.

What happens if no dolphins are seen on the Glenelg cruises?

Both Glenelg dolphin cruises, the swim and the watching trip, state that passengers receive a full refund if no dolphins are spotted.

How far is the Coorong cruise from Adelaide?

The Coorong cruises depart from Goolwa Wharf, a 1-hour drive from Adelaide. The listing is self-drive, so you travel to the wharf yourself.

Are there Adelaide cruises in winter?

Yes. The Victor Harbor Southern Ocean Adventure Cruise departs all year, and in winter southern right and humpback whales can sometimes be spotted. The Coorong full-day cruise runs from October to May.

Which Adelaide cruises include lunch?

The Coorong full-day and half-day cruises, the Tall Ship Day Cruise with Lunch and the Murray River Day Tour with Cruise from Adelaide all include a meal.

Adelaide cruises cover the Glenelg coast, the Port River, the Murray and the Coorong, so choose the water that suits your day, check which days each one runs, and book from the list above.