Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the east coast of Gulf St Vincent in and adjoining the north-western part of Adelaide, covering the estuary of the Port River around Port Adelaide and northwards past St Kilda.
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The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is more than just a haven for dolphins—it's a place of extraordinary natural beauty and deep cultural significance. Nestled among mangroves and winding tidal creeks, this sanctuary offers a peaceful escape where you can witness resident bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat, alongside a rich diversity of bird and marine life.
Equally important is its cultural and spiritual significance to the Kaurna People. The sanctuary lies within the traditional lands and waters of the Kaurna Nation, whose connection to Country stretches back tens of thousands of years. This area is part of the ancestral pathway of Tjirbruke, the revered Kaurna creation ancestor. According to Kaurna tradition, Tjirbruke carried the body of his nephew along the coast, mourning deeply and creating freshwater springs with his tears. These springs of sorrow are scattered along the coastline—including sites close to Garden Island—and remain sacred to this day.
Visiting the Dolphin Sanctuary is a powerful reminder of the enduring relationship between First Nations Peoples and the land and waters of South Australia. It’s a place of reflection, learning, and deep respect—for nature and for ancient storylines that still shape this place today. Highly recommended for those seeking not only natural beauty but also an understanding of...
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The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary provides a home to one of Adelaide's best-loved creatures, the Bottlenose Dolphin. These wild dolphins come here to eat, play, socialise and live and can be seen most days from both water and land look outs.
The sanctuary is one of the gems of metropolitan Adelaide. Including the Port River, Barker Inlet, Outer Harbour and North Haven marinas, reaching as far north as Port Gawler. Located only 20 minutes from the city, the area features a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest and over 40 resident bottlenose dolphins, while another 300 dolphins visit the area regularly.
The area is also popular for its natural wonders, making it one of the easily accessible Dolphin Sanctuaries in the world.
Other wildlife that can easily be spotted are sting rays, long nosed fur seals and endangered Australian sea lions. The area is also a popular bird watching site and shares most of its northern coastal habitat with Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary.
Why not come along and try your hand at fishing, dolphin watching, bird watching and paddle boarding.
FACILITIES Barbeque Boardwalk along the mangrove trees for dolphin spotting Carpark- free 24 hrs Family Friendly picnic spots Lookouts area Public Toilet No...
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Not really an allocated sanctuary. More of an idea that was created but not followed through. Information is hard to come by and you end up driving through heavy industrial area on bad roads to get to a coastal area that has been badly maintained and not rehabilitated after industry has taken its toll. We originally were lead to believe that there are facilities and nice areas to go for walks and enjoy the outdoors, but as mentioned you cannot really get good access. If you really want to experience the area you will need to pay money for one of the many kayak or boat tours. Don’t expect to see dolphins though, they seem to be a hit and miss (obviously it is seasonal and you need to be quite lucky at the right place and the right time). Went through my photos now and I did not even take any photos of the places we stopped at. A whole day of driving around the area and not one photo worthy scene. Makes me think it was not a great views day. We did enjoy the outing but the title “Dolphin Sanctuary” is just that, it is for the dolphins and not really for people to come out and have a fun day...
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