Frequently Asked Questions

---

Port River Cruises takes the safety of you and your family seriously. Our Vessels undergo regular maintenance and safety checks. Each tour starts with our Skipper giving clear safety instructions. In the unlikely case of an accident we have lifejackets on board and emergency procedures in place

Extremely comfortable!

Both vessels are covered, with openable windows, comfy seating and toilets onboard.

We have both!

Simply let our team know if you need the use of a mobility step or wheelchair ramp before booking. Contact us on 0473 806 045 and select it as a extra option when booking.

We are located at 1 McLaren Wharf, Port Adelaide.

Unsure where that is? Head for Port Adelaide's famous red and white lighthouse! Our ticket booth is located directly next to it and our wharf is at the waters edge on the left.

There are several ways to get to us from Adelaide! Public transport stop offs are located within a 5-minute walk from our dock along Commercial Road.

• UBER or TAXI. The most direct way to travel! You can get dropped off directly at the wharf. Travel time from the Adelaide is usually between 25-30 minutes depending on traffic.
• BUS Port Adelaide to North Adelaide 115/117/118. 40-minute travel time, runs every 15-minutes. PLEASE NOTE: This bus terminates at Port Road just outside of Adelaide.
• BUS Port Adelaide to North Adelaide 150. 30-minute travel time, runs every 15-minutes. PLEASE NOTE: This bus terminates at Port Road just outside of Adelaide.
• BUS Port Adelaide to Adelaide 230/232/252/253/254 - 40-45 minute travel time, runs every 15-minutes. 
• TRAIN Port Adelaide to Adelaide OUTHA - 20-minute travel time, runs every 30-minutes.

There are quite a few places nearby for parking, including;

• The Old Fishermans Wharf Market at the end of Commercial Road (near our Ticket Booth). This is paid parking with a $5 flat rate (24-hours) Monday-Friday. $5 flat rate (8-Hours) Saturdays. Up to $10 (4-hours) Sundays.
• Along Commercial Road - 2-hour free parking and paid parking.
• Corner of Robe Street and Nile Street - 2-hour free parking.
• Hart Mill Car Park - 2-hour free parking.
• North Parade - 2-hour free parking.

Not necessarily! 

Our Ticket Booth is not manned year-round and it may be that our team is currently out on a cruise. You can still check availability and book online, or call our office to answer any questions and book over the phone.

Always check the local weather forecast for Port Adelaide. Dress to the conditions on the day. As this is a leisure cruise, you will not get wet on a tour with Port River Cruises.

Port River Cruises an award-winning business, the recipient of the SA Tourism Awards, New Tourism Business Award for 2023. 

We have been operating marine and dolphin cruises in South Australia for over 10 years and have a further 20 years experience within the marine tourism industry. Port River Cruises will ensure you have a great time on the water!

The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is home to 30 resident Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and up to 400 transient dolphins. Port River Cruises is careful to follow Marine Mammal Interaction procedures as laid out by the National Parks and Wildlife Services. As such we do not engage in following behaviour and allow all interaction to occur at the choice of the dolphins.

As the dolphins of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary are wild animals we do not guarantee sightings. That said it is rare to not sight a dolphin on tour. 

Dolphins can inhabit the sanctuary at any time of the day. There are no 'better times' to see the dolphins on tour.

• A FULL refund is provided to guests if the tour is cancelled due to poor weather conditions and an alternative times is not established to undertake the tour.
• NO refund is provided to guests for non-attendance at scheduled tour time.
• Guests can reschedule tour if required, however need to ensure that more than 48 hours' notice is provided to Port River Cruises via telephone confirmation on +61 8 8702 9608.
• NO refund is provided to guests who cancel within 48 hours of scheduled departure
• All bookings cancelled within 7 days of scheduled departure will incur a 50% charge of tour costs.
• Guests that provide more than 7 days notice of tour cancellation via telephone confirmation will receive a FULL refund.

Gift cards and vouchers cannot be redeemed for cash or exchanged for different goods or services. Gift cards and vouchers must be redeemed online through Port River Cruises website.

We are different!

We are a much more intimate, fully-guided experience for small groups of up to 32 people. 

You will travel along the Port River learning about it's maritime history and the vessels you are passing by. You visit the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and learn about the sanctuaries creation and the unique pod that call it home. Lastly, you visit the Ships Graveyard where up to 50 vessels are hidden amongst ancient 10,000-year-old mangroves and get up close to 5 of these magnificent scuttled ships.