Paddle through serene waters at the 5 best spots for kayaking in Adelaide!

The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park, also called Winaityinaityi Pangkara, features stunning coastal landscapes and a variety of wildlife habitats. Its 60-kilometer coastline is lined with mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows, making it a great spot for nature lovers. 

There are also plenty of activities like snorkeling, birdwatching, and kayaking.

We kayaked the 10-kilometer stretch of St. Kilda, enjoying calm waters throughout the journey. A highlight of the trip was spotting a variety of birds, including northern gannets, Atlantic puffins, and great skuas. 

The clear signage along the route made it easy to stay on track and focus on the experience.

However, if you’re looking for a more thrilling kayak adventure, St. Kilda’s calm waters might feel a bit too tame. The lack of sea caves to explore was also a slight disappointment for us.

Free admission adds to the charm of the place

“Great place for free to see birds than going to a bird sanctuary near Vancouver, Canada where you pay to visit.”

Kelly Reaburn, Google Review

Plenty of birds to see

“Some Of The Bird Life At Middle Beach! 😍 Some days the bird life is beautiful and amazing. The beautiful Pelicans are enjoying the beach mid morning. Winter is the time for the graceful Black Swans. The Kingfishers are not easy to spot but there around. Of course the Plovers are always a treat but be careful if their baby is around cause they make a lot of noise and chase you if you get to close! The Great White Egrets flock together in abundance some days along with the White Faced Grey Heron moving about slowly. The 2 little Oyster Birds are always together. Oh! Mustn’t forget the Seagulls just waiting. I counted 7 different species on the beach together one day!”

Susan Lord, Google Review

Dolphin Sanctuary is another fantastic spot for nature lovers. This picturesque area features a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest, salt marshes, and winding tidal creeks. 

It’s a great place to explore with activities like kayaking, dolphin watching, and birdwatching!

Kayaking here is all about the chance to see the Port River dolphins. A guided kayak tour takes you through the mangrove creeks and tidal channels, giving you plenty of opportunities to spot these playful creatures. The calm waters make it easy to paddle and take in the experience.

That said, if you’re visiting during winter, you might not see dolphins. The colder water temperatures and changes in their feeding patterns often lead them to move to different areas in search of food.

Had a great time at Dolphin Sanctuary!

“We had a blast during our time in the dolphin sanctuary. It was a magical day as we saw dolphins the whole time we were kayaking. The weather was perfect and our group was a fun bunch. Also, Fiona kept us entertained the whole time. She was very knowledgeable about the area and also where to spot the dolphins. Keep up the good work!”

Fredrich Gagtan, Google Review

Amazing experience

“An amazing experience to Kayak on the Dolphin sanctuary. Down the river and into the Mangroves, it was awesome. We got to hear all about the Dolphins, the Mangroves and species in and around the area.”

Jacqui Hammond, Google Review

If you’re looking for a mix of land and water adventures, Coorong National Park is a great option. With its saltwater lagoons, sand dunes, and stunning coastal views, it’s ideal for both kayaking and bushwalking. 

The park is also rich in marine life, making it a popular spot for fishing.

Kayaking in the Murray Mouth was an experience we truly enjoyed. The calm waters often made paddling easy, but the occasional tidal flows and gusty winds added a bit of challenge. It was a good balance and a great opportunity to practice our kayaking skills.

That said, the park’s open coastal environment can be tough for beginners. To stay safe and enjoy your trip, make sure to check the weather forecast and tide times before you head out.

A massive park filled with birds to watch

“This National Park is massive with many entry points & parking spots. We went for a short hike to capture a small portion of the beauty. We were actually in search of pelicans as we stopped near the pelican lookout and instead we found a kangaroo! Would love to spend half the day here exploring next time.”

Liisa and Dave B, TripAdvisor Review

Natural beauty of the park was breathtaking!

“The natural beauty of the Coorong National Park is breathtaking, with stunning views of the lagoon, sand dunes, and birdlife. I highly recommend visiting Coorong National Park for nature lovers, bird watchers, and anyone looking for a peaceful and relaxing escape.”

Neda Mn, Google Review

Adventure Kayaking SA offers a variety of tours that highlight Adelaide’s natural beauty, including the Dolphin Sanctuary and Rapid Bay. 

Their tours include the Dolphin Bay Ships Graveyard, Dolphin Bay Mangroves, and Rapid Bay Tours. They also offer other activities like stand-up paddleboarding, as well as social and team-building sessions.

We especially enjoyed the Rapid Bay tour. It took us to the lower Fleurieu Peninsula, where we paddled through sea caves and relaxed on quiet beaches. Along the way, we had the chance to see seals, sea lions, and even sea eagles.

One drawback, though, is that tours sometimes go ahead in poor weather. This can make it harder to spot wildlife and takes away from the overall experience.

A great tour to learn about Adelaide

“Great experience exploring a part of Adelaide I didn’t know existed and learning about the local wildlife and plant life in the area, as well as building some kayak muscle! Also very accommodating staff when my friend and I had mixed up our booking times. Definitely recommend and will be back.”

Zoe Walter, Google Review

Couldn’t ask for better conditions

“We were picked up on-time from the info centre in Port Adelaide and delivered to the launch site 🚣 . After a good briefing we set off with our guide, Grant. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions, the wind dropped away so the water was like a millpond. We saw some Dolphins right off – fantastic. The paddling was easy enough once Nathan and I got our coordination going, and we’re almost complete novices. The sunken ships were interesting, fascinating how the wooden one was constructed. Heading back we encountered another group of dolphins hunting, we stopped paddling and they just carried on around us. The paddle up the stream through the mangroves was great. It’s so quiet, like another world. We had some extra time, so Grant let us loose. With our new confidence we paddled about on our own, and encountered a pelican just doing his own thing. The wildlife is very calm, not at all bothered by us kayakers.”

LisaLAshhurst, TripAdvisor Review

For a different kind of adventure, consider booking a city kayak tour with Earth Adventure to paddle through the scenic River Torrens. In addition to kayaking, they offer activities like rock climbing, abseiling, and surf lessons.

The kayak city tour was a unique experience, offering a fresh perspective of Adelaide that’s hard to get from walking or driving. 

The combination of urban views and natural landscapes was captivating. We passed landmarks like the Adelaide Oval, Sky City, the Riverbank Precinct Pedestrian Bridge, and the River Torrens Linear Park.

However, the tour felt a bit repetitive. It didn’t offer much variety in terms of scenery or landmarks, which made it feel less dynamic.

Perfect for beginners

“First time Kayaking experience along the River Torrens. Great views of the city scape and our friendly guide Tom made us feel safe and confident while filling us in on some local knowledge. We were blessed with beautiful Autumn weather so a very relaxing time gliding along the river. We would absolutely recommend this tour. Thank you, Tom & Earth Adventures.”

Julie M, TripAdvisor Review

A beautiful way to see and learn about the city

“Booked the city kayak tour, really enjoyable experience, our guide was super friendly, very relaxed and kept me updated on the day. It’s was beautiful to see the city from a different perspective. There were plenty of birds out, which made for some great pics. No kayaking experience needed, the equipment was of good quality and comfortable. Learnt some interesting facts, would have loved more… bit of a history geek, was nice to just sit back and take in the vista!”

Zae Greenwood, Google Review