Water Sports Adelaide

Paddling, Surfing and Jet Skis for Groups

Weigh up your options for water sports, then enquire – free.

Category: Water SportsLocation: AdelaideListings: 3

Compare Adelaide Water Sports Operators

Adventure Kayaking SA - water sports in Adelaide

Adventure Kayaking SA (Port Adelaide)4.7 (320)

From $35pp

Guided kayak and stand-up paddle tours from Garden Island through the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, with team and private group sessions.

Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours - water sports in Adelaide

ProView

Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours (Port Adelaide)4.9 (1913)

From $75pp

Paddlers follow a guide along mangrove-lined creeks where local dolphins feed and rest, with seabirds overhead.

ProView

BBQ Buoys (North Adelaide)4.7 (153)

Work teams split across a couple of buoys and cruise side by side, with music from the onboard speaker and an esky of ice.

Choosing a Day Out on the Water

Water activities for groups in Adelaide split between two very different stretches of water. The guided kayak and stand-up paddle tours set off from Garden Island on the Port Adelaide side and head into the Dolphin Sanctuary mangroves, while the barbecue boats float on the River Torrens at the edge of the city centre.

Each suits a different kind of group, so start with what your people want from the outing.

Questions worth putting to an operator:

Group size. Paddle tours run small, with one operator capping a group at ten, so a larger team may need two departures.
Experience. Sheltered mangrove water is gentle paddling, but ask whether first-timers get a briefing and whether double kayaks are on offer.
Price basis. Guided paddles start from $35 per person or $75 per person, so compare what each tour includes before choosing on cost.
Food. The barbecue boats let a group cook on the river, so ask what the hire covers and what you need to bring.
Kids. All three operators welcome children, though each sets its own minimum age for paddling or steering.

For bigger water, a boat charter or a dolphin sail on the wildlife experiences page is the next step up.

The Dolphin Sanctuary tours suit team-building and active birthdays: everyone paddles, a guide leads, and the mangroves and old wrecks give the outing a focus.
The barbecue boats suit a social crowd who would rather eat and talk; no skipper comes aboard and each boat holds up to ten people.
Hens and bucks groups usually lean to the river boats, and with the River Torrens running along the north side of the city centre, dinner or a bar afterwards is simple to arrange.

Planning around Adelaide weather

Summer days are hot and dry, so book a morning paddle and bring hats, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Most of the rain arrives between roughly May and September; ask each operator how much notice it gives if it cancels for weather.
Ask whether wetsuits or spray jackets are supplied in the cooler months, or whether guests bring their own.

What each guest should pack

Clothes that can get wet, plus a dry change for afterwards.
Shoes that stay on in the water.
For the barbecue boats, confirm whether you supply food and drinks or order a pack through the operator.

Common Questions Before You Paddle Out

Where do group kayak tours start from in Adelaide?

They launch from Garden Island at Port Adelaide and paddle into the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, a sheltered stretch of mangroves on the Port River side of the city.

Does anyone need boating experience for the River Torrens barbecue boats?

No skipper comes with these boats, so ask the operator what briefing it gives on the day and whether whoever steers has to meet an age rule.

How much does a guided paddle cost for a group around Adelaide?

Guided kayak and stand-up paddle tours start from $35 per person or $75 per person. Compare tour length and inclusions, as the two are not like for like.

Are the Adelaide water activities suitable for children?

All three operators welcome kids. Each sets its own minimum age for paddling or steering, so check before you invite a young group.

What happens to a Port Adelaide kayak booking if the weather turns?

Operators watch the wind and rain, and most of Adelaide's rain falls in winter. Ask at booking how much notice they give and whether a cancelled tour moves to another date or is refunded.