torrens river adelaide tours

ADELAIDE CRUISES ON THIS MONTH:

Welcome aboard, party learn enjoy cruise eat, sightseeing cruise, sightseeing cruise, popeye events, popeye events, private hire, private hire, chalk hill wine & dessert tasting cruise.

A specially curated Chalk Hill Wine flight paired with delectable desserts. Come and enjoy a night on the water in the heart of the city’s entertainment district!

Featuring delicious wines from one of Australia’s most revered wine regions, enjoy a guided seminar in how best to enjoy these organic, family made wines with desserts prepared by our artisanal in house caterers.

Kangaroo Island Spirits Gin Cruise

Let Kangaroo Island Spirits take the helm!

For those who can’t make it over to the magical South Australian oasis that is Kangaroo Island, why not experience the beauty of KI in our very own city of Adelaide? Join us here at Popeye on a vibrant tasting tour whilst cruising along The Torrens River with special city views you’d be pressed to experience any other way.

Enjoy a curated selection of three KIS gin’s specially paired with three delicious treat; something fresh, something sweet and something savoury.

Of course, there will be a bar on board selling a specialty KI cocktail and all of the regular favourites of beer, wine and cider

High Tea Cruise

Join us for a one and a half hour cruise along The Torrens River with an authentic High Tea experience. 

On the menu is a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, pastries and petit fours. Complimentary South Australian sparkling wine, beer, cider or soft drink awaits you on arrival and of course a bottomless cup of coffee or tea from T Bar’s Australiana collection. Please note we are not able to cater for allergy dietary requirements.

Departing The Elder Park Landing, you will be served your refreshments and given time to catch up with friends and loved ones amidst a scenic cruise of the Adelaide Riverbank on our very own Adelaide icon Popeye.  Pre order a bottle of something special to be waiting for you on arrival or simply enjoy refreshments from the complimentary drinks menu.

A perfect present for anyone being celebrated.

Event Calendar

Day cruise calendar, paddle boats.

On your private perch on the River Torrens, you’re in the perfect position to take in local scenery while getting active in the outdoors. Open on the River Torrens in spring, summer and autumn. Opening times vary so please see the Captain Jolleys website.

• [email protected]
• Call 08 8232 7994

Torrens River Cruise in Adelaide provided by Popeye

Adelaide City Kayak Tour

View Adelaide from the River Torrens and paddle past riverbank highlights such as the Adelaide Oval, Sky City and the Riverbank Precinct Pedestrian Bridge. For 90-minutes you will be attended by our qualified kayaking guides, allowing you to enjoy this relaxing experience on the footsteps of the city. With a maximum of eight people per tour, you get to enjoy scenic views of the cityscape and surrounding river bank environment while you learn about the history and significance of the River Torrens and surrounds. A unique ecofriendly kayak experience – Join in the only guided kayak tour of the River Torrens. The River Torrens, also known as Karrawirra Parri, is the most significant stretch of inland water for Adelaide. It stretches across the Adelaide Plains, running a total of 85kms from the Adelaide Hills to the ocean. You will paddle along the stretch of river running past the CBD. Spot the wildlife – The river is home to an abundance of wildlife both in and on top of the water. Spot the various fish species as they swim past your kayak or perhaps keep and eye out for some wildlife on the banks of the river, including waterfowl.

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Guided Kayak Tour, 1.5 Hours – Adelaide City

Get out on the water for a two hour guided kayaking tour of Adelaide. You’ll paddle down the River Torrens and explore hidden gems that aren’t accessible or visible from the land.

Description

• Grab a paddle and get out for a kayaking adventure 
• Explore Adelaide via the beautiful River Torrens  
• Discover remote spots only accessible by water 

View Adelaide from the River Torrens and paddle past the Adelaide Riverbank highlights including Adelaide Oval. For 90 minutes you will be guided by our qualified instructors to enjoy this relaxing experience on the footsteps of the city. With a maximum of eight people per tour you get to enjoy scenic views of the cityscape and surrounding river bank environments while you find out a bit more about the history and significance of the River Torrens and surrounds. For something special, join us on one of our sunset tours on a balmy summer night in Adelaide

Experience Details

Fitness and experience.

• No kayaking experience is necessary 
• Unfortunately no wheelchair access is available

CONFIRMATION OF YOUR BOOKING Full details will be sent via email immediately following the receipt of your booking. If you do not receive this, please contact the operator straight away. Please review the details take note of the starting time and location map and sign your waiver. Please check the terms and conditions also included. The operator will contact you the day prior to your tour if any of the details change due to weather or other conditions.

What to Bring/Wear

• Clothes suited to being on the water 
• Spare clothes in case you get wet 
• Sunscreen and hat are recommended 

What is Supplied

• 90 minutes paddling on Adelaide's scenic River Torrens in the heart of the city (departs Pinky Flat)
• Kayaking Tour led by our expert kayak guides
• Double and single kayaks

No experience is necessary as each tour includes full instruction, a safety briefing, and all equipment including life jackets

More Information

• Minimum of two and maximum of 8 participants  
• Minimum age is 8 years old 

Cancellation Policy

• Change your booking up to 48 hours before the start time of your experience
• Changes are not permitted within 48 hours of your experience
• Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience

  Available Dates

Pinky Flat (North Adelaide)

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Adelaide City Kayak Tour

1 hour 30 minutes total duration, 15 minutes minimum notice, 8 pax total capacity.

View Adelaide from the River Torrens and paddle past the Adelaide Riverbank highlights including Adelaide Oval. For 90 minutes you will be guided by our qualified instructors to enjoy this relaxing experience on the footsteps of the city. With a maximum of eight people per tour you get to enjoy scenic views of the cityscape and surrounding river bank environments while you find out a bit more about the history and significance of the River Torrens and surrounds.

For something special, join us on one of our sunset tours on a balmy summer night in Adelaide.

• 90 minutes paddling on Adelaide's scenic River Torrens in the heart of the city (departs Pinky Flat)
• Kayaking Tour led by our expert kayak guides
• Double and single kayaks
• No experience is necessary as each tour includes full instruction, a safety briefing and all equipment including life jackets

REQUIREMENTS

• People under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 
• Children 8 to 12 years must share a kayak with an adult
• Maximum weight 120kg. Please contact our office for further information. 

WAITING LIST

If the date you want is sold out, you can go on the "waiting" list by completing all booking details.  We will get in touch if we can add you to the tour. Your credit card won't be charged until you have accepted our offer for a place on the tour. 

CONFIRMATION OF YOUR BOOKING

• Full details will be sent via email immediately following the receipt of your booking. If you do not receive this, please contact us straight away. 
• Please review the details taking note of the starting time and location map and sign your waiver. 
• Please check the terms and conditions also included. 
• We will contact you the day prior to your tour if any of the details change due to weather or other conditions. 

We meet you at Pinky Flat, War Memorial Dr, North Adelaide SA 5006. This is a public reserve and we have no office at this location. Look for the Earth Adventure flags.

FURTHER INFORMATION

*Please note that a non-refundable 1.5% surcharge is applied to all card payments*

If you have further questions, specific requirements or wanting to make a large group booking please call us on 08 8165 2024 or email [email protected]

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Pinky Flat , Adelaide SA

Terms and Conditions

Cancellation Policy - Cancellations within 48 hours of your scheduled booking or failure to attend will not receive a refund, nor be able to transfer the booking to another date. You may receive a refund or transfer your booking to another date with more than 48 hours notice.

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The best family bike rides in South Australia

One of the best ways for a family to explore a destination they are visiting is by bicycle. Thankfully, Australia is packed full of amazing family bike rides, with each state offering myriad fun two-wheeled adventures. In this instalment of our Best Family Bike Rides series, we look at some brilliant rides in South Australia.

River Torrens Linear Park Trail

Distance: 35km  Grade: Easy  Bike: Any

Meandering beside Adelaide’s major waterway for the length of its journey across the Adelaide Plain, the River Torrens Linear Trail slices through the city and suburbs while feeling all but removed from them.

With trails running along both sides of the river most of the way across the plain, the ride is as much a commuting corridor as a scenic trail, a journey from the Adelaide Hills to the sea that also showcases many of the city’s major cultural attractions. Bridges are plentiful, making it easy to switch from bank to bank as you please.

In the east, the fully sealed trail begins at the mouth of a gorge, where the River Torrens pours out of the hills (and where the Mawson Trail begins its journey in the opposite direction). The sealed paths descend around 100 vertical metres to the river mouth at Henley Beach. Most of the descent comes in the early kilometres, where the river still resembles a creek, and the trail passes beneath magnificent river red gums. The grassy banks provide endless opportunities to pause and picnic.

Through the city, the ride becomes an Adelaide highlights reel, with the now-busy trail passing the zoo, the Festival Centre and Adelaide Oval, all set to the backdrop of the city skyline. From the city centre, it’s around 13km to the coast. A good option for a return ride is to set out from the city and pedal to Henley Beach along one riverbank, returning along the other. This is also the flattest stretch of the linear park.

Coast to Vines Rail Trail

Distance: 37km  Grade: Easy  Bike: Any

This descriptively named ride does exactly what its title suggests, connecting Adelaide’s southern coastline to the McLaren Vale wine region , following a disused railway and adding to South Australia’s rich collection of wine-themed bike trails.

Setting out from the train station at Marino Rocks, the ride burrows through Adelaide’s southern suburbs, weaving through parkland and crossing over the Southern Expressway and, more peacefully, the Onkaparinga River. It utilises a combination of wide bike paths and roadside paths, with a dividing line painted down its centre like a road.

There’s a distinct moment where the ride slips out of the suburbs, pressing through a last line of houses in Seaford Rise and setting out above Pedlar Creek towards McLaren Vale. Vineyards quickly appear below the trail, and 6km after leaving Seaford Rise, the trail rolls into the town of McLaren Vale.

Crossing Main Rd, the ride heads briefly up Caffrey St before returning to the trail, which, between here and Willunga (8km away), is also known as the Shiraz Trail. The ride continues to squeezes between vineyards, offering plenty of chances to stop and sip, with tall eucalypts forming a scenic corridor as the trail climbs gradually towards Willunga. 

The trail ends beside the old Willunga railway station (which doubles as the start of the Kidman Trail), but it’s worth pedalling on through High St to the Old Bush Inn for another cycling classic – a marker beside the pub notes the start of Old Willunga Hill, the most famous climb in the annual Tour Down Under pro cycling race.

Encounter Bikeway

Distance: 31km  Grade: Easy  Bike: Any

Showing off one of South Australia’s favourite holiday coasts, this seaside cycle stretches along the southern edge of the Fleurieu Peninsula , taking in the likes of Victor Harbor, Port Elliot and Middleton Beach as it journeys from The Bluff to Goolwa.

From a car park on the slopes of The Bluff (it’s worth walking to the top of the 97m-high headland for a view over Encounter Bay and much of the ride ahead), the bikeway drops to the shores of Encounter Bay, following a foreshore path into Victor Harbor. As Victor’s causeway stretches across the water to Granite Island, the ride turns with the coast, continuing to run pinched between the sand and the town.

Crossing under a railway bridge and over the Hindmarsh River, the ride becomes a combination of bike paths and streets, but it always stays close to the coast – if you’re riding between May and September, keep a watch on the sea, especially along Boomer and Basham beaches, where southern right whales are regularly sighted.

The ride stays with the coast to Middleton, where it cuts briefly inland to Goolwa, the town sitting on the final bend in the Murray River’s long journey – the river mouth is just 10km away from here. The bikeway heads upstream from Goolwa, finishing abruptly and anticlimactically at Laffin Point. A more fitting finish is at the Goolwa Wharf (3.5km before Laffin Point), beside the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. It’s home to a distillery, eateries and a cellar door/craft brewer. Time the ride right and you (and your bike) can return to Victor Harbor on the Cockle Train, riding Australia’s oldest steel-railed railway.

Barossa Trail

Distance: 40km  Grade: Easy  Bike: Any

Cutting a line through one of Australia’s premier wine regions, this ride is a Barossa Valley highlights reel, and must qualify as one of the country’s (not just SA’s) best family bike rides. It begins at the edge of Gawler (at Gawler’s eastern edge, though it’s a 5km ride to the start from the Gawler Central railway station at the northern end of Adelaide’s train network) and makes it way north through Lyndoch, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston.

The ride is a mix of roadside bike paths and rail trail, running beside the busy Barossa Valley Way from Gawler to Rowland Flat, where it turns away from the road and into the most interesting, scenic and challenging of the trail’s sections.

Following the North Para River, this section has several steep (but short) pinches and some tight switchbacks, the effort of which is relieved by the vineyard views and the presence of a trio of cellar doors: Jacob’s Creek, St Hugo and St Hallett. Just past St Hallett, the trail returns to the edge of the Barossa Valley Way, following it through Tanunda and out to Nuriootpa. The trail here is ruler straight and steamroller flat, with vineyards stretching away either side.

Weaving through the side streets of Nuriootpa, the ride turns east towards Angaston, a town as famous for its dried fruit and horses as its wines. Following the course of the old Barossa Valley railway line, the ride ascends 100m between ‘Nuri’ and Angaston, finishing at the Barossa Adventure Station, which features a 1km MTB loop if you fancy a bit more riding.

Distance: 230m-6.6km  Grade: Easy to Advanced  Bike: MTB

Scratched into the slopes of Mt Remarkable, the tallest peak in the southern Flinders Ranges, the Melrose trail network covers around 100km, split into three sections: Melrose Town Trails, Bartagunyah and Willowie Forest.

The Melrose Town Trails form the heart of the network. Leaving from the very centre of town, they set off in all directions across and up the slopes of the mountain. The signature trails are arguably Weaving Camels and Dodging Bullets. The former is a 1km blue (intermediate) trail that rolls along the banks of Willochra Creek, set beautifully among large river red gums and functioning as an access trail to the southern end of the network. Here, the blue Big Rhua and a selection of black trails coil up the slopes to Wilburs Watch, offering the accomplished young shredders of your family the chance to ride to a ridge-top building with extensive views over Melrose and the flat earth well beyond.

Willowie Forest, 8km north of town, has good offerings for novice riders, especially on the flowing Twisted Sisters, which is one of the region’s best family bike rides. Bartagunyah, on a private property 5km south of town, is a more unmaintained, rough-and-ready collection of trails.

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Discover 7 things in Adelaide’s newest mural

Have you seen the colourful new mural at west beach along the river torrens / karrawirra pari learn about the artwork and why it was chosen..

Adelaide artist Taylr Jay has created a brand-new mural at end of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari – where the river meets the sea.

This colourful new addition to the coastal area has already attracted the attention of locals with many stopping by during the creation to check out the art in progress.

Each of the elements in this mural – from the fish to the pelican – were carefully selected to represent the area. Discover all plants and animals in the painting and why they were chosen.

1. Southern purple-spotted gudgeon

See the fish with the purple and orange spots? Golden to yellow in colour? Well, this guy is a southern purple-spotted gudgeon, and not only is he a pretty inclusion in the mural but his presence in the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari represents something pretty special.

Southern purple-spotted gudgeons used to call the River Torrens home more than a century ago, but had been a missing part of the river system.

In 2023, these endangered fish were reintroduced to the Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari section of the river, which we have progressively restored from an artificial channel to a more natural waterway in partnership with City of Charles Sturt and City of West Torrens.

Their reintroduction and survival is a strong sign of improved health of the river and a great local example of an urban rewilding success story.

2. Congolli

Now we come to our congolli, sometimes known as a marbled fish because of its marbled or spotty appearance and they are a notable fish who frequent the Torrens.

Congollis are a small-bodied natives that rely on both fresh water and salt water to complete their lifecycle (meaning they spend a lot of time in the river, but head out to sea to breed before juveniles then make their way back to fresh water). So it is a perfect representation to have them painted as they travel from the river, through the outlet, and out to sea often.

3. Common galaxia

Speaking of needing sea water and fresh water, check out the little common galaxias in the mural.

These guys release eggs in the lower sections of the river and then the eggs float out to sea to hatch. It is the juveniles that then swim upstream to live their adult lives in the river.

Common galaxias have a slim, narrow body and a forked tail.

Their colour ranges from green to amber with a darker green or brown spotty pattern all over. But you’ll have to look carefully to spot one in real life as they only grow to be about 10 cm long.

4. Pouched lamprey

Those teeth! Pouched lampreys have funnel-shaped mouths with no jaw, filled with teeth. They use this funnel design and teeth to suction and attach themselves to other fish to feed. No need to be worried by those teeth though, they don’t cause harm to humans.

These long and skinny eel-like creatures spend most of their life at sea, only returning to freshwater to breed.

And the mural isn’t the only place you can check out these creatures, head toward the Kaurna reflection space of Breakout Creek / Purrana Pari to see Allan Sumner’s lamprey sculpture .

5. Common reed

The common reed ( phragmites australis ) is a plant you’ll see in many areas along the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari. Its thick, leafy stems help provide protection from potential predators like foxes for animals that call the river home, and also act as natural filters to keep the water healthy

This reed can form quite extensive beds. It covers large areas thanks to a horizontal stem that it grows at its base (known as a runner), which can travel a long way before shooting up as roots and a plant. It can grow quite tall too, between 2 and 4 metres.

Have you seen pelicans fishing between the coast and river? They use their large bill and throat pouch like a bucket to scoop up water and fish.

Pelicans are large waterbirds, predominately white, with some black feathers and a pink bill – actually the longest bill of any bird!

You’ll see pelicans gliding above the outlet and using their expert scooping technique to catch their next meal.

Well… actually this is not just any seal on the mural, but Henry the seal! Henry is a long-nosed fur seal known to locals. They say he has been visiting for years.

Seals sometimes make their way to the outlet to feed, or you might spy them, Henry in particular, around the nearby jetties looking for a fishy meal.

Seals are part of a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds and they are known for their playfulness.

Take look-see yourself

If you’re head to the recently redeveloped western end of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari , take a stroll over the Seaview Road bridge or even down to the sand beyond the Torrens Outlet – it is a great place to checkout this colourful new mural.

The artist, Taylr Jay , is an Adelaidian who uses human expressions and vibrant colours to create emotional connections between humans and nature. We think she has captured some of the fascinating creatures of the area brilliantly in this latest piece.

And when you do head to the mural, snap a picture and tag us on Insta !

Or until your next visit, discover more about some of the native fish that call the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari home.

We were proud to support the creation of this mural alongside City of Charles Sturt and SA Water.

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