I'm Just a Total Wreck!

The Port Adelaide Ships' Graveyards, near Adelaide, South Australia, are the setting for a good adventure on the water.

There are five abandonment sites within the Port Adelaide area but the largest is at Garden Island, in the North Arm of the Port River, with other sites located at Jervois Basin, Mutton Cove, Broad Creek and Angas Inlet.

I've been exploring around the Garden Island area twice. Once in my nephew's boat and another time in a kayaking group (kayaking enables people to go into the mangroves but the mosquitoes can be very annoying).


There are heaps of vessel remains in the area and their maritime history covers more than a century. One thing that makes this area unique is the fact that these shipwrecks are accessible to people on the top of the water, not just divers.

You can get right amongst the wrecks but be safety conscious at the same time. Because of this ability to get up close in a boat or kayak, it's apparently the largest and most diverse shipwreck site in Australia that can be explored by people who aren't necessarily divers.

The added bonus, if you're lucky, is to have the Port River dolphins swimming beside you. Another recommended adventure in sensational South Australia!

Check out the Ships' Graveyards site.

Photos of the shipwrecks and other vessels on the water here appear in my DVD, "Maritime Mix".

Torrens Tempts Tourists to a Pleasant Paddle

As you've probably gathered by now, I live in a beautiful city in Australia. Adelaide is the capital of the state of South Australia and it has the River Torrens flowing through the centre of it.

Alongside the river is a well used walking, jogging and cycling trail.

The motor vessel, "Popeye", plies the river and takes passengers down to the weir and back up to the zoo. Check out the video links.

Another pleasant way to have fun on the river is to hire one of the paddle boats and get up close to the fountain and birdlife. You can pass the Adelaide Festival Theatre, Convention Centre, restaurants and rowing clubs. Not a bad way to exercise in the fresh air.

For locals, the river provides a great escape at lunch time and after (or before) work, but for tourists it's a chance to experience something different. Be tempted too!

I'm not an Ugly Duckling! Video Clip

Black swans are a feature on the River Torrens which runs through Adelaide, capital of South Australia.

There's a walk and cycle path which winds its way alongside the river and it's a favourite place for workers and tourists alike.

Just lovely to see the cygnet with the adult swan, very different in plumage.

Popeye is Alive and Well in Adelaide, South Australia. Video Clip (part 2)

Popeye is alive and well in Adelaide, South Australia. Popeye, the motor launch, that is.

It cruises along the River Torrens and it makes a leisurely way to see the city from the river.



It cruises under the city bridge, past the Adelaide University, and has another boarding area near the Adelaide Zoo. For a bit more footage see Video Clip (part 1).

Travel tips Australia Click Here!

Your guide to travelling Australia Click Here!

Popeye is Alive and Well in Adelaide, South Australia. Video Clip (part 1)

Popeye is alive and well in Adelaide, South Australia. Popeye, the motor launch, that is.

It cruises along the River Torrens and it makes a leisurely way to see the city from the river.



It has one boarding area near the fountain, just down from the Festival Theatre and Parliament House. For a bit more footage see Video Clip (part 2).

Travel tips Australia Click Here!

Your guide to travelling Australia Click Here!

Relaxing Houseboat Holiday on the River Murray, South Australia

For a relaxing holiday on the water, there's nothing better than hiring a houseboat on the River Murray.

Get a group together and leisurely explore a stretch of the river (this section between Mannum and Murray Bridge winds its way past cliffs and shacks).

You can tow your own boat behind for fishing, exploring or water skiing.


At the end of the day you can moor along the riverbank, cook on the barbecue and relax and soak up the scenery.

Highly recommended for stress relief and recharging the batteries. Here's more information on the Murray River.

This photo also appears in my DVD, "Maritime Mix".