🐬 Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. All marine mammals are protected. Maintain at least 50 m from dolphins (150 m with a calf). Do not approach or intercept their path. Heavy fines apply. Always give way to motorised vessels in the boating channel.
Lyell McEwin Hospital
Haydown Road, Elizabeth Vale SA — approx. 15 km north-east
📍 Directions →📌 GPS Waypoints
Launch
Garden Island Boat Ramp
34.8046 S 138.5400 E
Ships Graveyard
Main wreck cluster
34.8110 S 138.5284 E
Hospital
Lyell McEwin Hospital
Haydown Rd, Elizabeth Vale
Sanctuary
Dolphin exclusion zone
100 m minimum distance
🛥 Route Summary
- Launch → North Arm: Head east from Garden Island Boat Ramp then turn right (south) into the North Arm channel. Stay to the southern bank.
- Main graveyard: First wreck is Santiago — three on-water interpretation signs nearby. Continue west past Dorothy H Stirling (island at low tide). Avoid the sandbar along the northern shore.
- Western end & return: Sternpost of Glaucus marks the western end. Sunbeam is last above water. Return east to Garden Island Boat Ramp.
⚠️ Key Cautions
- Dolphins: 100 m exclusion zone in the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. Do not approach, follow, or intercept. Heavy fines apply.
- Boat traffic: Garden Island ramp is busy with powered craft. Give way at all times in the channel.
- Best at low tide: More wrecks are visible. Check BOM Garden Island for tide times and weather before launching.
- Sandbar: Avoid running aground on the sandbar along the northern shore of the wreck area.