- Duration
- Train and tram, ~5 km on foot, 9–10 hours (≈ 8 h 25 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- With kids
- Transport
- walk, train
- Start
- South Australian Maritime Museum
- Finish
- Glenelg Beach and Jetty
- Pace
- relaxed pace
- Best time
- Year-round; both museums open daily (closed Christmas Day only). Start with a 9:30 train to Port Adelaide and pick a cruise time on the booking calendar. Glenelg swimming is warmest December–March
- Budget per adult
- Maritime Museum A$23.50 adult, A$9.50 child (under 5 free), A$57.50 family; National Railway Museum A$19 adult, A$7 child 5–15, A$44 family (mini train rides included); dolphin cruise from A$55. Prices checked October 2026; lunch, gelato and Adelaide Metro fares extraPrices as of: October 2026
Getting there
Morning: Adelaide Metro Outer Harbor line from Adelaide Railway Station to Port Adelaide, about 20 minutes. Afternoon: back to the city and the Glenelg Tram to the Moseley Square terminus, about 30 minutes. Pay with metroCARD or contactless. The Glenelg tram has run its full route again since 20 July 2026 after upgrade works
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. South Australian Maritime Museum~1 h 15 min at the stop
South Australia's maritime museum in heritage stores on Lipson Street: permanent and changing exhibitions on ships, migrants, lighthouses and the port's story. A good start in the old port precinct.
Tip: Open daily 10am–5pm except Christmas Day. A$23.50 / A$9.50 child / A$57.50 family (2 adults + up to 3 kids). Cashless; tickets online. 126 Lipson Street.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 7 min · 0.5 km
- For kids
2. National Railway Museum~1 h 20 min at the stop
Huge sheds of steam locomotives, carriages and rail cars you can climb aboard. The kids' highlight is the small train that runs round the grounds from Callington Station.
Tip: Open daily 10am–4:30pm (from noon on Anzac Day, closed Christmas Day). A$19 adult, A$12 concession, A$7 child 5–15, A$44 family; train rides included. 76 Lipson Street.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 9 min · 0.7 km
- Lunch
3. The Lighthouse Wharf Hotel~1 h at the stop
A heritage pub a stone's throw from the red-and-white lighthouse and the Port River: local seafood, schnitzels and pasta, with river views from the upstairs balcony bar. Relaxed and family-friendly at lunch.
Tip: Lunch and dinner daily, all-day dining Friday to Sunday. Weekday lunch specials A$17. Lift to the upstairs bar. 1 Commercial Road, (08) 8447 1580.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 2 min · 0.1 km
4. Port River Cruises: Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise~1 h 30 min at the stop
Ninety minutes on the Port River through the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, home to wild bottlenose dolphins, past mangroves to the Ships Graveyard of abandoned old hulks.
Tip: Daily, from A$55; check departure times on the booking calendar. Departs 1 McLaren Wharf by the red-and-white lighthouse, arrive 15 minutes early. All ages welcome, but infants must be on the booking. A 2-hour Dolphin & Maritime Cruise also runs on weekends.
Open on the map ↗↓ train · 1 h 10 min · 24 km
- For kids
5. Glenelg Foreshore Playspace~35 min at the stop
A beachfront playground next to Moseley Square, the tram terminus: climbing equipment, lawn and paths linking to the Coast Path. Perfect for burning energy after the train and tram.
Tip: Free, with toilets nearby. The Jetty Road upgrade is essentially finished in 2026, though minor works and fencing near the square are possible.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 5 min · 0.3 km
- Snack
6. Gelatissimo Glenelg~20 min at the stop
A gelato bar on Glenelg's main street, Jetty Road, a couple of minutes from the sea: gelato and sorbet in a cone or cup to take onto the jetty.
Tip: Open daily 9am–10pm per the Holdfast Bay council directory, sometimes later in summer. 45b Jetty Road.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 7 min · 0.5 km
- Swim
7. Glenelg Beach and Jetty~45 min at the stop
A broad sandy beach by the jetty with calm Gulf St Vincent water, Adelaide's classic sunset spot. Walk to the end of the jetty and back as the sun goes down.
Worth knowing: The colony of South Australia was proclaimed at Glenelg, under the Old Gum Tree, on 28 December 1836. The day is still marked as Proclamation Day.
Tip: Patrolled in summer: swim between the red-and-yellow flags. Glenelg Tram back to the city from Moseley Square.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.