FREE workshop with museum admission entry 

Hop on board for Drawn Aboard! Port River Pals

In this creative workshop, kids and parents can design and colour their very own Port River Dolphin, then watch it come to life in a magical animation. Their artwork comes to life on screen, joining a pod of colourful dolphins from around the State. Blending art, imagination, and technology, this workshop is perfect for curious kids who love to draw, dream, and explore. Set your course for creativity and let your Port River Dolphin adventure begin!

Why it’s awesome:

• Learn about maritime history
• Be part of a real animation project
• Watch your dolphin play on the sails of the museum’s ketch Active II!

Who’s it for:
Perfect for kids aged 5 – 18 and parents too! No experience needed, just imagination.

Dates:
Join one of our workshops anytime between 10:30am & 2:30pm

Tuesday 6 January 2026
Friday 9 January 2026
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 16 January 2026
Saturday 17 January 2026
Wednesday 21 January 2026

Check out our other school holiday activities.

Let your imagination set sail these school holidays with the Around South Australia LEGO® Trail at the SA Maritime Museum.

Designed especially for children aged 5-13, this exciting activity brings the museum to life with a fun and interactive twist.

South Australia has connections to many iconic landmarks & sites, go exploring through our Museum to experience stories and objects from across the state.

Collect the letters to reveal a secret winning word. Once you’ve cracked the code, enter the draw to win an awesome LEGO® prize!

A great way to explore, learn and have fun at the SA Maritime Museum these school holidays.

Check out our other school holiday activities.

What visitors say about the trail and visiting the museum:

“So much fun and educational; never, never seen a museum this interesting!”

“I thought it was amazing and I really enjoyed doing the animation workshop.”

“Brilliantly researched and displayed. Great interactivity.”

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorise, or endorse this site. 

Let your imagination set sail these July school holidays with the Around the World LEGO® Trail at the SA Maritime Museum. Designed especially for children aged 5-13, this exciting activity brings the museum to life with a fun and interactive twist.

South Australia has connections to many different countries through our seafaring history. Go globetrotting through our Museum to experience stories and objects from across the world. Can you find the LEGO® minifigures hidden between our objects? Collect the letters they hold to reveal a secret winning word. Once you’ve cracked the code, enter the draw to win an awesome LEGO® prize!

A great way to explore, learn and have fun at the SA Maritime Museum these school holidays.

Check out our other school holiday activities.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorise, or endorse this site. 

For Nature Festival 2025, immerse yourself in a nautical world with Musewood as they celebrate the music of the ocean in the surrounds of the SA Maritime Museum.

Sail away with music from Enya, Split Enz, and original compositions. In this performance, hear tales of mermaids and sea shanties and reflect on how our oceans and waterways have influenced music across cultures.

Don’t miss the stunning soundscape of two harps, guitars, mandolin, violin, and recorders with the beautiful voices of Emma Horwood and Visnja, performed onboard the unique setting of the museum’s replica ketch Active II.

Musewood

Emma Horwood – pedal harp, voice and violin
Visnja – Celtic harp, voice and tin whistles
Ashley Hill – harp guitar and mandolin
Michael Castronini – guitar

Dates & times:
Sunday 28 Sept, 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Sunday 5 Oct, 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Ticket price:
Adult: $35.00
Concession $30.00
Child $15.00

Tickets include entry to explore the museum galleries during interval. Seating is limited, book early.

*Please be advised that filming and photography of audience members may occur during this event. If you do not consent to being filmed or photographed, please inform staff.

Free with museum entry.

Step aboard the full-size trading ketch Active II for a guided exploration.

Investigate how a crew lived and worked — from sleeping and eating to navigating the seas. Peek into the past, handle real equipment, and imagine the sights, sounds, and challenges of life on board. It’s a hands-on glimpse into seafaring stories — all without ever leaving dry land!

Session times:
July 5 – 20
Daily at 11.00am & 12.00pm.
Duration 30 mins.
Bookings not required.

Check out our other school holiday activities.

FREE with museum entry.

Let your imagination set sail these July school holidays with the Ship Shape LEGO® Trail at the SA Maritime Museum.
Designed especially for children aged 5-13, this exciting activity brings the museum to life with a fun and interactive twist.

Explore the exhibits, hunt down hidden LEGO® figures, and collect the letters they hold to reveal a secret winning word.
Once you’ve cracked the code, enter the draw to win an awesome LEGO® prize!

A great way to explore, learn and have fun at the SA Maritime Museum these school holidays.

Check out our other school holiday activities.

What visitors say about the trail and visiting the museum:
“Enjoyable for young and old.”
“It was amazing – 5 stars!”
“It was hard work to find all of the LEGO®, but it was worth it if I get the prize!”
“We love doing the trail every school holidays.”

FREE with museum entry – please book online.

Hop on board for Drawn Aboard! A one-of-a-kind workshop where kids bring history to life, one frame at a time.

Each child will draw their own historic sailing ship, and their art will become part of a collaborative animated film to be projected onto the sails of our replica ketch, Active II!

Perfect for curious minds and creative hands, Drawn Aboard blends art, history, and technology in a fun and memorable experience. Set your course for creativity and come aboard!

Session Times:
Saturday 5 & 12 July, 10.30am & 11.30am
Wednesday 9 & 16 July, 10.30am & 11.30am
Thursday 17 July, 10.30am & 11.30am

Duration: 1 hour
Animation workshop 30 mins followed by Ketch Close-Up 30 mins

Check out our other school holiday activities.

Ever wondered how Australia’s oldest collection of maritime artifacts was created? The answer: Vernon Spottiswoode Smith.

In this exclusive History Festival event, hear from expert panelists who will explore the legacy of Vernon Smith and how his passion for maritime history laid the foundations for the South Australian Maritime Museum we know today.

Bookings required online. Ticket price includes museum entry and talk.

Sunday 4 May, 2pm – 3pm

Image: Vernon Smith, Curator of the Port Adelaide Nautical Museum, SA Maritime Museum Photographic Collection

Vernon Spottiswoode Smith, the ‘grandfather’ of the SA Maritime Museum, is turning 150! Take a guided tour through our museum and discover Australia’s oldest collection of nautical artefacts and the visionary who made it happen.

The first 150 visitors get a free birthday cupcake!

Bookings required online. Ticketing price includes entry to the museum, tour, and birthday cupcake.

Friday 2 May, 11am – 11.45am & 2pm – 2.45pm

Image: Vernon Smith, Curator of the Port Adelaide Nautical Museum with figureheads from the collection; the British Admiral, the Claymore and the Scottish Chieftain, c1958, History Trust of SA

Salty Sessions: Click! is a celebration of the rich photographic history of the Port and the local scene that thrives today.

At Click! dress up and strike a pose in a 1930’s inspired photo studio.  

You’ll hear from expert speakers (listed below), munch on treats from local businesses, sip ice cold drinks and boogie to tunes spun by DJ Ruby Chew.  

This event coincides with the exhibition Mr Bond’s Studio: Port Adelaide Through the Lens. The exhibition showcases some of the 2,000 glass plate negatives that were discovered on the old premises of photographer A.E. Bond’s St Vincent Street studio.  

Tickets include finger food and a complimentary drink.

Speakers: 

Emma Haddy, Curator of Mr Bond’s Studio Exhibition 

Lachlan Haig, Port Adelaidean and previous trainee of Cliff Howes; a ventriloquist whose photograph is featured in the exhibition 

Dr Andrew Dearman, Artist, Writer, Photographer, Educator and Vintage Camera Collector

This event is proudly supported by a City of PAE grant