Girt by stories
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.
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
FREE with museum entry.
Explore the South Australian Maritime Museum in the April school holidays with our Navigation LEGO® Trail!
Follow the clues to learn fun facts about navigational tools featured within the museum and the people who used them.
Find the hidden LEGO® minifigures, solve the secret word and enter the draw for a chance to win an amazing prize!
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.”
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
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
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.
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
Sat 8 and Sun 9 Feb 2025
Dockside Festival returns in February 2025 at the historic Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide, bringing the Port’s unique character and riverfront heritage to life. Over two vibrant days, celebrate the Port River with water sports, and live music on the wharf. Dive into interactive workshops, delicious street food, and creative installations that showcase the area’s thriving arts scene. From family-friendly activities to living history exhibits and local makers, Dockside Festival is free and offers something for everyone, making it the perfect celebration of the Port, the river, and its people.
* FREE Port River Heritage Tours on MV Archie Badenoch*
30-minute return trip from Hart’s Mill to Dock Two.
Morning departures: 10.00, 10.45 & 11.30
Afternoon departures: 1.30, 2.15, 3.00 & 3.45
Experience history on the water! Come on board the former Water Police Launch for a tour along the Port River. Learn about the history of the vessel and its namesake, Constable Archibald Badenoch, and hear stories about key heritage sites of Port Adelaide as you cruise by.
For further details check the Dockside Festival website.
This is a City of Port Adelaide Enfield event.
It’s time for a Gilbert & Sullivan season on the high seas with Emma Knights Productions!
Pirates of Penzance:
This hilarious adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic operetta is staged in one hour, with an amazing cast featuring some of South Australia’s best local performers with live piano accompaniment. Come on this riotous journey across all types of venues and see why we are one of the longest running sell out shows of the Adelaide Fringe!
Friday 21 Mar: 6.00pm -7.00pm & 8.00pm – 9.00pm
H.M.S. Pinafore:
H.M.S. Pinafore or The Lass That Loved a Sailor, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. Directed by Andy Turner, a small and wonderful cast of Adelaide performers will be bringing Pinafore to life, maximising all the silliness in our usual way!
Saturday 22 Mar: 6.00pm – 7.10pm SOLD OUT
*New performance added: 8.00pm – 9.10pm*
Book now to avoid disappointment!
Experience the South Australian Maritime Museum like never before with an exclusive after-hours visit!
Join a curator from the History Trust of South Australia for an immersive, expert-led tour.
Explore the museum’s collection, uncover fascinating stories, and gain deeper insights into the exhibitions and the rich maritime history of South Australia.
Friday 14 March, 6.00pm
Check the Adelaide Fringe website for pricing and booking details.
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