10/11/2022
What an incredible sight to see! Our local pair of Osprey’s on the nest, watching the sun go down.
Marion Bay Ocean Safari
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Discover the Southern Yorke Peninsula with our unique cruise experiences departing Pondalowie Bay.
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Marion Bay Ocean Safari is a scenic coastal tour and wildlife experience operated by the dedicated and highly experienced team at Reef Encounters Fishing Charters. Set against the stunning backdrop of Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, this tour offers an abundance of exciting sightseeing opportunities to view impressive wildlife, marine life, and panoramic views. Step aboard the immaculately ma
intained vessel, "V***n," a 45-foot surveyed boat with a custom fit-out, enclosed walk-in electric flushing toilet, ample undercover seating, vast deck space, and retractable clears to keep you dry from ocean spray. You will be in great hands with our highly experienced staff, including a full-time deckhand who will ensure your safety and enjoyment throughout the entire cruise.
25/10/2022
Just a taste of the incredible coastal scenery the Southern Yorke Peninsula has to offer.
14/10/2022
We had an amazing cruise earlier this week with guests Tiff, Luke & Tazz from joining in the fun. We spotted dolphins, seals, ospreys and more! Spots are available this Sunday for a 10am coastal tour departing from Marion Bay. If you’re interested let us know; the weather is looking to be perfect! ☀️
26/03/2022
· ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀ: ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴠᴏᴜᴄʜᴇʀ ɴᴏᴡ ·
Whilst the travel period lasts until the end of May, the booking period for those with Great State Vouchers is set to close on March 31st! With tour dates spanning the upcoming school holidays, be sure to get in quick to secure your spot! Visit the link in our bio to book.
09/03/2022
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to score yourself a Great State Tourism Experiences Voucher! If you’re successful in the ballot you’ll get $100 to spend on your choice of many single-day activities, Marion Bay Ocean Safari included, with vouchers fully redeemable against both our Coastal Experience and Althorpe Island Experience.
Get in quick though - today is the last day to register your interest!
08/03/2022
Looking for something to do this long weekend? Why not a relaxing Sunday arvo cruise? Our Coastal Experience is set to depart from Pondalowie Bay at 4:30pm Sunday. We bet you’ll also spot one of these guys on the stunning drive through Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on your way to our departure point!
Dhilba Gurranda-Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula
Credit: Alice Kuerschner
16/02/2022
If you’d like to discover some sensational coastal scenery of Dhilba-Guuranda Innes National Park then hop onboard Marion Bay Ocean Safari 🐬 Experience wildlife encounters and the untouched natural environment onboard the scenic coastal cruise from Pondalowie Bay.
18/01/2022
We are up and running this Sunday with multiple tours available! Come experience some gorgeous coastal scenery and incredible wildlife while summer holidays are still in full swing ☀️
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DM, email or call to book!
01/10/2021
How’s this for an incredible shot? Whilst cruising past some of the most spectacular coastline South Australia has to offer, our deckhand managed to capture the local Osprey’s on their nest during our Ocean Safari yesterday.
Other sightings included the resident pod of dolphins, and numerous seals 🦭
With only three spots left on Tuesday’s Althorpe Island experience we encourage you to get in quick!
25/09/2021
Heading over to the Yorke Peninsula during the school holidays and looking for an unforgettable experience on the water? Why not hop on board an Ocean Safari!
Experience the majestic, natural and unspoilt coastline of the Southern Yorke Peninsula. Along with dolphins you may sight Australian Sea Lions, long nosed fur seals, eagle rays, black rays, fish schools, penguins plus so much more.
We’ve currently got tours departing on 30th September and 5th October, both at 1pm, from Pondalowie Bay in the stunning Dhilba Gurranda-Innes National Park. Those with a Great State Voucher can book online, direct bookings can be made by contacting us.
10/09/2021
Coastal Experience – FREE when using the Great State Experiences Voucher!!!
Althorpe Island Experience - only $35 per person when using the Great State Experiences Voucher!!!
Set a reminder to register in the ballot for a Great State Experiences $100 voucher!
• Ballot is open from Monday 13th – Wednesday 15th September
• Ballot draw and distribution on 16th September
• Bookings are to be made between 16th September – 14th October
• Travel Period is from 17th September – 28th November
https://southaustralia.com/voucher
Bookable seven days a week including weekends and School Holidays.
As we do have existing bookings availability may be limited but as the diary is always evolving please drop us an email at [email protected] if you cannot find availability to suit.
Some reviews from the last round:
• Amazing trip on a boat to see wildlife of the region. Friendly and skillful service. Innes national park is a treasure too. Michaela Althorpe Island Experience
• Great Experience! Kinga Althorpe Island Experience
• Very good tour, dolphins (3 with babies), fur seals, white bellied sea eagles, all easily spotted. Friendly, knowledgeable crew with some interesting stories to share. Beautiful scenery & emus freely roaming in bush on the way to Pondalowie Bay. Rosalie Coastal Experience
• Felt safe all the time. Saw lots of dolphins, sea lions, osprey nest, white bellied eagle. Joe Coastal Experience
23/08/2021
Keep an eye out for these little guys on your next visit.❤
04/07/2021
A great way to finish our season!
We have now entered our winter shut down and tours will recommence from 1 October 2021.
26/06/2021
A very nice surprise to also receive the Service Excellence Award at the 2021 Yorke Peninsula Tourism Awards and to share the award alongside another Marion Bay business Bayside Glamping!
26/06/2021
We are absolutely thrilled to have been named Yorke Peninsula’s best New Tourism Business at the 2021 Yorke Peninsula Tourism Awards last night. Thank you to everyone that has supported us through the business start up and we look forward to the future ahead. It was a whirlwind of a night with our team taking home three awards - two for Marion Bay Ocean Safari as New Business and the Service Excellence Award and Reef Encounters Fishing Charters the winner in the fishing charter category. It has been an amazing journey this season and we are honoured to have received the awards, we now head into our winter break so we will see you again in October when we will restart our tours.
Marion Bay Ocean Safari is named Yorke Peninsula’s best New Tourism Business at the 2021 Yorke Peninsula Tourism Awards.
Silver medallist - Wrecks N Relics
This category is proudly supported by platinum sponsor, HWR Media & Communications.
In Adelaide
22/05/2021
Althorpe Island Experience - Friday 21 May 2021
The stunning weather allowed us a closer than usual look at the Gap on the way over to Althorpe. Once at the island a little friend basked in the attention on the rocks and posed for a few photographs, Eastern Ospreys and White Bellied Sea Eagles were sighted throughout the tour and we then finished the tour off in Pondalowie Bay with the dolphins coming over to say hi. What an amazing afternoon!!
Upcoming Availability:
- Thursday 3 June – AM Coastal Experience, PM Althorpe Island Experience
- Thursday 10 June – AM Coastal Experience, PM Althorpe Island Experience
- Friday 25 June – AM Coastal Experience
Coastal Experience 2 – 2.5 hours $100
Althorpe Island Experience 3 – 3.5 hours $135
Further availability may be available if the above dates don’t suit, please give Angela a call on 0417800495.
If you have a Great State Experiences voucher, some FAQ in relation to the program.
• we are only participating in the scheme until Friday 25 June as we then shut down for winter.
• as all tours are weather dependent and have minimum numbers to operate if we cannot operate, we will work with you to get you onto another available date up to and including 25 June.
• If we cannot get you rebooked, any money paid direct to us is fully refundable and we will arrange to have your voucher reallocated so you can use elsewhere before the program finishes at the end of July.
• if you require accommodation, please touch base as we have two holiday houses and if they are not available Marion Bay is full of options from camping, caravan park, villas, units, motel and holiday houses.
Redeem your vouchers at:
$100: https://experiences100.southaustralia.com/business/6078e4af40c556.76945870/marion-bay-ocean-safari
$50
https://experiences.southaustralia.com/business/6078e4af40c556.76945870/marion-bay-ocean-safari
15/05/2021
Marion Bay Ocean Safari upcoming tour availability
If the below dates don’t suit please contact us for further availability.
If you have a Great State Experiences Voucher and are wanting to jump onboard please note that we are only participating in the program until Friday 25 June before before our winter shut down.
Vouchers are redeemable against both tours so the Coastal Experience will be FREE if you have a $100 voucher.
• Friday 21 May – Althorpe Island Experience – 1.00pm - $135 per person
• Thursday 3 June – Coastal Experience – 8.30am – $100 per person
• Thursday 3 June – Althorpe Island Experience – 1.00pm - $135 per person
You can redeem your vouchers at
$50: https://experiences.southaustralia.com/business/6078e4af40c556.76945870/marion-bay-ocean-safari
$100: https://experiences100.southaustralia.com/business/6078e4af40c556.76945870/marion-bay-ocean-safari
If you need accommodation we have two holiday houses that may be available, if not we can provide alternate options to suit your needs.
23/04/2021
OPPORTUNITY FOR A FREE COASTAL EXPERIENCE!!
We are participating in the Great State Experiences Voucher scheme with $50 and $100 vouchers redeemable against our Coastal Experience or Althorpe Island Experience.
If applying a $100 voucher that does make our Coastal Experience FREE to you and our Althorpe Island Experience only $35.
If you are interested in applying for a voucher the ballot closes at 10.00pm tonight (Friday) ACST.
https://southaustralia.com/voucher
Bookings then open on 27 April.
We do need to work around current bookings so limited dates will be available as part of the voucher scheme.
The hugely popular Great State Vouchers are coming back in April 2021 with vouchers for hosted tours and experiences in South Australia!
19/04/2021
Information on the Killer Whale "Ripple" sighted recently near Althorpe Island.
09/04/2021
09/04/2021
Killer Whales😍😍 Did you know they are more closely related to oceanic dolphins rather than whales?
09/04/2021
A relaxing cruise with the dolphins, keep an eye out at the end for the nest of the fish-eating raptor, the Eastern Osprey. Unfortunately no birds on the nest on this day but the nest is impressive in itself.
Marion Bay Ocean Safari Coastal Experience operating out of Pondalowie Bay, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Pondalo...
15/01/2021
13/01/2021
Join us for a Coastal Experience within Pondalowie Bay, one of the top spots in South Australia to see wild dolphins. On our cruise yesterday we lost count of the number of dolphin sightings!
Marion Bay Ocean Safari departs from Pondalowie Bay in Dhilba Guuranda - Innes National Park. Bookings essential. Maximum 12 per tour.
10/01/2021
Come and discover the absolutely stunning Althorpe Island, home to Australian Sea Lions and rich with maritime history. Our Althorpe Island Experience yesterday created so many photo opportunities it was hard to select just a few.
Marion Bay Ocean Safari departs from Pondalowie Bay in Dhilba Guuranda - Innes National Park. Bookings essential. Maximum 12 per tour.
www.marionbayoceansafari.com.au
Yorke Peninsula South Australia
06/01/2021
We have spots available on the upcoming tours departing from Pondalowie Bay, Dhilba Guuranda - Innes National Park, if interested please contact Angela on 0417 800 495.
Saturday 9 January
Althorpe Island Experience
$135 per person
3 - 3.5 hours
Tuesday 12 January
Coastal Experience
$100 per person
2 - 2.5 hours
05/11/2020
28/10/2020
An incredible shot that shows the male Eastern Osprey coming in to mate with the female which we observed earlier this week.
22/10/2020
We have spots available on a Coastal Experience this coming Tuesday 27 October 2020. The weather is looking very nice!
On our Coastal Experience we seek out the local resident pod of dolphins, take in the magnificent coastline and cruise past the Osprey Nest hoping to see these great birds of prey which are sitting on their nest at the moment, or even possibly sight the White Bellied Sea Eagles throughout the cruise.
The V***n has a huge deck space with undercover seating and you are free to more around at your own leisure.
Departing Pondalowie Bay, Innes National Park at 10.00am with return at approx.12.30pm.
Bookings are required so if you are interested please contact Angela 0417 800 495. $100 per person.
09/10/2020
A pair of spectacular White-bellied Sea Eagles spotted recently on a coastal cruise.
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| Friday | 08:30 - 18:00 |
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Marion Bay Ocean Safari
Marion Bay Ocean Safari is a new offering from the team at Reef Encounters Fishing Charters, Reef Encounters Fishing Charters is a multi-award winning South Australian charter that has been operating from Marion Bay and Pondalowie Bay on the lower Yorke Peninsula since 1998.
Mark Wynbergen has over 20 years' experience operating charters in the local waters, in addition to spending a significant amount of time in the area while growing up sailing, diving and fishing the local islands and coastline.
Experiences
Marion Bay Ocean Safari offer two coastal cruise experiences but can also customise charters for exclusive use group bookings. The Coastal Experience operates for approx. 2.5 hours and the Althorpe Island Experience operates for approximately 3.5 hours. Please see the services tab for more information.
Wildlife
Wildlife sightings may include any of the following on tour:
Marine life: bottlenose dolphins from Pondalowie Bay’s resident pod of approximately 30 individuals, common dolphins, Australian sea lions, long nosed fur seals, eagle rays, black rays, fish schools and penguins plus more
Bird life: Osprey, albatross, eagles, gannets, shearwaters, pelicans, gulls, terns, oystercatcher, storm petrel, cormorants
Wild life: Emus, kangaroos – these are regular visitors to the beach at Pondalowie Bay.
Location
Tours depart from Pondalowie Bay beach in the stunning Innes National Park, the drive alone from Marion Bay to Pondalowie Bay will give you the opportunity to pass through an area rich with wildlife and historical significance. Keep an eye out for the malleefowl and tammar wallaby on the drive! Park entry fees are not included in tour prices and can be purchased online at the Innes National Park website.
Exclusive Use Accommodation Packages
Groups can take advantage of an accommodation package with exclusive use bookings and enjoy a little extra time to experience the local sights and activities that are on offer from ship wrecks, historic ruins, salt lakes, bush walking, surfing and of course our spectacular local beaches and fishing. Accommodation is subject to availability and further information is available upon request.
The “V***n” Charter Vessel The "V***n" is a 45 foot Harriscraft customised long range charter vessel which has a custom fit out as well as:
· enclosed electric flushing toilet, galley / kitchen
· ample seating and shade
· retractable clears to provide protection from ocean spray when required
· all safety equipment as per commercial vessel survey including a 16-man life raft
· deckhand on board
· Safety Procedure Manual available aboard the vessel
Booking Conditions
· Some mobility required to board the tender boat and charter vessel.
· Tender boat is launched from the beach so clients are requested to remove shoes and socks to avoid getting wet shoes.
· Not suitable for infants or children under 5 years of age.
· BYO all drinks, food, sunscreen, warm clothing, comfortable footwear.
· Tours departing Pondalowie Bay require clients to travel through Innes National Park where fees apply for vehicle entry.
· Marion Bay Ocean Safari reserve the right to modify or cancel the trip in the event of adverse weather conditions.
· For full terms and conditions please see www.marionbayoceansafari.com.au
If you are keen to experience some of the most sensational coastal scenery this state has to offer then give us a call on 0407 609 988 or visit www.marionbayoceansafari.com.au for further information.
