In a combination of two of South Australia’s most unique tourism offerings, you can now cruise down the coast of Gulf Saint Vincent while learning centuries-old history and Kaurna knowledge.

Temptation Sailing, with its 17-metre catamaran sailboat, has partnered with Kaurna-owned and operated Southern Cultural Immersion, taking the group’s lessons in Aboriginal culture to the sea for the first time.

Taking off from Pathawilyangga (Glenelg, in Adelaide’s beachside suburbs), the Kauwi (‘water’) Cultural Cruise offers the chance to see the familiar coastline in a new, or rather, very old way.

As you sail down Wangayarlu (Gulf Saint Vincent), Tayla Lochert, one of Southern Cultural Immersion’s cultural officers and a proud Ngarrindjeri woman, shares the history of the land. We are taught about Aboriginal fishing methods, the history and importance of the sand dunes, and told Dreaming stories about the very waters we sail through.

“With the ocean tour, it’s not always about the scene, you do have to kind of imagine some of this. Like when we’re talking about imagining the sand dunes, and imagining the wetlands that you can’t see from the boat,” Lochert says.

“We still think it’s very important for people to be able to know what was there and educate themselves, so we can also help revive country. Being able to look at the ocean and what needs to be done to help the health of that and look after the dolphins.

“On country it’s the same, it’s about revitalising those native species that we’ve lost as well.”

As we sailed down the coast on a sunny Monday afternoon, sprays of salty water offered an occasional reprieve from the sun as Lochert shared the story of Kaurna ancestor, Tjirbruki.

We heard of Tjirbruki’s heartbreak when his favourite nephew, Kulultuwi, was killed by his part-brothers Jurawi and Tetjawi.

Tjirbruki was so overwhelmed with sadness at his nephew’s death that as he moved around the coast his tears created the freshwater springs we see today. Tjirbruki’s tears brought about the springs at Karildilla (Hallet Cove), Tainbarilla (Port Noarlunga), Karkungga (Red Ochre Cove), Wirruwarrungga (Port Wilunga), Witawodli (Sellicks Beack) and Kongaratinga (near Wirrina Cove).

“There are stories along the entire coast, but lots of our staff and our background and our knowledge is more on the southern areas of Kaurna country,” Lochert said.

“We have lots of really knowledgeable staff. We have Kaurna traditional owners, I have got a Ngarrindjeri background, we’ve got staff from various areas of Australia. It was a team effort.

“Most of our knowledge did come from our Kaurna staff members about the coast, and then also adding my own unique touch and knowledge from other staff into creating that script that shares the best parts.”

There’s plenty of crossover between the cultural history and the local marine wildlife. Photo: Facebook/Temptation Sailing

The collaboration between Southern Cultural Immersion and Temptation Sailing came about when both companies met at an international event promoting tourism in South Australia.

Temptation co-owner and operator Zachary Bald, who brings his animal behaviour degree and Honours in dolphin behaviour to the cruise, said the company’s focus complimented the Kauwi Cruise more than he had expected.

“There is a big crossover of us coming from a science background,” he says – all Temptation Sailing crew members have a marine biology background.

“It’s not too far to transfer all that knowledge that we’ve learned about at university that we talk about on all of our dolphin tours, to be able to bring that across to this cruise.

“The reason you do research and things like that is to look after the environment, and care for that. And there’s a big crossover with that and caring for country, which is why we thought it would be a good mesh.

“Coming out on the water as well gives you a unique perspective and lens to be able to view the whole coastline that you can’t get from the land.

“You can come out onto the ocean and see all the hills that Taylah talks about, and you can look down the coastline, it provides a unique perspective to be able to tell those stories which is really cool.”

The monthly Kauwi Cultural Cruises began last October.

“We want to be able to cater for everyone basically, so whether it is locals, whether it’s school children, or whether it is people from overseas,” Lochert said.

“We’re also going to have this as an option to book privately, or for corporate groups, and we’ve already had school groups come out,” Bald said.

Southern Cultural Immersion owner and Kaurna man Corey Turner said the tour was a “really important step” for the company.

“Our relationship with country exists not just with the land, but also with the seas and skies too,” he said.

Kauwi Cultural Cruises operate from Marina Pier, Glenelg, South Australia. More details here

This article first appeared in CityMag. Read the original here