Gumbaynggirr Cultural Stand Up Paddle Tours
Stand up paddle with the direct descendants of the world's first stand up paddlers and connect to land and sea through language and stories. You'll even collect and taste seasonal bush food.
Our tours take place on the homelands of the Gumbaynggirr tribal nation and all of our guides are Gumbaynggirr people or Aboriginal people who have strong family ties to Gumbaynggirr country.
Book a tour and know that you are directly contributing to the well-being of the local community. Will you paddle with us?
Location
We launch our Red Rock tours at the boat ramp. Drive into Red Rock and turn left onto Ford Street. After approximately 300m turn right and head towards the creek and boat ramp. Start upstream at this picturesque marine park creek and paddle to Moonee Beach, a highly important Gumbaynggirr area. Moonee Beach has also recently been recognised as Australia's best mainland beach! We launch our Coffs Creek tours from the boat ramp that is situated behind Dolphin Marine Magic.
What to expect
Our cultural stand up paddle (SUP) premium experience takes our guests on a 2.5 hour paddle in picturesque and highly culturally significant marine park settings in the Coffs Harbour area - including Coffs Creek, Moonee, Red Rock and Corindi Old Camp.
The experience starts with a short SUP demonstration and safety briefing so all guests are comfortable on their boards. Then it's time to set off on your paddling adventure! Your Aboriginal guide stops along the journey and allows guests to see and even taste seasonal bush tucker.
Gumbaynggirr language is embedded in the content of the tour. Important traditional stories are told along the way as you stop through different sites. Stand up paddle with the direct descendants of the world's first stand up paddlers and connect to land and sea through language and stories, and collect and taste seasonal bush food.
Our tours take place on the homelands of the Gumbaynggirr tribal nation and all of out guides are Gumbaynggirr people or Aboriginal people who have strong family ties to Gumbaynggirr country. This ensures a 100% authentic cultural experience whilst also enjoying adventure!
All river locations for our paddle tours are within the Solitary Islands Marine Park. In Gumbaynggirr language, Ngaalgan translates to ‘ear.’ Place of hearing, contemplation and connection. Paddle in an unspoilt remote pristine marine park waterway and immerse and connect to the country through Gumbaynggirr language, Dreaming stories, histories, and bush food sampling.
Red Rock Creek is located within the Solitary Island's Marine Park.
You will also receive a small gift to take home.
What is included
Tour Inclusions:
- Aboriginal guided stand up paddle board tour (double kayak option available)
- Morning or afternoon tea (dependent on tour time)
- Wajaana Yaam sunglasses
- All paddle boarding/kayaking equipment, life vests, rash guards
Features:
- Learn how our language, Gumbaynggirr came to be in the Dreaming and learn simple Gumbaynggirr phrases
- Follow and engage with a traditional Gumbaynggirr Dreaming story
- Sample bush food delicacies, such as lemon myrtle, yams, pig face (barridamam), honeysuckle banksia (maawa), native sarsparella, paper bark tree (balawungga)
- Engage with the resilience of Gumbaynggirr culture and learn how our culture has been preserved over time
Please note this tour operates on a minimum of 4 Adults.
Tour options:
- Cultural SUP: Red Rock Creek
- Premium Cultural SUP: Coffs Creek
- Premium Cultural SUP: Mooneee Creek
- Premium Standard SUP: Red Rock, Moonee Creek or Coffs Creek (SUP tour only, no cultural content)
Planning your trip
The tour will run with a maximum of 8 people and one guide.
Scheduled Departures:
Our paddle tours run from 7:00am - 9:30am daily pending tide. You will need to contact your service provider 24 hours prior to your tour commencing to confirm exact departure location and time.
We operate our tours in picturesque and highly culturally significant marine park settings - including Coffs Creek, Moonee, Red Rock and Corindi Old Camp.
No fitness level or SUP/kayak experience is necessary to participate in our tours. Our qualified instructors provide a SUP lesson at the commencement of each tour in order to ensure a highly enjoyable and safe experience for all.
Location Red Rock is located 30km (approximately 30 minute drive) north of Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. Red Rock Estuary is situated within the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Coffs Harbour is located on the north coast of NSW approximately half way between Sydney and Brisbane (6-7hr drive north of Sydney or 1hr flight).
Planning for your trip:
Bring appropriate clothing for the water. We ask that guests:
- Use marine friendly sunscreen.
- Do not take anything along the way, we leave everything as we found it.
- Do not feed any of the wildlife.
- Tour is weather dependent so please keep updated.
- Please bring a reusable drink bottle.
Coffs Harbour is situated approximately halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the east coast of Australia. You can get to Coffs Harbour via the following:
A one hour flight from Sydney; Train from Sydney (approx. 9 hours);
Train from Brisbane (approx. 8 hours);
A 7 hour drive (approx.) from Sydney;
A 5 hour drive (approx.) from Brisbane
Meeting point
Time and location varies.
Please contact Waajana Yaam at least 24hours prior to your tour to confirm the exact time and meeting point.
Tours on Monday, Thursday and Sunday depart from Coffs Creek Boat Ramp.
Tours on Tuesday and Friday depart from Moonee Creek Tidal Crescent Boat Ramp.
Tours on Wednesday and Saturday depart from Red Rock Boat Ramp.
What to bring
- Hat and sunscreen.
- No fitness level or SUP/kayak experience is necessary to participate in our tours
YOUR EXPERIENCE PROVIDER
Wajaana Yaam
Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours offers guests an immersive experience into the Gumbaynggirr culture lead by knowledgable Aboriginal guides.
Our Stand up paddle or walking tours are held in the Split Solitary Island Marine Parks with pristine creek waterways of the Orara East State Forest. The tour is 2.5 hours and includes traditional stories, bush tucker, language and important sites.
Wajaana Yaam translates to ‘from this country’ in the local Gumbaynggirr language.
By undertaking our tour you contribute to the well-being of our community. Our social enterprise provides an employment pathway for our youth and community members through knowledge of language and culture. Furthermore, a percentage of our profits are invested in bmnac.org.au in order to ensure that our youth are ‘2 path strong’ – strong in culture and strong in education.
So yilaami! Come and have fun, connect with country and contribute to our community.