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An Aboriginal Elder will share their stories about Giriwil the whale and its importance to the Aboriginal communities with you.
Onboard Sydney’s best whale watching boat Ocean Dreaming 2. Custom built for whale watching with 3 levels of outside viewing decks.
Don’t waste hours traveling to the whales and back. Minimal time in the harbour, maximum time with whales.
This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person.
Whale Watching Sydney has partnered with Tribal Warrior to bring you a new and unique Aboriginal whale watching experience during Sydney Solstice.
Join us for a 3hr whale watching cruise onboard Ocean Dreaming 2 and learn about Guriwil the whale and discover the connection and responsibility of Aboriginal communities to this important animal.
Along the east coast of New South Wales, the presence of whales in Aboriginal culture is embedded in many forms, from Dreaming stories to whales recognised as totem animals for various language groups. There are many significant sites of artwork depicting whales – particularly around Sydney.
An Aboriginal Elder and Aboriginal guide will lead you through the cruise and share their stories of land, water and sky which have been passed down from Aboriginal ancestors. Passengers can also participate in an ancient whale song to summon the whales.
Yuin Elder Uncle Max ‘Dulumunmun’ Harrison is an initiated Yuin man. His teachings have been passed down to him by five masters of Aboriginal Lore.
Uncle Max is a widely respected Elder, who has been on the National Board of Elders, released several books on Aboriginal culture, including My Peoples Dreaming, given knowledge and is a recognised teacher of the University of Wollongong.
Uncle Max led the opening Traditional Ceremony for Sydney 2011 and 2012 Australia Day Celebrations and is well respected all along the South Coast of New South Wales through his work as a community Elder in his native Yuin country. Although Uncle Max’s involvement on walks on Country are now limited, he still plays a vital part in Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness by advising and overseeing his family uphold and sharing Yuin culture.
Dean Kelly is a renowned Aboriginal tour guide and has been awarded for organizing cultural camps and imparting intergenerational knowledge to the indigenous youth. He has also been involved with various indigenous community activities.
On the 9th of June 2021 we unveiled a new-look for our flagship vessel Ocean Dreaming II to mark the commencement of our Aboriginal Whale Watching Experience and the start of the Sydney Solstice festival which runs until Sunday the 20th of June 2021.
Gomeroi artist Warwick Keen was selected to produce this beautiful piece of art that borrows from the Aboriginal tradition of bark carvings to aid in wayfinding when on country. It connects to the songlines of Aboriginal clans that intersect our waterways. To enhance the artwork, the vessel carries the names of the different clans of the Eora nation that abound the Sydney Harbour.
