Celebrating World Ocean Day through an Indigenous lens

In the lead-up to World Ocean Day on 8 June 2026, Discover Aboriginal Experiences is shining a light on the enduring relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Australia’s oceans – relationships shaped by tens of thousands of years of cultural knowledge, sustainable practices and deep custodianship of Sea Country.

“If we care about and look after Mother Nature, it can bounce back and thrive,” says Darkinjung woman Natalie Smith, a Senior Marine Biologist and Master Reef guide with GBR Biology, part of the Experience Co family that facilitates Indigenous experiences across the Great Barrier Reef via Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel. “Tourism is at the forefront of conservation,” says Natalie. “When you learn about something, you want to spread that knowledge and protect it.”

This year’s World Ocean Day theme, “REIMAGINE: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean”, calls for a rethink of how people engage with marine environments at a time when oceans face growing pressure from climate change, pollution and overexploitation.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, that relationship has always been grounded in reciprocity, respect and responsibility.

Oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, produce much of the oxygen we breathe and play a vital role in climate regulation, biodiversity and food security. For Australia – an island continent with more than 34,000 kilometres of coastline and one of the world’s largest marine jurisdictions – healthy oceans are central not only to ecosystems, but to identity, culture and tourism.

For millennia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have sustainably managed Sea Country through sophisticated systems of seasonal knowledge, cultural protocols and environmental stewardship. Long before modern conversations around sustainability and regenerative tourism, Indigenous communities understood the importance of taking only what was needed, protecting breeding grounds, observing seasonal cycles and maintaining balance between people and nature.

“Indigenous communities have long known to only take what they need, nothing more. When you look after our oceans, they look after you,” says Natalie. “First Nations peoples were the world’s first scientists. And now on the Great Barrier Reef we merge that knowledge with modern-day science.”

Today, members of the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective continue to share this knowledge through immersive Indigenous-guided tourism experiences across Australia – from the Great Barrier Reef and tropical estuaries to remote islands, marine parks and ancient coastal middens.

Many of these experiences strongly reflect the values at the heart of Tourism Australia’s Green is Our Gold initiative, which encourages visitors and industry to help protect the natural environments, cultures and communities that make Australia unique.

“First Nations peoples have cared for Sea Country for tens of thousands of years, and that knowledge remains incredibly relevant today,” says Nicole Mitchell, Executive Officer, Discover Aboriginal Experiences.

“Across our collective, visitors have the opportunity to experience oceans and coastal environments through Indigenous perspectives that are grounded in sustainability, respect and cultural responsibility. These experiences encourage people to think differently about their relationship with the ocean – not simply as a place to visit, but as a living system that needs to be protected for future generations.”

Along the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland, Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel offers visitors the opportunity to experience the world’s largest coral reef system through both scientific and cultural lenses. Led by Indigenous guides and marine biologists like Natalie, experiences share Aboriginal Creation stories connected to the reef alongside contemporary marine knowledge, offering a deeper understanding of one of the planet’s most important ecosystems.

Visitors snorkelling on the reef learn not only about coral, marine species and biodiversity, but also the cultural significance of Sea Country and the responsibility Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to hold in protecting it. “There’s a feeling when you first dip your head under water here that you just can’t explain,” says Natalie. “There’s an immediate connection with Mother Nature. I love seeing guests’ faces light up after the experience. I still get giddy myself!”

Also in the Cairns / Gimuy region, Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours explores the ecologically significant waterways and estuaries surrounding East Trinity Reserve. Travelling through mangrove systems and coastal wetlands with Mandingalbay Yidinji guides, visitors learn about the work Indigenous rangers are undertaking to restore marine habitats and protect fragile ecosystems.

Mangroves are among the world’s most important coastal environments – helping stabilise shorelines, support biodiversity and store significant amounts of carbon – and the experience highlights the vital role Indigenous-led conservation plays in protecting them for future generations.

Further south, Saltwater Eco Tours takes guests onto the waterways of the Sunshine Coast, where founder Simon Thornalley shares stories shaped by a lifetime spent on the ocean. Having grown up on boats and on Country, Thornalley weaves together cultural storytelling, sustainable fishing practices and environmental knowledge while cruising through ecosystems rich in marine life.

The experience offers insight into how Aboriginal communities traditionally sourced seafood sustainably, understood tidal systems and maintained strong relationships with Sea Country over generations.

On the opposite side of the country in Western Australia’s Shark Bay / Gutharraguda region, Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures immerses visitors in the World Heritage-listed marine landscapes of Malgana Country. Through low-impact experiences including canoeing, walking tours and wildlife encounters, guests discover one of Australia’s most significant marine environments while learning about the deep cultural connections Traditional Owners maintain with the area.

Shark Bay’s seagrass meadows, marine life and coastal ecosystems have sustained Aboriginal communities for millennia, with guide Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell sharing stories of navigation, hunting, seasonal movement and environmental stewardship tied to Sea Country.

Further north along the Kimberley coast, Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours offers rare access to the remote islands and coastal environments of the Dampier Peninsula. Led by Bardi Jawi woman Rosanna Angus, experiences explore the relationship the former Sunday Island community maintained with the surrounding ocean – from fishing and hunting traditions to inter-island travel, trade and cultural practices deeply connected to tides and marine rhythms.

Also in the Kimberley, Mabu Buru Tours invites visitors to experience coastal foraging practices that have sustained communities for generations. Guests walk barefoot on Country with guide Johani Mamid, through mangroves and coastal environments, learning how to read seasons, tides and ecosystems to sustainably source seafood and native ingredients before sharing a feast on the beach. The experience offers powerful insight into Indigenous food systems and demonstrates how sustainability has long been embedded in Aboriginal relationships with the ocean and coastline.

On Tasmania’s northeast coast, wukalina Walk connects visitors to the cultural and environmental significance of ancient shell middens found along Palawa Country. These middens – formed over thousands of years through the careful harvesting of shellfish and seafood – provide enduring evidence of sustainable marine practices and sophisticated environmental management.

Walking through this coastal landscape with Palawa guides, visitors gain deeper understanding of how Aboriginal communities lived in balance with marine ecosystems over countless generations, taking only what was needed and ensuring resources remained abundant for the future.

“Experiences like these show that sustainability is not a new idea in Australia – it’s something Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have practised for tens of thousands of years,” says Mitchell.

“There is growing recognition globally that Indigenous knowledge systems have an important role to play in conversations around conservation and climate resilience. Through Aboriginal-guided tourism, visitors can connect with these perspectives in meaningful and memorable ways while gaining a deeper appreciation for the importance of protecting our oceans and coastal environments.”

As travellers increasingly seek experiences that combine cultural connection, sustainability and nature, Aboriginal tourism continues to offer some of the most meaningful ways to engage with Australia’s marine environments – not simply by observing them, but by understanding the stories, knowledge and responsibilities that have shaped them for millennia.

Editor’s Note:

The Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective is part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program that promotes outstanding tourism experiences within a variety of special categories. This collection showcases a diversity of experiences delivered by the world’s oldest living cultures, creating memorable trips for adventure seekers, culture enthusiasts, foodies and nature lovers, ranging from exploring hidden rock art galleries to foraging for native delicacies, stand-up paddleboarding on culturally significant waterways to bedding down at wilderness lodges in serene natural settings. Each member of this collection is considered a world-class leader in Aboriginal tourism, representing local Aboriginal cultures with integrity and authenticity.  

Find out more about the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective via our website. From the website you can access a dedicated trade and media portal, replete with Story Bank packed with story ideas, interviews, Discover Aboriginal Experiences resources and more.

Keep up to date and be inspired via our Connect to Country digital magazines, and explore operator experiences in detail in our 2026 Brochure.

A collection of royalty-free Aboriginal tourism images and video are available here. Please search for Discover Aboriginal Experiences in the Resources section.