A stand-up paddleboarding tour of Belmore Basin, which started with Dharawal Dreaming stories and ended with a splash, charmed visitors from the 25th Australian Cruise Association (ACA) conference last week.
“I loved it,” said Kristy Little, senior commercial manager for cruise and customer engagement with TasPorts in Hobart.
“We’ve got a number of delegates, about 125 I think, up here and out in the region today [August 31]. Some are doing a port tour, some of them are doing a walking tour. Vickie and I were lucky enough to be able to do this Indigenous stand-up paddleboard tour, which has been fantastic."
“This has been a beautiful afternoon,” agreed Vickie Williams, general manager of sustainability, culture and people at the Mid West Ports Authority in Geraldton, WA.
Rebecca Dunning, owner of award-winning Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour, hosted the tour of the historic harbour as part of a series of events laid on for cruise conference visitors, with staff from the Illawarra Hotel and the Novotel joining in the fun.
The tour began with a Welcome to Country and storytelling by Aboriginal painter Richard Campbell of Gumaraa, the Aboriginal tour group and education company. With the breeze picking up and a slow storm rolling in from the west, Richard told the Dreaming Story of the Five Islands – of the badly behaved daughters of the West Wind who failed to keep their camp tidy and the father who banished them to sea – and the story of how the Dharawal people came to be on this country, why the koala has strong arms, how the whale got a hole in his head and why when the wattles blossom it’s time to look for whales at Windang island.
“It was really beautiful to have the Welcome to Country by Richard at the start,” Kristy said. “And then to get out on the boards, it was really good fun and a bit of a workout. I haven’t fallen in yet – so I’m feeling good!”
The conference was Kristy’s first visit to Wollongong and it proved a surprise hit. “I really enjoy Wollongong,” she said. “Just having a beach straight across from the hotel has been gorgeous.
“To be honest, it probably wasn’t on my list, but that’s what I love about the conference is each year we get to go to our new destination and, often ones that were not really on my radar.
“I could definitely see myself bringing the kids up for a holiday, that’s for sure.”
Vickie, who was last in Wollongong seven years ago, said the city had changed. “It was very much an industrial city based on the port,” she remembered. “It certainly has grown a lot.
“I’ve had a lovely few days. I went out to the [Nan Tien] temple this morning, which was really very beautiful and serene, and I’ve also done some of the art tours.
“I would certainly recommend it. Beautiful for the kids. Lots of things to go and do.”
Along with Sydney, Newcastle and Eden, Wollongong is one of four ACA destinations in NSW. While the cruise industry struggled through Covid, the ban on international cruise vessels visiting Australia was lifted in April 2022. At the 2023 conference – titled “Full Steam Ahead” – industry leaders were predicting a record season, joining local politicians in backing a push for Port Kembla to be the site of a new permanent cruise ship terminal.
In the meantime, tourism businesses can look forward to referrals from happy cruise conference goers who headed home with good reports.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Vickie said. “We get out into the regions and we just get to see what you’ve got to offer.”
Save the date: The 2023 Shellharbour SUP Festival will be on November 3-5. To find out more about lessons, tours and SUP yoga with Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour, visit www.supshellharbour.com