By Charlotte Horne
Every year at Coastrek, we are privileged to hike some of Australia’s most stunning coastlines. As we, alongside you, lace up our hiking boots and embark on these incredible journeys, we acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Traditional Custodians, and we are committed to respecting and preserving the beauty and history of these remarkable landscapes.
Coastrek Sydney: Middle Head to Coogee
This stunning coastal journey weaves through the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Birrabirragal peoples of the Eora Nation. These First Nations communities have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years, maintaining deep cultural, spiritual and environmental connections to land and sea. As you walk, you’ll pass through Middle Head, home to significant Aboriginal heritage sites including ancient rock engravings and shell middens. Along the way, you’ll also explore Bondii, a name believed to come from the Aboriginal word “Boondi”, meaning “water breaking over rocks”, and Coogee, thought to be derived from “koojah”, referring to the smell of drying seaweed along the shoreline.
Coastrek Mornington Peninsula: Cape Schanck to Point Nepean
This spectacular coastal trail winds through the traditional lands of Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, who have cared for this Country for tens of thousands of years. Along the route, you may come across scarred trees and stone tool sites – powerful reminders of the Bunurong people’s enduring presence. In parts of the Peninsula, tuberous edible plants once cultivated by Bunurong women still grow today, offering a living connection to the traditional knowledge, culture, and practices that have been passed down through generations. 
Coastrek Sunshine Coast: Noosa to Mooloolaba
This vibrant coastal walk takes place on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples, who have cared for this Country for tens of thousands of years. The name Noosa is believed to come from the word Noothera, meaning ‘shady place’ – a reflection of the area’s natural canopy and lush, forested landscape. As you make your way along the shoreline toward Mooloolaba, take a moment to reflect on the deep cultural, spiritual and environmental significance of these lands - shaped by generations of First Nations custodians who continue to honour and share their connection to Sea Country.
Coastrek Fleurieu Peninsula: Parsons Beach to Port Elliot
This wild and beautiful coastal trek takes place on the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, one of the most prominent First Nations communities in South Australia. The Ngarrindjeri people are known for their deep cultural knowledge, strong leadership and rich traditions of storytelling – embodied in the legacy of David Unaipon, a celebrated Ngarrindjeri man whose image appears on the Australian $50 note. Unaipon was the first Aboriginal author to publish in English, an inventor, and a passionate advocate for his people and Country. As you journey along this striking coastline, take a moment to honour the enduring presence, wisdom and contributions of the Ngarrindjeri people.
Coastrek Margaret River: Yallingup Beach to Dunsborough
This breathtaking route winds through the traditional lands of the Wadandi people of the Pibulmun Nation, also known as the Saltwater People. The name Wadandi comes from Wardan, the ocean spirit, reflecting the Wadandi people’s deep spiritual connection to the sea. The area now known as Margaret River is traditionally called Wooditjup Bilya, named after the ancestral being Wooditj, who is said to have used his marban (magic) to create the river that still flows through this sacred land today.
All Coastrek routes are rich with stories of Country, where sandstone cliffs, bush tracks and sparkling waters hold centuries of ancestral knowledge and significance.
