Yundi Nature Conservancy Field Trip 2025

Join us for a field trip to Yundi Nature Conservancy with Ngarrindjeri storyteller, Mark Koolmatrie and Restoration Ecologist, John Fargher. The experience will include a smoking ceremony and then a journey of culture, history, caring for Country with restoration, conversation and listening.  We hope this will provoke a sense of connection to Country and place, as well as deepen your relationship to nature.

Participants will actively contribute to restoration activities on Warki Country and around the Yundi swamp through appropriate activities for the time of year for the visit (this may include weeding around endangered swamp plants or removal of Phragmites reeds from the swamp).

Ticket price + booking fee includes bus transport to/from MOD. and lunch.

Schedule:

9:45am – Start at MOD. (MOD. on North Terrace adjacent Morphett Street Bridge, Adelaide.)

10:00am - Participants and MOD. Staff will depart Adelaide from MOD. via a bus transport

11:00am - Arrive at Yundi Nature Conservancy, smoking ceremony and cultural tour with Mark

12:30pm – Lunch with John and Mark

1:00 pm – Restoration activities on Warki Country on the swamp

2:30 pm - Depart Yundi via Bus back to MOD.

3:30pm – Arrive back at MOD.

John Fargher is the landholder at Yundi, and is a Restoration Ecologist and Natural Resource Economist who has worked in more than 50 countries for the World Bank, Global Environment Facility and private sector as well as Australian and other national aid agencies.

Mark Koolmatrie is an enthusiastic Ngarrindjeri storyteller and learner who is engaging Aboriginal people and landholders in a process of re-learning about Aboriginal values and land management practices in the management of aquatic ecosystems in the Ngarrindjeri nation, especially Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps. Mark is also the owner of award-winning tourism business Kool Tours, providing authentic experiences about Aboriginal history and knowledges.

What to expect:

The Field Trip will have a small cohort starting start at MOD. on North Tce . We will then take a bus ride to Yundi Nature Conservancy, where we will be greeted by John and Mark. As the nature event is outside, we suggest wearing clothing that would be appropriate for outdoor activities. Gum boots are available for some people (show sizes vary) at the site. After a wonderful day of learnings, you will take a bus back to MOD. which will conclude the event.