In 2017, from the efforts of Wurundjeri leaders and community activism, Birrarung (Yarra River) was legally recognised as a single living entity—from Mt Baw Baw to Port Phillip Bay—granting it the same rights as everyone.

This paddle offers a space to reimagine both Birrarung’s potential as a thriving ecosystem and people’s relationship to it. As you travel along its living waters, you will explore the river’s journey through past, present, and future, guided by the vision of Burndap Birrarung Burndap Umarkoo – (Yarra Strategic Plan) – imagining a future where what’s good for the river is good for everyone.

This experience invites deep reflection on how might one reimagine their relationship with Birrarung, especially within the built environment of Narrm (Melbourne)?
What stories have shaped your personal and collective connections to this river?
And how can a person begin to listen to and care for Birrarung as they would a loved one?

Let this be a moment to honour, imagine, and act—for the river, and for everyone.

Paddling journeys with an artist in residence offer a unique and immersive way to experience place.

These tours not only provide the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of an area from a different perspective, but also allow participants to connect with the creativity and passion of each artist – to engage with their way of seeing and being in the world.

In a world where technology and commercialisation often dominate your daily lives, joining a paddling journey with an artist in residence can be a refreshing and rejuvenating experience. It offers a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of modern life and reconnect with the natural world, themselves and each other.

Please visit their website for more information.