Visit us where the Barwon River meets the sea. Find out how the river, wetlands, mangroves, estuary and ocean are connected, and about the diverse life that depends on them all.
Activity description
Wadawurrung People know the Barwon River as Barre Warre Yaluk – the great river that flows from the mountains to the sea. This walk and talk is based around the Barwon River in Barwon Heads, where students will identify different water environments including the river, wetlands, mangroves, estuary and ocean.
Learn about the diverse life that these habitats support, including threatened species, and how people have interacted with this place over thousands of years. We all have a role in continuing to care for and protect our waterways and oceans – now and for the future.
This activity will cover topics such as:
- Wadawurrung connections to Country
- Fresh and saltwater environments
- Fresh and saltwater animals and their adaptations
- People’s use and connections to water environments
- Protecting special places – e.g. Ramsar wetlands, Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
- Caring for the coast – e.g. fishing regulations, protecting water habitats, marine pollution, avoiding waste and picking up litter, staying off sand dunes, leaving shells behind.
Location: Barwon Heads.
Available to: Schools in Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Armstrong Creek and Geelong, and those staying in Barwon Coast’s caravan parks.
Available days/times: Monday to Thursday between 9am-4pm.
Curriculum links: F-10 Geography, F-10 Sustainability, F-10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Suggested resources related to this activity:
- Wetlands and their significance to Wadawurrung – YouTube video
- Bukareeyoo – YouTube video
- Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation – browse the Resources tab
- Friends of the Bluff – browse the Learn + Explore tab
- Bellarine Catchment Network – browse the Resources tab
- Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- Cool.org – search for teaching resources by year level, subject and topic
You may also like to visit the Barwon River bird observation point located on the river in Ocean Grove. Interpretive signs share insights about the Ramsar wetland and migratory birds, and the brochure has a list of birds to look for year-round.
