Hamilton Island Unveils Cultural Island Discovery With Robbie Congoo

An Immersive Journey of Culture, Cuisine and Connection to Ngaro Country in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef 

Hamilton Island proudly unveils Cultural Island Discovery with Robbie Congoo— an intimate, immersive experience that celebrates the natural beauty of the Whitsunday Islands while honouring the rich cultural heritage of the region’s Traditional Custodians. 

This four-hour journey transports guests back 9,000 years to the Ngaro Cultural Site at Nara Inlet on Hook Island, home to ancient artefacts and millennia-old cave paintings. 

Guided by Robbie, guests explore the island’s diverse flora and fauna while discovering the stories of his ancestors, the Ngaro People—expert seafarers who navigated the waters of The Whitsundays in bark outrigger canoes, sustaining their communities through fishing, hunting, and gathering. 

Robbie explains that the tour is much more than a history lesson; it’s an opportunity to “connect and be present.” 

“I am honoured to share the stories and traditions passed down through generations, providing an authentic and personal perspective on the island's history and its significance to the Ngaro people,” Robbie explains. 

The journey begins aboard the private vessel Pebble Beach, where guests are skippered from Hamilton Island Marina to neighbouring Hook Island. Upon arrival, they are welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony—a gesture of respect to elders and the land, and a ritual to ‘wake up the spirits,’ says Robbie. 

Evidence of the Ngaro people’s connection to The Whitsundays dates back more than 9,000 years.  Archaeological treasures such as rock paintings and stone quarries—among the oldest in Eastern Australia—offer a glimpse into their sophisticated way of life. 

“The Ngaro were skilled maritime hunters, using spears tipped with hardwood or the bone of whales and dugongs, and bark outrigger canoes to hunt for food. These practices sustained our people and connected us to the land and sea,” Robbie explains. 

“Our ancestors also quarried a unique volcanic stone from South Molle Island that is found nowhere else in the world,” he adds. “They used this stone to create artefacts, and both these artefacts and the island’s rock paintings hold special stories—stories that have lasted thousands of years.” 

As the tour progresses, Robbie weaves cultural teachings with stories, offering guests a deeper appreciation of the spiritual connection the Ngaro people share on Country. 

The experience concludes with gourmet canapes and drinks served back onboard Pebble Beach. Crafted by qualia Head Chef Joshua Hingston under Robbie’s direction, the menu celebrates native ingredients and distinctly Australian flavours, paying homage to the culinary traditions of the Ngaro people. 

Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling highlights the cultural significance of the collaboration and the unique opportunity it offers for visitors to connect with Country. 

“Cultural Island Discovery with Robbie Congoo is an invitation to experience The Whitsundays in an entirely new way—through the lens of its first people, their traditions, and their enduring connection to Ngaro Country,” says Dowling. “This collaboration with Robbie allows guests to not only share in Ngaro culture and heritage but also contribute to its ongoing preservation. We hope this experience fosters a deeper connection to this remarkable region and its Traditional Custodians.” 
 

Media Enquiries 

Hamilton Island Media Team 

pr@hamiltonisland.com.au 

Caroline Denyer 

Group Communications Manager 

Cdenyer@hamiltonisland.com.au 
 

Bookings and Further Information: 

A Cultural Island Discovery with Robbie Congoo is an intimate experience limited to a maximum of 8 guests per weekly tour. Visit our website for further details and bookings.  

Images: 

Cultural Island Discovery with Robbie Congoo 

Hamilton Island Image Library (one-time registration required)  

Notes for Editors: 

About Hamilton Island 

• Hamilton Island is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest integrated island resort, offering a range of accommodation options, from self-catering holiday homes and apartments to luxury hotels, 20 casual and fine-dining restaurant options, 2 spas, a 300+ berth marina, and over 65 tours and activities – and we’re always growing these.  
• Visitors to Hamilton Island can experience the best of Australia’s natural beauty—calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, fascinating coral reefs, and diverse flora and fauna and a year-round average temperature of 27 degrees.
• Hamilton Island is a gateway to the wonders of the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, including Whitehaven Beach – crowned by Lonely Planet as the World’s #1 Best Beach 2025 - just thirty minutes away via high-speed catamaran; and ‘Journey to the Heart’ – a bucket-list scenic flight via helicopter to Heart Reef where guests can explore this Australian icon from the private Heart Island pontoon - an experience exclusive to guests of Hamilton Island.  
• The Whitsundays are one of only two sites in Australia designated as a Whale Heritage site by the World Cetacean Alliance, hosting thousands of humpback whales annually.  
• With over 12 kilometres of unspoiled nature trails and secluded hideaways, guests can immerse themselves in Hamilton Island's natural beauty, discovering sandy coves and encountering Australia’s unique flora and fauna.  
• Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at The Hamilton Island Golf Club, designed by five-time British Open Champion Peter Thomson on neighbouring Dent Island. It stands as the only golf course in Australia situated on its own island.  
• For those seeking wellness, Hamilton Island has an abundance of activities, including sunrise yoga, run clubs, and a gym with a range of classes. Hamilton Island’s Spa wumurdaylin offers spa and relaxation treatments, and natural therapies.  
• Hamilton Island plays host to a year-round calendar of highly-anticipated events including Hamilton Island Race Week - the largest offshore keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, the Hamilton Island Endurance Series, as well as pas de deux in Paradise – a collaborative project between The Australian Ballet and qualia, running biannually. 
• The only island in the Whitsundays with its own commercial airport, Hamilton Island is easily accessible via short flights from major Australian East Coast cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as direct boat transfers from the Queensland mainland.  
• Established in 1982, Hamilton Island has received over $400 million in improvements since it was acquired by Australia’s Oatley family in 2003, including the development of the 18-hole golf course and the Peter Barda-designed Hamilton Island Yacht Club.  
• Tourism visitation to the entire Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 2023 totalled approximately 2 million visitor days. 

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