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About Kool Tours
At the heart of Kool Tours lies a commitment not just to share, but to celebrate the Ngarrindjeri culture in a way that transcends borders and resonates with every person we encounter. We don't just aim to be recognised as one of the finest Aboriginal tourism experiences in Australia — we strive to be a living bridge connecting the ancient wisdom of the Ngarrindjeri with the eager minds of the youth, and future generations.
Kool Tours is built on a foundation of authenticity, wisdom, and unvarnished truth. Our insights into the Ngarrindjeri culture are respected by governmental bodies at all levels, a nod to our dedication to cultural fidelity. We stand for reconciliation and the recognition that while we may walk diverse paths, it is the journey towards unity that defines us.
Awards and Recognitions
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Won State Landcare Award in Aboriginal Land Management Category 2021
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Won Bronze in 2021 TicSA Tourism Awards for South Australia
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Won Gold in 2022 TicSA Tourism Awards for South Australia
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Won Gold in 2023 TicSA Tourism Awards for South Australia
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Won National SEA Bizcover Award for Change Category in National Business Awards
About Mark Koolmatrie
Proud Tribal Man from Southern South Australia, Munkanboli and Kool Tours Founder.
Munkanboli [ mun-kan-bol-ly ] — a First Nations figure of wisdom and knowledge.
A member of the Ngarrindjeri, our people comprise 18 distinct Lakinyeri (clans). My heritage is deeply rooted in the Ramindjeri, Yaralde, Meintangk, Warki, and Tangani Kukabrak Tribes. Our families are custodians of the Coorong region, the lower lakes of southern South Australia, the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, and all their encompassing lands, waters, and cosmology.
Born in Meningie by Lake Albert, I relocated to Gum Park and Block K on Raukkan land in 1968. My foundational years were spent at Raukkan Aboriginal School, nestled by Lake Alexandrina — the heart of the Ngarrindjeri Nation. My pride in my heritage and the Raukkan Community has never wavered.
Though I pursued postgraduate studies, I hold my cultural standing above any academic achievement.
Together with our seasoned tour guides, I invite you to immerse yourself in our stories, connect with our land, and learn our traditions in an unforgettable way.
Welcome to our country.
Mark.
What is Place?
As we care for Country, you too can care for Place.
When Kool Tours speak of caring for Country, we are also speaking of caring for Place.
Everyone understands when we regularly find that place in our heart, mind or Miwi we want to care for that one place. When we speak of caring for Country, we care for that place that is our cultural responsibility. Place is where you might go on holidays with your family, it’s the place that your family finds enjoyment, it’s the place where you can relax, and therefore, recreation is paramount to caring for place.
When we as Aboriginal people care for Country, we have an obligation to look after a waterway, a section of our dreaming story, that song line, that storyline, all of which completes us as original peoples. When visiting that Place on a regular basis it gives everyone a connection to Place or a connection to a waterway, landmark and spiritual being of land, water and cosmology.
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