You haven’t been to Australia until you’ve gained an understanding of the Aboriginal way of life and explored its rich and varied culture.
Through tourism ventures, here are the 10 best ways to find out about our indigenous heritage, which will often take you to some of the most remote and beautiful parts of the country.
1. Journey to the far reaches of East Arnhem Land – Arnhem Land, NT
This incredible corner of Australia is full of adventure for those who like to push into the country’s remote outposts.
The Yolngu people of East Arnhem Land have a beautiful connection to their environment and are often happy to teach travellers about their ways. If you’re up for a bit of a rustic, croc-laced experience, you can join a tour that will take you into Aboriginal communities where you can stay and spend time with the Yolngu.
We have travelled with Venture North and found them to be fantastic, but there are also a few other operators in the area. You can also head to Banubanu Retreat on Bremer Island in the Arafura Sea, where you’ll find simple, tented accommodation and guided activities such as fishing and turtle watching. Banubanu has Mark Olive’s seal of approval with the indigenous chef saying that the retreat “has almost everything you want in an experience, from world-class fishing, accommodation, boating, and immersing yourself in Yolngu culture, to having an amazing meal and chilling out."
Why you should go: We are so lucky in Australia to be able to venture into remote lands where we can connect with the original custodians and learn from an ancient culture. It’s an experience with the power to change perceptions.
2. Watch your jaw drop at Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival
The striking animal forms, chants and motions of the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival are as relevant now as they have been for tens of thousands of years. It’s only every two years, but there’s a reason you should plan for the next one.
Held every two years in bushland near the township of Laura, 317 kilometres north of Cairns, the 2013 Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival sees 17 Indigenous groups dance 30-minute sets. It runs for three days in June and attracts 5000 visitors – half of whom are Indigenous, the other half non-Indigenous.
In the words of Jennifer Pinkerton, “sometimes life hands you an experience so beautiful and mercurial that my job, to press the things I see into words, becomes tricky. I reckon my Darwin doctor – who gave me a flu jab the day I returned home – said it best. “That festival is meant to be ‘the one’. A once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Why you should go: Put simply, this is one of the most culturally significant events in the country. It’s a foot-stomping, dust-raising melodic celebration of song, dance and stories shared by arguably the world’s oldest surviving culture
3. Meet the islanders – Tiwi Islands, NT
You will need a permit to visit this cluster of islands north of Darwin, where the indigenous people have been for around 7000 years.
The Tiwi people’s culture has been influenced by contact with Polynesia and thus differs to mainland communities, which is evident in their beautiful crafts, including batik, pottery and silk screening.
Since it was introduced, the Tiwis have also wholeheartedly embraced AFL and you will find it an integral part of the community.
With more than 900 participants out of a community of over just over 2500, the Tiwi Islands can claim the highest football participation rate of any community in Australia. If you want to experience a footy match with real passion, forget about the mainland games – head to a game with a real difference.
Why you should go to Tiwi Island : To travel almost as far north as you can in Australia and to share in a culture that has lived in isolation for thousands of years.
4. Experience our greatest natural wonder alongside the traditional owners
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel is a unique, educational and commemorative Great Barrier Reef experience, incorporating the world’s oldest living culture and the stories Traditional Owners have passed down over tens of thousands of years.
Spend your day scuba diving and snorkelling as Indigenous rangers recount the Dreamtime stories of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay and Yirrganydji people to help you gain a deeper cultural understanding of this diverse ecosystem.
The sea country of these four Traditional Owner groups stretches from Port Douglas to the Frankland Islands and includes the two sites you visit.
Your day on the outer Great Barrier Reef has five hours of water activities split between two unique sites showcasing a variety of colourful corals and marine life. Snorkel and dive over stunning coral gardens where anemones, sea whips, clams and plate corals are home to clown fish, angel fish and bat fish.
Why you should go: To appreciate a world in the world’s largest coral reef system through one of the oldest-surviving people.
5. Party with a remote community – Katherine, NT
The 350-people strong community of Barunga swells to around 4000 souls every June long weekend, when The tiny community of Katherine plays host to sporting events, music, and traditional arts and culture.
Attracting performers including the likes of Gurrumul and Paul Kelly, as well as lesser-known local artists, the line-up is always eagerly anticipated for this celebration of remote indigenous communities.
Why you should go: To feel the warm welcome of a remote indigenous community that’s otherwise closed to travellers.
6. Take a mini-break to the Dreamtime Brambuk – the National Park & Cultural Centre, Victoria
Nestled in the Grampians just three hours from Melbourne, sits this centre of learning where visitors can take a Bunjil Creation Tour to hear Dreamtime stories, explore significant rock art, and get a grounding in local indigenous lore at the fantastic Cultural Centre at Brambuk .
Why you should go: Being so accessible from Melbourne, it’s a great family trip to give the kids an insight into the rich tapestry of our indigenous heritage.
7. Awe-inspiring ancient figures – Kimberley Coast
Thought to be at least 17,000 years old, the Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) figures makes ancient Egyptian art look as if it was painted last week.
The beautifully drawn, elongated figures featuring tassles, sashes, and movement have mysterious origins and have not yet been claimed by local indigenous people as the handiwork of their ancestors.
Theories abound as to who may have created these drawings, some argue a different group of Homo sapiens settled the coast and busily decorated rocks.
Similar to the Gwion Gwion are the Wandjina paintings, which, although very different is style, are equally intriguing.
There are an estimated 100,000 of these sites in the Kimberley.
Why you should go: To have your perception of human existence rewritten, and to understand the journey of the earliest settlers.
8. Walk in the footsteps of the Mungos – Mungo National Park, NSW
Mungo National Park is both archaeologically and spiritually significant.
To the three indigenous groups of the area, the Paakantji, Ngyiaampaa and Mutthi Mutthi, the ground-breaking discoveries of Mungo woman and Mungo man prove the endurance of their people and serve to teach us all valuable lessons.
The remains, which are some of the oldest found outside of Africa and dated at up to 42,000 years old, are no longer at the site but what you will see are 20,000-year-old footprints that are the largest set from the Ice Age in the world.
You’ll also learn about the survival of the people in a changing and challenging environment and gain a new appreciation for humankind’s resilience.
Why you should go: For the chance to visit a place of overwhelming scientific and cultural significance that pre-dates some of the oldest civilisations.
9. Be a part of the solution – Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures, Arnhem Land, NT
The Garma Festival remains one of the most significant indigenous events in the country, mixing world political and business leaders alongside regular punters.
Rather than aiming to simply entertain or generate tourism, the festival was established to improve indigenous lives and preserve the culture of the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land.
Over four days, you can enjoy the evening Bunggul Dance, musical performances and indigenous films.
This year’s event is significant as it marks the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. Held in the remote community of Gulkula, flights are in and out of Gove.
This year, the festival runs from 29 July to 1 August.
Why you should go: To be a part of a collective who want to create a positive future and cherish a valuable past.
