Why every Australian should book an Aboriginal tour
Did you know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are widely regarded to be the world’s first astronomers? Or, that they were baking bread around 18,000 years before the ancient Egyptians? How about that some Aboriginal rock art is so old, it depicts megafauna that became extinct at least 40,000 years ago?
The depth of Indigenous Australian historical knowledge is unparalleled in any of the world’s living cultures – and it’s right here on our doorstep. As locals, we may have grown up tasting billy tea and damper, reading Dreamtime stories, and trying to play a didgeridoo, but there’s so much more to know. And there’s no better teacher than an Indigenous guide.
Spend time in Western Australia’s World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park (home to the iconic Bungle Bungle Range) with an Aboriginal guide from Kingfisher Tours Garingbaar, and discover that rock art doesn’t just represent things people observed; the paintings also contain vital messages.
Kingfisher Tours Garingbaar, Western Australia
Some serve as warnings, while others indicate which foods can be sourced locally. Meanwhile, at Mt Borradaile in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, rock art depicts the arrival of Europeans – see tall-masted ships painted on rock walls with Davidsons Arnhemland Safaris, which has special permission to enter this part of the NT.
Aboriginal knowledge shared on tours often includes ingenious bush survival skills that, as Australians, we’d do well to know. For starters, how do you eat wild oysters when you don’t have a tool to prise them off the rocks? With Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours, you’ll discover that a handful of spinifex grass and a flame is all the Bardi Jawi people have ever needed to prepare a delicious meal. In Tropical North Queensland, your Walkabout Cultural Adventures guide will show you how the Kuku Yalanji people have traditionally bent trees in arrow-like forms to mark pathways through the dense Daintree Rainforest.
Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours, Western Australia
Discovering the harmonious relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the land is just as inspiring. On a tour of northern New South Wales with Explore Byron Bay you’ll learn how the Bundjalung peoples have cared for nature in mindful ways as you taste native fruits and nuts, listen to birdsong and feel the winds – making for a transformative experience.
Finally, banish any misconception that all Aboriginal tours are serious. Fun is at the heart of Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours’ stand-up paddleboarding excursions in the Solitary Islands Marine Park on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. As you paddle the waterways of Gumbaynggirr Country, your Aboriginal guide will introduce you to local bush tucker, teach you some Gumbaynggirr words, and regale you with Dreaming stories connected to your exquisite surroundings. It’s yet another way to broaden your own knowledge of Aboriginal Australia.
