TASTE
A hint of elderberry. A touch of Davidson's plum. And a cultural learning and storytelling experience amongst the botanical gardens of Firescreek. This wine tasting is unlike any other.
Fruits, flowers and herbs sprout throughout the botanical haven of Firescreek Winery on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Shining the spotlight on native ingredients, Firescreek does wine with a difference. Hints of feijoa, elderberry, mountain pepper and Davidson plum ripple through the 25 wines produced on the property. But what's truly special about the Firescreek experience is the chance to wander through the lush grounds with Darkinjung Elder Kevin 'Gavi' Duncan on the Firescreek Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience. Gavi offers insights into the traditional use of the plants as both nutrition and medicine; there’s no better way to gain an appreciation for the bounty of Firescreek before sipping on some of the distinctive-flavoured wines. The story behind the land really brings out the flavour, as Gavi also shares his knowledge of Aboriginal rock art, sacred sites and stories about wine country and takes you through a cleansing ceremony through the vibrations of his didgeridoo.
FIRESCREEK ABORIGINAL STORYTELLING AND WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE | AU$150
SLEEP
Atop a sacred site in the ancient lands of Arnhem Land, surrounded by savannah woodlands and sweeping floodplains, rugged ranges and idyllic lily-covered billabongs, and framed by vibrant monsoonal rainforests, sits a remote eco-lodge.
SLEEP
Atop a sacred site in the ancient lands of Arnhem Land, surrounded by savannah woodlands and sweeping floodplains, rugged ranges and idyllic lily-covered billabongs, and framed by vibrant monsoonal rainforests, sits a remote eco-lodge.
From the moment feet meet the earth, visitors to Davidson's Arnhemland Safari Lodge at Mt Borradaile, a registered Aboriginal sacred site, feel the honour of being able to connect to this special place. Davidson's Arnhemland Safari Lodge is more than just a destination for travellers to rest their heads. A 50-minute light plane flight from Darwin transports guests to the site where the wilderness lodge exclusively leases the 700 square-kilometre area. Owned and managed by its Traditional Custodians, the Amurdak people, it’s hard not to feel the humbling privilege of knowing you are walking in the footsteps of people who have inhabited the area for more than 50,000 years.
Situated in a natural bush setting, guests can wake up to the morning calls of the local wildlife. Each trip is tailor-made for guests upon arrival, with most starting with a walk to the Rainbow Serpent, a site where a guide will share an important Aboriginal Creation story and introduce you to the area's spectacular rock art, geology and bush food and medicine. Take a dip in the pristine natural swimming hole located high up in the escarpment; tour rock shelters with walls adorned with art that dates back thousands of years; explore the catacombs that hold artefacts and rich history; grab the fishing rod to try your hand at snagging the Territory's famed barramundi; or chug your way along the meandering channels onboard a boat and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife.
DAVIDSON'S ARNHEMLAND SAFARIS | From AU$850
DO
There's nothing quite as special as exploring one's city. With the hustle and bustle of city life, there's rarely a moment to stop and appreciate the Country upon which we walk.
On Koorie Heritage Trust's walks, Melbournites and visitors to the city have the opportunity to learn about Melbourne's/Narrm Aboriginal history and contemporary culture.
“Gnokan Danna Murra Kor-Ki” (give me your hand, my friend). That’s the motto of the Aboriginal owned and managed not-for-profit organisation, which aims to bring Koorie and non-Koorie people together to learn, connect, and reconnect with the rich Aboriginal culture of the city.
Located at Federation Square by the banks of Birrarung Marr (River of Mists - Yarra River), it has one of the largest collections of Koorie art and artefacts on permanent display, including thousands of objects, paintings, registered oral histories and photographic archives. But it's through its inner-city cultural walks that Koorie Heritage Trust puts its motto, “hand-in-hand”, into action.
Offering two walks delivered over one to two hours - Birrarung Wilam (Common Ground) Walk and the Scar Tree Walk - visitors are led through the city by a local Koorie guide to learn about the culture and history of the Aboriginal People of the Kulin Nations.
KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST BIRRARUNG WILAM AND SCAR TREE WALKS | From AU$30
SEE
In a visual storytelling experience unlike any other, Spirits of the Red Sand brings the world's oldest living culture to the centre stage and relives the story of an Aboriginal family throughout the ages.
SEE
In a visual storytelling experience unlike any other, Spirits of the Red Sand brings the world's oldest living culture to the centre stage and relives the story of an Aboriginal family throughout the ages.
Using traditional storytelling styles, Spirits of the Red Sand follows the story of survival from Dreamtime to the moment the ships arrive on the island's shores in the 1800s, through the eyes of an Aboriginal family.
From Beenleigh Historical Village on Yugambeh country - between Brisbane/Meeanjin and the Gold Coast in Queensland - the interactive Aboriginal live theatre show and dinner experience will transport you to an era where two cultures collide in a dramatic, moving and immersive show.
Spirits of the Red Sand is a powerful performance that aims to “create respect and admiration for a culture,” and explores issues of colonisation, the importance of storytelling, and healing.
For visitors wanting a deeper experience, Spirits of the Red Sands offers a number of group experiences, including team building opportunities, to share culture, stories and histories, and “help others see what we have seen and hear what we have heard.”
And while visitors will leave with unforgettable memories, it's the story behind how this group came to be that provides an extra spark of warmth. Initially started as a drama and dance program for at-risk youth, drawing in children who were in search of a place to belong, the show is now a world-acclaimed dance group. The rest is, as they say, history.
SPIRITS OF THE RED SAND | From AU$99
READ
Picture this: You're travelling through the spectacular southern coast of Western Australia, exploring the world-class wines, unspoilt coastlines and ancient underground caves of Margaret River. It's spectacular, but deep in the region's history lies a Dreaming story of how it came to be.
These are the kind of stories that authors Bruce Pascoe and Vicky Shukuroglou explore in their book 'Loving Country: A Guide to Sacred Australia'. This guidebook allows travellers to experience Australia through the eyes of the First Nations Peoples. The book explores the history, Dreaming stories, traditional practices, Indigenous tours and the importance of recognition and protection of place in 18 different destinations. From Birdsville and Broome/Rubibi to Kangaroo and Bruny islands and the whale story of Margaret River, Loving Country highlights there’s so much more to explore around Australia than just what’s on the surface. Experience this first hand on one of Koomal Dreaming’s tours, which take guests to the heart of sites in Margaret River. On any of Koomal's tours and experiences, Wadandi man, Josh Whiteland, guides guests through the Margaret River region and shares his knowledge of bush foods and medicines, stories of Dreaming spirits, and music. The highlight tour takes visitors on a bushwalk where Josh shares local knowledge, leading into Ngilgi Cave for a heart-opening didgeridoo experience amplified through the cave's acoustics.
KOOMAL DREAMING TWILIGHT DIDGERIDOO CAVE TOUR | From AU$65
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