NOCTURNAL
Fun that doesn’t stop at sunset
WORDS JUSTIN MENEGUZZI
NOCTURNAL
Fun that doesn’t stop at sunset
WORDS JUSTIN MENEGUZZI
Anangu share the Mala story, from Kaltukatjara/Docker River to Uluru, through a drone, sound and light show.
When you’re on holiday you don’t want the fun to fade with the setting sun. Explore these cultural experiences and adventures that make the most of the night.
The sun has set and stars are beginning to pop into view above Uluru, which broods silently on the horizon. Ordinarily, the monolith would be the centre of attention, with travellers clinking champagne glasses to toast the rock as it changes colour in the fading light. But this is not an ordinary night. Tonight, Uluru is merely the backdrop to the spectacular retelling of an ancient story*.
Wintjiri Wiru is an immersive storytelling experience.
Five years in the making, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia's Wintjiri Wiru utilises about 1,200 drones to create an incredible light and sound show projected on the night sky. Launched in April 2023, the 25-minute spectacle brings to life the sacred Mala story that belongs to the Anangu people, who are the Traditional Owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Central Australia.
It’s both a murderous tale of conflict between the Mala and Wintalka people, involving shapeshifting demons and goddesses, and a morality play that speaks to the importance of honouring tradition. While tucking into roving canapés, including crocodile pies and cucumbers infused with gin and sprinkled with zesty green ants, light designer Bruce Ramus explains how he collaborated with the Anangu to create a modern depiction of their cultural story.
"I took a lot of care to faithfully represent the Anangu cave paintings, like the colours they use and the forms they’ve created, but I also needed to make some creative decisions to suit the drones we’re using." — BRUCE RAMUS
The face of Kurpany, the devil dog, looms over the audience.
‘I took a lot of care to faithfully represent the Anangu cave paintings, like the colours they use and the forms they’ve created, but I also needed to make some creative decisions to suit the drones we’re using,’ says Bruce. ‘The Anangu guided me through that and gave me notes, it was a very rich experience.’
On the viewing platform, a hush settles over the audience as they sit on bench seats illuminated with designs by Anangu artist Christine Brumby. Anticipation builds then, suddenly, the desert’s silence is broken by singing and gasps of delight as a luminous white wallaby hops over the sand. The earth pulsates with colour and drones fly toward the sky, gathering overhead to form trees, water, fire and people. The pinpricks of drone lights resemble a dot painting by Australia’s desert peoples, albeit one that’s broken the confines of its canvas to float in the sky above us.
Wintjiri Wiru also features important inma (songs) passed down through the generations.
Senior Anangu were involved in the development of the Wintjiri Wiru experience.
Awe quickly turns to dread as the drones shift to form the enormous, hunting eyes of Kurpany, a ferocious devil dog conjured to exact a bloody revenge. But you’ll read no spoilers here. The world’s oldest storytelling cultures know the value of a good ending — as Kurpany vanishes into the night, a disembodied voice urges us to become keepers of the Mala story, a glowing secret waiting in the desert.
Options to experience Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia's Wintjiri Wiru:
- AFTER DARK: adult from AU$190, includes light refreshments and return transfers.
- SUNSET DINNER: adult from AU$385, includes drinks and canapés at sunset and a gourmet dinner hamper celebrating native ingredients and return transfers.
- TWILIGHT: adult from AU$190, includes unlimited Australian wine, Australian cheese and dessert hamper and return transfers.
*As Custodians of the land, Anangu hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share their story, RAMUS designed and produced an artistic platform using drones, light and sound to create an immersive storytelling experience.
Voyages Wintjiri Wiru is not the only tour that offers fun after dark:
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Private Dining Experience
Flames of the Forest
The captivating rainforest setting adds a unique layer to the Flames of the Forest dining experience.
Flames of the Forest, tucked away in the enchanting rainforests of Queensland’s Tropical North, sets the scene for an incredible dining experience featuring Dreamtime storytelling and didgeridoo music. Nature’s gentle symphony provides the backdrop for an intimate evening, where flickering candles illuminate the ancient trees as you savour a tropical-inspired menu paired with quality Australian beverages.
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