UNRIVALLED ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES // ISSUE 9
Welcome
Yalada, or hello in the language of the Kuku Yalanji of the Daintree region of Northern Queensland.
In this ninth edition of Connect to Country, a digital publication by Tourism Australia and Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE), we discover practical evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ingenuity in the form of ancient stone fish traps.
At the sacred “Dreaming Mountain”, Jellurgal (Burleigh Headland), we learn of stories passed down through generations. Then we head to El Questro Station, in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, where the Traditional Custodians’ first contact with non-Indigenous people was less than 100 years ago.
Families battling to keep their kids off a screen will love the featured epic adventures that will have adult and child alike ditch their shoes and gain survival skills. From the rainforests of tropical Queensland to the mudflats and mangroves of Broome / Rubibi, these tours teach visitors how to forage for their lunch and find fresh water in the most unlikely places.
Australia is known for its pristine beaches, and we travel the length and breadth of the country to find the most breathtaking combination of stunning ocean vistas and rich Aboriginal cultural heritage. From the ancient blood-red cliffs off the coast of Western Australia to the whiter-than-white sands of North Stradbroke Island / Minjerribah, we’ll have you itching to grab your flip flops and towel.
We discover that luxury and sustainability can coexist peacefully with tempting accommodation options that include eco-lodges so remote most guests arrive via light plane. With respect for Country and Indigenous cultures an inseparable part of these lux experiences, you will connect with the land through Indigenous-led tours that include exploring historic rock art sites, star talks and traditional cleansing ceremonies.
By necessity, storytelling is a well-honed skill within Aboriginal societies—as oral cultures, they relied on song, dance and stories to pass on knowledge that was key to their survival. In this edition, we hear from four of the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective’s guides who love sharing their culture through the art of a great yarn.
And finally, we give you the unique opportunity to win an original Aboriginal artwork! Painted by Sarah Robinson, a third-generation artist, Lizard Eggs is a vivid work that showcases a bush food that is highly prized in Sarah’s tiny Central Australian community.
Tell us why you’d love to hang an authentic and eye-catching piece of Aboriginal artwork on your wall to be in the running for this prize, valued at around $1,000. See Join the Dots for details.
Happy reading!
Welcome
Yalada, or hello in the language of the Kuku Yalanji of the Daintree region of Northern Queensland.
In this ninth edition of Connect to Country, a digital publication by Tourism Australia and Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE), we discover practical evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ingenuity in the form of a 2,000-year-old grindstone and ancient stone fish traps.
At the sacred Dreaming Mountain in Burleigh Heads, we learn of stories passed down through generations. Then we head to El Questro Station, in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, where the Traditional Owners’ first contact with non-Indigenous people was only 100 years ago.
Families battling to keep their kids off a screen will love the featured epic adventures that will have adult and child alike ditch their shoes and gain survival skills. From the rainforests of tropical Queensland to the mudflats and mangroves of Broome, these tours teach visitors how to hunt for their lunch and find fresh water in the most unlikely places.
Australia is known for its pristine beaches, and we travel the length and breadth of the country to find the most breathtaking combination of stunning ocean vistas and rich Aboriginal cultural heritage. From the ancient blood red cliffs off the coast of Western Australia to the whiter-than-white sands of Stradbroke Island, we’ll have you itching to grab your flip flops and towel.
We discover that luxury and sustainability can coexist peacefully with tempting accommodation options that include eco-lodges so remote most guests arrive via light plane. With respect for Country and Indigenous cultures an inseparable part of these lux experiences, you will learn and connect with the land through Indigenous-led tours that include exploring historic rock art sites, star talks and traditional cleansing ceremonies.
By necessity, storytelling is a well-honed skill within Aboriginal societies – as oral cultures, they relied on song, dance and stories to pass on knowledge that was key to their survival. In this edition, we hear from four of the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective’s guides who love sharing their culture through the art of a great yarn.[KR1]
And finally, we give you the unique opportunity to win an original Aboriginal artwork! Painted by Sarah Robinson, a third-generation artist Lizard Eggs is a vivid work that showcases bush food that is highly prized in Sarah’s tiny Central Australian community.
Tell us why you’d love to hang an authentic and eye-catching piece of Aboriginal artwork on your wall to be in the running for this prize, valued at around $1,000. See Join the Dots for details.
Happy reading!
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this publication may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.
