Dreaming of dreamtime travel?

One of the great attractions of outback travel is the contact with the rich and ancient history and culture of indigenous Australians.  But did you know that it is not just the outback that offers you the opportunity to learn more about the cultures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

The establishment of Indigenous Tourism Australia (ITA) has seen a cohesive approach being applied to the 300 or so Indigenous Tourism operators that are working energetically towards making a sustainable indigenous tourism experience available around Australia.  ITA was founded as part of Tourism Australia and is funded by the Australian Government as part of its commitment to grow quality indigenous niche tourism businesses in Australia.

As Aden Ridgeway, Executive Chairman of ITA says “… people don’t come to our communities for the air travel or fancy hotels… they come for the experience of the culture and to see and experience firsthand the story of the ‘other Australia’”.

At this point it seems that while indigenous tourism is a rapidly growing market, it does not as yet drive destination choice or holiday itinerary planning.  The indigenous flavour in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony acknowledged the increasing international attention, and the worldwide focus on conservation and ecotourism have stimulated demand for knowledge and greater insight into one of the world’s oldest cultures.

Research conducted by Tourism Australia shows that authenticity and interaction are key components of the Aboriginal tourism experience.  Experiences that involved interacting with Aboriginal people were desired, so long as they were felt to be authentic.

So how do we go about finding our way to the dreamtime stories and experiences of Aboriginal Australia?  A good place to start is the Tourism Australia website, which will lead you to a number of operators who are committed to offering an authentic experience.

Tours are available Australia-wide and are not necessarily confined to the outback.  Certainly the Northern Territory offers a wealth of choices, including as it does the Torres Strait Islanders and their culture.  But a wonderful indigenous experience can be yours, as close as the Blue Mountains near Sydney.

In Perth and its environs there are a number of local Aboriginal owned and operated businesses, such as the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery, which offers an insight into the wealth of the ancient culture through paintings and hand-painted objects, as well as traditional items such as clapping sticks, boomerangs and didgeridoos.  Or take a cruise along the Swan River with Aboriginal guides, followed by a guided walk through native bushland and gain an insight into the richness of the indigenous culture, its ancient heritage and knowledge of local legend, flora and fauna.

Of course, Cairns, Uluru, the Daintree Rainforest, Kakadu, the Kimberleys, the Dandenongs, the Adelaide Hills … all these places – and many others – give you the opportunity to understand how Aboriginal culture can never be separated from the land – all that is sacred is localised within the landscape.  As the world as a whole is coming to grips with sustainable living, we can learn so much from a culture that has always seen the land as something to be preserved and not destroyed.

Fortunately indigenous tourism is rapidly changing from when an indigenous experience was allowing tourists to climb Uluru, a sacred symbol to Aboriginals, to an industry that engenders respect and understanding for the immense spirituality of the sacred sites and Aboriginal Australians’ deep and ancient connection with this land.

If you want to learn more about experiencing Aboriginal Australia – both outback and urban – a good place to start would be one of the many Aboriginal Culture Centres which are located around Australia in both metropolitan and regional locations.  You can learn about indigenous culture, customs and art and have a deeper understanding of these things if you choose to take a tour to learn more about the original custodians of this wild, ancient and beautiful land.

TakeABreak.com.au offers accommodation options throughout Australia, and is a leading provider of regional accommodation opportunities.  Check out the site and find the perfect accommodation around Australia as you explore indigenous culture.

 About the Author
Lisa Monk is a marketing communications writer with a diverse background that includes experience in travel, hotel, finance, public relations and advertising. She has worked with Club Med, the Holiday Inn group and on a number of other travel projects on a freelance basis.  Lisa has travelled extensively throughout Asia Pacific, America and England.

Lisa now works with TakeABreak.com.au as editor of the Holiday Inspirations newsletter and other publications.  She lives in Sydney with her husband Andy, and sons Joseph and Nicholas.