Issue nine of Connect to Country out now
In this edition we feature unforgettable family-friendly adventures, top coastal locations for cultural immersion and sustainable adventures designed with care for the environment and a deep respect for Country. Readers also have the chance to win an original artwork by Sarah Robinson, a third-generation artist from Central Australia.
El Questro - Injiid Marlabu Calls Us, Kununurra, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Issue 9 of Connect to Country digital magazine, dedicated to telling the stories of Discover Aboriginal Experiences members, is out now, offering a rich source of story ideas and inspiration for travellers as well as the opportunity to win an original artwork by Sarah Robinson, a third-generation artist from Central Australia. In this edition 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.
Guide Bolo Angus demonstrating how to build a shelter, Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb, Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
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.
The Red Centre attracts a quarter of a million visitors each year, and we explore some of the contemporary and traditional ways you can enjoy a rich experience of the culture and landscape of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon/Watarrka. These experiences will ensure you leave the Red Centre with humbling insights into Australia’s literal and metaphoric heart - as well as incredible photos.
Yura Tours, Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island, Queensland
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.
Yura Tours, North Stradbroke Island / Minjerribah, Queensland
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 readers 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.
View magazine here.
Promotional assets A suite of assets for social, web, email signature etc is available upon request. Please email dae@tourism.australia.com. Images of our members are available for download from our assethub. Please support our members by sharing this magazine via your networks. Feel free to repurpose any content as well to promote these experiences, however, please mention Discover Aboriginal Experiences and the respective member/s. For any enquiries, please contact dae@tourism.australia.com.
