Story by Phil Kennedy
Owner of Aussie World Travel
Special to Sun Life Magazine (April 2015)
Aboriginal people have a continuous history spanning over 50,000 years.
As one of the world’s most ancient living cultures, Australia’s Aboriginal people have the oldest story on Earth, providing an irrevocable understanding of the birth of Australia, its ancient landscapes, spirituality and wonder.
Aboriginal Australia is a living legacy of spiritual knowledge, custodianship of land, culture, people and the connectedness of all things shared through rituals, art, dance, music, secret stories and journeys created in the Dreamtime – the time when ancestral spirits created the landforms and all life.
The landscape today is a map of the spirits’ journeys and stories created over thousands of years ago describing these journeys. These form the basis for stories that are still told.
Gaining an insight into aboriginal Australia brings the landscape to life and will allow you to gain a deeper appreciation of any journey to Australia. Aboriginal hosts and guides are warm, welcoming and extremely generous of spirit. They are keen to share their story and give an insight into their culture, which is often delivered with an engaging humor and deeply moving perspective.
Discover the aboriginal experiences
There are many magical and unique experiences to enjoy in Australia. But for a vacation that really is the best of both worlds, you simply can’t go past having a knowledgeable Aboriginal guide showing you a side of Australia you wouldn’t otherwise see.
In fact, in some cases you’ll literally be given access to areas that remain closed to regular tourists. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, cultural enthusiast, foody or nature lover, you’ll benefit from the knowledge and insights an aboriginal guide can provide.
Search an exciting array of accommodation, activities and tours with options to taste bush tucker, experience the healing powers of nature, discover breathtaking scenery, ancient rock art galleries, meet artists or take an art workshop yourself to gain a first-hand insight into the creation of contemporary aboriginal art.
You can visit Australia, but if you want to experience Australia as an indigenous champion, every tour that I choreograph for my clients has a measure of exposure to the traditional owners of “my homeland” You can even stay with an aboriginal family where people still practice elements of traditional lifestyles. For the truly adventurous, there are expeditions over land or sea to catch fish and mud crab, share stories around the crackling fire and camp on the beach under the abundant canopy of stars. Ahhh, however, for those who want the ultimate luxury experience of 5 stars, your secret is still safe with me.
“I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and ooding rains.”
“My Country,” a famed poem by Dorothea Mackellar. Visit http://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/archive/ mycountry.htm
