Aboriginal Australia

Aboriginal Australia

Most people go to Australia to see Sydney, and the Great Barrier Reef. The Outback is also worth seeing. In the l800’s a few adventurous English and Scottish people emigrated and started huge cattle stations in the middle of no where and many of the same families still operate the properties today. The Northern Territory doesn’t have enough people in it to be called a State. They call the Far North, Never Never Land. If you went there, you were never heard from again. There are two seasons, the wet and the dry. You cannot visit during the wet - here the creeks run dry, or ten feet high– November to March much of it is flooded and the other months you should time your visit due to the heat up to 130 degrees. I would go April-July if you can. Also, don’t wear anything white. You need boots. The red dirt does not wash out and I ended up after one trip throwing away my white tennis shoes, slacks and shorts. You need a hat with a big brim so you can wear a fly net and sun glasses are a must. I always carry two pair with me they are so essential.

I’ve spent a lot of time in this region. Many camping tours, one by camel, a tour by hot air balloon, and even staying on a million acre cattle station where you went everywhere by small plane or helicopter. A great trip is by train. On the Ghan, from Adelaide to Darwin, across the entire area sleeping on the train. The wildflowers in the spring are breathtaking. There are countless millions of daisies with white and gold petals like paper, pink succulents, yellow poppies, delicate fragrant indigo, purple, brilliant red bushes that look like they have just caught fire and grasses of lilac, silver and pale green wave their feathery plumes in the wind. It is like entering Paradise after the savagery and harsh country you see the rest of the year.

Immerse yourself in Australia’s Aboriginal experiences, places and journeys. Aboriginal people in Australia have a rich, living culture stretching back at least 50,000 years.

Discover places steeped in history in the Northern Territory. Visit Australia’s Red Centre and walk around the base of Uluru, with an Anangu guide. Browse Aboriginal art in Alice Springs where the Arrente people have lived for 20,000 years. Learn about Dreamtime myths in the intricate rock art galleries of World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

Find the journey which brings you closer to the world’s oldest culture. Drive the Red Centre Way to sacred sites such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon.

Northern Territory. You can lose and find yourself in N.T. a place rich in Aboriginal history and rugged natural beauty. Immense yourself in Darwin’s melting pot of cuisines and culture. Cruise down vast Katherine Gorge and pan for gold at Tennant Creek. A great trip is to fly to the Tiwi islands, - 50 miles off the coast - and you will see a different tribe of people and their art work is famous. This is the tribe with the white painted faces.

The Red Centre. The huge monolith called Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is sacred to the Aboriginal people. It is spectacular at sunrise and sunset, with unbelievable colors. You can only walk a portion of the seven miles around the rock, and you will be amazed at the waterfalls, ponds, and greenery.

Kakadu. This is a World Heritage Site, three hours east of Darwin. This is Australia’s biggest National Park, with huge rugged escarpments, lush rainforest, and rock art galleries up to 50,000 old. Learn about culture and music from the Binnji/Mungguy people. Witness millions of migratory birds amongst the wetlands . See delicate waterlilies and prehistoric crocodiles thundering waterfalls and sparkling waterholes.

Alice Springs. A unique place, home to the Royal Flying Doctor service which is worth visiting and the School of the Air. For 20,000 years the Arrernte people have lived here. A good place to use as a base for doing your adventure sightseeing. You can go on a hot air balloon ride, a quad bike safari, a camping trip, or fly over the MacDonnell Ranges to one the many remote cattle stations.

This is definitely not a place to go off on your own, you need a guide., I saw a sign “Doctor’s office, we also do tattoo’s and pierce ears”. Made me grin.

Good book, Kings in Grass Castles, by Mary Durack. True story of a pioneering family in the outback.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel/Frosch

825 Santa Cruz Ave

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-961-2340 direct

maureen.jones@frosch.com

www.froschvacations.com