DESCRIPTION:

'Dreamtime' is an Aboriginal expression that refers to 'the time of the creation of all things,' when totemic ancestors created the natural world: landscapes, people, the natural elements of water, air, and fire, and the celestial bodies. It is said that to understand Australian Aboriginal law, culture, and their relationship with the physical and spiritual world, one must begin with the land. Everything about Aboriginal society is inextricably interwoven with, and connected to, the land. “Culture is the land...” author Mick Dodson wrote, “You take that away and you take away our reason for existence.... Removed from our lands, we are literally removed from ourselves.”

 

Witness an Australia steeped in tradition where cultural and natural history are deeply entwined. From the relaxed, cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere of coastal Darwin to the desert's unearthly stillness, tour modern art galleries and view ancient rock paintings depicting the Dreamtime.

 

Embark on a truly original journey, spanning Australia’s vast continent from north to south, with the goal of gaining understanding about the delicate relationship between Australia’s land and its people. Australian Aboriginal people have the longest continuous cultural history of any group of people on Earth, dating back 65,000 years. They live on a land whose biodiversity rivals any in the world. It is ancient, extensive, and unique, and includes many species and natural communities found nowhere else on Earth.

 

Jumping off from the northern city of Darwin, the adventures begin in Aboriginal-owned Arnhem Land, a place of traditional beauty, which is only accessible with special permission. Occupying about 97,000 square kilometers of forests and spectacular rivers and gorges, Arnhem Land is an Aboriginal homeland and sacred to its people. Overnight for three nights at a very comfortable safari camp, nestled in a landscape of rugged ranges fringed by lily-covered billabongs. Witness ancient rock art, view wildlife by open 4WD vehicles or guided walks, take a dip in a freshwater pool, cruise the wetlands by boat, or search for exotic butterflies.

 

Then leave the lush “Top End” of Australia behind and travel by historic train to the continent’s red desert interior. Visit the famous Outback town of Alice Springs and experience the sacred Aboriginal site of Uluru Rock (Ayers), as you hear about the creation stories and spiritual life of the local people. Continue traveling into South Australia, where the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island echoes the art motifs and creation stories of the people. Conclude the journey in Adelaide, getting a hint of Australia’s more recent colonial history and enjoying the fine wine-country nearby. 

 

CONSIDER:

The trip can be more rustic, staying in bush camps, or luxury, staying in small, high-end boutique hotels.

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.