Come Face-to-Face with Indigenous Australia
Queensland's Tropical North is home to Australia's highest proportion of indigenous Australians, and its greatest diversity of native cultures. The last of Australia's regions to be explored, settled and developed, this unique paradise was known only to its indigenous inhabitants until a little over 100 years ago.
Today, this vast, remote region remains one of great beauty, defying the onset of civilisation. The landscape is one of contrasts and surprises: of rainforest, Outback and stunning mountain ranges; of wide open plains and hilltop Savannah; of wetlands, spectacular dune formations and tropical islands. Cape York Peninsula alone includes no less than five World Heritage listed areas, and its east coast is Australia's closest to The Great Barrier Reef.
Over 60% of Cape York's inhabitants are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. The Torres Strait Islanders, Melanesian peoples related to the Papuans of adjoining New Guinea, are sea-faring people with their own distinct culture and long-standing history with the islands and nearby coastlines. The interactions with the Papuans to the north, and Australian Aboriginal communities to the south, have maintained a steady cultural diffusion between the three societal groups dating back thousands of years.
Aboriginal history on the Cape goes back even further; at the time of European invasion, the region consisted of forty-three tribal nations, each with its own language and traditional practices. Although many of the languages have now been lost, Traditional Owners still exist for the whole of the Cape, and an estimated ten languages and possibly hundreds of dialects continue to be spoken. The tribes are made up of family groups, each with their own clan estates, and their distinct culture, bush foods, medicines and history. These are the traditional custodians of the land, who know its resources, its stories and its sacred places, who want to share with you their knowledge of the land and their culture.
Go native on a Wilderness Challenge Safari
One of the best ways to explore this remote area is to take a tour with family-owned and operated company, Wilderness Challenge. Try the Rock Art, Rainforest and Cooktown three-day small group 4WD adventure. One highlight is discovering Jowalbinna, the epicentre of 'Quinkan' Rock Art - a body of work acclaimed as being among the largest collections of primative art in the world.
Aboriginal Highlights
Laura: The area surrounding Laura is know as 'Quinkan country', renowned for its ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries. Carbon dating shows Aboriginal people have occupied this area for at least 37,500 years.
Cooktown: Living a different life from the days before colonisation, Aborigines have maintained their close ties to the natural environment. So don't miss the opportunity to share their incredibly rich knowledge, take a tour with indigenous guides based in the Cooktown area.
Daintree Coast: The traditional home of the Yalanji people, gain insights into their ancient culture and modern lives through personal tours, galleries and dancers.
