Dreamtime Culture – Indigenous Experiences in Outback Queensland

Ancient lands, ancient stories – Outback Queensland offers unique Indigenous experiences across the entire region. Learn about Aboriginal culture first-hand with tours and attractions that provide real insights into the past and present.

There’s more demand than ever for authentic cultural experiences that celebrate the First Nations of Queensland. Here are a few ways you can discover more about one of the world’s oldest cultures by experiencing Indigenous customs and history in Outback Queensland.

OUTBACK AT ISA BUSH TUCKER EXPERIENCE

The nutritional and healing properties of native plants is a respected knowledge passed through generations of First Nations people for thousands of years. While in Mount Isa, walk with an indigenous heritage bush guide through Outback at Isa’s botanical garden and fish hatchery to learn about the traditional use of native flora and fauna, and discover the significance and meaning of Indigenous artworks and artefacts in the history museum.

BUSH TUCKER GARDEN & TRAIL

The Mitakoodi people have a rich connection to the land around Cloncurry. Head to Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Centre and Museum to see Indigenous artefacts and archaeological items, and experience the bush tucker garden and trail where you can enjoy the gardens and explore native bush tucker including honeyberries, pigweed and native gooseberries.

CARNARVON GORGE

Carnarvon Gorge in Carnarvon National Park is 27 million years old and an enduring treasure that continues to fascinate and delight, attracting up to 70,000 visitors every year. Take a walk to see the ‘Art Gallery’, considered to be one of the most significant collections of ancient artworks in the country, featuring over 2,000 paintings, ochre stencils and engravings along a 62-metre stretch of sandstone wall in the national park. Guided tours are also available – but ensure you book in advance.

BETOOTA SERPENT

Head off the regular tourist trails to Bedourie, Betoota and Birdsville to visit the awe-inspiring, large-scale Betoota Serpent, an open-air artwork created from stone and gibbers to tell Indigenous women’s Dreamtime stories. The serpent can be seen on the hillside from a distance and represents the river systems connecting the Channel Country.

WALLAROO OUTBACK RETREAT & BOOBOOK ECO TOURS

A 72,000-acre cattle station is the last place you’d expect to find Indigenous art, but Wallaroo Outback Retreat has many surprises in store for guests. Here you can view Indigenous rock paintings and stencils at Rainbow Cave and Arch Rock and visit the Axe Factory where hundreds of indents show where blade-sharpening occurred on the rocks thousands of years ago.

Note: To see the cultural sights on Wallaroo you must book a tour with Boobook Eco Tours. All tours must be prebooked as there’s no general public access. You’ll find the five-star glamping retreat 160km north of Roma, among the Carnarvon Ranges.

CUNNAMULLA FELLA CENTRE

At the Cunnamulla Fella Centre in Cunnamulla, be transported to a time when the Eromanga Sea covered the Outback. Discover the stories and culture of local Indigenous peoples and see the collection of some of the best local artworks on display at the Art Gallery and Heritage Museum.

SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND INDIGENOUS CULTURAL TRAIL

Take a drive along the South West Queensland Indigenous Cultural Trail of seven Outback Queensland communities with significance to the local Indigenous peoples. The trail takes in key cultural heritage sites across Dirranbandi, St George, Surat, Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and Cunnamulla.

DESERT DREAMING CENTRE & TRACKERS TOURS

Visit the new Desert Dreaming Centre and Indigenous space in Barcaldine where you’ll find First Nation exhibits, workshops and tours to experience Indigenous and paleo culture first-hand. The Desert Dreaming Centre acknowledges and honours the identity of the ‘Desert Mob’, Barcaldine’s original tribes that interconnected far across the region, from the Desert Uplands and Channel Country and down into Lake Eyre. Trackers Tours offers day tours in and around Barcaldine.

NULLAWOKKA FIRST NATIONS GALLERY & TOURS

Located in Bollon, Nullawokka First Nations Gallery and Tours offer unique gifts, bush tucker food and authentic First Nations artwork. Join Bill Speedy, a proud Gwamu elder, for a cultural walking tour along the tranquil Wallam Creek. Listen to the First Nations stories and history of the area, try some bush tucker, learn how to track animals and discover traditional scar trees on this fascinating and fun excursion.

TURRABURRA

Coming soon: the Iningai people share their ancient stories of the land through a 200-metre-long natural wall featuring thousands of etchings, petroglyphs and paintings at Turraburra, a former station near Barcaldine. While it is unknown how old the art is, it is the evidence of past generations who have left their mark. An ecotourism experience will include camping facilities, walking tracks, cultural activities and a BBQ and picnic area.

RED RIDGE

Visit Red Ridge in Blackall to buy a piece of Indigenous art for yourself. Red Ridge is a not-for-profit community organisation that undertakes a wide range of community and public art projects, including visual and performing arts, fashion design, craft and textiles. Red Ridge the Label features central western Queensland Aboriginal artists – with their stunning artworks presented via  the beautiful fashion brand.

CHARLEVILLE COSMOS CENTRE

The Cosmos Centre offers visitors an exciting journey through the Cosmos, including the ‘Universal Dreaming’ tour experience that provides an enchanting insight into the ways many different ancient cultures connected with the night sky. These ageless stories are shared at night around an atmospheric fire-pit. The experience is only available on request so please book ahead. To complete your Indigenous journey in Charleville, pay a visit to the Warrego River, where you’ll find the ‘Waadyanana Pathway’, a 1.4km walking track designed by the local Aboriginal people.

RIDGEE DIDGE CAFÉ

This favourite breakfast and lunch spot in Barcaldine is owned by local Iningai woman, Cheryl Thompson. The cafe serves her own Indigenous coffee, Coolamon Coffee, and sells a range of Indigenous products. Ridgee Didge Cafe employs Indigenous staff and provides training opportunities for local Aboriginal women.

AUSTRALIAN STOCKMAN’S HALL OF FAME

In their live shows, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame pays a spectacular tribute to the roles Indigenous people have played in the pastoral history of Outback Australia. Visit the museum and the ‘Songlines and Stock Routes’ exhibit to learn more about the origins of travelling stock routes and through their collection of over 350 video stories and interviews with Indigenous stockmen and women from all over Australia.

MOUNT ISA INDIGENOUS RODEO CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships has been designed as a stand alone rodeo event with its own unique event personality and vision. It will shine a spotlight on indigenous rodeo athletes, giving greater visibility to their skills and the stories of learning these skills through generations.

The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships will connect visitors to the northwest Queensland region, the Kalkadoon people, their stories and culture as well as the visiting indigenous communities from across Queensland and Australia. Create lasting memories, discovery and learning, a new opportunity to celebrate the many visiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through sport, song and dance, art and storytelling. It was also designed to give greater visibility to the many talented Indigenous athletes competing in a sport loved by so many.

STAR OF TAROOM

The Star of Taroom is located at the Wardingarri Keeping Place at the Taroom Historical Museum. The Wardingarri ‘Keeping Place’ houses artefacts from Iman Country, including the 160kg ancient sandstone rock carved with a large, beautiful star. The museum is only open by request. Call: 0409 663 701.

So are you ready for an authentic, cultural, indigenous experience?

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