There are so many First Peoples led tourism experiences for visitors to explore in Victoria, here's a guide to some highlights:
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape – Gunditjmara Country
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is one of Australia’s great national heritage landscapes. Included on the UNESCO world heritage list, it contains one of the world’s most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems. Visitors get to experience a unique and authentic living Indigenous culture, a history and landscape that does not exist anywhere else in the world.
Located in Gunditjmara Country in south-eastern Australia, visitors will discover how Gunditjmara people worked with the natural resources and environment of the Victorian southwest region to establish a permanent place of human society over the past 30,000 years.
Budj Bim tours are run by Gunditjmara people. They will take you on a guided experience that unlocks the landscape, while immersing you in Gunditjmara knowledge and practices, which have continued to be passed down through their Elders.
The Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund will support the development of visitor experiences at Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. The investment will soon expand facilities to include a new natural amphitheatre yarning circle, interpretation boards, outdoor BBQ area and a boardwalk at the lakes edge connecting to the jetty.
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre – Wadawurrung Country
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre delivers cultural education programs on the wonders of Australia’s Indigenous Culture, connection to the land, spirituality, laws, cultural designs, and dreaming stories.
Located on Wadawurrung Country along the Surf Coast Highway at the gateway to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, visitors will build an understanding of Aboriginal histories and culture through personal interaction with groups and individuals from all Aboriginal community backgrounds.
The cultural education programs are delivered by expert staff and have been developed to suit the interests of the visitors to the centre, from primary school children to adults seeking a different experience from a conference.
The centre is looking to expand its program by offering wildlife, bush tucker and Indigenous medicinal garden experiences. The development of a masterplan is supported by the government through the Enabling Tourism Fund.
Boorp Boorp Boondyil exhibit – Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Visitors to Castlemaine can learn more about the history of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and immerse themselves in a new interactive cultural exhibition, supported by the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
Boorp Boorp Bondyil translates as ‘passing knowledge to our children’. The exhibit acknowledges the importance of a Welcome to Country and the role it is playing to increase knowledge of First Peoples culture.
Situated within the iconic Castlemaine Market Building, the experience illustrates the importance of caring for country, bush tucker, the eagle, bat, crow and the volcano to the cultural life of Dja Dja Wurrung peoples.
