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UNDER
ONE SKY
UNDER
ONE SKY
Exploring the night
sky from a different perspective:
Down Under.
Exploring the night
sky from a different perspective:
Down Under.
It’s time to step beyond familiar Australian landscapes and into the ancient Aboriginal cultural tapestry that has shaped the land for tens of thousands of years. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples extend an invitation to travelers to engage with Indigenous guides and learn their stories, and to gain insight into a profound spiritual connection to nature, reflected in the sacred sites, art, and traditions that have endured and resonated through time. This extraordinary journey will not only deepen understanding of the country’s unique history but also foster a respectful appreciation for its enduring cultural legacy. Under one sky, the stars unite us all as the universe quietly reveals its secrets.
The intricate tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures weaves its way across the Australian continent.
The intricate tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures weaves its way across the Australian continent.
To truly know the Indigenous peoples of Australia, it is imperative to first understand the core of their ancient belief system – The Dreaming, or Dreamtime. This all-encompassing belief system dates back tens of thousands of years, to the very beginning of their time on Earth, and is the bedrock of their culture. Broadly, Dreamtime, which is a Western term, is defined as the time when the spirits and the ancestors created the world and all that is currently in existence, and the grand total of all the knowledge that explains the profound bonds between people, the land, and all living things – and the “laore” (law) that bind them. Dreamtime is infinite and fully encompasses the past, present, and future.
THE WORLD’S FIRST STARGAZERS
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are believed by scholars to have migrated to the land now known as Australia 65,000 years ago. Thus, they are the oldest living cultures in the world. Anthropological records show that Australia’s Indigenous peoples were the first to do many things — and interpreting the night sky was chief among them.
As the world’s first astronomers, they constructed complex stone arrangements, noting the positions of the sun and stars with respect to cycles of animal migration, breeding, and birthing, and the blooming of specific edible plants. They even accurately interpreted certain celestial phenomena, like star twinkling and moon haloes, as signs of changes in the weather. By choosing to explore Australia through an Indigenous lens, you will develop a deep and everlasting respect and appreciation for the wisdom of its native population.
Well before Galileo and the ancient Greek astronomers gazed upon the stars, Australia’s Indigenous peoples were interpreting the night sky.
Well before Galileo and the ancient Greek astronomers gazed upon the stars, Australia’s Indigenous peoples were interpreting the night sky.
The Aurora Australis dance across the night sky with hues of green, blue, purple and red.
The Aurora Australis dance across the night sky with hues of green, blue, purple and red.
TAKE ONLY MEMORIES,
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
This old saying has entered the collective consciousness and is often seen as the prevailing wisdom of earthly journeys. Whether you are exploring Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales or Flinders Ranges in South Australia, your first and most important task is to leave nature undisturbed while concentrating instead on tucking away the memories of every gorgeous sight, sound, and smell deep in your memory bank. This philosophy of leaving only footprints behind underscores the Indigenous peoples’ great respect for Mother Nature and ‘Country’, and its bounty. And long after the wind has dusted away your footprints, the impact of your Australian visit will linger in your heart and soul for your whole life.
1. Western Australia
Transcend the ordinary and shake away mundane concerns on the highly rated Didgeridoo Dreaming Night Tour with Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures to marvel at the vast nighttime sky in Western Australia. With your head tilted back, as a warm fire crackles before you and the traditional sounds of the didgeridoo echo through the air, you will see more stars than your eyes and mind and heart can count. On this wondrous tour, you will enjoy fresh seafood or bush tucker cooked on the fire and get a chance to spot iconic Australian creatures like kangaroos and echidnas.
2. New South Wales
A visit to Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s first Dark Sky Park, is what starry dreams are made of. With absolutely no light pollution and very low air pollution, the stars preen and sparkle in all their glory, while the Milky Way shimmies like a snake through the darkness. Approximately 3.8 miles east of Warrumbungle National Park is the Milroy Observatory where you can find the largest public-access telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Whether you’re a professional astronomer, an amateur, or simply a star lover, you will experience the night just as Indigenous peoples have been doing for thousands of years.
3. Northern Territory
Blending cutting-edge technology with ancient tradition, the drone show at Ayers Rock Resort is a modern marvel that celebrates the mythology of the local Anangu people and the Mala story. As hundreds of drones take flight in synchronized patterns, they create a luminous dance of light that mirrors stories from Aboriginal Dreamtime. Each shape and movement is inspired by ancestral tales and the land’s sacred symbols, illuminating the night sky with a reverence for the richness of these myths. Set in the Northern Territory’s desert landscape, with Uluru, the world’s largest monolith, as a backdrop, this is the first time an Indigenous story will be told through such modern means, allowing past and present to harmoniously intertwine.
4. Tasmania
In the serene darkness of Tasmania’s wild landscapes, witnessing the Southern Lights—Aurora Australis—is a mesmerizing experience that feels like entering a dreamscape. As radiant ribbons of green, pink, and violet illuminate the southern skies, they reflect off tranquil lakes and cast ethereal colors across rugged coastlines, taking your breath away and leaving you with a sense of profound awe. Away from harsh city lights, Tasmania’s secluded vantage points make it an ideal place to observe this celestial spectacle, which can be viewed all year-round but is especially vibrant during the winter (June – August) season.
5. Queensland
Stargazing beneath Queensland’s expansive night skies is an experience filled with wonder, especially when viewing the heavens through the scope of Indigenous storytelling. In the dark spaces of the Milky Way, the silhouette of the Emu in the Sky emerges—a significant symbol in Indigenous culture. This ethereal emu, first noted by ancient people in the darkness filling the space between stars, represents fertility, life, and the cycles of nature, marking the right seasons for harvesting emu eggs. Allow the guides at Cosmo Centre in outback Queensland to reveal the wisdom of Australia’s first astronomers as they relate the tale of the Emu. You will learn to view the cosmos not merely as stars but as stories that have shaped the lives of Australia’s Indigenous peoples for millennia.
6. Victoria
Sacred places throughout Australia serve as testaments to the far-reaching influence of the local Aboriginal peoples , like the astronomical stone arrangement in Victoria called Wurdi Youang, dating back approximately 11,000 years, where ancient Aboriginal people tracked the setting sun at solstices and equinoxes within 2-3 degrees of accuracy. Declared a sacred site in 1977 by the Victorian Archeological Survey, it predates Stonehenge. The stone arrangement resembles an egg shape and serves as proof that Indigenous peoples were not only noting the positions of the sun but also making astronomical measurements that deeply influenced their way of life.
7. South Australia
Nestled within the rugged beauty of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, a stay at Wilpena Pound Resort offers a luxurious and awe-inspiring glamping experience. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes, guests can unwind in elegantly appointed safari tents, equipped with all the familiar creature comforts. Just steps from your tent, the vast night sky reveals constellations that have guided Indigenous astronomers for centuries. Stargazing here is a transcendent experience, as the clear desert sky brims with celestial wonders and invites you to lose yourself under the mesmerizing Southern Hemisphere stars, in a place where time itself seems to stand still.
TAKE ONLY MEMORIES,
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
This old saying has entered the collective consciousness and is often seen as the prevailing wisdom of earthly journeys. Whether you are exploring Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales or Flinders Ranges in South Australia, your first and most important task is to leave nature undisturbed while concentrating instead on tucking away the memories of every gorgeous sight, sound, and smell deep in your memory bank. This philosophy of leaving only footprints behind underscores the Indigenous peoples’ great respect for Mother Nature and ‘Country’, and its bounty. And long after the wind has dusted away your footprints, the impact of your Australian visit will linger in your heart and soul for your whole life.
1. Western Australia
Transcend the ordinary and shake away mundane concerns on the highly rated Didgeridoo Dreaming Night Tour with Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures to marvel at the vast nighttime sky in Western Australia. With your head tilted back, as a warm fire crackles before you and the traditional sounds of the didgeridoo echo through the air, you will see more stars than your eyes and mind and heart can count. On this wondrous tour, you will enjoy fresh seafood or bush tucker cooked on the fire and get a chance to spot iconic Australian creatures like kangaroos and echidnas.
2. New South Wales
A visit to Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s first Dark Sky Park, is what starry dreams are made of. With absolutely no light pollution and very low air pollution, the stars preen and sparkle in all their glory, while the Milky Way shimmies like a snake through the darkness. Approximately 3.8 miles east of Warrumbungle National Park is the Milroy Observatory where you can find the largest public-access telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Whether you’re a professional astronomer, an amateur, or simply a star lover, you will experience the night just as Indigenous peoples have been doing for thousands of years.
3. Northern Territory
Blending cutting-edge technology with ancient tradition, the drone show at Ayers Rock Resort is a modern marvel that celebrates the mythology of the local Anangu people and the Mala story. As hundreds of drones take flight in synchronized patterns, they create a luminous dance of light that mirrors stories from Aboriginal Dreamtime. Each shape and movement is inspired by ancestral tales and the land’s sacred symbols, illuminating the night sky with a reverence for the richness of these myths. Set in the Northern Territory’s desert landscape, with Uluru, the world’s largest monolith, as a backdrop, this is the first time an Indigenous story will be told through such modern means, allowing past and present to harmoniously intertwine.
4. Tasmania
In the serene darkness of Tasmania’s wild landscapes, witnessing the Southern Lights—Aurora Australis—is a mesmerizing experience that feels like entering a dreamscape. As radiant ribbons of green, pink, and violet illuminate the southern skies, they reflect off tranquil lakes and cast ethereal colors across rugged coastlines, taking your breath away and leaving you with a sense of profound awe. Away from harsh city lights, Tasmania’s secluded vantage points make it an ideal place to observe this celestial spectacle, which can be viewed all year-round but is especially vibrant during the winter (June – August) season.
5. Queensland
Stargazing beneath Queensland’s expansive night skies is an experience filled with wonder, especially when viewing the heavens through the scope of Indigenous storytelling. In the dark spaces of the Milky Way, the silhouette of the Emu in the Sky emerges—a significant symbol in Indigenous culture. This ethereal emu, first noted by ancient people in the darkness filling the space between stars, represents fertility, life, and the cycles of nature, marking the right seasons for harvesting emu eggs. Allow the guides at Cosmo Centre in outback Queensland to reveal the wisdom of Australia’s first astronomers as they relate the tale of the Emu. You will learn to view the cosmos not merely as stars but as stories that have shaped the lives of Australia’s Indigenous peoples for millennia.
6. Victoria
Sacred places throughout Australia serve as testaments to the far-reaching influence of the local Aboriginal peoples , like the astronomical stone arrangement in Victoria called Wurdi Youang, dating back approximately 11,000 years, where ancient Aboriginal people tracked the setting sun at solstices and equinoxes within 2-3 degrees of accuracy. Declared a sacred site in 1977 by the Victorian Archeological Survey, it predates Stonehenge. The stone arrangement resembles an egg shape and serves as proof that Indigenous peoples were not only noting the positions of the sun but also making astronomical measurements that deeply influenced their way of life.
7. South Australia
Nestled within the rugged beauty of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, a stay at Wilpena Pound Resort offers a luxurious and awe-inspiring glamping experience. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes, guests can unwind in elegantly appointed safari tents, equipped with all the familiar creature comforts. Just steps from your tent, the vast night sky reveals constellations that have guided Indigenous astronomers for centuries. Stargazing here is a transcendent experience, as the clear desert sky brims with celestial wonders and invites you to lose yourself under the mesmerizing Southern Hemisphere stars, in a place where time itself seems to stand still.
Gain a new appreciation for the Australian landscape, on the land of the Adnyamathanha.
Gain a new appreciation for the Australian landscape, on the land of the Adnyamathanha.
DISCOVER ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES
Australia is home to the oldest living cultures on Earth and Aboriginal guides across the country offer a real connection to the place and a new way of experiencing it. In every part of Australia you’re standing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander country, and every part has a series of stories and experiences that are unique to it. Discover Aboriginal Experiences is a collective of over 200 quality, authentic Aboriginal guided tour offerings. So, no matter which corner of Australia you are inspired to visit, there is likely to be an Aboriginal-guided experience available nearby to make your trip more memorable.
KEEP ROAMING
KEEP ROAMING
