EXPLORE SYDNEY’S ABORIGINAL CULTURAL AND NATURAL TREASURES

2015/07/12

EXPLORE SYDNEY’S ABORIGINAL CULTURAL AND NATURAL TREASURES

One of the lesser-known facts about the ultra modern city of Sydney, Australia, is that it is rich in aboriginal culture and nature. A tour of the aboriginal cultural and natural circuit of Sydney is a truly rewarding experience that you will not want to miss out on. Plus, you will not have to travel far, as Sydney hotels in the historic center or near Darling Harbour offer some of the best options for ensuring convenient access to all the city’s cultural and indigenous treasures.

Sydney’s Native Plants and Aboriginal Culture

Sydney’s Botanic Gardens are a great place to begin your tour. The First Farm and Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters are famous garden displays found at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney that are sure to pique your interest. These gardens are made up exclusively of native plants used by the Cadigal, a group of aboriginal people who inhabited Sydney at the time of the Europeans’ first arrival to the continent.

The gardens offer guided Aboriginal Heritage Tours, which teach visitors about the Cadigal’s important reliance on plant knowledge. They also offer great opportunities to taste traditional bush foods Aboriginal Stories and Wildlife Conservation.

Your next destination is the Taronga Zoo to take part in Nura Diya, Taronga’s Aboriginal Discovery Tour. An aboriginal guide shares traditional stories and discusses the unique relationship between Sydney’s aboriginal inhabitants and Australia’s native wildlife. Members of the local aboriginal community developed Nura Diya, which means “this country” or “this camp,” to share their history and culture. The tour teaches visitors about traditional uses of native plants for food and medicine, while creating unforgettable experiences interacting with koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, and native birds.

Get Night Vision to See More of Sydney’s Indigenous Wildlife

Night Wonders is a one-of-kind tour that starts at Shelly Beach in Manly, just north of Sydney. You will receive a pair of night vision goggles to observe Sydney’s indigenous nocturnal wildlife, including bandicoots, owls, other native birds, and small mammals. Visitors also have the opportunity to try bush tucker foods and teas and learn about the Kay-Ye-May aboriginal people who inhabited the area north of Sydney Harbor.

Indigenous History at the Australian Museum

The next stop is the Australian Museum, home to several important exhibits that focus on the natural and cultural history of Australia. The museum documents the history of the indigenous inhabitants of Sydney as well as many other traditional Pacific cultures. Interested in archaeology? The museum has a great exhibit on aboriginal artifacts dating back more than 50,000 years.

Aboriginal Fishing, Markets, and Crafts

Your aboriginal cultural circuit of Sydney is not complete without taking part in an aboriginal-led fishing tour out of Frenchman’s Bay. The Catch ‘N’ Cook tour runs about two hours. You will learn about fishing, boomerang throwing, and dream-time storytelling, and get to do more bush tucker food tasting. Visit the Blak Market on Bare Island, La Perouse, on the first Sunday of each month to support local aboriginal artisans and youth programs.

Step off of the beaten path and explore Sydney’s natural and cultural indigenous treasures.

( Flickr CC photos from Nikki Mannix and Mark Roy )

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