Exploring Indigenous Australia - Northern Territory

Early Aboriginal art adorns rock faces around the landscape, some more than a whopping 30,000 years old. But other media used to tell the stories were body painting and ground designs. However the impermanence of these other art forms were adapted with the introduction of paints and canvas in the early 70’s. Consequently galleries were set up to display the artworks. You can explore for yourself and wander down the gallery lined Todd Mall, or pop into Papunya Tula Gallery which is owned and run by the Aboriginal people from the Western Desert, predominately of the Luritja/Pintupi language. The style of the Papunya Tula painting stems from the artists knowledge of traditional sand and body painting, but to enable you to be able to buy a piece to add to your collection, sacred symbols have been removed from the paintings.

The Araluen Arts Centre of Alice, both a gallery and a theatre, houses a permanent exhibition collection of over 1,100 works from the region. In addition they host exhibitions from around Australia – so do make sure you check out what’s on when you’re in town.

In Ubirr – in the main gallery you can even see a painting of a Tasmania tiger believed to have become extinct on the mainland 2-3,000 years ago - as well as paintings of the animals the people who lived there hunted barramundi, mullet, possums and wallabies to name but a few.

Whilst at the Burrungui (Nourlangie) rock, at the main site – Anbangang Gallery - you can witness Lightening Man, Namarrgon, one of the revered Dreamtime Ancestors who manages the fierce lightening storms that come with every wet season. And then tucked away down a 1.7km wander is Nanguluwu with paintings of European settlers in the form of a two-masted sailing ship, complete with dingy and anchor chain.

The paintings and the process of the paintings also illustrates the intricacy of the Aboriginal culture. Certain paintings can only be mastered by specific people, for instance, the sorcery paintings can only be painted by the holder of the magic knowledge. Which makes this glorious place even more enchanting.

Continuing our expedition into the Northern Territories we enter Arnhem Land. Situated next to Kakadu and border by the sea, Arnhem Land is so far north that it has the benefit of generally being left alone. Consequently it is steeped in Aboriginal culture throughout its vast tracks of glorious wilderness. Traditional owners of the land – The Yolngu people - have lived in this area for over 60,000 years and hold strong connections to the land, both spiritually and culturally. And interestingly, The Yolngu also created the famous didgeridoo.

Cutting across from Kakadu you’ll come acoss Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) where you watch artists crafting their baskets and paintings in the Injalak Art and Craft Centre.

You can then join a tour led by an indigenous guide to hear The Dreamtime stories and to see the rock art on Injalak Hill. Rock art in the large shelter that comprises the main gallery is dated from 100 to 8,000 years of age. And probably due to it’s continuous habitation, it is famous for having one of the most extensive rock art collections in the area.

The tour will visit more rock art galleries which display paintings of Yingana or Warramurruggunddji, (the Creation Mother) and Andungun a namarnde, who is believed to be an evil spirit who kills and then eats people, (as was told to Charles Mountford).

To finish up, spend your evening with a bush tucker tour that will have you dining under the stars and teach you how the people live off the land.