Culture flows like water, connecting past, present and future. From the ocean to the outback, forests to the canyons, every step through ancient landscapes reveals stories imprinted on the hearts of Western Australia’s traditional custodians.
Feature by: Julie Hosking
As part of the Dreamlike Journey series, we invite you to listen to these stories, to embrace the spirit of Country. Learn, grow and feel the connection forged over thousands of years.
Buzzing with history
As the bush blooms with wildflowers, the Moogadgurrah emerge from dusty clayplans, flitting from poverty bush to rough bluebell. The burrowing bees forage and mate from July to September before heading back underground, forming colonies of up to 10,000 burrows. Their story is entwined with Gascoyne’s traditional custodians, carrying knowledge on their wings.
Guided by Yinggarda woman Rennee, Wooramulla Eco Cultural Tours share stories woven into the rich red earth and etched in the stars. Walk the prehistoric pathways of Mundatharrda (Kennedy Ranges) and hear the Ant Dreaming story of Mingah Munda (Honeycomb Gorge), tracing petroglyphs and fossil beds. Gather around the fire under glittering skies and learn about the world’s first astronomers. Feel the threads of history that run through this sacred land.
Kennedy Range National Park
Spirit of the Kimberley
Carried on the scent of eucalypts, immersed in the cool waters of secret pools, rising from rugged ranges, the rich narrative of the world’s last great wilderness unfolds like a living canvas. From the turquoise coast to the surreal wonders of Purnululu (Bungle Bungle Range), few know the Kimberley in all its glory better than Kingfisher Tours Garingbaar.
Local Aboriginal guides who live and breathe the spectacular region lead tours by air, 4WD and foot. Soar over Purnululu’s beehive domes, marvel as the Punami-Uunpu (Mitchell Falls) cascade over layers of majestic sandstone, taste bush plums, learn sacred songlines and feel the connection to this ancient land. Camping with Custodians under a glittering canopy of stars or relax in style in a wilderness lodge. Either way, the Kimberley will be forever imprinted in your heart.
Kingfisher Tours, Purnululu National Park
Deeper understanding
Beneath the whispering gums and sun-dappled bush of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste limestone ridge lies a sacred place millions of years in the making. The Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience is an immersive self-guided journey into a subterranean cathedral revered by the Wadandi people who have nurtured the land for more than 60,000 years.
Descend into Ngilgi Cave where vast chambers open to reveal stalactites hanging like frozen chandeliers and stalagmites rising in silent reverence. Shawls of calcite, helictites and other delicate formations glimmer in the soft light. An ethereal sense of calm fills the cool space. Perhaps it’s Ngilgi, the Wadandi’s benevolent spirit, bringing a deeper understanding of the connection between people and Country.
City of dreams
As you meander along the banks of Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), listen closely to the rhythm, the ripples carrying whispers of the past. Warrang-Bridil Aboriginal Cultural Tours reveal another side to Boorloo (Perth), one grounded in Noongar traditions and rich with cultural significance.
Feel the power of stories borne of shared purpose and responsibility, join a traditional ceremony and learn ancient techniques. See the echoes of influence on the city’s modern landscape, from the graceful arcs of Matagarup Bridge to the Kaya (hello) poem etched into Optus Stadium and message sticks welcoming crowds to the park. It's an invitation to walk in the footsteps of the ancestors and honour the continuing care for the land.
Warrang-Bridil Aboriginal Cultural Tours at Burswood
Seeped in saltwater
Welcome to Country, where saltwater dreams still float on every wave. A colourful tapestry of fiery cliffs, mangrove creeks and glistening white sands, the Dampier Peninsula is home to the Bardi, or Saltwater people. It is here that Brian Lee Hunters Creek Tagalong Tours turn back time, revealing the ancient secrets of the mangroves. Follow Bardi man Brian Lee in your 4WD (tag-along) as he leads you across the shifting sands to Hunters Creek.
Taste seasonal bush fruit, learn traditional fishing and crabbing, then gather beneath a shady tree as Brian builds an open fire to cook the catch Bardi style – succulent, smoky and designed to share. This is more than a meal; it’s a conversation amid the salt air and firelight, where deep connection to Country continues unbroken.
Brian Lee Hunters Creek Tagalong Tours, Cape Leveque
Published February 2026.