The first Aboriginal tourism experience of the Ningaloo coast has launched, inviting travellers to see this special corner of Western Australia with insight from its first people.
Combining a unique cultural experience with the opportunity to witness some of Western Australia’s most spectacular landscapes and magnificent wildlife, Baiyungu Dreaming is the first Aboriginal tourism experience to be offered in the Ningaloo Reef region of WA’s Coral Coast—traditionally owned by the Jinigudera, Baiyunga and Thalanyji people.
Cultural advisor, guide, and Baiyungu woman, Hazel Walgar, leads the 4WD tours, sharing her insights on significant archaeological discoveries that are helping to uncover the history of the region’s first people, who have been living in Ningaloo for more than 30,000 years.
Authentic experiences offered in this World Heritage-listed destination include a Sunset tour at Cardabia Station, where Hazel and her family share Dreamtime stories around a campfire with cups of slow-brewed Billie tea and fresh-baked damper, before witnessing a vivid sunset.
On the Coral Bay Tagalong tour, participants can visit hidden gems along the path less travelled. See an archaeologically significant shell-midden site, learn how to dig for fresh drinking water amongst the sand dunes, and visit a sheltered sea turtle nursery. Snorkel in clear waters at Five Fingers Reef, then relax on the sands as you learn about the site’s cultural and historical significance. You’ll also be told the Dreaming story of the octopus and the creation of the reef.
Baiyungu Dreaming can also arrange tailored tours of the Cape Range and Exmouth, taking in famed snorkelling sites like Turquoise Bay and Oysters Stacks as well as attractions like Yardie Creek and Charles Knife Canyon.