The new Aboriginal cultural experience operates out of the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre situated on the shores of Lake Condah, and offers a range of education programs and excursion possibilities.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2019 and is the first Australian site to be included purely for its Indigenous cultural values. The region is renowned for its complex coastal landscape of wetlands, forests, and beaches; and for its ancient aquaculture system of lava flows and life-filled waterways. Gunditjmara have thrived here for more than 37,000 years, sustained by the living knowledge of their ancestors.
The Budj Bim lava flows enabled the Gunditjmara to develop one of the largest and oldest aquaculture networks in the world. Composed of channels, dams and weirs, they are used to contain floodwaters and create basins to trap, store and harvest the kooyang eel. Tours along raised boardwalks designed to preserve the precious natural environment showcase historical stone kooyang traps and stone channels, remnants of stone house sites, eel smoking trees, and other natural phenomena. Tours are led by Gunditjmara guides and invite students to discover vibrant Indigenous culture and the region’s heritage, and see the landscape through Gunditjmara eyes.
We offer specialised Educational Programs suitable for both Australian and international students, as well as for adult groups. Programs focus on the abundant natural assets in and around the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.
Programs are tailored to suit each class or year group, and combine curriculum-relevant content including;
- Indigenous studies
- Language
- Geography / Geology
- History
- Science
- Sustainability
- SOSE
- Aquaculture / Farming
- Ecotourism
Each program is escorted by a Gunditjmara guide and covers the rich Aboriginal heritage of the area and the Gunditjmara's interaction with this very special place. Choose from:
- 2 Hour Cultural Walk - from $30 p/student
- Half Day Cultural Program (4 hours) - from $40 p/student
- Full Day Cultural Program (8 hours) - from $50 p/student
Sites covered can include:
- Budj Bim National Park - Budj Bim volcano, Lake Surprise, lava tunnels, cave, forest
- Tae Rak (Lake Condah) - lava flows, marine and bird life.
- Kurtonitj - stone eel traps, stone channels, stone house sites and eel smoking trees
- Tyrandarra Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) - a traditional meeting place, ceremonial site and camping area for the Gunditjmara people. (Access by special request only).
The Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre houses a kooyang (eel) holding tank and processing facility, and brings to life ancient kooyang (eel) farming techniques practised over hundreds of generations. The facility includes a café, tour desk and retail space.
The bush tucker café serves local dishes and eel-tasting plates prepared using traditional Aboriginal techniques and flavours, and the retail outlet provides an opportunity for visitors to purchase gifts and creations by local artists. Group menus and packed lunches can be prepared with advance notice.
The launch of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism is the result of decades of hard work by the Gunditjmara Community, and they are very excited to share knowledge, stories, and history with students in a sustainable way to ensure the ongoing protection of Gunditjmara Country.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape website gives you a comprehensive overview of the cultural sites, and the experiences offered on Gunditjmara Country.
If you have any questions regarding our group rates, terms and conditions or product information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our reservations team can be contacted at [email protected], or you can complete an online group inquiry form on our website.
