Discover cave paintings and learn about Aboriginal culture with a local elder.
The Guurrbi rock art tour is a special experience and one you will unlikely have anywhere else in the world.
The tour’s operator, Willie Gordon, is an amazing man and it is his story telling, honesty, sense of humour and his sense of justice and learning that makes the day what it is.
Willie, a Nugal-Warra Elder, is passionate about his culture and spirituality and on these tours shares the knowledge of his tribe and people, much of which was passed on to him by his father as he hunted and wandered in the area as a youngster.
Willie has faced opposition from other Aboriginals in setting up the tour because many believe the knowledge and the stories are for their people only.
But Willie thinks differently. He believes the stories need to be told to all. He believes that when he tells us the stories we then become story tellers ourselves and can pass on the learning to others.
And, fortunately, Willie does think like that because what he has to say transcends black and white – it is about education and values and family and holds true for everyone.
His stories are relayed through the rock art drawings in this very special area between Cooktown and Hope Vale.
There is a misconception that rock art is only an ancient art form, but it is not true.
Some of the art here in the caves is old but some may well have been painted even by Willie’s father, himself a famous Aboriginal artist.
But what is obvious is that the paintings are depictions of ancient Aboriginal learnings passed down from tribe story teller to the next generation to live on and be retold to the next batch of the tribe.
Willie’s passion in his beliefs is vibrantly evident in each telling of each painting.
Patrons are spellbound as Willie relays what the stunning drawings mean to him and his people.
Again, against the norm, photographs are allowed so that, Willie hopes, you will then tell the stories as you show the pictures to others in the future. It is not just the past that Willie enthrals you with though.
He is an open-minded, well travelled and highly intelligent man. His views on how to help the Aboriginal people are enlightening and deeply passionate.
His humour is infectious. He is quick to smile and quicker to laugh and you would have to be made of stone to not be charmed by his easy demeanour.
Apart from the rock art, along the way Willie tells you much of bush lore, what to eat, how it was discovered and what parts of the bush were used for what parts of everyday living.
All is done with examples with people on the tour washing in bush soap before eating honey ants.
The tour is an incredible experience, one not to be missed and is slowly being recognised by many as one of the must-do tours as you travel across Australia.
FACT FINDER:
WHAT: Nugal-Warra Rock Art Tours
WHO: Willie Gordon or Guurrbi Tours
WHERE: From with Cooktown or Hopevale
HOW MUCH: The Great Emu Tour, ex Cooktown adult $90, children $55. The Rainbow Serpent tour, ex Cooktown adult $115, children $70. Both tours cost less if self driven.
CONTACT: +61 7 4069 6259
