Nanga Brook Kep-Bilo Tour
Join Maitland Hill, a proud Aboriginal Nyoongar Balardong marman (man), on an Aboriginal guided bush walk in Dwellingup, situated just 1.5 hours drive south from Perth. Dwellingup is home to the red-tailed black cockatoo and a sacred spiritual dreaming place for Maitland and his ancestors.
Walk along a beautiful water stream at Nanga Brooke. Your Aboriginal guide, Maitland, will talk about the exotic natural flora set in a beautiful Jarrah tree forest. See and experience traditional hunting in the water stream and be lulled by the sound of the water and bird song while learning about bush plants and medicine. Learn how to make bush soap, bush rope and a native fire torch.
Location
Nanga Brook, Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup
What to expect
Maitland will greet you with a Traditional Welcoming Ceremony spoken in Nyoongar language.
Join Maitland in exploring the Nanga Brook walk trail and learn about native flora interpretation, bush medicine and traditional fishing techniques.
The Nanga Brook trail is a Class 3 walk; moderate conditions with some uneven ground. The 30 minute gentle walk is suitable for most ages and abilities, but is not suitable for wheelchairs.
At the Yarning Circle, Maitland demonstrates traditional artefacts including Didgeridoo playing and music with boomerangs. Learn how to start a fire the traditional way and try the Mar Midi (Fire Stick) for yourself. Learn how ancient aboriginal symbols are used in sand mapping and how Aboriginal people made their own Bush Rope. You'll learn how to use traditional Bush Soap.
What is included
This tour operates three Saturdays per month.
The tour is approximately 1.5 hour at the destination. Maitland meets you in Dwellingup and then tagalong in your own vehicles out to location, this is approximately a 30 minute drive. The tour concludes at Nanga Brook and then you make your own way back to town.
Tour includes:
- Aboriginal Guide
- Traditional Acknowledgement to Country
Exclusions:
- National Park fees
Very Important:
- Drinking water is not available at Nanga Brook - Please bring water with you
- Toilet facilities are available in campground
- Photography is welcome. No filming, thank you.
What to bring:
- Hat
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Sunglasses
- Sturdy Footwear
Meeting point
Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre, Marrinup Street, Dwellingup WA.
Please meet your guide 15 minutes prior to start time.
What to bring
- Hat
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Sunglasses
- Sturdy Footwear
- Chair
YOUR EXPERIENCE PROVIDER
Kaarak Dreaming
Kaarak Dreaming is owned and operated by Maitland Hill, a proud Aboriginal Nyoongar Balardong marman (man), with strong traditional connections to the Aboriginal peoples from the South West of Western Australia. His traditional cultural bloodlines are connected to the tribal regions of Balardong, Wilman and Kaniyan in the South West of Western Australia.
Maintland’s connection to Boodja (country) runs along an Ancient Dreaming Trail known as a Songline to Aboriginal people. He lives on that Songline in a small town called Dwellingup which is in the tribal region of Wilman, which was his grandfathers’ country before him. Dwellingup is the perfect country escape just 1.5 hours drive south from Perth.
Dwellingup is a sacred spiritual dreaming place for Maitland and his ancestors and is how Karaak Dreaming Maitland’s Cultural Tours was created, to share his cultural katadjin (knowledge). Maitland is passionate about his culture and enjoys taking people on a journey back back in time to explore the ancient ways of his ancestors.
Maitland’s tours are richly steeped in cultural authenticity and include Nyoongar dreaming stories about spiritual beliefs, including animal totems. Maitland’s spiritual totem is the red-tailed black cockatoo, the Kaarak, in Nyoongar language. Kaarak Dreaming Maitland’s Cultural Tours business name is respect for his totem, and for his country. Maitland wears the red-tailed feathers in his hair or hat as respect for his totem, the Kaarak. Dwellingup is also home to the red-tailed black cockatoo.
Key Experiences:
Step into the dreamtime and learn about ancient dreaming stories and join in a yarning circle.
Experience Nyoongar culture and history.
Discover traditional ways of reading the land and join in sand-mapping.
Learn about Nyoongar bush medicinal plants and native foods.
See traditional fire making and join in a smoking ceremony.
Listen to the didgeridoo being played while enjoying billy tea and damper.
Join Maitland in painting on Country and learn to paint artworks Nyoongar style.
Be guided on an ancient dreaming trail bush walk while learning about traditional hunting.