Tae Rak (Lake Condah) Guided Cultural Walk
At the UNESCO World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, near Portland in Western Victoria, you’re invited to take an informative walk with an experienced local guide to discover Indigenous culture and landscapes through Gunditjmara eyes. Explore the southern and eastern sides of Tae Rak (Lake Condah) which encompasses 1,700 hectares of significant wetlands and stony rises right next to the historic lava flows of Budj Bim National Park, estimated to have been formed about 8,000 years ago.
This two hour guided walk of the Tae Rak wetlands provides an overview of the Gunditjmara story and the lake's marine and birdlife, and continues on to see the network of ancient aquaculture systems that were designed to trap and harvest kooyang (eel) for food and trade.
This tour operates all year round.
Location
What to expect
At Tae Rak (Lake Condah) the Gunditjmara people have sustained life for tens of thousands of years and created what is considered to be one of Australia’s earliest and largest aquaculture ventures.
Your tour starts with a walk to the front of the lake where your guide will give an overview of the Gunditjmara creation story and point out the extensive marine and bird-life of the lake.
Continue along the western edge of the lake to the weir for a look at the ancient landscape and the range of stone aquaculture sites and fish traps.
Experience Highlights
- Culturally significant flora and fauna of the Tae Rak landscape
- Culture and customs of the Gunditjmara people
- Traditional kooyang (eel) harvesting methods
- Stone country and kooyang traps
- Aquaculture systems designed to trap and harvest kooyang for food and trade
- The Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre
What is included
This is a 2 hour experience that runs at 10:00am and 2:00pm on Wednesday through to Sunday.
Bookings are essential and the tour operates with a minimum of 2 people.
Meeting point
Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre. Vaughans Rd, Breakaway Creek, Victoria
What to bring
- Camera
- Hat
- Repellent
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
YOUR EXPERIENCE PROVIDER
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage listed area near Portland in Western Victoria and is one of Australia’s great national heritage landscapes.
Budj Bim is recognised nationally and internationally as a special place that offers unique and authentic experiences of a living Indigenous culture, history and landscape. Budj Bim is the Gunditjmara name for Mount Eccles, an inactive volcano located within the Western Victorian Volcanic Plains.
The First Nations owned and operated Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism offer a guided experience of southwest Victoria’s Gunditjmara Country, where First Nations history dates back more than 39,000 years, characterised by the region’s ancient aquaculture systems.
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism is led by local Gunditjmara guides and invite visitors to discover a vibrant Indigenous culture and landscape through shared stories and along raised boardwalks designed to preserve the precious natural environment.
The state-of-the-art Tae Rak Traditional Aquaculture Centre and eatery offers refreshments as well as kooyang (eel) tastings, bringing to life the traditional farming techniques practiced over hundreds of generations.
Tae Rak (Lake Condah) Guided Cultural Walk
