Dingoes are Australia’s wild dogs, and it’s just as hard to imagine the native Australian bush lacking these tawny canines as it is to imagine it without koala bears or kangaroos. A medium-sized dog, the dingo belongs to a primitive variety of canines that breed only once a year. Puppies are born in the spring, usually in litters of three to five. You’ll rarely hear a dingo bark, but they do make many different kinds of vocalizations. In some ways they are more like cats than dogs in that they are extremely agile, enjoy viewing their surroundings from a high vantage point, and will use their paws almost like hands. Although primarily carnivorous, dingoes will also eat insects and plants when the need arises.
A great place to view these magical creatures is at the Dingo Sanctuary at Bargo, just outside of Sydney. Run by the Australian Native Dog Conservation Society, this sanctuary is home to over forty dingoes. The Society works to protect the dingo in the wild and is also working on a DNA test to help distinguish true dingoes from similar looking mix breeds and hybrids.
The facility welcomes visitors, but does require that you contact them ahead of time to arrange a guided tour. Helpful tour guides show you around the property, introduce you to the dingoes, answer any questions you might have, and can also arrange a video presentation as well. The grounds are a beautiful example of natural Australian fauna, and provide a lovely, natural home for the dogs. All trails are flat and easily accessible for those with limited mobility. A shop is available for souvenirs and cold drinks, and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch – gas barbecues are provided.
For those that would like to take a dingo home with them, the Society offers dingo sponsorships where donors can sponsor a particular animal and receive regular updates on their animal’s activities.
Aboriginal tourism has become very popular in Australia’s states, and New South Wales is no exception. To become even more intimately acquainted with Aboriginal life, you may wish to consider joining a guided tour.
To learn more about the original inhabitants of the Sydney area, consider boarding the Deerubin, an Aboringal-owned-and operated vessel, for a cruise around Circular Quay. While on board, you’ll learn about Aboriginal fishing techniques, view old settlements and rock carvings, and enjoy Aboriginal stories. One of the highlights of the tour is a stop at Clark Island where passengers can watch traditional Aboriginal dancing.
In the north west of the province lies the spectacular Warrumbungle National Park. A fantastic way to explore the park is on one of the two Aboriginal Discovery tours led by the local Gamilaroi people. The first tour involves an easy walk through the forests to Tara Cave, an Aboriginal settlement used for over 4,000 years. The second involves a drive out to the Sandstone Caves with the park ranger and a local Aboriginal elder. This tour requires participants to have their own vehicle.
For the more adventurous, how about trying a walkabout? A walkabout is a traditional journey of self-discovery, a holistic way to develop a strong spiritual connection with the land. Evan Yanna Muru of Blue Mountains Walkabout leads participants on an eight kilometer hike through the wilderness where they explore Aboriginal ceremonial sites, learn about Dreamtime, and even try their hand at body painting with traditional ochre paint.
In the far west of the province is Mungo National Park, where visitors can enjoy accommodations in the Aboriginal-owned lodge or cabins. Tours explore Lake Victoria, where the oldest remains in Australia have been found, and also the dried up Lake Mungo and the sand and clay formations that flank it. The evening can be spent enjoying Aboriginal songs and stories around a campfire back at the lodge.
