With the world becoming more and more environmentally aware, travelers are also becoming more interested in seeing how other countries tackle the difficult challenges that come with finding ways to be more environmentally sensitive. New South Wales’ second largest city is proudly taking a leadership role in developing ways for their citizens’ to lessen their ecological footprint.
Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre is a pioneer in sustainable technologies. The organization has a six-and-a-half hectare site that houses their Eco-Technology Exhibition Centre. Exhibits focus on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation, and waste reduction, and exhibits are fully interactive. Highlights include full-scale wind turbine blades and a power generation unit, a water wave tank demonstrating wave energy, a model of a solar powered ferry, a waste minimization and recycling facility and a miniature eco-house demonstrating ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. The exhibits are located both indoors and out.
In addition to being so environmentally progressive, Wollongong has much to offer tourists. While in the area, you might be interested in stopping by the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium. Here, families can enjoy star and laser shows in the planetarium and view the sky in the observatory. Popular exhibits focus on archaeology, energy, and Antarctica, and the centre also runs several science themed shows at their theatre.
As would be expected in such an environmentally friendly city, Wollongong is home to many parks. MacCabe Park is located inside the city, and features a playground, war memorial, and amphitheatre. Greenhouse Park was formerly a waste dump, but since 1992 has been under restoration to create a green corridor within the city. Sitting next to the wetlands of Tom Thumb Lagoon, the park is a great example of land reclamation.
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.
