Nhulunbuy Trip Overview
The Gay’wu women’s tour provides female visitors with the opportunity to come together with their Yolŋu sisterhood and learn about their culture, history and country. The Gay’wu (dilly bag) is a powerful and important cultural symbol in Arnhem Land, where it was first created thousands of years ago. You will learn about and experience Yolŋu philosophy and kinship, weaving, jewellery making, painting, astrology, healing ceremony, cooking and bush medicine, dancing, gathering oysters or mud crabs and much more. Activities will vary according to the season and availability of materials.
The Yolŋu often say the land is their mother. It nurtures, heals and guides their lives. This is why the female visitor experience and connection to Yolŋu people is often so profound, and time spent with the Yolŋu women is often described “life-changing”.
Includes transport, Yolngu guide, activities, all meals and accommodation.
Additional Info
Duration: 5 days
Starts: Nhulunbuy, Australia
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Nhulunbuy Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
The Gay’wu women’s tour provides female visitors with the opportunity to come together with their Yolŋu sisterhood and learn about their culture, history and country. The Gay’wu (dilly bag) is a powerful and important cultural symbol in Arnhem Land, where it was first created thousands of years ago. You will learn about and experience Yolŋu philosophy and kinship, weaving, jewellery making, painting, astrology, healing ceremony, cooking and bush medicine, dancing, gathering oysters or mud crabs and much more. Activities will vary according to the season and availability of materials.
The Yolŋu often say the land is their mother. It nurtures, heals and guides their lives. This is why the female visitor experience and connection to Yolŋu people is often so profound, and time spent with the Yolŋu women is often described “life-changing”.
Includes transport, Yolngu guide, activities, all meals and accommodation.
Itinerary
Day 1: Tarvel to Yolngu homeland (Itinerary is subject to change due to weather or cultural considerations)
Stop At: Arnhem Land, North-eastern corner of the Northern Territory Melville Bay Road, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0880 Australia
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Protecting the vulnerable communities on the Yolngu homelands is our priority, and to ensure that they are not unnecessarily put at risk by COVID-19, we have decided that all non-essential travel to Aboriginal communities should be avoided until further notice.
Effective immediately and until 31st May 2020 all Lirrwi Tourism homeland tours in East Arnhem Land are suspended.
Arrive Yolngu Homeland where you will receive a traditional welcome to country and general orientation.
Lunch with the Yolngu families
After lunch, the women will take you to gather Pandanus, dyes and shells for weaving. This will be via vehicle with some short distance walking. This is to show how the process works from the very start. They will already have prepared sufficient pandanus and other materials for weaving activities in order to save time.
If your flight arrives via Darwin by 9.15am we can arrange to pick-up from the Airport. If you flight arrives after this time you will need to arrive the day prior (accommodation at your own expense).
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a Yolngu Homeland. hard structure or tent accommodation depending on the homeland.
Day 2: Cultural activities with Yolngu ladies
Stop At: Arnhem Land, North-eastern corner of the Northern Territory Melville Bay Road, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0880 Australia
Cultural activites commence and may cover areas including:
• Yolngu language – verbal and sign language
• Gender roles and responsibilities
• Kinship and moiety rules
• Stories about the area and history of the region (pre and post contact)
• Participating in traditional food gathering activities
• Traditional craft activities such as painting, weaving
• Participating in and learning traditional dance.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a Yolngu Homeland. hard structure or tent accommodation depending on the homeland.
Day 3: Cultural activities with Yolngu ladies
Stop At: Arnhem Land, North-eastern corner of the Northern Territory Melville Bay Road, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0880 Australia
Cultural program continues.
Women partake in activities such as weaving, painting and other activities
Dinner & storytelling with Yolngu families
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a Yolngu Homeland. hard structure or tent accommodation depending on the homeland.
Day 4: Half day cultural activities, and depart Yolngu homeland
Stop At: Arnhem Land, North-eastern corner of the Northern Territory Melville Bay Road, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0880 Australia
Cultural program continues in the morning
Farewell Yolngu ladies and depart Homeland for Nhulunbuy after lunch
Drive to Yirrkala community
Visit Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre and see bark petitions which symbolise the beginning of the Indigenous Lands Rights movement, and a range of Yolngu art and crafts.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: Group dinner at Walkabout Lodge (or similar) and debrief after your Adventure in Culture.
Accommodation included: Walkabout Lodge (or similar) shared accommodation. Single supplement available at extra cost.
Day 5: Depart Gove and travel home
Stop At: Arnhem Land, North-eastern corner of the Northern Territory Melville Bay Road, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory 0880 Australia
Breakfast at Nhulunbuy accommodation
Transfer from Walkabout Lodge (or similar) to Gove Airport to meet flights to either Darwin or Cairns
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
