Pre Tour

o A UNIQUE ABORIGINAL SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IN THE DESERT LANDSCAPE OF OUTBACK AUSTRALIA – WILLANDRA LAKES REGION WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY & MUTAWINTJI / TRADITIONAL ABORIGIONAL COUNTRY

Explore songlines and stories of the land in this special cultural journey through some of Australia’s most beautifully rugged landscapes. This 5-day/4-night cultural expedition is designed exclusively for the ICOMOS delegation to learn about Aboriginal people’s connection to their stories and how they partner with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to preserve the heritage value in this remote part of Australia.
This tour starts in Broken Hill Heritage City and concludes in Mildura.

Image Credit – Melissa Findley and DPIE

Itinerary

Please book your own rail journey or flights to arrive at Broken Hill by 1700hrs.

Suggested flight: Regional Express Airlines (REX) ZL858, departing Sydney at 0930, arriving Broken Hill 1130hrs

	Upon arrival at Broken Hill Airport or Broken Hill Railway Station, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
	This exclusive outback heritage expedition will begin in Broken Hill. Known as the ‘city in the desert’, Broken Hill has been recognised as Australia’s first heritage listed city, having been added to the National Heritage list alongside the Australian War Memorial, the Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef. It is significant for its unique mix of architecture and mining infrastructure, set within a vast arid landscape. The City of Broken Hill is of outstanding heritage value to Australia for its significant role in the development of Australia as a modern and prosperous country.
1700hrs	Meet your expedition leader in the lobby of the Ibis Hotel and will travel to a local restaurant for an authentic outback dinner experience

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Broken Hill Hotel x 2 nights (3 star)
120 Argent Street, Broken Hill New South Wales 2880
Phone: +61 (0)8 8088 4044

0630hrs	Buffet Breakfast is included in your hotel stay
0815hrs	Please be waiting in the hotel foyer.
0830hrs	Depart the hotel for a full day of touring including Mutawintji National Park, Historic Site and Nature Reserve
	After breakfast in Broken Hill, travel by coach to Mutawintji National Park. The Mutawintji lands are owned by the Wiimpatja people and managed jointly with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The lands are held in inalienable Aboriginal freehold title on behalf of the Aboriginal Traditional Owners by the Mutawintji Local Aboriginal Land Council. This was the first national park in NSW to be handed back to Aboriginal Owners under Part 4A of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
	Mutawintji is important in relation to ongoing themes of Aboriginal culture. It is one of the most culturally significant places in the far west of New South Wales. Mutawintji is a place for ceremonial business where in the past, large gatherings were held at which Aboriginal people would celebrate and renew their obligations to the land, traded items, settled disputes, formed alliances and “trained/mentored” the younger people through the various stages of gaining knowledge, responsibility and wisdom. Mutawintji means “place of green grass and water holes” and as such was an important source of food and water for Aboriginal people.
	NPWS has curated a tour for ICOMOS to be delivered in collaboration with Mutawintji Heritage Tours, an Aboriginal owned and operated company. You will be taken on a journey by local Aboriginal guides through significant cultural sites set within the ruggedly beautiful desert region of the Outback, seeing superb ochre hand stencils and rock engravings and hearing ancient stories of the land.
	Once the tour concludes, travel by coach back to Broken Hill for another group dining experience followed by a well-earned rest.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Broken Hill Hotel – Night 2
120 Argent Street, Broken Hill New South Wales 2880
Phone: +61 (0)8 8088 4044

0630hrs	Continental Breakfast is included in your hotel stay
	Please settle any incidentals on your room account and check out of your hotel
0800hrs	Please be waiting in the hotel foyer
0830hrs	Depart the hotel and travel to the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area
	After breakfast travel via coach through ancient landscapes formed by wind and water to the Willandra Lakes Region, World Heritage Area. The journey (approximately 6 hours) has its destination at Mungo Lodge, an authentic Australian style accommodation at the very edge of Mungo National Park, where you will be accommodated for the night.

Accommodation: Mungo Lodge x 1 night
10142 Arumpo Road, Arumpo, MUNGO NSW 2715
Phone: +61 (0)3 5029 7297

0630hrs	Continental Breakfast is included in your hotel stay
	Please settle any incidentals on your room account and check out of your hotel
0800hrs	Please be waiting in the hotel foyer
0830hrs	Depart the hotel for a full day of touring of Mungo National Park.
	The day starts early as you are guided through Mungo National Park. The subtle landscape of Mungo and the Willandra Lakes Region is a precious window where people can look into the deep past of ancient Australia. Buried here in thick layers of sand and clay are the signs of how the climate, waters and landforms have changed over the last 100,000 years, which for at least 50,000 years humans have shared.
	The ancient Willandra people who thrived with the abundance of the lakes, were then required to adapt to drier and more harsh times brought about by the last ice age and through to present day. Their story can be discovered in the folds of the land that hold evidence of their fireplaces, burial sites, middens and tools. Today, Mungo provides one of the most significant places in Australia to study the past its environment and its people.
	Experience the Mungo Aboriginal Tour guided by members from the three tribal groups of the Willandra Lakes region. Learn by walking in the footsteps of the Ngyiampaa, Mutthi Mutthi and Barkindji Aboriginal people who have lived here for millennia. Share this ancient place and stand at the history-making sites where the world’s oldest human cremation was unearthed, and 20,000-year-old human footprints and trackways have been uncovered.
	On leaving Mungo, travel by coach to Mildura for dinner and the last night of accommodation.
1800hrs	Approximate return to the hotel. Remainder of the evening at leisure

Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Mildura x 1 night (4 star)
120 Eighth Street, Mildura Victoria 3500
Phone: +61 (0)3 5051 2500

0630hrs	Continental Breakfast is included in your hotel stay
	Please settle any incidentals on your room account and check out of your hotel
	The Outback expedition comes to a close this morning. Transfer to the Mildura Airport for a flight or extend your stay within this unique and captivating region.

Hosted by: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Supported by:
• Mutawintji Local Aboriginal Land Council
• Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area

Tour Cost:
$1,515 per person for double occupancy
$1,750 per person for single occupancy*
* Single occupancy for all accommodation except the 1 night in Mungo Lodge.
Mungo Lodge accommodation consists of spacious deluxe cabins.

Tour Inclusions:
• Accommodation as specified (where possible)
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• English speaking commentary
• Breakfast daily and other meals as specified (Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D)
• Return Airport transfers in destination

Not Included
• Airfares to/from destination
• Airport transfers
• Meals other than specified
• Personal expenses
• Beverages & anything not specifically mentioned

Airfares
Domestic airfares to pre and post tour destinations are not included in the ground cost of the tour. Please advise the ICOMOS GA2020 Managers of your flight details so that they can arrange your airport transfers. You may still register on the pre and post tours if you have not finalised your travel arrangements. On completion of the registration form, you will be issued with an access key, which you need to record as this key allows you to access and update your booking and registration details at a later date.

Restrictions/Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs or persons with limited mobility

Fitness level: Gentle / Moderate (some hikes)

Minimum number of participants: 15

Maximum number of participants: 25

Is French speaking commentary available: No

Image Credit – Melissa Findley & DPIE

Image Credit – DPIE