Your Gunditjmara cultural guide will take you on an informative walk around Tae Rak (Lake Condah). The lake is made up of 1,700 hectares of significant wetlands and stony rises right next to the historic lava flows of Budj Bim National Park. The Gunditjmara people have sustained life here for tens of thousands of years, and created what is considered to be one of Australia’s earliest and largest aquaculture systems. Your guide will give you an overview of the Gunditjmara creation story and point out the extensive marine and bird-life of the lake, followed by a look at the ancient landscape and the extensive range of stone aquaculture sites and fish traps. This is a great introduction to the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape for those who are interested in First Nations heritage and the stories of Gunditjmara Country.

The tour starts with a visit to the Kurtonitj Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) where your Gunditjmara cultural guide will show you an ancient smoking tree used for smoking kooyang (eels), an area of lava flow featuring two weirs, and a dam associated with trapping and holding kooyang. Follow this with a visit to the Budj Bim National Park to see an inactive volcano (now Lake Surprise) located within the Western Victorian Volcanic Plains. The Gunditjmara call the area ‘Tungatt Mirring’ or Stone Country, and it is where the legend of Budj Bim began. Here Your guide will take you on a cultural walk with key features of interest including Lake Surprise, lava tunnels, caves, forest, and wildlife including an extensive koala population. After Budj Bim, return to the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre & Café, arriving approximately 1pm. (Lunch not included)

Explore the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape with a Gunditjmara Traditional Owner. See the marshes and fish traps at Kurtonitj Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA), the beauty of Budj Bim National Park with Lake Surprise and lava caves, and the wetlands of Tae Rak (Lake Condah). Throughout the tour you will learn of the traditional techniques used across the Budj Bim lava flow, and ancient aquaculture techniques which led to a rich and sustainable life for the Gunditjmara people for over 6000 years.