Immerse yourself in culture with Karaak Dreaming

Immerse yourself in culture when embarking on a tour with Karaak Dreaming.

By Tori Wilson Images by Josh Cowling

At One with the Land

To connect deeply to the earth, read the whispers of the trees, and interpret the secrets of the bushland are spectacular skills possessed by Aboriginal elder and Karaak Dreaming owner and operator Maitland Hill. For Maitland however, it's a skillset as natural as breathing. Spend time with him on one of his cultural tours and you too will gain a wealth of insights into Dwellingup’s natural attributes, and feel truly connected to country. Identifying bush medicine, tasting bush tucker, learning traditional hunting techniques, and understanding the power of Dreamtime stories are just some of experiences you will share. Standing by Nanga Brook, surrounded by tall marri trees, Maitland closes his eyes and speaks a powerful welcome to country to the trees above. “My goal is for people to connect with country when they come to Dwellingup, to feel country,” he explains. “When I do a welcome to country, I want (people) to close their eyes and really feel the place and hear the stream. Listen to country, listen to the birds, listen to what’s coming ... feel the rain coming.” After selecting a tour with Maitland, start your day at the Visitor Centre’s Waypoints Café for a light snack before heading into the heart of Dwellingup, to Nanga Brook Kep-Bilo (water stream). Follow Maitland in your car along Nanga Brook Road, lined with ancient forest, and make sure your windows are down to allow you to breathe deep as you enter a natural paradise.

Nanga Brook is a special place. It’s a reflection of the beauty that is found in Dwellingup and of the deep connection Dwellingup has in Aboriginal culture. Once you step into the captivating bushland, Maitland will invite you to connect with the land by listening carefully to the singing birds, feeling the running water, smelling the healing scent of the eucalyptus trees and red earth. Along the way, Maitland will share his knowledge about the gifts of the earth and point out traditional purposes of native flora, like the significance of the grasstree. “The grasstree represents survival. It can last through the bushfires, through winter, all year round. It supplies medicine, fire, warmth. It has a strong scent for cleansing too.” When dried, the long grasstree flower is used as a matchstick for lighting fires, while the plant’s gluelike resin is used for fixing spearheads and other tools. Each of Karaak Dreaming’s tours are customised to suit the desires of the group on the day. Maitland explains it’s his aim to ensure guests get the most out of the experience as possible, which they’re sure to do in this breathtaking and unique place.