Orion Expedition Cruises - Mysteries of Ancient Arnhem Land cruise released

**Ally** · 05-03-2007, 09:39 AM

Orion’s Mysteries of Ancient Arnhem Land expedition
(A journey for which there is no postcard)

Some journeys are well marked on the travellers map as “must do”. There are other journeys whose highlights are not marked on any map, yet the experiences linger in our memories longer than any other. Journeys where the people of the places you will visit are as excited and intrigued by your arrival as you will be. Journeys for which there are no postcards.

For a journey that merges the unique combination of expedition and cruising, Orion Expedition Cruises presents a one-off voyage onboard the luxurious 5 star Orion across Australia’s Top End to explore the Mysteries of Ancient Arnhem Land.

Arnhem Land has a strong cultural overlay with her traditional owners; cultural strongholds where art and land have been intrinsically linked for 40,000 years or more.

In addition to overwhelming natural beauty, the underlying attraction of Arnhem Land remains its remoteness, difficulty of access and frontier image as a little known part of northern Australia. This is enriched by its contact history with over 200 years of Macassan trade, followed by a string of failed British colonial settlements and ongoing interaction of the traditional owners with occasional incursions by explorers, missionaries, settlers, hunters, traders and miners.

Orion provides the ideal medium to taste a little magic, discovering the history, mythology and varying art styles of Australia’s indigenous peoples in an unobtrusive manner that touches land and people ever so lightly. This journey will connect Orion’s guests to a dynamic culture, dramatic landscapes and an interesting history of Australia few have the opportunity or privilege to visit.

The itinerary includes the highly respected art communities of Pirlangimpi (Melville Island), Maningrida, Nhulunbuy (Yirrkala), and Elcho Island; as well as an option to visit the significant and prolific aboriginal rock artworks at Mt. Borradaile.

Assisting the permanent onboard Orion expedition team will be specialist onboard guest lecturers, including Joc Schmiechen, Senior Research Fellow in Indigenous Tourism at Charles Darwin University. Through these experts Orion’s guests will come to better understand the mythology entwined with the spirit of the land.

The Mysteries of Ancient Arnhem Land 10 night expedition departs 6th September, 2007

DARWIN, Pirlangimpi (Melville Island), Port Essington (for optional side trip to Mt. Borradaile) Maningrida, Arnhem Bay, Milner Bay (Groote Eylandt), Nhulunbuy (Yirrkala), Jensen Bay/Hole in the Wall, Elcho Island, DARWIN

Fares begin from $7,200 per person for an Ocean View Stateroom (category B)
Suites begin from $9,930 per person for a Junior Suite (category JS).
Top of the range Orion Owners’ Suites at $15,080 per person

Cruise fares include accommodation, all meals onboard, the service of 75 experienced crew members, expedition leaders, interpretive lectures, selected landings & activities ashore.

Further information on Orion Expedition Cruises can be obtained by visiting the website Orion Expedition Cruises 5-Star Luxury Eco-Cruises Australia

For reservations or to obtain a brochure call Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) or your travel agent. Email: info@orioncruises.com.au

Further information on experiences, activities and destinations:

Facts about Arnhem Land: delineated political borders define Arnhem Land as a land mass of 80,000 square kilometres, about the size of the State of Victoria. Natural geographic boundaries enlarge the size to about 97,000 sq kilometres. Estimated population of around 20,000.

Arnhem Land is an Aboriginal Reserve, declared in 1931 and granted infinite freehold in 1976 under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. There are stringent access restrictions with severe penalties. A permit is required from the Northern Land Council to enter Arnhem Land.

**Ally** · 05-03-2007, 09:39 AM

Overview of Orion’s Mysteries of Arnhem Land itinerary

Pirlangimpi
Orion’s first stop is Pirlangimpi, a small community on Melville Island in the Tiwi Islands. Visit the Munupi Arts to view the distinctive features of Tiwi art including ceramics and carved totemic Pukumani funeral poles, unique to Tiwi culture. Guests can visit the remnants of Fort Dundas – one of the original attempts to colonise the Top End, or learn new skills by joining the locals in their small boats to participate in traditional hunting and gathering, spearing fish, collecting mud crabs and items of bush tucker in this pristine marine-eco environment.

Victoria Settlement
The ruins of this ill-fated British Military settlement on the Cobourg Peninsula take you back to an era in time often overlooked in Australia’s history. Join local guides to explore the remains of Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, where the British had grandiose plans to create a colonial military and trade outpost to rival Singapore. The outpost lasted just 11 years (1838-1849) before being abandoned. Guests will see the remains of the officer’s quarters featuring Cornish chimneys and fireplaces, hospital, magazine (where ammunition was stored) and quartermasters store.

For avid fishermen this is the place to try your hand at catching the fighting fish of the north. Arnhem Land is famed for its fishing - Queen fish, Spanish mackerel, hammerhead sharks, giant trevally, sweetlip, coral trout - a spectrum of pelagic, game fish and bottom dwellers.

Mt Borradaile*
This area is not only features significant wetlands and abundant wildlife, but arguably contains the most significant collection of indigenous rock art covering every period of time. The numerous galleries depict some of the earliest examples, possibly as old as the renowned Bradshaw art of the Kimberley, right through to contact art depicting detailed illustrations of pearl luggers, rifles and steamships (complete with rudder, smoke stack and wheel house).

This is the location of the truly magnificent Aburga, a six metre long rainbow serpent, painted on an overhang in red and white ochre, its mouth agape, jaws flashing.

As well as visiting significant art sites, cruise the magnificent wetlands, home to the numerous species of birds and crocodiles and traverse the rugged country at the top end of Kakadu in open 4WD’s learning of the Aboriginal uses for the local flora. *Optional Shoreside Expedition

Maningrida
A self-governing indigenous community in the heart of Arnhem Land. The township dates back to just after WWII, with migration into Maningrida reflected in linguistic variety and cultural diversity evidenced by the different religious ceremonies and multitude of artistic forms in design, music and dance.

Recognised nationally and internationally, this is one of the powerhouse art areas of central Arnhem Land. Bark painting, pandanus weaving and wood carvings - especially the Mimi spirits - are all distinctive features of the artistic endeavour. The excellent Djiom Museum is a highlight, showcasing the richness of the ceremonial apparel and intricacies of the material culture.

Maningrida is renowned for cast metal sculptures, jewellery and bark paintings and with over 350 local artists supplying their art there is a wide variety of styles to appreciate and enjoy.

Arnhem Bay
Orion’s visit to Arnhem Bay will be a first for any organised group. Working with the local Yolgnu people we will visit one of the small outstation communities and receive a first hand insight into life in this part of the world. Walk with the traditional owners and learn of the uses of local plant life for both food and medicine, learning many secrets of traditional healing.

Groote Eylandt
Groote Eylandt is a low lying island with vegetation typical of tropical savannah woodland with a mixture of mangroves, paperbark, stringy-bark and pandanus. For thousands of years the island was inhabited by Aborigines who had made their way across the Lowrie and Warwick Channels from Arnhem Land and sparsely settled the island living a simple hunter-gatherer existence.

Early art works from this region feature the Macassan links which were particularly strong. Groote has a good array of rock art which forms the link to the bark and contemporary art of today.

Yirrkala
Our visit to Yirrkala will begin with a short Zodiac ride to Shady Beach where we will be met by a local Yolngu family who will greet and “cleanse” us with a traditional smoke ceremony followed by traditional face painting and tasting of local delicacies – oysters, freshly cooked mud crab and speared fish.

Receive first hand insight into the Yolngu culture and share some of the distinctive cultural experiences of northeast Arnhem Land as we split into groups for “woman’s business” and “men’s business”. Woman will learn the secret mysteries of Arnhem Land, while the men will learn how to make spears and more importantly how to use them.

Not to be missed is a visit to The Buku – Larrangay Mulka Art Centre, one of the most prominent indigenous art centres in northern Australia; while the adjoining museum houses the famed ‘Church Panels’, an iconic art work and a powerful political statement. Hear stories about local history, the close link between art and land and see an enticing array of exquisite bark paintings (created by using locally collected earth pigments and a simple brush constructed from a few strands of hair), weaving, carving and Yirrkala world class prints.

The Yidaki (Didgeridoo), Australia’s iconic musical instrument, emanated from this region.

At both Maningrida and Yirrkala, guests will find an extensive range of traditional art, available for purchase either for decoration or investment.

Jensen Bay
Marchinbar Island is home to some fascinating rock art in the caves and overhangs around Jensen Bay. As ever, Orion’s expedition team, guest lecturers and locals will provide valuable insight and interpretation to help enhance the experience.

A short walk from the Zodiac beach landing reveals these art sites. Only occasionally inhabited through history this secluded island will enchant with its solitude and beauty.

Elcho Island
This is a scenic and historic location. Local stories reflect the close association between the sea and the local Yolgnu clans, who regularly travelled between islands in bark and (later) dugout canoes.

The Morning Star poles - feather decorated funeral rite poles each distinctive to their clan groups - are a special feature of Elcho. Yolngu Art is a reflection of the past and allows the individual to find and maintain a connection with the guiding presence of the spirit that represents the past, present and future. Each art work is based upon inherited designs which originate with ancestral beings that created the land.

Located on a cliff top south east of the Galiwin’ku town centre is an Art Centre (known as the eagle’s nest in Yolngu mythology) with spectacular views looking over Mission Beach, Abbott Island and the surrounding sea. Here the deeply spiritual artists of Elcho Island specialise in producing traditional and highly sought-after Yolngu x-ray style art as well as contemporary interpretations.

Australian Aboriginal culture is the oldest surviving unbroken string of cultural information in the world, the significance of which is reflected by art critic, Robert Hughes, who considers
‘Aboriginal art is the most important art movement today ’. It is little wonder so many indigenous artists are now represented in major public and private collections both in Australia and internationally.

Maintaining and recording their culture through Dreamtime stories depicted in rock paintings, corroborees, secret rituals and totems is important, as events and life processes are embedded in the memory of the land - and preservation of the collective inheritance is of primary concern to the artists. Be it a carved ironwood burial pole, a barrage of white, dabbed dots and circles on canvas or deep ochre cave paintings depicting man’s very beginnings of life in Australia, these artworks reflect time itself.

This expedition is not just about art, for Orion takes her guests to experience the Top End wetlands with all the excitement and drama of crocodiles, extensive bird life and spectacular game fishing - all adding to better understanding of this remote and wild land and its impact on the culture, reflected through the artworks.

So appealing was the 2006 inaugural expedition it was selected by The Weekend Australian Travel & Tourism Awards as a finalist in their Innovative Tourism Experience category, suggesting this expedition in September 2007 will again appeal to those travellers who seek the mental stimulation that comes from new and involving experiences that are out of the norm.