Original Connections

Australia and New Zealand are home to an immense number of endemic species, many of which hold deep spiritual significance. To understand their importance, we have to delve into the intricate connections between nature and culture.

Words: MELISSA HAUN

Where did the world and all of its creatures come from? Every culture on earth has its own way of answering this eternal question. For the First Peoples of Australia, these origins can be traced back to the beginning of the Dreaming or Dreamtime: a complex and everlasting era informing spiritual beliefs, cultural identity and a close relationship to the natural world.

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, many animals carry the spirits of the ancestral beings who created them – and humans are inextricably linked to wildlife and nature. The Mãori of New Zealand also recognise the connections between all living things and consider certain animals to be sacred.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Australia and New Zealand are home to so many unique species. Around 87% of Australian mammals and 52% of all animals in New Zealand are endemic, meaning that they’re native to these lands and can’t be found anywhere else on earth. The sheer variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and marine species makes each of these countries a dream destination for anyone interested in wildlife – and has played an integral role in constructing the cultural identity of these countries’ original inhabitants.

Emblematic animals

Some of the most distinctive species in Australia and New Zealand have come to symbolise these countries in various ways. Although people from New Zealand are technically known as New Zealanders, you’re far more likely to hear them referred to as Kiwis: a nod to the nation’s most famous bird. Similarly, the kangaroo has become a global symbol of Australia, found everywhere from the country’s coat of arms to the nickname of its national men’s football team (the Socceroos).

Beyond their modern connotations, animals like these have been imbued with exceptional importance for millennia. The oldest known cave painting in Australia depicts a kangaroo and is estimated to be over 17,000 years old. Many of the country’s 100,000 examples of prehistoric rock art include images of animals, ranging from wallabies and bilbies (both native marsupials) to emus and dugongs (marine mammals related to manatees).

The kiwi only cemented its status as a symbol of New Zealand during the 20th century, but has held significance in Mãori culture for much longer. The word ‘kiwi’ itself has its roots in the Mãori language, though it’s also known as te manu huna a Tãne (‘the hidden bird of Tãne’) in reference to a traditional legend.

As the story goes, the kiwi used to be able to fly, but sacrificed its wings in order to help Tãne-Mahuta (the god of forests and birds) protect the trees from the insects that were destroying them. To this day, the five kiwi species of New Zealand are ground-dwelling, flightless creatures that feed on various types of insects, as well as worms and plants.

There’s another Mãori tale related to a lesser-known but equally intriguing species: the glowworms of the Waitomo Caves. One of these caves is called Ruakuri, which means ‘den of dogs.’ Legend has it that the cave was first discovered by a hunter who was attacked by wild dogs guarding its entrance. It later became a sacred Mãori burial ground and was believed to lead to the underworld.

Many Dreamtime stories also convey wisdom and values. This is often true of tales about animals that are regarded as totems, or spiritual symbols assigned to individuals or families, among the First Peoples of Australia. Stories about the koala often emphasise the importance of protecting water sources; koalas are known to stay hydrated by eating eucalyptus leaves and licking tree trunks to collect the water that runs down them.

Empowering experiences

Visiting Australia and New Zealand is a chance to come face-to-face with some of Australasia’s most fascinating animals. Approaching these wildlife encounters in a responsible way is vital in order to protect the species themselves, and also to respect their importance in Indigenous culture and history.

Fortunately, there are many fantastic organisations committed to wildlife conservation and research across Australasia. You can learn about these efforts first-hand by staying at a place like Orpheus Island Lodge: a secluded resort in the Great Barrier Reef that places community empowerment and environmental protection front and centre.

Orpheus Island Lodge exemplifies the concept of positive-impact tourism, collaborating with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Orpheus Island Research Station, Great Barrier Reef Legacy and James Cook University to support the preservation and protection of the reef and every animal that dwells within it. There’s a vibrant world beneath the waves here, the largest coral reef system on earth supporting astonishing biodiversity. It provides a habitat for thousands of species of marine life, including sea turtles, reef sharks and more than 1,500 different types of fish.

Travel northwest from Orpheus Island to find Australia’s remote Top End, a region that boasts some of the planet’s last great expanses of untouched wilderness. In Kakadu National Park you might come across everything from wallabies and bandicoots to crocodiles and river sharks, as well as about one-third of all the bird and bat species in Australia. This is also where you’ll find Bamurru Plains Lodge, which invites guests to explore the wondrous wilderness of the Top End. In the local Gaagudju language, the word ‘Bamurru’ means ‘magpie goose’ – just one of the hundreds of bird species you’re likely to see around the lodge.

The Top End and Northern Territory brim with spiritual significance. Sacred sites such as Uluru, the Yellow Water wetland and the rock formations of Kata Tjuta and Ubirr are strongly connected to the belief systems and creation stories of local Aboriginal groups.

Some 4,000 kilometres away, the island of Tasmania has its own distinctive wildlife. Here you can learn about the Aboriginal Tasmanians who have inhabited the island for millennia, including several thousand years of complete isolation from the mainland. After Europeans colonised Tasmania, its Aboriginal communities were nearly destroyed – but the descendants of the island’s original inhabitants have kept their culture and traditions alive.

When it comes to wildlife, Tasmania is best known for its eponymous devil, whose snout, claws and white markings were seen as punishments for cowardice and greed in Dreamtime stories. Today this endemic marsupial has become highly threatened due to a contagious disease. Local organisations and government entities are working hard to ensure its survival. You can learn more about these efforts and see Tasmanian devils up close at Saffire Freycinet, a luxury lodge set in Freycinet National Park.

In New Zealand, one of the best areas to explore the connections between wildlife and culture is the region around Rotorua and Taupõ. Located in the middle of the North Island, both of these lakeside towns are known for their geothermal activity, outdoor activities and Mãori cultural experiences. Spot falcons, kãkã parrots and possibly even rare small-scaled skinks. Hike to Huka Falls, stroll through the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tãne Conservation Park, relax in the Wai Ariki Hot Springs or visit Tongariro National Park to take in striking volcanic landscapes.

Both Rotorua and Taupõ are about a two-hour drive from the Waitomo Caves, where you can encounter the caves’ legendary glowworms. The caves weren’t fully explored until the late 19th century, when the Mãori chief Tãne Tinorau ventured into their depths.

Take a tour to discover the caves’ historical and cultural significance and see the glowworms illuminating the darkness with their bluish bioluminescence. You might even be lucky enough to be guided by a direct descendant of Tãne Tinorau himself.

An unbreakable bond

There’s a Mãori saying that distills the essence of humanity’s connection to nature: ko au ko te taiao, ko te taiao ko au (‘I am the environment and the environment is me’).

Although the cultures, languages and traditions of Indigenous groups across Australia and New Zealand are vastly varied, they are linked by common threads. The exceptional diversity and singularity of Australasian wildlife is impressive in and of itself; but to fully understand the value of these creatures and the necessity of protecting them, it’s essential to consider them from the perspective of the people who first called these islands home.

Traditional wisdom has long guided the relationships of First Peoples and Mãori communities with the animal kingdom. These interactions have always been based on respect, coexistence and an enduring awareness that we as humans are not separate from our environment – in reality, we’re simply one small part of the miraculous world we inhabit.

Authentic experiences in Australia

Tours led by First Nations guides offer the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of some of Australia’s most famous destinations.

Sample bush tucker in Sydney

In Australia’s oldest botanic garden, learn how Aboriginal communities have traditionally used different foods from the bush. A First Nations guide will lead you through the Cadi Jam Ora garden, with tastings along the way.

Learn about cave art at Uluru

On the Kuniya walk, explore ancient cave art with an Anangu guide and listen to Tjukurpa creation stories in the Pitjantjatjara language (with an English translation). You’ll make way to the Mutitjulu Waterhole hidden among the reddish rocks.

Adventure in the Top End

Travel from Darwin to Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land, where access must be granted by the land’s traditional owners. Along the journey you’ll enjoy an airboat safari and visits to the Gunbalanya community, the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre and Maguk Gorge.

Kayak Shark Bay in Western Australia

Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell, a descendant of the Nhanda and Malgana people, will be your guide for a kayaking adventure through Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Look out for turtles, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and more.

Cruise the Great Barrier Reef

Accompanied by First Nations cultural guides and expert marine biologists, board a cruise that combines Indigenous traditions with world-class snorkelling and diving at two of the Great Barrier Reef’s best sites.