On Thursday night I, along with the team at The Tour Specialists, got to enjoy Tjapukai By Night. Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is an enthralling experience by day, but by night there is something a little more special about it. On arrival at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park I was greeted at the flamelit entrance by Tjapukai performers who applied traditional face paint on me. As I walked up the torchlit path to the entrance, two young Tjapukai men were waiting to take a souvenir photograph with me. There was time for plenty of laughs, and the anticipation of the night ahead began to swell.
Once inside the courtyard at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park I met the rest of the Tour Specialists team and was offered a welcoming glass of wine. We enjoyed the fresh Tropical North Queensland air and mingled underneath the vast Australian night sky. After a short while we were ushered into the Magic Space – a large cavernous room adorned with Australian Aboriginal artworks and artefacts. The Magic Space is the beginning of the Tjapukai By Night experience, and exudes an atmospheric ambiance. After a short while admiring the Aboriginal artworks, the lights begin to dim and the show begins…
The Tjapukai By Night performance in the Magic Space is incredibly intimate. In the centre of the room is a small circular stage where the enthralled audience gathers around to enjoy the Tjapukai performers tell a traditional Dreamtime through the use of dance and didgeridoo music. As the traditional dance ends the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo reverberates off the hallowed walls of the Magic Space creating a powerful experience for the audience. I was amazed at how clear the sounds of native Australian animals were in the poignant didgeridoo music. I could clearly hear the sounds of dingos and birds being expertly teased out of the authentic Aboriginal instrument. As the audience is being captivated by the spectacular performance, it comes as a pleasant surprise when doors burst open and lights begins to penetrate the darkness of the Magic Space.
The Tjapukai performers beckon the audience to follow into the mysterious corridor. As we follow the alluring sounds of the didgeridoo we are led to a large outdoor grass area nestled by Tjapukai lake. I, along with the rest of the audience were handed tapsticks, and immediately became part of a traditional Australian Aboriginal corroboree. The Tjapukai performers begin the corroboree with song and dance which the audience enthusiastically participates in, and climaxes with the creation of fire. The audience gathers closer and ‘gives wind’ to the fire – blowing on the smouldering fire to ignite the flames. It doesn’t take long for the flames to burn brightly, and a traditional campfire is started.
Out of the shadows a Tjapukai performer appears, lights his spear in the campfire and hurtles the firespear into the lake. When the spear makes contact with the tribal land it explodes into a mushrooming fireball that magically illuminates the dark night sky. The audience erupts into cheers and applause as the fire begins to dim. As we look out towards the lake we see something begin to emerge from the deep dark forest. A flamelit canoe materializes out of the darkness carrying Tjapukai performers. As the canoe meets the shoreline the performers lead the audience along a mysterious path that follows the shoreline of the lake, and this short journey through Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park ends at the delightful Boomerang Restaurant.
The Boomerang Restaurant is a large open-aired restaurant that overlooks the calm still waters of the lake and the rainforest clad mountains in the distance. The Boomerang Restaurant features a gourmet hot and cold buffet dinner. The dishes have been inspired by Indigenous Aboriginal ingredients such as Lilly Pilly, Wattleseed, Pepperberry and Rosella. Being vegetarian I particularly enjoyed the buffet dinner as there was an abundance of fresh seasonal vegetables, vegetarian soups, lasagne and pasta dishes. The carnivores were impressed with the fine array of seafood and meat dishes. The bread was fresh and delicious, traditionally prepared by chefs at Tjapukai. As we were enjoying our delicious desserts, the final Tjapukai performance began.
The final Tjapukai performance is enthralling. Tjapukai performers take to the stage, and through dance and song tell traditional dreamtime stories. There is plenty of audience interaction and we get to really feel part of the show! There is a good deal of humour in this last performance, and audience members are called to the stage to take part in traditional dance and fire making. As the Tjapukai performance comes to a close a camp fire is lit on the grassy lawn outside the restaurant, and we have a chance to enjoy a glass of fine Australian wine or chilled Australian ale by the fire and meet the talented Tjapukai performers.
As the night comes to a close there is plenty of time to explore the retail gallery. This is not just another gift shop – it sells a range of fine Australian artwork, didgeridoos, boomerangs and other authentic handmade creations. I highly recommend the Tjapukai By Night experience. Not only was it fun and entertaining, but also provided me with a wonderful insight into traditional Aboriginal culture. I got to experience first-hand rituals and traditions that date back over 40,000 years, which is truly awe-inspiring and remarkable. Tjapukai By Night is an unforgettable cultural experience, and a ‘must do’ activity for those on a Tropical North Queensland vacation!
Tjapukai Information & Bookings
Amy Jennings
The Tour Specialist.