Touch the spirit that lives in the heart of the Gold Coast… That’s the slogan of Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Burleigh Head, and it couldn’t be more appropriate. A visit to this thriving centre will allow your whole family to immerse themselves in local Aboriginal culture in an engaging and active way.
Jellurgal Walkabout Tour
The Walkabout Tour runs on weekdays at 10 am and begins in the centre’s theatre, with an informative talk by an Aboriginal elder. Your tour guide will then take you outside and into Burleigh Head National Park, where First Nations people have lived for countless generations. As you stroll along the 1.2km (one way) oceanview track, you’ll not only take in stunning views, you’ll also pass sites of significant cultural value.
One of these sites is a shell midden, on the left-hand side of the track. To the untrained eye, it looks like an unremarkable collection of broken shells. But it was actually a place where Indigenous women would meet and deposit waste from a meal or feast, and leave it in a large pile. Over time, these shells have broken down, but some have been scientifically dated as being hundreds of years old. It provides a fascinating insight into the lifestyle and diet of the local Yugambeh people over a long period of time. Your tour guide will also share some dreaming stories, which explain the geological structures of beautiful Burleigh Heads.
Walkabout Tours cost $39 for adults, $20 for children aged five – 14, and free for those under five years of age.
Jellurgal Little Explorers
In the school holidays, primary school-aged children can enjoy a program of activities called Jellurgal Little Explorers. The 1.5-hour session includes a short guided walk and koala spotting, listening to Dreamtime stories and participating in an Aboriginal art workshop. Each child receives a little explorers passport booklet, that offers activities for them to complete during the program or afterwards. The flat walk takes in part of the Burleigh Head oceanview track, which is both pram and wheelchair friendly. It can get hot, so we recommend taking a hat, water bottle and sunscreen.
Jellurgal Little Explorers tours cost $25 per child (adults are free per paying child). These tours can also be booked by vacation care providers and school groups.
Jellurgal Cultural Centre
It is well worth visiting the cultural centre, even if you don’t have time to do a tour. Inside is an impressive collection of Aboriginal art and gifts, all certified as authentic and produced locally. There’s also an indoor boardwalk with interpretative displays that allow you to explore the traditional lives of the Yugambeh people.
Entry to the centre is free, and it is open Monday to Friday from 8 am until 3 pm. Off-street parking is available, and public toilets are located outside. Jellurgal is a not-for-profit organisation, and all funds raised go towards the Kalwun Development Corporation which provides a range of services and facilities for the Gold Coast’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including housing support, health care, aged care, child protection and more.
While you’re in the area, there’s a number of family-friendly bushwalks you can try through beautiful Burleigh Head National Park. It’s also worth packing the beach bag and spending some time at one of the nearby patrolled beaches.
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is located at 1711 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Head. For bookings, please visit their website.
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