Bungoolee Tours - Jandamarra Country

Bungoolee Tours is an Aboriginal owned and operated business based in Fitzroy Crossing. The business, run by prominent Fitzroy Crossing man Dillon Andrews, offers one day tours to Windajana Gorge and Tunnel Creek.<p>

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek are two of the Kimberly regions major icons. Cut into the 350 million year old limestone of the Devonion reef system, these landscape features provide spectacular contrast to the surrounding plains. They are a high priority attraction for many visitors to the Kimberley.<p>

The walls of Windjana Gorge rise vertically 100 metres from the floor. For those who know the area there are fossilized remains of 350 million year old marine creatures. From the seasonal water holes of the gorge, fresh water crocodiles emerge to bask in the sun on the sandy banks.<p>

Tunnel Creek is a stream that cuts its way through the Napier Range, providing a 750 metre tunnel from end to end.<p>

<b>This is Dillons country the land of the Bunuba people. A tour to this area with Dillon is a unique opportunity to see a part of the Kimberley in a way that very few people experience. For Dillon this is the opportunity to share his culture and his land. Dillon provides a unique insight to the hills, the water holes and springs, the stories of the land. With the agreement of the elders for this country, he shows rock painting sites and shares perception of the land that guides from other tours operations do not know of. Dillon provides an experience that provides the visitor with strong lasting impressions of inland Kimberley. He speaks from the heart he knows no other way.<p>

This is also Jandamarras land. An Aboriginal freedom fighter etched into history and the minds of Bunuba people, Jandamarra provides a prominent story from early contacts between aboriginal and European people. In the late 1800s Jandamarra led a fierce and sustained resistance to the movement of European settlers onto the lands of the Bunuba people. Jandamarra was killed by police near to Tunnel Creek in 1897, following two and half years of pursuit.</b><p>

It has long been Dillons dream to operate a tour business and to share his culture and land. Bungoolee tours was registered for visitors to Fitzroy Crossing. Reliability and professionalism have been a trademark of the business. In 1999 Dillon was awarded West Kimberly business person of the year.<p>

The operation of Bungoolee Tours has brought about a commercial business and the generation of income earnings. Dillons, however, extends much further than realising his own business aspirations. He has included other family and community members wherever possible, and has provided training for young guides.<p>

It is Dillons aim to develop a tourism enterprise that is inclusive of all community members. He plans to build a base camp a short distance from Biridu, his small remote community on Leopold Downs cattle station and hours drive from Tunnel Creek. The community has built abolition facilities and is in the process of establishing a bush kitchen. When completed the base camp will be used accommodate people taking extended 2 to 4 day tours with Bungoolee Tours. It will also host other tours operations wishing to include an Aboriginal cultural experience in their itinerary.<p>

Birdu bush camp toilet facility

The base camp will provide employment and income opportunities for the community and for individual members. If will help to extend the benefits and outcomes from Dillons business initiative. The operation of a base camp will provide the chance to establish an economically and culturally sustainable future for the community. Overnight tours and extended experiences to Biridu have already been provided for visiting tourists. This has been a taste of what is to come.<p>

Dylan is looking for funds to build a camp kitchen and obtain suitable camping equipment, establish signage, safety and first-aid equipment. He hopes to have his first tours during 2004 and is looking for funding up to $50,000.<p>