Education meets fun at Dreamworld’s Corroboree

DREAMWORLD’S newest attraction is a fun and educational way to learn about a unique culture.

Will has his arm painted at the new Dreamworld Corroboree area.

I RECENTLY found out how much a koala really can bear and surprisingly it’s quite a lot.

I used to think they were smelly lazy creatures who were constantly blissed out on eucalyptus leaves but I was proven wrong when our family had a play date with a 14-month-old koala called Mumeri when we visited Dreamworld’s newest attraction, Corroboree.

Mumeri was a cuddly delight as he was passed around from Will, 13, to Ella, 9, and then Jaala, 3, as part of our Australian animal encounter in the new section of the theme park.

He is one of 40 koalas who call Dreamworld’s Corroboree home alongside kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, tree monkeys, snakes and a couple of giant crocodiles.

Getting up close to native wildlife is all part of Corroboree, which is an interactive walk-through experience celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, wildlife and stories.

And hats off to Dreamworld – it is the first theme park in Australia to develop a stand-alone attraction about the history, culture and way of life of our indigenous people.

News_Image_File: Ella tries the interactive indigenous exhibits at Dreamworld Corroboree.

Seven years in the making, Corroboree was created in consultation with indigenous language groups and people from throughout Australia and the Torres Strait Islands who shared their intimate knowledge of native culture, storytelling, artwork and relationship with the surrounding environment.

I’m always wary of cultures becoming commercialised for financial gain under the banner of tourism but there were no traces of this at Dreamworld.

Corroboree is an authentic hands-on showcase of the Australian indigenous way of life – the perfect opportunity for families to become engaged and learn about native culture.

During our visit we participated in traditional corroboree activities including weapon throwing, dot painting and music making.

Avid art-lover Ella was instantly drawn to the carved totems located within the attraction, their significance was explained to her by indigenous interpretation officer Courtney Kelly, who was on hand to share her ancestry.

Having indigenous staff explain the significance of each and every element of the attraction from the plants to the decorative paintings brought home the key cultural elements for Will and Ella who, after talking with the indigenous interpretation officers, were able to view the attraction through indigenous eyes.

News_Image_File: Ella feeds the resident Kangaroos at Dreamworld's Corroboree Exhibit.

Sadly, it was all lost on young Jaala who was focused on feeding the dozen kangaroos that were resting within the attraction. She was also looking forward to visiting the neighbouring Wiggles World attraction.

A personal standout was the Corroboree Theatre, which is home to digital dot painting and artwork activities, a map of the indigenous tribe boundaries throughout Australia and a narrated film that tells the story of the Gold Coast’s local Yugambeh people.

Will, Ella and I spent close to an hour inside the theatre reading all we could about the history of the indigenous culture.

I was wondering if it all sunk in when later in the car Will said: “You know what I find surprising is that the Aboriginals weave their culture through everything from the weather to the animals. I had no idea it was so in-depth.”

He then spoke about it for the reminder of the trip back to Brisbane – no mean feat when he had also been on the Tower of Terror half a dozen times.

The writer and her family were guests of Dreamworld.

News_Image_File: Will and Ella Lassig cuddle 14-month-old koala Mumeri.

GO2 - DREAMWORLD

Dreamworld Corroboree is open seven days a week.

Dreamworld’s Unlimited Holiday World Pass is priced from $80 and gives pass holders unlimited entry to the theme park and WhiteWater World over 21 consecutive days.

Visit dreamworld.com.au

Fast Facts

1. Dreamworld Corroboree was co-funded by the Australian Government through the Strategic Tourism Investment Grants Program.

2. Dreamworld Corroboree is on the land of the Yugambeh people who are the traditional owners of the Gold Coast hinterland area.

3. Many different indigenous language groups and people were consulted in the creation of Dreamworld Corroboree.

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