Aboriginal people tend to focus on their connection with the land more than anything else. There are many sites that come along with a sacred meaning for each of the Aboriginal tribes. A sacred site is usually a place of some ceremonial importance or a place of feasts, settlement etc. There are certain ceremonies that a person has to get involved into if he wants to enter into such sacred sites. The reason behind this is that one is assumed to offer positive energy, good wishes and harmony to the ancestors.

The following are 8 Aboriginal historical sites in Australia which every tourist ought to visit.

• Kakadu National Park

Kakadu is considered as the “Oldest living culture on earth”. For more than 65000 years, it has been home to Aboriginal people. Kakadu’s rock art ( Gunbim ) and the paintings that are of 20,000 years old acts as one of the important records for longest historical records of any group of people in the world is one of the major reasons Kakadu has received the “World heritage status”. The paintings also provide deep information on the Bininj / Mungguy people.

• Tower Hill Wild Life Reserve

The Tower Hill Wild Life Reserve, off the Great ocean road is on the most popular tourist route from Melbourne to South Australia and is the home for many important Aboriginal sites. The wildlife reserve, is located at 14km from Warrnambool ( where Aboriginal people lived 32,000 years ago ), is a wonderful home for kangaroos, emus, koalas and many waterbirds.

• Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta also known as Olgas is located in Central Australia is considered sacred to the Aboriginal people of Australia. Kata Tjuta is comprised of 36 domes and covers an area of about 21.68km². It is located at about 25km from Uluru and the duo forms the major landmarks within the Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park.

• Birrarung Marr

This is a somewhat odd entry into the list as it is such a modern location now, but the history of Birrarung Marr is very important. It is located in Melbourne and the name actually means “River of Mists” in Woiwurrung language of Wurundjeri people of Australia. This site is considered a traditional aboriginal site because of its prime ceremonial importance. There are three levels of open terraces at Birrarung Marr. The lower terrace which is located next to a river, has a gravel surface. The middle terrace is located on the eastern side of the park and has a grassed surface. The upper terrace is located on the northern side of the park.

• The Kimberley

The Kimberley was one of the earliest settled parts of Australia which had the first arrivals 43,000 years ago. With more than 400,000sq m of pure landscape comprising of the waterfalls, red sands, animal life and floral regions, Kimberley is one of the most important tourist spots one should never miss !

• Uluru

Uluru also known as Ayers Rock is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of Australia. It is a large sandstone rock formation in Central Australia which is notable for changing colors at various times of the day and the year. 46 species of natural mammals are known to live in and around Uluru. The park has a hot desert climate. According to the Aṉangu, traditional landowners of Uluru, “The world was once a featureless place. None of the places we know existed until creator beings, in the forms of people, plants and animals, traveled widely across the land. Then, in a process of creation and destruction, they formed the landscape as we know it today”.

• South Australian Museum

The South Australian Museum contains the most significant collection of more than 3000 Aboriginal cultural artifacts in the world. The permanent galleries in the museum include Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, South Australian Biodiversity Gallery, World Mammals Gallery, Mawson Gallery, Megafauna Gallery, Minerals and Meteorites Gallery, Fossils Gallery and a lot more!

• Ban Ban Springs

Ban Ban Springs is located in Queensland. “Ban Ban Springs is a sacred site and has a Dreamtime association with the Rainbow Serpent which is believed to have surfaced there. Ban Ban Springs is unique in Indigenous Heritage. It is sacred in men’s Business and women’s Business for separate and combined reasons.”

We’ve all been there. You’ve just arrived at your abroad abode, and suddenly it strikes. That familiar feeling of melancholy that comes with being far away from the comfort of your own home. Pair that feeling with culture shock, and you’ve created the perfect recipe for a case of full blown homesickness.

Missing home is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s only natural to feel an affinity for the places you’ve left behind. Still, there are many ways that you can make your new digs feel like your home away from home. Here are a couple tips and tricks to combat the melancholy of homesickness.

Keep It Cozy

A great way to make your new place feel familiar is to make it your own! The best way is to customize the space with your own personal touch. You can do this by purchasing accent pieces, such as throw pillows, blankets, and decorative vases. You’ll be surprised at how one simple item can make a room feel homier. Keep in mind that location matters when it comes to decorating. The tips for decorating your winter lodge will differ greatly from tips for decorating your beach condo. As such, you want to add a personal touch while making your home design mesh with your new location.

Fill Your Digs with Some Familiar Faces

If you don’t have the budget — or the luggage space — for throw pillows, then you can always bring smaller items from your house. Pack some fun photos from home that you can decorate with. This will let you look at familiar faces for when you’re feeling the blues. You can even add character to your new fridge with quirky magnets. All you need are small touches to remind yourself that this is your temporary home away from home.

Keep in Touch, But Not Too in Touch

As humans, we rely on personal contact. Being in touch with your loved ones can fuel you, but too much can actually drain you as well. If you find yourself spending more time talking on the phone than exploring your new habitat, then you’re not fully experiencing the present. Scale back on your phone time by scheduling a weekly Skype call with your loved ones. This will add to the routine of your day, and it will combat the possibility of excessive talk time.

Another great way to keep your loved ones informed is a travel blog. Many wanderers say that a blog is helpful for communication on a much larger scale. They also find the act of writing to be therapeutic in its reflection. If you’re already journaling, why not take the extra step and make a blog?

Find a New Routine

In order to make your new living arrangement feel like home, you can establish a new routine within your environment. When you’re in a new place, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of the location. Language barriers, unfamiliar terrain, and culture shock can all lead to a familiar sensation of dread. Yet, as in all things, the best way to beat this is with baby steps.

The first step of finding normality is to establish a routine within this new location. This can be as simple as drinking coffee in the morning on your trellis. You can also schedule a daily walk through a local garden. As humans, we rely on patterns to establish normality. With an established schedule, you can find uniformity within unfamiliarity.

Thrust Yourself into the Unknown

Sometimes the best way to beat homesickness is to embrace the unfamiliar. Nothing can get you out of a funk like the thrill of going on an adventure! Instead of spending time moping in your home, you could be outside, experiencing the city. Your brain’s synapses will begin firing as it navigates through new territory. Even if you don’t discover something incredible, you’ll have distracted your brain from its general malaise of homesickness. In order to stop missing what you’ve left behind, you need to experience where you are now!