The Touristic Duality of Ancient And Modern Australia

The same can be said for participation in the most popular cultural activities Down Under, as they are often marked by the duality of both ancient and modern wonders, each providing their own unique forms of leisure activities.

Australia is genuinely a melting pot of diverse multiculturalism, which makes it the incredibly welcoming country that it has become today. Modern society now fully embraces its history and past, having often struggled to combine indigenous and contemporary societies in the past. The story of Australia continues in modern society, embracing natural and ancient marvels, alongside the desire to be at the forefront of technology and innovation.

Earliest Humans Existence to Modern Gaming Marvels

On 1st January 1901, six colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia, which then became a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. This nationhood status came 113 years after the first European settlers made Sydney their home in 1788, when the “First Fleet” of British convicts and their guards arrived at Botany Bay.

Nevertheless, indigenous first peoples had already lived there for a much longer period of time. Indeed, the Aboriginal peoples have occupied the Australian mainland for more than 50,000 years. One of the oldest sites with evidence of human existence, the Madjedbebe acheological site is located in the Northern Territory, within the vast wilderness that is currently known as Arnhem Land.

Located in the Kakadu National Park, the site at Madjedbebe features the earliest examples of Aboriginal stone tools for grinding seeds, plus oldest ochre pigments used for cave art that have been discovered anywhere in the world. Back in 2012, this led a team of researchers to estimate that first peoples had settled in this place at least 65,000 years ago: https://www.odysseytraveller.com/articles/madjedbebe-archaeological-site-northern-territory/

And here’s part of the duality between this ancient site and Australian technological advances. Previously, carbon dating was only really accurate to around 40,000 years, but with the new optically stimulated luminescence techniques used, archaeologists and palaeontologists discovered that human life had been here for much longer than originally thought.

Now if we fast-forward to modern culture and society, Australia has become prominent for its thriving urban centres. The biggest, both in terms of metropolitan area covered and population are Sydney and Melbourne. The former has the largest population at more than 5.2 million in 2023, while the latter covers 9,993 square kilometres (3,858 square miles) in metropolitan area.

But in terms of technological marvels, it’s Melbourne that has gained recognition as a global technology hub, attracting tourists and modern professional settlers alike. In fact, the Victoria state capital is considered one of the top global cities in the world for tech firms, which is also why some of the most cutting edge games innovation takes place right here.

Gaming enthusiasts flock to Melbourne for the abundance of activities, ranging from several dedicated venues offering virtual reality (VR) experiences to the prominent Crown Melbourne casino resort. The latter caters for an innate national passion towards gambling leisure pursuits, albeit one in which physical casino venues face stiff competition, especially from the top Australian online sites: https://www.topaustraliangambling.com/online-casinos/real-money/

Aside from the plethora of gaming attractions visitors can enjoy in the city, Melbourne is home to a wide range of technological marvels engaging tourists. These include the Eureka Tower Skydeck, featuring the Edge Experience with a glass cube projecting out from the building, plus the highly interactive Scienceworks museum, incorporating the Think Ahead gallery with future tech exhibits. These modern wonders highlight just how far Australia has evolved.

Ancient Natural Wonders and Modern Sporting Pursuits

Have you ever heard the phrase “going walkabout” in Australia? The term itself originated from an Aboriginal rite of passage, during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, taking them on a spiritual journey through the bush and outback of this country. The practice still exists among the first peoples today, and actually dates back through traditions that have existed for tens of thousands of years.

Considering all the remarkable natural wonders dotted around the vast expanse of Australia, tourists will often feel the spiritual essence of this land and its original inhabitants. We’ve already mentioned the Kakadu National Park, home to some of the oldest human archaeological discoveries, and there are many more throughout the country which are sacred to the indigenous population.

Arguably one of the most famous natural wonders in Australia is mystical Uluru, also commonly known as Ayers Rock, which explorer William Gosse named the sandstone formation in 1873. Nevertheless, the original name derives from the Pitijantjatjara language of the local Anangu first peoples, for whom this mystical place is highly sacred. At their express request, given both the cultural and environmental importance of the site, climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019: https://www.australiantraveller.com/nt/red-centre/uluru/why-uluru-climbing-ban-explained/

Still, there are plenty of great routes that modern day explorers and tourists can use, taking them around what is now deemed a UNESCO World Heritage area. So if you’re planning to visit Uluru, respect the culture of the friendly and welcoming locals, take plenty of time to walk around this incredible location at your own pace and with no rush.

And speaking of “going walkabout” among the natural wonders of this country, did you know that walking is now the most popular physical activity for Australians? According to studies published by market research company Roy Morgan in 2023, walking tops the polls when it comes to sporting and exercise pursuits. Amusingly, they highlighted that going “for a vigorous stroll” is the top choice for almost 54% of Aussies: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9278-australian-sports-participation-rates-among-children-and-adults-march-2023

When adult Aussies were asked their preferences, walking came ahead of working out at the gym and weight training, and for those who prefer a more brisk pace, jogging actually came third among the favourite sport and exercise activities. Swimming came fourth, then hiking and bushwalking came fifth, which is hardly surprising due to the natural beauty of Australia, while cycling for the same reasons came sixth.

Beyond those choices for personal exercise and wellbeing, Australia is famed for the sporting culture this country has cultivated, making it one of the most prominent nations for hosting and participating in major sports events. Hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a fine example, as fans of soccer flocked here from every corner of the globe, thoroughly enjoying themselves and proving that sports tourism is important.

Australia is also home to some of the most advanced and innovative ultra-modern stadiums in the world, regardless of whether you’re looking to watch cricket or soccer, Aussie rules footie or both codes of rugby. Venues here are designed with the utmost comfort in mind, seating is blessed with great viewing angles, plus there’s widespread tech access for our mobile devices. What’s more, the atmosphere at events is truly a joy to behold, making the experience unforgettable.

Disclaimer: The above is a contributor post, the views expressed are those of the contributor and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial