- Seventh Camping with Custodians campground officially open at Lombadina
- Campground will provide visitors with unique Aboriginal tourism experience
- Program is part of Jina: WA Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-2025, funded by WA Government’s $20 million Aboriginal Tourism Fund
The Kimberley region now has a new Aboriginal tourism offering, with the opening of the latest Camping with Custodians campground at Lombadina.
Camping with Custodians is an Australian-first initiative that provides high-quality campground accommodation owned and run by Aboriginal people, creating income, employment and training opportunities for local communities.
At the new Camping with Custodians site at Lombadina, visitors can learn about local Aboriginal culture and customs while staying on Bardi Country with the Traditional Owners.
The operators will also be a booking agent for activities and tours in the area, ranging from mud crabbing to whale watching tours.
Lombadina is the second Camping with Custodians campground to open on the spectacular Dampier Peninsula, which is fast becoming a sought-after destination for out-of-state visitors.
The Djarindjin campground, located just 5km from the new Lombadina facility, was officially opened in 2022, and has proven to be a popular option for caravanners and campers.
Seven sites have now been developed through the Camping with Custodians initiative, with other sites located at Imintji, Mimbi, Doon Doon, Violet Valley and Peedamulla, with planning underway for additional sites in the future.
The program is one of the key outcomes of WA Government’s Jina: WA Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-2025,which aims to make Western Australia the nation’s premier destination for Aboriginal Tourism.
Aboriginal tourism is also a key goal area outlined in the recently released WA Visitor Economy Strategy 2033, which sets out a 10-year vision to foster the growth of tourism in the state.
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As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We know there’s demand for authentic Aboriginal tourism experiences, and there’s definitely opportunity for growth in this area.
“Camping with Custodians enables visitors to experience the unique Aboriginal culture in a personal, authentic setting, while creating employment and training opportunities in local Aboriginal communities.
“The Lombadina Campground on the stunning Dampier Peninsula now joins the other six Camping with Custodians sites in the network, offering Aboriginal tourism experiences and tours that are unique to each location and hosted by Traditional Owners and local operators.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti:
“The Camping with Custodians program is a great initiative, supporting jobs and training opportunities for local Aboriginal communities.
“It’s also an important way for tourists to experience world’s oldest living continuous culture, in quite a remarkable location up on the Dampier Peninsula in our State’s beautiful north.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“Camping with Custodians is a fantastic tourism initiative, allowing visitors to learn and share authentic indigenous experiences while also generating income, employment, training opportunities and the chance to showcase local culture for our Aboriginal communities.
“I’m really pleased that this program continues to grow and expand, and especially with a second campground on the incredible Dampier Peninsula in our Kimberley region.”
