Come See The Burrowing Bees

Deep in the ancient landscape of Gwoonwardu (Carnarvon) on Yinggarda Country, something remarkable stirs beneath the earth.  As the bush springs to life in Wildflower Season the Joodorngudjee (Burrowing Bees) emerge from the ground in a frenzied mating season, filling the air with movement and life in a spectacle that few people on earth have ever witnessed.

Also known as Dawson's Burrowing Bees, these extraordinary insects are endemic to the Gascoyne region of WA and unlike anything you will encounter anywhere else in the world!  They are the country's largest native bee which for most of the year, lay dormant in the arid, red claypans of the region as larvae until bursting to the surface in their thousands in search of nectar and a mate.

This tour is more than a wildlife show. It is a living, breathing experience on Country experienced through the insights of your guide Rennee; a proud Yinggarda woman, who's people have cared for the land for generations. Through her eyes, the Joodorngudjee are far more than a curiosity of nature. They are sacred and part of a story that stretches back thousands of years, woven into the cultural knowledge, traditions, and seasonal rhythms of Yinggarda people.

Guests are invited to follow Rennee in their own vehicle to the location where the bees make their nests;  only a short drive from Carnarvon and easily accessible by a 2WD car. Along the way, Rennee will stop at locations to share her knowledge in foraging for bushfoods and bush medicinal plants before arriving at the clay pan where the bees nest.  On arrival, as you walk the heritage trail, you will experience the landscape come to life, through the sharing of cultural stories, traditional ecological knowledge, and the deep history of Gwoonwardu and its Country. 

Arriving back in Carnarvon close to lunchtime, this tour ends at the waterfront where guests will have the option to purchase their own lunch and enjoy the views over the Fascine. You will leave with more than a memory of the bees; you will leave with a genuine connection to Country in an awe-inspiring way.

Tour Highlights

• Rare access to the Joodorngudjee (Burrowing Bees), native to the Gascoyne and found virtually nowhere else in Australia
• Guided walk on Country with your Yinngarda cultural guide
• Cultural storytelling & traditional knowledge sharing
• Seasonal wildflower displays bursting across the bush landscape

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us and we will adapt the tour to best meet your needs. Companion Cards are welcomed.

What to Bring:

Please bring a bottle of water and most importantly a smile. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and a Mungawalah (hat). 

Where to Meet:

71 Olivia Terrace, Carnarvon WA 6701 (6701 Cafe).  Guests will need their own vehicle to follow Rennee to the location where the bees nest.  It is accessible by 2WD.