Australian Traveller draws ever closer to solving one of its greatest myths: are Hoop Snakes real?
Forget the ubiquitous and highly nefarious Drop Bear. The dreaded Hoop Snake is the real scourge of the Australian outback.
The hoop snake began life as an American myth. Native to hilly or mountainous areas, when disturbed it’s said to form a rigid hoop by clasping tail in mouth and pursuing you silently and swiftly, using the slope to gain terrifying speed. Sightings in the US are still reported, with one naturalist offering $10,000 to the first confirmed evidence of a hoop snake. That money remains unclaimed.
Most online blogs or forums advising overseas visitors of the dangers of spiders and reptiles within Australia have at least one reference to hoop snakes and how best to evade attacks (usually something like “jump through the hoop to confuse it, then make your escape"). AT even discovered one lengthy exchange between a potential buyer and seller of a captive hoop snake. As the hapless purchaser drew nearer to making a decision, all kinds of advice from online onlookers poured in: be careful to build a big enclosure so it can hoop properly; make sure one end is higher than the other; perhaps use a small paddock on a hillside. Eventually the penny dropped and the sale aborted.
Three-toed skink.
In terms of the real thing, the nearest AT could find is the three-toed skink (Saiphos equalis) pictured above, a similar shot had been captured by Chris Rehberg who manages the excellent local action and conservation website www.wherelightmeetsdark.com.
Chris came across the rare skink in the southern Sydney suburb of Peakhurst (interestingly, among Chris’ stated missions in life is to “slowly but surely capture all Sydney skink species in photographs.")
Has he stumbled upon the real life Aussie hoop snake? Or at least a possible source of the legend here on our shores? When frightened, this skink shows off its reddened underbelly by curling into a tight hoop, but there’s certainly never been evidence of the tiny creatures (they only measure a few centimetres in length) attacking in full hoop formation. So it would appear the outback remains safe.
From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.
Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.
Budj Bim cultural landscape
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.
The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour
Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.
Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Kingfisher Cruises
Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.
wawa biik
Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.
Bataluk Cultural Trail
Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)
The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.
Healesville Sanctuary
Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.
The Grampians
Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.
