Travel has always held a place in artist Rachael Sarra’s heart, not just for the new sights, but for the deep connections and art it sparks within her. Last year, she collaborated with Intrepid to plan a special edition of Intrepid’s Great Ocean Road & Grampians trip exclusively for fellow First Nations creatives. It was more than just a trip, it was a celebration of their cultural heritage and the bond between travel and creativity.
As an artist and designer, I’m deeply influenced by my experiences. My creative process started as an escape in a way to feel a sense of calm. So, my work really is an extension of things I am grappling with. Over the years, I’ve come to understand and really appreciate the value of travel in my work. This trip was no different.
I collaborated with Intrepid to build this trip, which gave me a chance to bring together some of my favorite First Nations creatives, many of whom are dear friends. It’s rare to travel with such a group, and it highlighted the importance of community and connection in our creative processes. This made the trip more meaningful. We laughed, told stories and inspired each other in ways that only a shared cultural experience can.
Starting in Melbourne, our group of six creatives, along with Izzy, our First Nations leader, set out on an adventure that took us through some of the most breathtaking landscapes Australia has to offer. We stopped at iconic locations like Hanging Rock, Apollo Bay and the Grampians. Each stop along the way wasn’t just a place to see, but a source of reflection.
One of the highlights was our visit to Budj Bim, a site with immense cultural significance. The first UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its Aboriginal cultural significance, Budj Bim was inspiring. Not in a creative way, but from the sense of understanding the value in places like that. While the visit hasn’t yet manifested in a specific piece of art for me, it reinforced my sense of identity and pride, reminding me of the strength and resilience of our people.
Being exposed to experiences like that will manifest in creativity down the track. Until that happens, it’s just been really special as a First Nations woman to see that represented on an Intrepid itinerary.
The conversations we had while travelling were just as impactful as the destinations themselves. The quote “It’s not always about the destination, but the journey” resonated with me throughout the trip. I feel like that’s really the beauty of Intrepid; it’s different every time and you don’t know what you’re going to get. But I always trust the experience will bring out what needs to come out in that journey.
Looking back, this trip was a healing for all of us. It’s very rare that you get to experience travel where you’re around mob and just yarning. Exploring these landscapes together was fun too. Where ever you go with Intrepid, you can trust there’s going to be something beautiful that comes out of it.
Rachael was joined by Keisha Leon (Cause + Affect), Kim Engwicht (Krae Designs), Toby Bishop (Yukupin) and Josh Scott (The C Wolf). They travelled as guests of Intrepid on the Great Ocean Road & Grampians Adventure.
