The Whitsundays has a long and rich cultural heritage, beginning with the ancient Ngaro indigenous people who have lived in the Whitsundays region for over 8,000 years. The original inhabitants of the Whitsundays, the Ngaro moved seasonally throughout the islands in search of food and had no permanent settlements. The Ngaro were keen fisherpeople, making the most of the abundance of fish and other marine animals around the islands. They used spears and fashioned simple bark canoes 2-3 metres long, often made from a single piece of bark. To truly experience this ancient tradition and view some of the cultural remains including rock art, visitors can hike to the Ngaro Cultural Site at Nara Inlet on Hook Island. Another site of significance to the Ngaro is Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island, and to this day the upper reaches of the inlet are considered a sacred site and a permit is required for access