See title. I don't know whether there are any cases or evidence but it strikes me as very strange that a people who travelled so far. From Easter island, Hawaii and new Zealand did not make contact with aboriginal people in Australia. Is there a geographic reason, currents or winds? Was it not the type of land they were looking for? Or did they find Australia but didn't settle because it was already occupied? Is there any evidence or stories of contact between pacific people and aborigines in Australia? Thanks
I am a New Zealander, and I can tell you that in these latitudes the prevailing wind is from the west.
Thus discouraging westerly travel from New Zealand.
I also was taught that NZ Maori lost the ability to make ocean going vessels after settling here as there was no need to maintain that knowledge from generation to generation.
hi! not discouraging direct responses, but fyi, you can get started on this in the FAQ
Theres nothing that says they didnt discover Australia, however when they did there were people already living there for 40,000 years or more.
From the North the Australia Coast you meet is harsh desert/scrub and filled with a people adapted to it. On the East coast its dense rain forest most of the way down. Not overly inviting. Furtheremore there IS genetic evidence of migration into Australia from about 4000 years ago, so it seems there was some movement. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2013/01/aboriginal-genes-suggest-indian-migration/
There are no reliable stories in Australia of this contact.
Easter Island and Hawaii are thousands of miles from Australia. They would have had to move back through Polynesia to find the place. From Hawaii to Queensland is almost 5000, the same distance as between Utah and London. Not a casual several days sailing.