12 Must-Do Indigenous Travel Experiences in Australia

Australia has the distinction of being home to the oldest continuous civilization in the world. The origins of Indigenous Australians date as far back as 60,000 years, with many cultures and traditions. Cultural stories, referred to as Dreamtime Stories – along with their teachings and deep respect for nature –  have been passed down through generations. Visitors to the Land Down Under can enhance their travels by participating in Indigenous tourism experiences. 

“Every part of Australia is Aboriginal Country, and every part of that country has a series of stories and experiences that are unique to that place,” shares Nicole Mitchell, Executive Officer of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, launched in 2018. “Aboriginal guides will ensure a real connection to their place and open a door to a whole new perception of the country.”

Why Include Indigenous Experiences 
Before British colonization in 1788, more than 250 Indigenous nations, each with several clans, thrived in Australia. They were semi-nomadic, traveling with the seasons. They hunted and gathered, returning to their permanent homes where they used sophisticated agricultural methods to grow crops. They were artists, adventurers, dancers, oral historians, and even astronomers adept at navigating the southern sky. 

European settlement decimated the population of Australia’s First Peoples; they were driven off their lands, murdered, or exposed to diseases. Their numbers fell from nearly a million to 93,000 by the early 20th century. As of 2021, around 984,000 First Nations people – who are referred to as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – live on the mainland and the archipelago between Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea. While they make up a small percentage of the overall population, it’s important to acknowledge and learn from the oldest continuous civilizations on Earth. 

According to Tourism Research Australia’s International Visitor Survey, around 1.4 million international visitors participated in Indigenous tourism experiences in 2019, and that number has increased by 6% per year. “Tourism can be a powerful driver for positive change and sustainability of cultures,” shares Mitchell. “All experiences are guided by Aboriginal People – the people who own the stories are sharing their stories.” By including Indigenous experiences, the visitors are helping support Australia’s Indigenous communities and their culture, shares Mitchell. 

Keep reading to learn about exhilarating and profound ways to include Indigenous experiences across all six states and the Northern Territory (where Indigenous people represent more than a quarter of the population).

1. Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner (Northern Territory) 
Ayers Rock Resort offers an exceptional gourmet dining experience overlooking Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park’s iconic sandstone formation. During the Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia’s Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner, taking place atop a dune, guests enjoy a four-course, Indigenous-inspired meal and drinks while watching a kaleidoscope of colors in the desert sky produced by over 1,000 drones dancing to a traditional Inma soundtrack. The show tells an ancient Mala story sacred to the Anangu community and traditional owners of Uluru. 

Also based in Uluru is Maruku Arts, offering individuals and groups the opportunity to learn about dot painting, drawing, and carving directly from Anangu artists. Visitors can walk the gallery at the Cultural Centre in the park for an understanding of Anangu culture and bring back a piece of local art.

2. Tiwi Islands Day Tour (Northern Territory) 
Tiwi Islands, comprising Bathurst and Melville, are home to an Indigenous population that has resided there for thousands of years. They are known for their stunning art and vibrant textiles and fabrics. 

Travelers can take a 20-minute flight from Darwin on a Sealink day trip to experience this traditional society first-hand in the community of Wurrumiyanga and hear Dreamtime Stories.

The tour also includes visits to the Mission Precinct, its Tiwi-style Catholic Church, and Tiwi Design Art Centre along with other art centers. The tour begins with a smoking ceremony, which involves smoldering native herbal plants known to have spiritual and physical cleansing properties; it is performed by Aboriginal Australians typically at the beginning of activities.

3. Guluyambi Cultural Cruise (Northern Territory) 
On Kakadu National Park’s scenic East Alligator River, travelers can venture out on a 25-seater boat for a Guluyambi Cultural Cruise. Led by an Aboriginal guide, visitors get insight into the local mythology and the traditional use of the flora and fauna for survival.

Cruises disembark on the Arnhem Land side for a display of traditional hunting and gathering tools and methods before heading back. The cruise also offers ample opportunities to see crocodiles in the wild.  

4. Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience (New South Wales) 
Visitors get an entirely new perspective (and 360-degree views) of Sydney by ascending the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, offered by the Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience with a First Nations tour guide. The word Burrawa means upwards in the Aboriginal language. As climbers make their way to the summit, they will learn about the deep roots of Aboriginal culture that shaped the city, including the origins of the names of famous landmarks.  

5. Sand Dune Adventures (New South Wales) 
Thrill seekers can opt for quad biking excursions offered by Sand Dune Adventures in Port Stephens, home to the Worimi Aboriginal People. Indigenous tour guides lead guests along the Stockton Beach sand dunes while sharing cultural stories, and the region’s history as it relates to European occupancy and WWII. 

Riders will also get the chance to visit the wreck of the Norwegian bulk carrier, the ‘Sygna’, which ran aground near the shore in May 1974. The dunes are known to be the highest in the southern hemisphere and are only available for viewing through Sand Dune Adventures.

6. Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel (Queensland)
Underwater enthusiasts can snorkel and dive to some of the best sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Barrier Reef with Indigenous sea rangers. They will come away with an understanding of the creation of the reef and the deep connection they share with marine life during a Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel eco-adventure in Cairns. The business is eco-certified and operates in sea country belonging to the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Mandingalbay Yidinji, Yirrganydji, and Gunggandji people.

7. Walkabout Cultural Adventures (Queensland)
Hikers can see the incredible natural wonders of another World Heritage Site, Daintree Rainforest, located in the Kuku Yalanji Land, on a Walkabout Cultural Adventures tour. The company is based in Port Douglas. Participants can swim in freshwater streams, learn to throw a spear and boomerang, catch mud crabs, and even experiment with eating green ants. This enriching journey provides a deeper understanding of the Kuku Yalanji Rainforest Aboriginal people and their connection to the jalun, bana, and Bubu (sea, water, and land).

8. Jarramali Rock Art Tours (Queensland)
Jarramali Rock Art Tours run by a Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owner named Johnny Murison, offers tours of ancient art at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quinkan Rock Art (dating as far back as 15,000 to 40,000 years), located in remote North Queensland’s outback. The tour involves guided excursions to see the outdoor art galleries, sampling native bush tucker/medicine, learning about the land, and gazing up at the southern night sky in all of its splendor.   

Visitors can now stay in camps only accessible to Jarramali guests surrounded by epic landscapes in Cape York, North Queensland. Guests have the option of a 4WD Tour from the town of Laura or a scenic helicopter tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. 

9. Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Victoria)
At the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Museums Victoria) in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, the original inhabitants of the area and their rich cultures — the Boon Wurrung and the Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri) groups of the eastern Kulin Nations — are acknowledged and celebrated. The museum tells its stories of survival and achievements, showcasing the various aspects of life, culture, and history through its artwork, exhibitions, performances, and storytelling.  

Among the poignant experiences is the Deep Listening Space, where visitors can hear directly from community members, aged 8 to 72. Patrons can walk through the Milarri Garden Trail and the Forest Gallery to admire the plants, waterways, sculptures, and paintings significant to the Indigenous people of Southeastern Australia.

10. Southern Cultural Immersion (Southern Australia)
The Southern Cultural Immersion, founded by a Kaurna man named Corey Turner, provides a hands-on opportunity to learn about his people on the significant grounds of Warriparinga. It accomplishes this through art classes, botanical garden tours, and smoking ceremonies.

Guests can explore the art gallery and retail store of Living Kaurna Cultural Centre’s art gallery, located in Bedford Park near Adelaide, and managed by Southern Cultural Immersion. 

The center also hosts musical performances, and markets, and provides opportunities for community engagement and cultural workshops. A percentage of the proceeds go towards the Kaurna Meyunna Trust.  

11, Wukalina Walk (Tasmania)
Travelers can immerse themselves in the culture and learn about the people’s connection to the land and sea on a Wukalina Walk. This is located on the cultural homeland of the Palawa, along the coastline of Wukalina in Mt William National Park and Larapuna in Bay of Fires in North East Lutruwita (Tasmania). 

This Palawa-owned, operated, and led walking tour takes a group of ten on a four-day, three-night sojourn through the living cultural landscape. Participants will sleep at the Krakani Lumi camp in dome-ceiling huts on the first couple of nights, followed by a night in a repurposed lightkeeper’s cottage at the end of the Bay of Fires.

12. Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures (Western Australia)
Red sand and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean converge in Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gascoyne region. Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures offers everything an adventure lover could wish for, from overnight safaris and four-wheel driving tours to kayaking and paddle boarding.

This experience in Gutharraguda (Malanga name for Shark Bay) is enhanced by understanding the deep connection the Nhanda and Malgana Aboriginal People have to the rugged saltwater country.

How to Book
Travel agents can book directly at the Discover Aboriginal Experiences website, or reach out to dae@tourism.australia.com to find out rates and learn more trade information.