Uniquely Australia… Discover Aboriginal Experiences
16/12/2025Discover Aboriginal Experiences is a collective of quality, authentically Aboriginal guided tourism experiences showcasing the world’s oldest living cultures.
This flagship suite of extraordinary Aboriginal experiences is part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program that promotes outstanding and inspiring experiences, which capture the very essence of Australia.
Aboriginal Australia is made up of hundreds of different ‘Nations’, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws. This means that no two Aboriginal experiences are the same, so you’re guaranteed to learn something new on each and every tour, from ancient sustainability practices to cultural stories linked to the local landscape.
There’s also an incredible diversity of Aboriginal experiences to choose from. Whether you prefer relaxed walking tours or an exhilarating quad-biking adventure is more your style, Aboriginal tour options come in all shapes and sizes, and last from less than an hour to multiple days. So find your ultimate experience!
From exploring labyrinths of ancient and contemporary rock art to adventurous expeditions in mesmerising natural wilderness, a rich array of experiences is on offer in the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA EXPERIENCES:
1 – In Culture Tours, Perth & Surrounds:
Noongar culture thrives in Perth (Boorloo), Fremantle (Walyalup) and Cape Peron (Boya Kaarla), and it’s brought to life by the proud and charismatic Whadjuk man, Steven Jacobs via walking tours and cultural experiences that spotlight Western Australia’s indigenous heritage.
Steve Jacobs has a passion for Perth, having grown up there. He learnt about Country and traditions from his elders, and with their permission, he passes learnings on via walking tours around the West Australian capital, as well as Fremantle and nearby Cape Peron.
You’ll discover the beauty of Kings Park (Kaarta Gar-up) in the centre of Perth and learn how significant this site is. Further afield, the ‘Explore Truth-Telling’ in Fremantle experience is a unique journey investigating the history and culture of this beautiful seaport town.
Cape Peron is as naturally spectacular as it is spiritual. You’ll feel a genuine connection to Country on a visit here with Steve, regaled by his Dreamtime stories while foraging for bush tucker and native medicines.
Experiences:
- Explore Truth Telling in Fremantle. Embark on this unique, informative and culturally immersive walking tour exploring Aboriginal history and traditions. Your Whadjuk guide delves into the Moorditj Noongar stories of the ancient Whale Pathways (Mammong Bidi). Schedule: Refer to Website.
- Experience Culture in Kings Park. Enrich your understanding of Indigenous culture, bush foods and traditional medicines on this stunning walking tour through Perth’s iconic inner city Kings Park as your Whadjuk guide shares Noongar Dreamtime stories and the history of the park. Schedule: Refer to Website.
- Discover the Beauty of Cape Peron. Feel the significance and ancient connection to Country and the ocean through the Noongar Dreamtime stories, of the Derbal Naraa, on this enriching coastal walk. The destination is located just one hour south of Perth, in Rockingham. Schedule: Refer to Website.
2 – Dale Tilbrook Experiences:
Get a tantalising taste of bush tucker and traditional Aboriginal healing during hands-on experiences exploring the beneficial qualities of native plants.
With Dale Tilbrook, a Wardandi Bibbulmun woman, enjoy an encyclopaedic and captivating deep dive into Aboriginal food, culture and art with an emphasis on bush tucker and the use of plant and animal resources as food and medicine. During Dale’s two signature experiences you’ll get to sample bush food and learn about the nutritional profile of Aboriginal food and medicine plants. It’s a hands-on experience and Dale always has a wide range of bush tucker to try. She also reveals some remarkable insights into Aboriginal food traditions such as how local groups used to practice agriculture in the form of yam farms combined with sustainable hunting and gathering along the Swan River.
In the Aboriginal Art and Dreamtime Stories experience, the history of Aboriginal art and dot painting is explored and participants create their own piece to take home.
Experiences:
- Bush Tucker Talk and Tastings. Explore the bush food of Aboriginal Touch, taste, smell the food and enjoy bush tucker snacks. Learn about Aboriginal agriculture and moving across the land according to the six seasons. Schedule: Year-round, 2 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 15 people
- Bush Tucker and Wellbeing. Food is medicine and medicine is food. Learn about the nutritional and healing properties of Australian native food and medicine plants. Try teas and snacks based on these foods. Schedule: Year-round, 2 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 15 people
- Aboriginal Art and Dreamtime Stories. A relaxing and informative dot painting experience to create a memory to take home while listening to Aboriginal Dreamtime stories and hearing about Aboriginal culture. Bush tucker snacks included. Schedule: Year-round, 2 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 15 people
- Local History and Culture. Learn about traditional Aboriginal life, spirituality and social systems. Follow a timeline of events and legislation that shaped the relationship between local Aboriginal peoples and the European colonisers and determined the current reality. Understand the impact of policies that still have ongoing ramifications. Bush tucker snacks included. Schedule: Year-round, 2 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 20 people
www.daletilbrookexperiences.com.au
3 – Mabu Buru Tours, Broome:
Explore the landscapes around Broome (Rubibi), savour seasonal fruits, meet local wildlife and delve into ancient lore and traditions on this immersive cultural journey.
Guided by Johani, a proud Indigenous man, Mabu Buru Tours offers a deep dive into Aboriginal culture in this pocket of northern Western Australia. Choose from tour options that include the Cable Beach Muwarrt, a traditional gathering that provides an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture. The longer Wakaj Experience is an Aboriginal gathering experience that includes cooking demonstrations, authentic dance performances, lessons about traditional lifestyle and Dreamtime storytelling. Enjoy freshly cooked damper with some locally harvested bush honey.
Travellers with a 4-wheel drive can join Johani for an exciting half day exploring Broome’s unique surrounding coastal mudflats, mangroves and creeks. You’ll be walking through intertidal areas, navigating the coastal landscape and getting up close with nature. Aboriginal guides will show you traditional hunting and foraging techniques, and share their personal stories of the area along the way.
Experiences:
- Cable Beach Muwarrt. A traditional style gathering that provides an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture in a natural setting by enjoying a relaxing conversation at Cable Beach. Schedule: Mon and Fri, Year-round, 1.5 Hours, Min: 2 – Max: 25 people or 50 for private bookings
- The Wakaj Experience. An Aboriginal gathering experience that includes traditional cooking demonstrations, authentic dance performances, lessons about traditional lifestyle and dreamtime storytelling. Enjoy a freshly cooked damper with some locally harvested bush honey. As an optional add-on, enjoy a traditional meat cooking demonstration – featuring kangaroo tail. Both will be prepared and enjoyed during the tour at an additional cost. Schedule: Thu, (Apr-Sep), 2.5 Hours, Min: 25 – Max: 84 people or 50 for private bookings
- Binba Mayi Four-wheel Drive Tag-along Experience. Explore Broome’s unique surrounding coastal mudflats, mangroves and creeks on this tag-along tour. Aboriginal guides will show you traditional hunting and foraging techniques and share their personal stories of the area along the way. Once the hunt is over, you get to relax and listen to your guide share some stories and teach you about the local indigenous culture, while you feast on your fresh catch. Schedule: Daily – tide dependent (year round). Half day, Min: 2 – Max: 15 people
www.broomeaboriginaltours.com.au
4 – Kimberley Cultural Adventures:
Exclusive access to sacred sites around Broome reveals the region’s fascinating pearling history and mission days through Aboriginal eyes.
Robert Dann’s passion and love of Country, culture and the Broome region shapes the tours offered by Kimberley Cultural Adventures, providing in-depth insights into how the region became the centre of the world’s pearling industry and the role Aboriginal communities played. Explore forgotten roads and historic landmarks and hear the local stories connected to them.
You’ll also discover the abundance of bush foods and medicine plants, experience a private didgeridoo performance, get hands-on with some traditional Nyul Nyul artefacts and enjoy a cup of Robert’s home-brewed Boab ginger beer or iced tea. Robert additionally leads an immersive five-hour Beagle Bay Cultural Tour from Broome to Beagle Bay, where you’ll discover the local Aboriginal history and stories.
Experiences:
- Broome Cultural Tour. Dive deep into Broome’s cultural past, discover the bush foods and medicine plants, experience a private didgeridoo performance and traditional Nyul Nyul artefacts and enjoy some home brewed Boab ginger beer or iced tea. Explore forgotten roads, historic landmarks and hear the local stories connected to them. Schedule: Mon – Thurs, (Mar-Nov), 3 Hours, Min: 4 – Max: 21 people
Beagle Bay Cultural Tour. Journey from Broome to Beagle Bay (1.5hr bus trip) with Nyul Nyul traditional owner Robert Dann. Visit the Sacred Heart Church, also known as ‘The Mother of Pearl Church’ and discover the local Aboriginal history and stories from the mission days. Schedule: Mon and Fri, On Request (Apr-Oct), 5 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 22 people - Broome Bush Tucker and Culture Tour. Discover the bush foods and medicinal plants that sustained the first people of the Kimberley on this immersive tour. Learn about Broome’s history, experience a private didgeridoo performance and get hands-on with some traditional Nyul Nyul artefacts. Schedule: On request, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 15 people
www.kimberleyculturaladventures.com.au
NEW SOUTH WALES EXPERIENCES:
1 – Australian Museum Sydney:
Expand your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures on this unique tour of objects from the Australian Museum’s collections, led by a First Nations guide.
Australia’s long natural history comes to life at the Australian Museum, and the insights are particularly poignant on a Waranara tour with a First Nations Guide. Waranara (To Seek)…Seek knowledge, Seek truth, Seek understanding. That’s exactly what you get to do on this special one-hour experience immersing you in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural objects from the Australian Museum’s collections.
You will learn about the knowledge systems and sustainable practices used for countless generations that helped Australia’s First Nations peoples become one of the oldest living civilisations on the planet, all the while glimpsing artefacts of cultural significance through the collection. Every tour is different, depending on the guide, giving you the rare opportunity to hear personal stories.
Experiences:
- Waranara First Nations – Scheduled Tour. Join a guide to explore the Australian Museum’s rich collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects. Each tour is unique with guides sharing personal stories of their own Country, cultures and experiences. Schedule: Every Wed, Year-round, 1 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 20 people
- Waranara First Nations – Private Tour. Join a guide to explore the Australian Museum’s rich collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects. Each tour is unique with guides sharing personal stories of their own country, cultures and experiences. Schedule: On request, Year-round, 45 minutes
2 – The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney:
Discover the rich culture, history and bush foods of the Gadigal (the traditional territory of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, who are the Indigenous custodians of the area that is now Sydney) and their deep connection to Country on an Aboriginal-guided tour.
In certain foodie circles, foraging is a hot trend, but for the Gadigal people of Sydney (Warrane), it’s a way of life. Wander through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney with a First Nations guide and discover the history of Sydney, while learning about the way plants are used to make bush foods and medicine. The Aboriginal Bush Tucker tour through the Cadi Jam Ora garden also provides an opportunity to discover how these native plants have been adapted to the modern palate.
On the Aboriginal Harbour Heritage tour, join your guide and admire the beauty and history of Sydney Harbour through the lens of the Gadigal. Stroll along the foreshore while listening to stories of lifestyle, traditions, history and connection to Country. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney covers 30 hectares in the heart of the city, offering spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Experiences:
- Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour. Walk with your guide through the Botanic Gardens to learn more about Indigenous bush foods and how these foods were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate. Journey through the Cadi Jam Ora garden and learn about some of the hottest bush foods on the market right now, all while tasting some goodies for yourself. Schedule: Thu-Fri-Sat, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 30 people. Private tours are available daily on request
- Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour. Join your guide as you stroll along the stunning Sydney Harbour foreshore admiring the beauty and history of Sydney Harbour through the eyes of the Gadigal on your one-hour trip. Private tours are available daily on request. Schedule: Thu-Fri-Sat, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 25 people
- Aboriginal Cultural Private Tour. Join an experienced guide on a walking tour and discover the rich Aboriginal heritage of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Schedule: On request, Year-round. 1.5 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 30 people
3 – Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience:
This Indigenous storytelling experience takes you back in time, and to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Become immersed in Sydney’s Aboriginal history and see iconic landmarks from a new perspective.
Bridge Climb Sydney’s Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience offers unbroken views over Australia’s largest city while you ascend the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This bridge climb comes with a side of history, both humbling and enlightening courtesy of your Aboriginal guide. Each First Nations Storyteller brings different Dreamtime stories to your climb, not to mention different Indigenous languages, and you’ll learn a word or two before you reach the summit.
Standing 134 metres above the water, it’s hard not to lose your breath – likely due to a combination of the 1,332 steps, the 360-degree views and your guide’s fascinating insights. From the summit you’ll see The Rocks (Tallawoladah), where Patyegarang (Australia’s first Aboriginal language teacher) instructed botanist and explorer William Dawes on the languages of Sydney. You’ll also spot one of the city’s newest precincts, Barangaroo – named after a Cammeraygal woman and powerful leader of the Eora Nation during the time of European colonisation.
Groups can also opt to begin the experience with a traditional Welcome to Country – an Indigenous smoking ceremony, and learning how to walk on Country with respect.
Experiences:
- Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience. Scale to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and discover fresh perspectives on the city below with a storyteller as your guide. Schedule: Tue and Sun, Year-round – peak rates apply 25 Dec-3 Jan, 3 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 14 people. Groups on request
- Indigenous Ceremony Under the Bridge, followed by a Burrawa Day Climb. Experience a warm and traditional Welcome to Country and immerse yourself in an Indigenous smoking ceremony designed to deepen your understanding of the ceremony origins, purpose and significance to modern Aboriginal people. Learn how to walk on Country with respect, guided by a local Aboriginal Elder in the serene setting of Dawes Point Reserve, right under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Following the ceremony, enjoy your Bridge Climb Burrawa – an Indigenous storytelling experience that takes you on a journey back in time and to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Schedule: On request, Year-round – peak rates apply 25 Dec-3 Jan, 3 Hours, Min: 20 – Max: 50 people
VICTORIA EXPERIENCES:
1 – Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne:
Uncover Aboriginal heritage in an urban setting, from a fascinating museum to interpretive guided walks offering insights into cultural preservation.
Visitors looking to experience Aboriginal Australia within an urban setting should look no further than Melbourne/Narrm’s Koorie Heritage Trust. With a prominent location at Federation Square, this not-for-profit trust offers several ways to gain insight into how Aboriginal peoples in Victoria once practiced their culture in this area and how they continue to keep it alive today.
Drop in to browse the museum-style collection, which includes oral histories, photography, art, boomerangs, possum skin cloaks, eel traps and ancient stone tools. The trust also offers informative walking tours led by an Indigenous guide who shares the city’s Aboriginal history and their own story. The one-hour Birrarung Wilam (River Camp) Walk meanders along the banks of the Yarra River to the Birrarung Wilam art installation, celebrating the connection between Indigenous peoples and place. The Scar Tree Walk, a 2-hour private tour includes this route, and then continues to the William Barak Bridge, which connects Birrarung Marr Park and Yarra Park.
Experiences:
- Scheduled Tour – Aboriginal Walking Tour – Birrarung Wilam Walk. Aboriginal guides lead a walk through the cultural centre and down to the Yarra River visiting art installations and experiencing the Aboriginal history and stories of Melbourne. Schedule: Daily, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 2 – Max: 30 people
- Private Tour – Aboriginal Walking Tour – Birrarung Wilam Walk. Private tours may be tailored where possible to include an additional cultural talk and tour of the Aboriginal art gallery and collections. Schedule: Daily, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 10 people – Max: 30 people
- Private Tour – Scar Tree Walk. This tour extends the Birrarung Wilam Walk to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, visiting culturally significant scar trees in Yarra Park only 15 minutes from the CBD. Schedule: Daily, Year-round, 2 Hour, Min: 10 – Max: 30 people
www.koorieheritagetrust.com.au
2 – Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne:
Connect to Country and the First Peoples of the Kulin Nations on deeply immersive guided walks, revealing heritage, culture and native plants.
The picnickers who unfurl a blanket under a shady tree in the verdant Royal Botanic Gardens may not realise it, but they are continuing an ancient tradition. Long before the Gardens were established in 1846, these lands were, and continue to be, an important meeting and cultural place of the local First Peoples of the Kulin Nations.
The cultural practices and knowledge systems of the oldest continuous civilisation live on today through storytelling and the Indigenous plants and remnant waterways of the site. To learn more about the culture that has been passed down through countless generations, join the daily Aboriginal Heritage Walk. Much more than just a stroll, this guided tour explores the ways that spirit, connection and land inter-twine. Learn about the stories and cultures of Indigenous communities, along with the plant knowledge of traditional foods and medicine.
Experiences:
- Aboriginal Heritage Walk – Public Tour. Experience Melbourne Gardens led by an Aboriginal guide and journey into the ancestral lands of the local Kulin Nation. Gain an understanding of their rich history, thriving culture and connection to plants. Schedule: Tue-Wed-Thu and Sat-Sun, Year-round, 1.5 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 15 people
- Aboriginal Heritage Walk – Group Tour. Join an Aboriginal guide on an exclusive group tour of Melbourne Gardens as you discover the local First Peoples’ connection to plants and their traditional uses for food, medicine, tools and ceremonies. Schedule: On request, Year-round, 1.5 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 15 people
QUEENSLAND ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES:
1 – Yura Tours, Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island:
From whales and dolphins to hidden lakes and beaches, the beauty and long Aboriginal history of North Stradbroke (Minjerribah) Island is revealed through walking and off-road driving tours.
Despite being within easy reach of Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah is like a pocket of natural paradise. Yura Tours’ Elisha Kissick – a proud Quandamooka woman – reveals the significance of Minjerribah via cultural drives and walks. This is a chance to not only discover the island’s immense wildlife but also its native flora and the Aboriginal uses of plants for food and medicine.
Yura Tours’ walking and driving experiences offer a deep dive into the island’s bountiful natural assets from an Aboriginal perspective. Drop in on Brummiera (Brown Lake), Moongalaba/Terra Bulla (mission site), Capembah (Myora Springs) and Mulumba (Point Lookout), among other destinations. Whichever experience you take you are guaranteed Creation stories and epic vistas, with options to forage for clams and native plants and take a swim to cool off.
Experiences:
- Minjerribah Cultural Experience. With a Quandamooka guide, visit Brown Lake to experience a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony and admire the beautiful surroundings connecting you to Quandamooka Country. Visit Moongalaba/Terra Bulla, then Myora Springs. Next stop is Point Lookout to enjoy a guided cultural tour around the headland while listening to Creation stories, taking in breathtaking views and learning about the flora and fauna of the island and traditional Aboriginal uses. Taste native produce then return to Dunwich (Goompi). Schedule: Daily on demand, Year-round, 3 Hours, Min: 2 – Max: 11 people. Group booking upon request
- Meanjin to Minjerribah Cultural Day trip. Quandamooka Guided cultural driving tour leaving Brisbane/ Meanjin heading to Minjerribah, learning about First Nations people’s uses of the flora on the Island. Enjoy wildlife spotting along the way and other history of the Island, Welcome to Country, creation stories and knowledge sharing. Pick up and drop off from Brisbane and locally sourced lunch included. Enjoy land-based whale watching in winter months. Visit lakes, beaches and historical sites along the way. Schedule: On demand with set days as well. Year-round. 8 hours, Min: 2 – Max: 11
2 – Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Burleigh Heads:
The dazzling views of the Gold Coast skyscrapers backdrop sacred Jellurgal mountain on the Burleigh Headland. Feel your soul soar wandering this spiritual part of the Queensland coast with a Yugambeh guide, learning ecological practices and getting creative with art and dance.
From its powdery beaches and epic surf to its hinterland rainforest and skyline of glimmering buildings, the Gold Coast never fails to dazzle. The goal of the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre on the Burleigh Headland is to give this Queensland city some perspective…65,000 years of perspective, in fact. The Yugambeh language-speaking people are the Traditional Owners of this coastline, and their culture is preserved at the centre through immersive experiences that educate and inspire.
The Jellurgal Walkabout is as much about feeling the force of nature around Jellurgal (Dreaming Mountain) as it is about protecting this landscape, with guides offering insights into Indigenous conservation and ecological practices while revealing the native plants and medicines that have sustained communities for millennia. Creation stories offer meaningful and personal insights into Yugambeh culture and traditions, which are further illuminated through displays and presentations at the centre itself.
The Jellurgal Journey Tour offers private groups a three-hour experience, including an Aboriginal dance performance and an ochre anointment to welcome you to Country. You’ll feel the spirit of the Dreaming Mountain while visiting a sacred midden, then have the chance to get creative in an art class, learning the stories behind Indigenous symbols and techniques while engaging in conversation about the land you’re on and the legends that surround it.
Experiences:
- Jellurgal Walkabout. Embark on a journey of discovery of Aboriginal culture with a guided walk along a picturesque beachside rainforest walkway wrapped around the magical mountain, Jellurgal. Learn about the Aboriginal history and culture of the Gold Coast. Schedule: Daily, Year-round, 2 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 25 people
- Jellurgal Journey Tour. Specifically designed to introduce visitors to the wondrous nature of Aboriginal culture, the ecological connection to Country and heritage. The experience includes an Aboriginal dance performance and art workshop. Schedule: Tue-Fri, Year-round, 3.5 Hours, Min: 1 – Max: 25 people
3 – Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Cairns:
A rare opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef accompanied by Aboriginal guides, while enjoying snorkelling and Creation stories about this World Heritage Site.
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel combines a full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise with Indigenous cultural storytelling with a rare educational opportunity to explore the reef with Traditional Owners whose north Queensland Sea Country stretches from the Frankland Islands to Port Douglas. First Nations Guides from four Traditional Owner groups – the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay and Yirrganydji peoples, as well as Torres Strait Islanders – help guests gain a deeper understanding of their traditional and cultural values in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
On the way to visiting two outer reef sites, guides welcome guests to the Sea Country and share Dreamtime stories including the Great Barrier Reef Creation story. Then they take guests on guided snorkel tours through waters their hunter-gatherer ancestors knew intimately. Guests learn about the ancient relationships between people, marine creatures, and the ecosystem they’ve shared for tens of thousands of years.
Experiences:
Dreamtime Cruise. Experience two premium outer reef sites during this full-day adventure with a relaxing five hours to explore the reef. This experience includes live demonstrations of traditional dance and didgeridoo, Indigenous Welcome to Country, fish feeding by marine biologists, as well as morning tea, a delicious buffet lunch and afternoon tea. Diving and snorkelling options are available. Schedule: Daily – subject to change, Year-round, Full day, Min: N/A – Max: 75 people
4 – Down Under Tours – Daintree Dreaming, Cairns/Gimuy, Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest:
Passionate Aboriginal guides take you on a deep dive into the Dreamtime stories of Tropical North Queensland on these inspirational cultural experiences.
There’s no doubt the landscapes you visit with Down Under Tours are impressive – expeditions take you through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, to sacred Aboriginal beaches and ancient rock formations. But it’s the stories you hear from Aboriginal guides along the way that will leave the greatest impression.
Down Under Tours nurtures an innovative partnership with the local Kuku Yalanji people to craft exclusive experiences designed to give you a greater appreciation for the region’s ancient cultures. Access some of the most important sights in Tropical North Queensland, including Mossman Gorge and Cooya Beach, where you’ll participate in an Aboriginal coastal adventure with a Kubirri Warra clan member. Or take a deep dive into Aboriginal art and culture visiting Janbal Gallery and savouring native bush flavours at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Whether you’re in a group or on a private journey, this is your chance to explore coast to rainforest through an exciting lens.
Experiences:
- Daintree Dreaming. This journey discovering the ancient Aboriginal culture of the Kuku Yalanji people sees you explore the mangroves and mudflats of Cooya Beach with a Kubirri Warra clan member. Learn about traditional bush medicines and foods and try your hand at throwing a spear. Then journey to the lush rainforests of Mossman Gorge and enjoy an interpretive rainforest walk, followed by a delicious lunch infused with bush flavours. Complete your day visiting Janbal Gallery for an immersive experience with resident Aboriginal artist Brian ‘Brinna’ Swindley. Explore how Dreamtime stories about animals, the environment and language are expressed through cultural art. Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat, Year-round, Full day, Min: 4 – Max: 16 people
- Daintree Dreaming – Private Chauffeured Experiences & Group Tours. The Daintree Dreaming program is a spectacular Aboriginal cultural journey from coast to rainforest. Delve deep into the ancient culture of the Kuku Yalanji people and immerse yourself in a hands-on experience. Available as private chauffeured experiences. Schedule: Daily on request, Year-round, Full day, Min: 1 – Max 6 people. Group charters for up to 32 guests
5 – Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours, Cairns/Gimuy:
Sacred Mandingalbay Yidinji culture is revealed on fascinating tours that spotlight bush tucker and the Creation stories of the Wet Tropics.
It’s hard to imagine a setting more humbling and heart-stopping than that around Cairns, a pocket of Queensland where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet. Here, where the steamy Wet Tropics of Queensland melt into the azure Great Barrier Reef, you’ll discover the traditional land of the Mandingalbay Yidinji, your tour guides on the company’s day, evening and overnight tours, just a short cruise east of Cairns.
While cruising and walking, it’s easy to lose yourself in their Creation stories – the intergenerational tales on the Hands On Country Eco Tour offering a fascinating glimpse into life here over millennia. It’s also easy to develop a taste for bush tucker, with seasonal plants plucked along your journey. Native produce is also the star of the Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise evening experience, including a relaxed river cruise across Cairns Harbour, Welcome to Country ceremony and spotlighting for crocodiles. If the food doesn’t take your breath away, the natural setting will…mangroves sprawling under a canopy of haunting gums.
Experiences:
- Hands On Country Eco Tour. Glide across Trinity Inlet into the expanse of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef region. Enjoy a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony before walking the Mayi Bugan Rainforest Trail with Indigenous Guides to discover native foods and bush medicines, ancient Aboriginal traditions, customs and artefacts. Includes light refreshments. Schedule: Mon, Wed and Fri, Year-round, 3 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 18 people
- Two Day Camping Edu-Tourism Experience. Depart Cairns Marlin Marina by boat then arrive at Hills Creek for a Welcome Ceremony and Smoke Cleansing Ceremony. Walk the Mayi Bugan Trail with Indigenous guides then set up camp at a special site within the Indigenous Protected Reserve. After breakfast, students will spend the morning collecting data and completing surveys of highly valuable salt marsh sites as well as leaning how to weave using traditional materials. High School and University Students will learn about how ancient culture and latest science was used to regenerate and save a devastated environment.Schedule: On request, private charter, (Apr-Oct), 24 Hours, Min: 18 – Max: 25 people
- Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise. Push off from Cairns Marina as the sun sets, in a river cruise vessel bound for East Trinity Reserve. Cruise past ancient mangrove forests then enjoy a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on arrival at the Stingray Shelter. Enjoy delicious canapés and non-alcoholic beverages while learning about ancient language, practices, traditional tools and weapons from Mandingalbay Yidinji rangers. Schedule: Fri, Year-round, 4 Hours, Min: 6 – Max: 35 people
- Deadly After Dark – Exclusive Group. Want the ultimate exclusive group experience? As the sun begins to get low over the Great Dividing Range to the west of Cairns, meet your Mandingalbay Yidjinji guide and push off bound for wetlands and mangrove forests of East Trinity Reserve. Discover an Indigenous Protected Area where ancient knowledge meets latest science to deliver world-first conservation programs. Upon arrival at the Stingray Shelter, enjoy the ancient Mandingalbay custom of a Welcome to Country. Listen to Mandingalbay Yidinji guides speak of ancient language, practices and traditional implements that are still made and used with music and song. A two or four-course dinner paired with drinks is available. Schedule: On demand, Year-round, 4 Hours, Min: 1- Max: 35 people
6 – Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Cairns/Port Douglas:
Connect to Country with an Aboriginal guide, foraging for food, throwing spears and enjoying insightful commentary on Kuku Yalanji culture.
Juan Walker has been guiding tours through Tropical North Queensland for over 20 years, but his link to the land extends back much longer than that; Kuku Yalanji have lived here for millennia. Walker’s parents and grandparents (and many generations before them) were born in the region, making this area a deeply personal, and deeply sacred part of their world. And he grew up here learning ancestral hunting and gathering techniques, and myths and legends of the land. It’s this deep connection to Country and community that makes Walker and his team the ideal guides for tours highlighting this region.
Walkabout Cultural Adventures offers half-day, full-day and private journeys on which you’ll explore mangrove ecosystems identifying the coastal food sources, and learn how to throw a spear. You’ll also enjoy a guided rainforest walk learning about bush foods and medicines that characterise the Daintree, while gaining an understanding about the Kuku Yalanji people’s connection to Country.
Experiences:
- Half-Day Ngana Julaymba Dungay. Learn about coastal habitats, bush foods and traditional medicine. Sample bush tucker, collect shellfish, try traditional hunting practices and visit the rainforest and Mossman Gorge for a guided walk and swim. Bottled water, morning or afternoon tea provided. Schedule: Mon-Sat, Year-round, Half day, Min: 2 – Max: 11 people
- Full Day Ngana Julaymba Dungay. Extended version of the half-day tour, includes guided rainforest walk, visit to Mossman Gorge and other culturally significant areas. Bottled water, morning or afternoon tea provided and lunch. Schedule: Mon-Sat, Year-round, Full day, Min: 2 – Max: 11 people
- Full Day Ngana Kulkinga Dungay. Learn about Kuku Yalanji connection to Country, with guided walks through different environments learning the bush foods and medicines, traditional practices and local history, complete with a swim in a freshwater stream. Visit a number of culturally significant locations between Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation including the World Heritage Daintree National Park. Bottled water, morning or afternoon tea provided. Schedule: Mon-Sat, Year-round, Full day, Min: 2 – Max: 11 people
Note: All three tours include pick up from Port Douglas, Mossman or the Daintree area.
www.walkaboutadventures.com.au
7 – Flames of the Forest, Port Douglas/Cairns:
This high-end dining experience offers unique insights into Aboriginal cultures and a magical setting in an ancient rainforest in Tropical Far North Queensland.
The Flames of the Forest Aboriginal Cultural Experience involves heading into the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforest for a seven-dish banquet dinner served under a silk canopy illuminated by hand-made crystal chandeliers. Follow the flame-lit path to the alfresco pre-dinner drinks area for canapés and sparkling wine, before one of your Kuku Yalanji hosts welcomes you in the local language and invites you into the forest to eat. The food is modern Australian, locally sourced where possible, and features plenty of bush tucker ingredients accompanied by Australian wines.
Cultural experiences are interwoven with the dinner, as your Kuku Yalanji hosts share music, ceremony and storytelling, as well as inviting guests to spend some time sitting quietly, listening to the sounds of the rainforest at night. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 60 people to ensure an intimate atmosphere and facilitate personal connections with your Kuku Yalanji hosts. It all adds up to an extraordinary experience.
Experiences:
- Flames of the Forest Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Take a dinner tour into the Port Douglas rainforest at night. Learn about Australia’s oldest living peoples in the timeless and spiritual setting of the world’s oldest living rainforest. Schedule: Thu, (Apr-Dec), 3 Hours, Min: 16 – Max: 60 people
- Private Dining Experience. Opportunity for small groups to experience exclusivity and the enchantment of the rainforest at night with a private dining experience interwoven with Dreamtime storytelling and the haunting sound of the world’s oldest woodwind instrument – the didgeridoo. Schedule: On request, (Apr-Dec), 2.5 Hours, Min: 15 – Max: 20 people
SOUTH AUSTRALIA ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES:
Southern Cultural Immersion, Adelaide/Tarntanya:
Discover First Nations history, significant Aboriginal sites and native plants with Traditional Custodians who are passionate about this part of South Australia.
This Aboriginal-owned and operated business shares culture on the Traditional Lands of the Kaurna People in Adelaide (Tarntanya), revealing the South Australian capital through a fascinating new lens. On the Warriparinga Cultural & Historical Tour you’ll join an Aboriginal guide for a walk through the stunning Warriparinga Wetlands, the site of the Tjilbruke Dreaming to discover ancient artefacts and native plants.
The Adelaide CBD Cultural Tour explores the heart of Adelaide through a First Nations perspective, revealing the enthralling and tragic colonial history of the state’s capital. The Cultural Tour of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens takes you around the gardens with an Aboriginal guide, offering an in-depth look at Indigenous plants and their traditional uses.
Experiences:
- Warriparinga Cultural & Historical Tour. Join a local Aboriginal guide for an immersive walk through the stunning Warriparinga Wetlands, the site of the Tjilbruke Dreaming. Discover First Nations history, ancient artefacts on site, and the local native plants, to understand the connection that Aboriginal Australians hold with Country. Schedule: Mon-Fri, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 30 people
- Cultural Tour of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Journey through the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, one of Adelaide’s premier tourist locations. Taste, touch and smell the abundance of native plants growing on Kaurna Yerta (Our Country, Place or Land), whilst discovering the history and traditional uses from your Aboriginal guide. Schedule: Tues & Fri, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 30 people
- Adelaide CBD Cultural Tour. Explore the heart of Adelaide through a First Nations perspective, walking and learning about the enthralling and tragic colonial history of South Australia’s capital. Walk together in the spirit of harmony and reconciliation as you learn about the cultural significance of these locations. Schedule: Mon-Fri, Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 30 people
- Kauwi Cultural Cruise. Journey down Adelaide’s southern coast on the Kauwi Cultural Cruise, a collaborative tour between Temptation Sailing and Southern Cultural Immersion. Explore the beauty of the coastline whilst discovering its significant aquatic and cultural elements. Guided by a First Nations guide and a Marine Biologist, delve into the rich history of Kaurna Yerta, immersing in local Dreaming stories and uncovering the importance of oceans and landscapes while enjoying a leisurely cruise and scenic ocean views. Schedule: Year-round, 1 Hour, Min: 1 – Max: 50 people
www.southernculturalimmersion.com.au
NORTHERN TERRITORY ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES:
Sealink NT – Tiwi Islands:
Famous for their art, humour and obsession with football, Tiwi Islanders warmly welcome you to their remarkable home in the Arafura Sea.
A day trip to the main Tiwi Island, Bathurst, on a Tiwi By Design Tour with SeaLink NT, is an unforgettable way to get to know this unique Polynesian-influenced Aboriginal culture. After a ferry ride from Darwin (Garramilla) on a high-speed catamaran, you’ll visit the Tiwi Design Art Centre and enjoy a Welcome to Country ceremony. Totem dancers representing the islands different skin groups will greet you, and a smoking ceremony will drive away any bad spirits. After a demonstration of the famous Tiwi Island screen-printing techniques, tea and damper is served over a chat with the artists.
A visit to a church is next. Inside, behind its white timber exterior, the church is brilliantly decorated with Tiwi art; your guides will help you understand how Catholicism and Tiwi culture work together. Back at the arts centre, local creatives will guide you in making a screen-printed textile to take home as a memento.
Experiences:
- Tiwi By Design. The tour includes return ferry from Darwin to Bathurst Island, Welcome to Country ceremony, traditional morning tea (damper and a cuppa) local Tiwi guide, lunch, cultural art session, take-home art memento and a tour of the Tiwi historic mission precinct. Schedule: Thu, and Fri, (01 Apr-12 Dec), Monday, (Jun-Aug except public holidays), Full day, Min: 2 – Max: 34 people
