13 Incredible First Nations Cultural Experiences Around Australia
Explore traditional Dreaming stories of the Great Barrier Reef, enjoy innovative native foods and discover Tasmania’s wukalina Walk with a First Nations guide. Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous living culture: here’s our pick of the best ways to experience it around the country.
Image credit: Culture Connect
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Qld
1/14Long before it was named one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef was significant to the people of Gunggandji sea country. This daytrip out of Cairns lets you snorkel and explore the wonder-filled waters of Outer Great Barrier Reef, while learning culture and Dreamtime stories from Indigenous sea rangers.
Image credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
A Wilpena Pound experience, SA
2/14Soak up 800 million years of geological history on a two-night adventure to Aboriginal-owned and -guided Wilpena Pound Resort within Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, north of Adelaide. Stay in safari-style glamping tents, bump across the rugged landscape on a half-day 4WD tour, be awed by Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges or, take in the full scale of the epic natural amphitheatre, Wilpena Pound, on a scenic flight.
Image credit: Tourism Tasmania
Wukalina Walk, Tas
3/14On the cultural homeland of the Palawa people, the Bay of Fires (Larapuna) is one of Tasmania’s most stunning and well-known regions. This First Nations guided walk takes you into the wildly beautiful Larapuna and Wukalina (Mount William National Park) areas where you’ll hike over four days and learn traditional stories and cultural practices from your Palawa guides. You will also spend two nights in architect-designed domed huts and one in the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage.
Image credit: Koomal Dreaming
Koomal Dreaming Aboriginal Food Cave and Didge Tour, WA
4/14Forage for seasonal native foods and medicines during this three-hour bush walk with Wadandi custodian and guide, Josh ‘Koomal’ Whiteland. Venture into Yallingup’s Ngilgi Cave, a 10-minute drive from Dunsborough where Josh will share sacred Dreaming stories before a didgeridoo performance, then gather round the campfire and dig into lunch – a gourmet barbecue where you’ll sample the likes of emu, quandong and saltbush.
Image credit: Yaya Stempler
Burrawa Climb, NSW
5/14Throughout this immersive three-hour Sydney Harbour Bridge climb experience you’ll learn the history and culture of the local Gadigal people as an Indigenous storyteller leads you to the summit. Available on specific days, this unique tour spotlights an Aboriginal cultural perspective on the city’s most familiar sights.
Image credit: Gravity Discovery Centre
Aboriginal Astronomy, WA
6/14Aboriginal Elder Dr Noel Nannup leads this two-hour session, held north of Perth at the Gravity Discovery Centre and Observatory, in which he tells Dreamtime stories of creation, explains significant celestial bodies from an Indigenous perspective and shares the ways First Nations people – often credited as the first astronomers – use the night sky to navigate, predict weather and more.
Image credit: Culture Connect
Daintree Aboriginal Art & Survival Tour, Qld
7/14Delve into the world’s oldest rainforest, explore Kuyu Kuyu, the traditional fishing grounds of the Kuku Yulanji people, spot crocs on a Daintree River cruise, visit Janbal Aboriginal Art Gallery and swim at Mossman Gorge if conditions permit. Expect all this and more from this two-day, one-night Aboriginal guided experience with Culture Connect.
Image credit: Bunda Bunda Tours
Bunda Bunda Carnot Bay Tag Along Low Tide Tour, WA
8/14This cultural journey through WA’s Dampier Peninsula is guided by local Jabirr Jabirr, Ngumbarl man Jaden Howard. Embark on a tour of some of Jaden’s favourite fishing spots and try your hand at catching mangrove jack or barramundi using traditional fishing techniques. Wander among the mangroves at low tide before heading to a sheltered campsite to cook and enjoy the catch of the day as Jaden shares the Jabirr Jabirr mob’s history and culture. If you visit between July and September, turn your eyes to the ocean for the chance to glimpse humpback whales as they cruise along the coast.
Aboriginal Heritage Walk Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Vic
9/14The Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens is a significant site for the Kulin nation – an alliance of five Victorian Indigenous nations – and on this 90-minute guided walking tour you’ll find out about the First Nations’ cultural connection to plants, as well as taste native ingredients such as lemon myrtle.
Image credit: Rocket K
Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner, NT
10/14From Alice Springs’ Sails in the Desert resort, head into the desert and be greeted with cocktails and a gourmet hamper of bush food goodies as the sun sets over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. This three-hour experience transforms the outback into an open-air theatre where over 1000 drones, lasers and projections illuminate the sky in a modern interpretation of the ancestral Mala story – designed in collaboration with local Anangu peoples. Experience the community’s powerful connection to Country through the narrative in the sky while the traditional Inma soundtrack and accompanying voiceover in the local Pitjantjatjara language helps bring it all to life.
Image credit: Walkabout Adventures
Walkabout Cultural Adventures Northern Daintree Rainforest Guided Tour, QLD
11/14A three-hour drive north of Cairns, Cape Tribulation is the world’s oldest surviving tract of low-land tropical rainforest, where the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest meets the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. On a Walkabout Cultural Adventure Tour, you’ll stroll north of the Daintree around the Cape while a First Nations guide shares the history, culture and traditions of the Kuku Yalanji people. Feeling the tropical weather? You’ll have the opportunity to cool down in a freshwater stream along the way. You may even spot a cassowary during your adventure if luck is on your side.
Image credit: Mandingal Bay
Mandingalbay Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise, QLD
12/14Wander down to the Cairns Marina and get ready to set sail aboard a river cruise vessel for the Deadly Dinner. As the sun sinks beneath the horizon, the river-cruise vessel will journey to the wetlands and mangrove forests of East Trinity Reserve. A Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony marks the start of your on-land adventure before a Mandingalbay Yidinji guide shares the traditional language and customs of their people. Light canapés will be served before your trip back to base, where you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the glimmering city after dark.
Image credit: Mabu Buru
Wakaj Traditional Dance Experience, WA
13/14After being picked up from your accommodation in Broome, you’ll be whisked away to the Wakaj Meeting Place, a little over 15 kilometres out of the town centre. The Wakaj Traditional Dance Experience takes you on a journey through the dance, song and storytelling traditions of the Yawuru and Karajarri people. In addition to witnessing a performance by The Pintirri Dancers – while traditional Karajarri songs reverberate through the wilderness – you’ll learn how to perfect delicious damper before slathering your freshly made treat in locally harvested bush honey and sipping tea from the billy.
