16 Incredible First Nations Experiences Around Australia
Experience Australia on Country, guided by those who know it best. Whether you’re riding across coastal dunes, flying over sacred gorges or diving into technicolour reefs, these immersive journeys led by First Nations guides offer a deeper understanding of how culture and Country have been interwoven for millennia through traditional stories, cultural knowledge and hands-on experiences. Here’s how to discover new dimensions to Australia’s ancient landscapes by air, on wheels, through water and by foot.
Nitmiluk Ultimate Adventure, NT
1/17The Northern Territory’s Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) in Nitmiluk National Park holds great significance for its Traditional Owners, the Jawoyn people, as the home of the spirits of creation. North-east of Katherine, and occupying almost 3000 square kilometres, the park’s 13-gorge system was carved over 1.6 billion years through ancient sandstone cliffs by the Katherine River, with the full scale of its majesty best taken in from the sky.
Nitmiluk Tours – a Jawoyn-owned operator – takes guests on the Nitmiluk Ultimate Adventure, a spectacular two-hour-and-40-minute helicopter experience over Nitmiluk Gorge, high above the escarpment and deep into the region’s hidden gems. As you skim over stone plateaux and rainforest gullies nestled within the gorge’s giant fissures, you may spot buffalo, black cockatoos, pig-nosed turtles and bounding mobs of kangaroos below. During your journey, you’ll also touch down at a secluded rock-art site where ochre paintings of turtles, fish and Bolung (the Rainbow Serpent) depict stories of creation.
As the heat of the day takes hold, your pilot will lead you to a remote waterfall or swimming hole to cool down. While the Territory’s wet season (November to April) brings torrential rains, your guides will reveal the year-round opportunities to take a dip in some of the Northern Territory’s most pristine and largely unknown watering holes.
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Qld
2/17Departing from Gimuy (Cairns), Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel offers a powerful way to experience Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. There are 70 Traditional Owner groups whose Sea Country includes the Great Barrier Reef and their ongoing connection with the reef is recognised in the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage Listing, as a key component of its Outstanding Universal Value.
The full-day Great Barrier Reef Cruise catamaran tour is led by marine biologists as well as First Nations Cultural Guides, who share Creation Stories that anchor the reef in their ancient culture. While snorkelling among coral gardens and bommies, you’ll spy clownfish, moray eels, turtles and more. Back on deck, a buffet lunch prepared by renowned award-winning Ochre Restaurant fuels exploration of the next reef site. You’ll also witness a traditional dance and hear the rhythmic pulse of clap sticks and didjeridu – a reminder that this marine wonder is as rich in cultural heritage as it is in biodiversity.
Dive deeper into the Great Barrier Reef to find Creation Stories amid the corals. Book now at qantas.com.
Kununurra to Purnululu 4WD Safari, WA
3/17You’ll need at least two days to explore Western Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, renowned for the hundreds of otherworldly domes that call it home. Known as Purnululu (the Bungle Bungle Ranges), the beehive-shaped towers of quartz sandstone, striped in horizontal bands of black and orange, were formed over 20 million years and now rise as high as 250 metres above the semi-arid grasslands of Wunan (the East Kimberley).
Largely known only to the local Gija people before coming into mainstream prominence in the 1980s, the Bungle Bungles and Purnululu National Park remain a living cultural landscape for their traditional custodians.
On Kingfisher Tours’ two-day Kununurra to Purnululu 4WD Safari, you’ll join a Gija guide and visit the Warmun Art Centre to see works by Gija artists depicting Creation stories, ancestral narratives and personal experiences; walk through dramatic natural wonders such as Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm; and hike the Mini Palms trail through a gorge of towering Livistona palms. At night, gaze at the glittering Milky Way and Southern Cross in the park’s dark skies before falling asleep in a cosy tented cabin at Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge.
Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour, Vic
4/17The gold rush in 1851 profoundly reshaped the north-central Victorian town of Bendigo and its surrounds, the traditional home of the local Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung people) and now you can explore this complex history on a 90-minute Djaara-led Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour that steps into the past, observes the present and imagines the future.
The experience begins at the Ulumbarra Theatre, where relocated scar trees mark the entrance, before weaving through the city’s heart, where you’ll discover culturally significant landmarks that are often hidden in plain sight. From hearing stories of the creator spirit Bunjil at the Koori Courts to exploring the importance of the new Galkangu-Bendigo GovHub (a new state-of-the-art public services community hub), the tour offers a powerful perspective on Bendigo’s heritage through the eyes of its Traditional Owners.
Aboriginal Culture & Sandboarding Quad Bike Tour, NSW
5/17Just two-and-a-half hours’ drive north of Sydney, Port Stephens is a holiday destination renowned for its white-sand beaches, marine life and natural beauty. But few visitors get to see it through the eyes of its Worimi Traditional Owners. Sand Dune Adventures, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned experience, offers exhilarating quad bike tours across the Stockton Bight sand dunes, the largest coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
Led by Worimi guides, the 1.5 Hour Aboriginal Culture & Sand Boarding Quad Bike Tour is a hands-on journey combining adventure with meaningful storytelling. Guests gain exclusive access to First Nations lands to ride 400cc quad bikes across the shifting sands of the Stockton Bight dunes, the largest coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
You’ll stop to learn about ancient midden sites, dig for fresh water and find traditional bush foods and medicine. Atop the highest dunes, listen to the Dreaming stories that connect the Worimi people to Country before sandboarding down to the beach.
White sands and world class surf draw you in, but it’s the stories from Worimi Country dunes that remain long after you rinse the sand from your hair. Book your Port Stephens adventure now at qantas.com.
Image credit: Tourism Tasmania
Wukalina Walk, Tas
6/17The cultural homeland of the Palawa people, Larapuna (Bay of Fires) 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) 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 a lightkeepers cottage at Eddystone Point Lighthouse.
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, NT
7/17Attended by experts and aspiring collectors, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair sees more than 70 Aboriginal art centres set up at the Darwin Convention Centre to sell directly to enthusiastic art lovers. The program also includes the National Indigenous Fashion Awards and artist masterclasses covering carving, weaving, jewellery making and more. Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair runs 7 to 10 August 2025; National Indigenous Fashion Awards is on 6 August 2025.
Image credit: Koomal Dreaming
Koomal Dreaming Aboriginal Food Cave and Didge Tour, WA
8/17Forage for seasonal native foods and medicines during this three-hour tour with Wadandi custodian and guide Josh “Koomal” Whiteland. Venture into Yallingup’s Ngilgi Cave, a 10-minute drive from Quedjinup (Dunsborough), where Whiteland will share sacred Dreaming stories before a didjeridu 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: Daniel Boud
Bangarra, Vic
9/17This beloved dance company mesmerises audiences with a captivating mix of contemporary and Aboriginal styles. In Melbourne, from 4 to 13 September 2025, Bangarra will perform Illume, a meditation on the role of light in indigenous cultures, choreographed by artistic director Frances Rings. Find Bangarra's next show here.
From hiking ancient lands to native feasting and collecting art with deep roots, First Nations experiences add meaning to every Australian adventure. Start planning at qantas.com now.
Daintree Aboriginal Art & Survival Tour, Qld
10/17Delve into the world’s oldest rainforest, explore the traditional fishing grounds of the Kuku Yulanji people, spot crocs on a Julaymba (Daintree River) cruise, see Aboriginal art at Janbal Gallery and swim at Manjal Dimbi (Mossman Gorge) (if conditions permit). Expect all this and more from a two-day Aboriginal-guided experience with Culture Connect.
Warakirri Dining Experience, NSW
11/17Let Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor show you her culture through cooking with an unforgettable meal at Huntington Estate winery near Mudgee, about a four-hour drive from Sydney. Warakirri, meaning “to grow with us”, blends native ingredients and traditional techniques with contemporary culinary methods, resulting in a unique five-course degustation.
Food is culture served on a plate – the native flavours, local wines and storytelling of the Warakirri dining experience will leave you with much more than a full belly. Start planning your cultural feast now at qantas.com.
Image credit: Bunda Bunda Tours
Bunda Bunda Carnot Bay Tag Along Tour, WA
12/17This cultural journey through Murujuga (the Dampier Peninsula) north of Rubibi (Broome) is guided by local Jabirr Jabirr, Ngumbarl man Jaden Howard. Embark on a tour of Howard’s favourite fishing spots and try your hand at catching a mangrove jack or barramundi using traditional techniques. Wander among the mangroves at low tide before heading to a sheltered campsite to cook the catch of the day as Howard shares the Jabirr Jabirr mob’s history and culture. If you visit between July and September, turn your eyes to the ocean for a chance to glimpse humpback whales as they cruise along the coast.
Image credit: Rocket K
Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner, NT
13/17Departing from Mparntwe (Alice Springs)’ Sails in the Desert resort, you’ll catch the sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta with a cocktail in hand and a gourmet hamper packed with the likes of smoked emu and bush tomato dip. From there, you’ll watch as the outback transforms into an open-air theatre, where 1200 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 as the Inma soundtrack and an accompanying voiceover in the Pitjantjatjara language helps bring it all to life.
Image credit: Walkabout Adventures
Walkabout Cultural Adventures Northern Daintree Rainforest Guided Tour, Qld
14/17A three-hour drive north of Gimuy (Cairns), Cape Tribulation is within the world’s oldest surviving tract of low-land tropical rainforest, where the World Heritage-listed Kaba Kada 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 – and may even spot a cassowary during your adventure, if luck is on your side.
[CTA] Feel the heartbeat of 50,000 years of Kuku Yalanji culture in the world’s oldest rainforest. Book your journey now at qantas.com.
Image credit: Mandingalbay
Mandingalbay Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise, Qld
15/17Wander down to the Cairns Marlin Marina and get ready to set sail aboard the Mandingalbay Deadly After Dark Sunset Cruise. As the sun sinks beneath the horizon, the River Cruise vessel will journey to the wetlands and mangrove forests of East Trinity Reserve, part of the Mandingalbay Yidinji Indigenous Protected Area. A Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony at the Yulu / Stingray Shelter marks the start of your on-land adventure before Mandingalbay Yidinji guides share the traditional language and customs of their people. Light canapes 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
16/17After 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 your own damper before slathering your freshly made treat in locally harvested bush honey and sipping tea from the billy.
