NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognised the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories. The Latch team is sharing stories to help educate, honour and guide in our continued to push for change, so be sure to find all our pieces here. Val Morgan Digital acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Sure, you might know a bit about Indigenous Australian culture, but until you immerse yourself in it, it’s hard to fully appreciate it. And, with Aboriginal Australians said to be one of the oldest known civilisations on Earth, their culture is certainly worth experiencing at least a few times.
Fortunately, in travel, Indigenous Australian experiences are getting increasingly popular, so there’s ample opportunity. Around the country, First Nations people are sharing their thousands-year-old traditions and sites in the form of culinary experiences, wilderness walks and overnight tours through traditional homelands.
From a spine-tingling didgeridoo performance in a cave, to a four-day, three-night walk through traditional homelands, complete with a smoke ceremony, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite Indigenous Australian experiences.
Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef has countless snorkel and dive tours, but Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel is the only one with a cultural twist. With ECO Certification that shows its commitment to providing a product that’s environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, Dreamtime’s tours include a Native Bush Tasting and are all led by Indigenous Cultural Guides.
Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour, Sydney, NSW
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney plays home to a one-hour Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour. There, a First Nations guide shares his knowledge on Indigenous bush foods, including how they were traditionally used and how they’ve been adapted to the plates and palates of today. Oh, and you’ll get your taste of the bush foods, too.
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Gallery of Central Australia (GoCA), Uluru, Northern Territory
The Gallery of Central Australia (GoCA) provides a platform for the area’s Indigenous community to share their stories through revolving exhibitions, enriching discussions and even the opportunity to watch Indigenous artists at work. The gallery is free to enter and has a daily tour at 10:30am.
Ngilgi Cave Cultural Tour, Margaret River, Western Australia
Wadandi man and guide Josh Whiteland leads the Ngilgi Cave Cultural Tour, part of Koomal Dreaming Cape Cultural Experiences. For 2.5 hours, you’ll journey into Ngilgi Cave, witness traditional fire making and hear stories about the Noongar culture.
The real highlight, though, is Whiteland’s playing of the didgeridoo in the cave’s natural amphitheatre. The sound, amplified by the acoustics of the cave, will no doubt give you goosebumps.
Wukalina Walk, Bay of Fires, Tasmania
Journey across traditional homelands in Mt William National Park and Bay of Fires on Wukalina Walk, a four-day, three-night walk. You’ll hike for two days and spend a day learning about some of the cultural practices that connect First Nations people today to their ancestors. Take part in a smoke ceremony, feast on mutton bird and wallaby, and get up close and personal with wombats.
Firescreek Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience, Central Coast, NSW
Set on the stunning gardens of the Firescreek Botanical Winery on the NSW Central Coast, this tour delves into Aboriginal tools and artefacts, as well as Australian Native plants. You’ll watch didgeridoo and clap stick playing before being treated to a wine tasting where you’ll get a good feel for Australian native flora and other botanicals Firescreeks’ winemakers use to make their wines unique.
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Flames of the Forest, Cairns, Queensland
Head into the World Heritage-listed West Tropics rainforest near Cairns for Flames of the Forest’s seven-dish banquet dinner served under a silk canopy lit by hand-made crystal chandeliers. Throughout dinner, your Kuku Yalanji host will share music, ceremony and storytelling, as well as invite you to spend some time sitting quietly, listening to the sounds of the rainforest at night.
Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne Gardens are an important cultural site for the local Kulin Nation, and you can learn about that significance on a daily tour of Aboriginal Heritage Walk with a guide. The host will lead you through the park, sharing about Aboriginal plant uses, and First Nations peoples’ customs and their ongoing connection to country.
Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tour, Western Australia
What’s it like to grow up on an operating pearl farm? Bardi man Terry Hunter did just that, and will tell you all about it on his two-hour, walking Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours. Discover how the Bardi Jawi people lived as you trek across the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome. You’ll forage for bush foods, find find fresh water on salty tidal flats and seek out medicinal plants.
Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Tours, Northern Territory
Karrke Aboriginal Culture Experiences and Tours offer one-hour tours, operating Wednesday to Sunday is a walk and talk on an area in Kings Canyon. You’ll get insight into bush tucker medicines used for healing purposes, as well as Aboriginal paintings and local Aboriginal artefacts. Local arts and crafts will be available to buy post-tour.
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