Australia's amazingly diverse culture is underpinned by those of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, the oldest continuing cultures on earth. From the red desert of Central Australia to the steamy rainforests of North Queensland, Indigenous guides will lead you on unique experiences in Australia, sharing deeply meaningful perspectives on their lands, ceremonies and cultures. Their vivid storytelling, drawn from 60,000 years of ancestral knowledge, will help you see the spectacular landscape through entirely new eyes.
Check out multicultural Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne sits on the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation, whose culture infuses that of the city. Start with a visit to the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and immerse yourself in the history of Victoria's Aboriginal people through artifacts, sound exhibits and artwork. Then make your way to the Koorie Heritage Trust on the banks of the Yarra River. Learn about important milestones and major figures of the Kulin people, then take the guided Scar Tree Walk to see where this 60,000-year-old history unfolded. Finish with a visit to the nearby Immigration Museum and discover how waves of immigrants from Europe and Asia have joined the Kulin in creating the city's vibrant multicultural heartbeat.
Take in traditional tropical culture in Queensland
For a unique experience in tropical Queensland, see the turquoise waters and precious rainforests through the eyes of the traditional owners whose ancestors moulded Australian heritage. Book a tour with companies such as Adventure North, who, in partnership with Linc and Brandon Walker of the Kubirri-Warra, will take you on a guided walk through the ancient Daintree rainforest and a "bush-tucker" fishing-ground experience. In the town of Mossman, Aboriginal artist Brian "Binna" Swindley leads art classes and painting workshops at the Janbal gallery. He showcases Aboriginal art and artifacts as well as the Kuku Yalanji culture, part of the Kubirri Warra clan of Far North Queensland. For more outdoor adventure, take a Dreamtime Walk with a local Indigenous guide at Mossman Gorge.
The area is known for its crystal-clear streams and meandering rainforest tracks. These traditional walks start with a smoking ceremony to clear any bad spirits and follow with ancient cultural stories and legends (called Ngadiku in the local Kuku Yalanji language). Don't miss an opportunity to dive or snorkel the reef with a Dreamtime Dive, where traditional owners of the sea country share stories about the ancient relationships between people and the reef and its marine creatures.
Immerse in “country” at Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
For Australia's First Nations people, the most important pillar of culture is connection to "country," a profound spiritual relationship with the land. Kakadu's traditional owners consider their home, an extraordinary nature reserve about half the size of Switzerland, as a living cultural landscape whose significance has been recognized with a World Heritage listing. Adding to its allure are the 20,000-year-old Indigenous rock paintings (gunbim) in ancient art galleries. The internationally significant paintings provide a record of Aboriginal life and serve as one of the longest historical records of any group of people. The biodiverse area includes lush and steamy wetlands, woodlands, dramatic waterfalls, red cliffs and sandstone escarpments. The waterways are home to exquisite bird life as well as crocodiles, some up to 16 feet long. Cruise the Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) where you'll have the thrilling experience of seeing massive crocodiles gliding past. Be sure to take a guided tour of the park with the traditional custodians of the land to understand the ancient and deeply spiritual culture of Australia's First Nations people.
Explore the Flinders Ranges, South Australia
For tens of thousands of years, the Adnyamathanha, or Yura, people have lived amid the breathtaking landscape of the Flinders Ranges. The "folded" mountain range, the largest in South Australia, formed 800 million years ago after an ancient sea deposited a great belt of sediments. It is home to sheer escarpments, deep gorges, rugged cliffs and outcrops. A must-see is the 20,000-acre natural amphitheatre, Wilpena Pound, also known by its Adnyamathanha name, Ikara, or "meeting place". Amidst this extraordinary landscape, a six-hour drive from the state capital Adelaide, you'll witness dazzling sunrises and sunsets and a constantly shifting palette of exquisite colours, from purple to ochre. Local Yura guides will lead you on a 1.2-mile walk along a dry riverbed to the historic Sacred Canyon, where they will explain the cultural significance of the canyon's ancient rock engravings. For a rugged Flinders Ranges experience, pitch your tent at one of several campsites, or go upmarket and stay at Arkaba Homestead, a former sheep station (ranch) that offers elegant Australian-style accommodation.
If you'd like to delve even deeper into Australia's Indigenous cultures and history, try top First Nations encounters to enrich your journey.
