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Tourism Australia recognises the growing interest in First Nations tourism as travellers seek out authentic and culturally immersive experiences.
Nicole Mitchell says tourists want to learn more about First Nations people and country. She is Executive Officer of Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE), a Tourism Australia collective promoting First Nations tourism.
“In the 2023 calendar year we had 969,000 international visitors who participated in Indigenous tourism experiences while visiting Australia,” Ms Mitchell says.
“But also pleasingly we've seen an increase from 2019 to 2023 of 22 per cent in our domestic travellers. So that's 1.185 million domestic visitors undertaking an Indigenous experience.”
Every experience in the DAE collective is guided by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Jarramali Rock Art Tour Credit: The Edit Suite/Tourism Australia
Owning the story, telling the story
Kuku Yalanji man Juan Walker runs Walkabout Culture Adventures in Far North Queensland.
“I think if you're learning about Aboriginal culture and history, it's best to learn from Aboriginal people to get Aboriginal people’s side of the story, and to truly get an understanding of the land and sea that you're travelling on,”
No better way than from learning from the oldest living cultures that have occupied those areas since the beginning.Juan Walker, Walkabout Culture Adventures
Mr Walker takes visitors onto country to learn about the magnificent 135-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest near Port Douglas.
He shares his knowledge of the different ecosystems, history, traditions and natural resources, and encourages visitors to taste the local bush foods.
Food is a great way to introduce country to tourists.
Indigenous food experiences in fact top the list of popular tours as bush foods gain recognition for their unique flavours and uses.
Tourism Australia recognises the growing interest in First Nations tourism as travellers seek out authentic and culturally immersive experiences.
Unlocking the stories of our landscape
There are countless ways to explore Australia’s dramatic wilderness areas. You’ll find boat tours, scenic flights and 4WD safaris, with accommodation ranging from camping to luxury stays.
Our National Parks boast some of the oldest rock art in the world, some 20,000 years old. Indigenous guides can unlock some of the cultural significance of these sites.
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is World Heritage-listed for its environmental and cultural values, and has one of the highest concentrations of rock art.
With its waterfalls, beaches, wildlife and swimming holes, the Kimberley in Western Australia is also home to incredible rock art galleries.
And archaeology meets ghostly landscape in the World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park in south-west New South Wales.
An ancient dry basin, Lake Mungo is one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. Here you can explore, camp or join a guided tour.
Culturally immersive experiences
Travellers often become so immersed in the hands-on, participative experiences on offer, Ms Mitchell says.
You can be doing an art class, or you can be on the back of a quad bike on the sand dunes up in the Warami area north of Sydney, and you're learning about culture.Nicole Mitchell, Discover Aboriginal Experiences
Every encounter is heightened by the wonderful First Nations guides that bring the country to life and form the memories you hold forever.
Great Golf Courses of Australia aboriginal experience
Local communities benefitting from tourism
Indigenous-led tourism not only brings in revenue for local communities, but also supports cultural sustainability.
Maruku Arts comprises 900 artists from remote communities in Central Australia. Locals can remain on country while selling their art, hosting workshops and cultural tours, and sharing the ancient ways of the desert, Nicole Mitchell explains.
“They’re conducted in the local Pitjantjara language, so it also helps maintain that language,” Ms Mitchell says of the popular dot-painting workshops.
Juan Walker says his cultural tours allow him to educate visitors about Aboriginal history and his own family history, all while remaining on country.
“So rather than having to move away for work, it's allowed me to stay close to my family, close to my people and connected to the land. It's a great way to earn a living, by sharing and teaching people about my heritage and of course, giving people a greater respect for the land, sea and waterways where they've visited.”
As a First Nations Storyteller, Bundjalung man Kyle Ivey guides visitors on a climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of the Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience. Credit: davidf/Getty Images
Culture in the urban centres
It’s a common assumption that Indigenous culture only exists in remote locations, but you’ll encounter rich stories in our urban centres too.
As a First Nations Storyteller, Bundjalung man Kyle Ivey guides visitors on a climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
He says he tries to run his climbing tours like a Reconciliation climb.
“While I'm walking out along the bridge I’ll stop and point out things that make it a bit easier to tell tales.”
During the climb Mr Ivey points out important landmarks for the First Nations people of the area. He shares how his ancestors lived on the land and watched it change as European settlers arrived.
What he gains is a sense of pride, not just for himself but for the 500-plus diverse cultural groups in Australia.
“It's also a good way for me to make sure I keep my memory fresh. It makes me want to push further and find out more, to include more mobs and make sure I'm not messing up names. It's a very fulfilling experience.”
In the heart of Melbourne you can join the guided Birrarung Wilam Walk along the Yarra River to view the Aboriginal art installations.
You’ll hear how the land has changed over time and its significance as a gathering place for the local Kulin peoples.
, is another Aboriginal tourism experience offered in Melbourne. One walk is along the Yarra and there is also a walk in Fitzroy
And in Tasmania you can experience the Aboriginal-led tour of nipaluna/Hobart. The 90-minute walk and performance tells a dark and impactful story of the local palawa people.
Petermann, Northern Territoty / Australia - December 8, 2019: A tour guide walked through the safety precautions of hiking into Kata Tjuta near a tent Credit: alanlim97/Getty Images
First Nations tourism driving reconciliation
Nicole Mitchell says, through Indigenous-led experiences such as these, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people share cultural knowledge.
“It's also a strong driver for reconciliation,” she says.
“People are learning about the many different cultures in Australia. You're [also] opening to the community for them to tell their story. One of the guides actually mentioned to me, ‘we have to share culture to keep culture’.”
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