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MELBOURNE

Uncover Aboriginal cultures in the buzzing centre of Melbourne/Narrm (narr-m) and beyond

Exploring the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, Victoria © Visit Victoria
Worn-Gundidj-Tower-Hill-Victoria
Worn-Gundidj-Tower-Hill-Victoria

Get a taste of Aboriginal cultures and history in Victoria’s capital and along the glorious Great Ocean Road.

Worn-Gundidj-Tower-Hill-Victoria
Royal-Botanical-Gardens-Melbourne-Victoria

Get an urban culture hit

Admire Aboriginal art, discover the cultural significance of Melbourne/Narrm’s botanic garden, and more, right in the heart of the city.

Uncover extraordinary cultural landscapes

Victoria’s largest dormant volcano doesn’t only have a fascinating geological history. Visit its wildlife-rich setting with an Aboriginal guide to learn about its intriguing cultural heritage.

Worn-Gundidj-Tower-Hill-Victoria
Worn-Gundidj-Tower-Hill-Victoria

Learn whose Country you’re on

A visit to any corner of Australia becomes more meaningful when you understand its significance to Traditional Custodians. Join an Aboriginal guide from the Kulin Nation to discover more reasons to love Melbourne/Narrm.

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  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
  • Discovering Indigenous plants at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, Victoria © Visit Victoria
  • A kangaroo skin cloak and traditional wooden instrument on an Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, VIC © Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

    1km from Melbourne

    Aboriginal Heritage Walk – Group Tours

    with Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

    Join an Aboriginal guide on an exclusive group tour of the gardens, discovering bush tucker and native medicines, traditional tools and ceremonies. (Tues, Thurs, Sun only)

    • Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, VIC © Tourism Australia
    • Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, VIC © Tourism Australia
    • Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia

      1km from Melbourne

      Aboriginal Heritage Walk – Public Tour

      with Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

      Discover the gardens with an Aboriginal guide, and journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin Nation. Join a ceremony, taste bush tucker and enjoy lemon myrtle tea.

      • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
      • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
      • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia

        1km from Melbourne

        Aboriginal Walking Tour – River Camp/Birrarung Wilam Walk

        with Koorie Heritage Trust

        Aboriginal guides lead a walk through the cultural centre to the Yarra River, visiting art installations and discovering the Aboriginal history of Melbourne/Narrm.

        • Worn Gundidj @ Tower Hill tour guide showing guests a possum skin cloak at Von Gerrard’s Lookout at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, VIC © Tourism Victoria
        • Two people throwing spears on a Worn Gundidj @ Tower Hill tour at Tower Hill, VIC © Tourism Australia
        • A boomerang lesson at Tower Hill, Warrnambool, VIC © Tourism Victoria

          260km from Melbourne

          Indigenous Culture and Nature Tour

          with Worn Gundidj @ Tower Hill

          Gain an insight into traditional culture and practices on an Aboriginal-guided tour of a spectacular wildlife reserve in Victoria’s oldest dormant volcano.

          • © Tourism Australia
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
          • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism © Tourism Australia
          • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, Victoria © Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

            334km from Melbourne

            Kooyang Yana | Kooyang Walk | Full Day Tour

            with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

            Discover the history of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape from creation and ancient aquaculture to now, visiting the National Park, Kurtonitj IPA and Tae Rak (Lake Condah) wetlands.

            • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
            • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia
            • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Tourism Australia

              1km from Melbourne

              Private Aboriginal Walking Tour – River Camp/Birrarung Wilam Walk

              with Koorie Heritage Trust

              Private tours to the Yarra River with an Aboriginal guide can be tailored to include additional cultural talks and tour of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s Aboriginal art.

              • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a couple for a walking tour central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Visit Victoria
              • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a couple for a walking tour central Melbourne/Narrm, VIC © Visit Victoria
              • A Koorie Heritage Trust guide taking a group for a walking tour around central Melbourne/Narrm out to the MCG via the scar trees. VIC © Tourism Australia

                1km from Melbourne

                Private Aboriginal Walking Tour – Scar Tree Walk

                with Koorie Heritage Trust

                Walk to the Yarra River with a guide, visiting art installations and learning Aboriginal history. Continue to Yarra Park to glimpse culturally significant ‘scar trees’.

                • Aerial view of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism © Tourism Australia
                • Guide points out over Tae Rak (Lake Condah), Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, Victoria © Tourism Australia
                • Guide gives a cultural talk, Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, Victoria © Tourism Australia

                  334km from Melbourne

                  Tae Rak (Lake Condah) Guided Cultural Walk

                  with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

                  A guided tour of Tae Rak (Lake Condah) telling the Gunditjmara creation story, the lifecycle of eels and the aquaculture systems designed to trap and harvest eels.

                  • Tae Rak Cafe © Tourism Australia
                  • Tae Rak Cafe © Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
                  • People in Tae Rak Cafe © Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

                    334km from Melbourne

                    Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre Café

                    with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

                    The café is part of the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre facility. Meals, coffee and cake are served, alongside a retail space.

                    • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism © Tourism Australia
                    • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism - Stone Country Tour © Tourism Australia
                    • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, Victoria © Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

                      334km from Melbourne

                      Tungatt Mirring | Stone Country | Half Day Tour

                      with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism

                      Discover the history of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, exploring the National Park and Lake Surprise and Kurtonitj IPA, where guides reveal Indigenous Gunditjmara culture.

                      An aerial of a woman swimming in Mount Mulligan Falls, QLD © Tourism Australia

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                      Dale Tilbrook Experiences, Swan Valley, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
                      Discover the versatility of Australian bush foods

                      Join us as we explore the incredible world of native Australian bush foods with Dale Tilbrook from Dale Tilbrook Experiences.

                      Johani Mamid, Mabu Buru Tours, Broome, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
                      Empowering Indigenous communities to share, practice and preserve their culture

                      Johani Mamid, owner and operator of Mabu Buru Tours, welcomes you to Broome / Rubibi in the stunning Kimberley region of Western Australia.

                      Elisha Kissick, founder of Yura Tours, North Stradbroke Island / Minjerribah, Queensland © Tourism Australia

                      Discover Quandamooka Country

                      Elisha Kissick, a proud Quandamooka woman, invites you to experience the rich cultural heritage of Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island.

                      juan-walker-walkabout-cultural-adventures
                      Aboriginal-guided tourism experiences provide a richer, deeper connection to Australia

                      Join us as we hear from Juan Walker of Walkabout Cultural Adventures, to discover why experiencing Aboriginal-guided tours is a must when traveling throughout Australia.

                      
Sunrise Journeys, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia - Ayers Rock Resort, Northern Territory © Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, NT
                      About the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective

                      Learn how the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective came to be in this video.

                      The Wakaj Experience, Mabu Buru Tours

                      8 ways to see northwest Australia in a new light

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      Whether you’re a foodie or a history buff, exploring the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia with an Indigenous guide deepens your visit and cultural understanding of this very special part of the country. Here are eight must-do experiences.

                      Person kayaking along a river through the middle of the Daintree Rainforest, Queensland © Tourism Australia

                      Aboriginal perspectives of the wet tropics of Queensland

                      The World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland stretches for 450 kilometres along Australia’s north-east coast. It’s a place where rivers charge through gorges, waterfalls drop from vertiginous escarpments, and thousands of plant and animal species – many of them endemic – thrive in one of the country’s oldest wilderness areas. Home to the Daintree Rainforest, its global significance is undeniable, but this ecosystem holds a into the significance of these landscapes, and the ancient Dreamtime stories they hold. particularly important place in Aboriginal cultures and traditions, and has done for millennia.

                      Aerial view of Uluru and Longitude 131 resort in the Northern Territory © Luxury Lodges of Australia

                      How to experience Aboriginal cultures when staying at a Luxury Lodge of Australia

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      The Luxury Lodges of Australia portfolio includes some of the country’s most ravishing and remote properties – places that offer every comfort imaginable, but also a strong sense of place and culture. Check in to one, and you can also take a deep dive into the region’s strong Indigenous traditions on a Discover Aboriginal Experiences tour.

                      View of Mystery Bay with mountain in the background, Eurobodalla National Park, Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
                      The unique Aboriginal stories behind Australia's islands

                      Whether you’re visiting the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or Coastal New South Wales, the Creation stories of Australia’s many islands – there are 8,000+ of them – hold a long and spiritual connection to Indigenous communities.  

                      El Questro - Injiid Marlabu Calls Us, Kununurra, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
                      Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes seven new members

                      The Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio continues to grow, with seven extraordinary new members welcomed into the collective in 2025, taking the total to 55 members.

                      Down Under Tours - Daintree Dreaming, Queensland © Tourism Australia
                      Best ways to discover Aboriginal seafood experiences

                      Think of fishing and chances are you’ll picture a rod, line and hook. But spend some time with a Traditional Custodian and soon you’ll be seeing pronged spears gliding through the air to land with a crack in the carapace of a mud crab. You’ll discover toxins in native plants that can be used to stun fish in the water. And you’ll learn about ancient stone fish traps laid across waterways, sharp hooks made from shells, and even fishing lines spun from vegetable “hair”.

                      Saltwater Eco Tours sunset cruise around the Sunshine Coast, Queensland © Tourism Australia
                      Cruise into Aboriginal Cultures

                      From the coast to lakes and rivers, Australia’s Aboriginal communities have the same affinity with waterways as they do with land. Cruising with an Indigenous guide is the ultimate way to take a deep dive into the significance of these landscapes, and the ancient Dreamtime stories they hold.

                      Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory © Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris
                      Issue eight of Connect to Country out now

                      In this edition, we invite Sab Lord, a seasoned expert, to settle a hypothetical contest between an Australian "saltie" and a US alligator—his surprising answer will intrigue you. Adventurers will find thrilling experiences like snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef with Indigenous guides and quad biking across vast sand dunes. Highlights also include a feature on tourism operators that are helping ensure that First Nations cultures remain strong for future generations, a journey into the Red Centre, and a feature on Tasmania’s award-winning wukalina Walk.

                      Mossman Gorge Centre, Daintree Rainforest, QLD © Tourism Australia
                      Discover Aboriginal Experiences spotlights Indigenous wellness ahead of World Mental Health Day

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      It's World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2024. And it’s evident that more than ever, we’re globally seeking experiences that soothe our soul, make us switch off, help us become more mindful and connect us to Country – and reconnect with ourselves in the process.

                      Narlijia Experiences Broome, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
                      The answer to managing Australia's bushfire risk could lie in traditional Aboriginal practices

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      Indigenous communities across Australia have managed the threat of bushfires in a sustainable way for millennia. And their knowledge of the land, and how to avoid disaster, is being preserved and put to use across the country.

                      Finger lime, Dale Tilbrook Experiences, Swan Valley, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
                      Aboriginal Dining Experiences that Elevate Native Produce

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia, the bush is a veritable supermarket – if you know where to look.

                      Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, South Coast, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
                      Traditional Aboriginal Healing: The Ancient Art of Wellness

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      Think wellness is protein shakes, superfoods, day spas and mindfulness? Aboriginal cultures put another spin on what we perceive as a modern trend.

                      Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
                      Step into Nature's Pharmacy on an Aboriginal Tour

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      Being amid nature makes you feel good – we’ve known it for centuries, and today science proves it. But for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it heals in more ways in one, with many native Australian plants packed with medicinal qualities that will cure what ails you.

                      bay-of-fires-wukalina-walk-tasmania

                      lutruwita/Tasmania

                      In the footsteps of the palawa on Tasmania/lutruwita's wukalina Walk

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      Tasmania’s/lutruwita’s Indigenous-owned tourism offering, wukalina Walk takes trekkers around a postcard-perfect patch of the state’s northeast. And if you needed extra incentive to try the experience, it has just been listed on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places List for 2024. Here’s what to expect.

                      Ngurrangga Tours, Pilbara, Western Australia  © Ngurrangga Tours
                      Starry Nights: Aboriginal tours that offer overnight immersion

                      Daytime visits to Australia’s most culturally significant sites inspire when you’re in the company of an Aboriginal guide, but multi-day trips can take your experience to the next level. Here are just some of the Discover Aboriginal Experiences’ that take you on an overnight adventure. By Natasha Dragun

                      Venture North Safaris, Northern Territory  © Tourism Australia
                      Exclusive places you can only visit with an Aboriginal guide

                      As vast and open as Australia is, pockets of the country are inaccessible because their sacred status requires they be visited only with an Aboriginal guide. This not only offers exclusivity, but also takes you on an immersive journey into Indigenous histories and cultures, with insights that reveal just how wide, wonderful and ancient Australia really is. By Natasha Dragun

                      Jarramali Rock Art Tours, Laura, Queensland © Tourism Australia
                      5 uniquely Australian experiences for culture-loving couples

                      Date night in Australia isn’t limited to dinner and a movie. If you’re looking to spice things up, grab your partner and try one of these experiences spotlighting Indigenous cultures. By Natasha Dragun

                      Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Australia
                      How to explore Queensland in, on and beside the water – with Indigenous guides

                      From the Great Barrier Reef to Mossman Gorge, much of life in Queensland revolves around the water. The state’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities reveal their strong connections to the state’s rivers, waterfalls, oceans and inlets.

                      Saltwater Eco Tours, Sunshine Coast, Queensland © Saltwater Eco Tours
                      3 unexpected Aboriginal experiences in Queensland

                      Spanning immense distances and ecosystems – from the Torres Strait Islands at the top of the state to the outback, rainforest and reef – Queensland’s Indigenous cultures are diverse. Needless to say, the experiences you can have on Country are eye-opening, and often unexpected. By Natasha Dragun

                      Aerial view of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism © Tourism Australia
                      Discover Australia’s newest World Heritage Site

                      Australia’s newest World Heritage Site reveals the 6,600-year-old ingenuity of the Gunditjmara people. By Natasha Dragun

                      Sunset at Tiwi Island Retreat, Northern Territory © Sealink
                      Issue seven of Connect to Country out now

                      In this edition we feature a new luxury Tiwi Islands Escape and highlight some of the incredible Aboriginal-led experiences available in Broome. We highlight movie locations where you can learn some older, epic tales from the Traditional Owners of the land and then take the plunge into some special swimming spots, where culture and heritage collide.

                      Quad bikes driving past water on a Sand Dune Adventures tour in Port Stephens, NSW © Tourism Australia
                      Discover Aboriginal Experiences launches 4 member case studies on sustainable tourism for Earth Day 2024

                      A collective of quality, authentic, Aboriginal-guided tourism offerings, Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE) is delighted to launch four case studies on collective members going to extraordinary lengths when it comes to sustainable tourism, whether that relates to protecting the environment, community, culture – or all three.

                      Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours, Cairns, Queensland © Tourism Australia
                      How to experience regenerative travel on an Aboriginal tour

                      More than ever, tourists are conscious of the impact their presence has on the landscapes they visit – particularly when they’re travelling to fragile, far-flung environments. Welcome to ‘regenerative travel’, the concept of leaving a place better than you found it and the next step in sustainable travel.

                      Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Ayers Rock Resort, NT © Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia
                      Understanding Aboriginal etiquette

                      by Fleur Bainger

                      Did you know it’s impolite in Aboriginal cultures to look someone directly in the eye? Or that shaking hands isn’t always the done thing? How about that it’s taboo for women to play the didgeridoo?

                      Dreamtime Southern X’s Margret Campbell performing a smoking ceremony at Blues Point Reserve, NSW © Destination NSW
                      Meet the women leading the Aboriginal tourism charge

                      Much of the growth in Aboriginal cultural tourism has happened in the years since Sydney/Warrane hosted the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, and many credit Aunty Margret Campbell with spearheading the movement. An Elder from New South Wales’ Dunghutti-Jerrinja Nation, Margret has seen a huge shift in awareness over the last two decades.

                      Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness Tourism Australia
                      Discover Aboriginal Experiences launches exciting trade and media offerings

                      Journalists and trade can take a deep dive into the DAE collective via the freshly launched 2024 Discover Aboriginal Experiences Media Kit, which contains a comprehensive portfolio of stories and ideas to inspire features and offer insights into Australia’s rich history and the world’s oldest living cultures.

                      budj-bim-cultural-landscape
                      Discover Aboriginal Experiences welcomes five new members

                      From Broome in Western Australia to a World Heritage-listed site in Victoria, the five newest members in the Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio offer a range of eye-opening experiences lasting from a few hours to a few days.

                      As custodians of the land, Anangu hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share their story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru, RAMUS designed and produced an artistic platform using drones, light and sound to create an immersive storytelling experience.

                      Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park

                      Seeing Uluru in a new light

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      We were there when Wintjiri Wiru launched in May this year, and enjoyed a fascinating panel discussion about the show.

                      mandingalabay-cruise
                      Meet our newest member: Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      From Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, Indigenous rangers take guests on an immersive ride to explore this country through Aboriginal eyes.

                      Wukalina walk, Launceston, TAS © Rob Burnett
                      5 globally sought-after travel experiences elevated by Aboriginal guides

                      by Fleur Bainger

                      Australia lays claim to a world-renowned suite of tourism experiences. But it’s not as well known that many of these bucket-list activities can be experienced with an Aboriginal guide.

                      An aerial of the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and ocean, WA © Tourism Australia
                      Uncover the deep cultural significance of Aboriginal place names

                      by Natasha Dragun

                      For more than 65,000 years, Aboriginal place names have carried knowledge passed down through generations. They’re symbolic of the Indigenous relationships to, and appreciation for, the land and water.

                      Dreamtime-Southern-X-Sydney-New-South-Wales
                      4 surprising facts about Aboriginal travel experiences

                      by Fleur Bainger

                      Australia is home to some of the world’s most outstanding Indigenous tourism experiences, but many are still relatively unknown to travellers, at home and abroad.