See Australia Through Ancient Eyes: New Indigenous Travel Guide Launches

Indigenous Travel

A Journey 60,000 Years in the Making

Australia’s landscapes are vast and beautiful—but their stories run even deeper. Now, with the launch of a new Indigenous place-based travel guide, visitors can discover the country in a way that honours the world’s oldest living cultures. Developed by Tourism Australia in partnership with Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE), the guide offers a powerful new perspective by connecting travellers to the cultural roots and living traditions of First Nations peoples.

This first-of-its-kind resource reintroduces eleven key destinations through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, language, and connection to Country. From walking tours in the heart of cities to rainforest journeys guided by Indigenous knowledge holders, the guide invites travellers to move beyond sightseeing into meaningful cultural connection.

Explore Iconic Places Through Indigenous Stories

The guide highlights immersive experiences across Australia, each one framed by the local language, peoples, and Dreaming stories of the land. In Sydney / Warrane, join a First Nations guide to climb the Harbour Bridge and learn the stories of the Gadigal people while gazing across their ancestral Country. In Melbourne / Narrm, explore the Yarra River / Birrarung with the Koorie Heritage Trust and hear how this lifeline shaped both landscape and lore.

Tasmania / lutruwita offers the award-winning wukalina Walk, a four-day cultural journey through coastal country led by palawa guides. In the Daintree Rainforest / Kaba Kada, guests can hear Dreaming stories on a guided walk with a Kuku Yalanji guide or try their hand at traditional spear-fishing at Cooya Beach.

Every destination in the guide includes local language greetings, tips on ethical art purchases, and suggestions for Indigenous-owned businesses and cultural hubs.

Cultural Tourism on the Rise

Indigenous Travel

The release of this guide reflects a growing demand from global travellers who want authentic, immersive experiences. According to Census data, interest in Indigenous activities among international visitors has increased by 60% over the past decade. That rise underscores the increasing desire among tourists to not only see the beauty of Australia, but to understand the cultures that have shaped it for millennia.

The guide also supports the broader goals of reconciliation by encouraging respectful travel and deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. As Nicole Mitchell, Executive Officer of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, explains, “This guide invites travellers to see Australia through the stories that have shaped it for tens of thousands of years.”

A New Way to Connect to Country

With more than 200 Indigenous-led experiences, Discover Aboriginal Experiences is part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences program, designed to highlight the most powerful and personal offerings in the country. From the red sands of the outback to the rainforests of the north, these experiences give visitors the chance to engage with stories that go beyond the surface—and to return home changed.

The Indigenous place-based guide is now available for download on the Discover Aboriginal Experiences website. It also features a new Connect to Country digital magazine filled with stories, ideas, and inspiration for planning a culturally respectful and enriching journey.

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Visitor Information
Discover Aboriginal Experiences
Website: www.australia.com/aboriginal

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