Much of the growth in Aboriginal cultural tourism has happened in the years since Sydney 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. In the 1960s, she participated in Aboriginal youth programs such as the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs, and benefited from mentoring provided by Indigenous politicians and campaigners such as Charles Perkins, Esther Carroll and Elizabeth 'Trixie' Rowe. It's this that inspired her to become the state's first Aboriginal-owned tourism operator in the late 1990s, when she took tourists on a 'whale dreaming' cruise, decoding how Traditional Landowners lived in and around the harbour.

Today, her Dreamtime Southern X walking tours explore the foreshore around The Rocks, a place where the Gadigal had established campsites when the First Fleet came to shore in 1788. “I don't want to dwell on the invasion,” she tells me. “I just want to talk about my lived experience. I'm positive and upbeat. Many visitors on my tours are embarrassed to ask questions at the start, as they think they should know about our country's history. I make them feel comfortable and tell them they can ask the silliest or most serious questions. There are no wrong questions; I'm not going to judge.”

Across the country in Western Australia's Swan Valley, Wardandi Bibbulmun Elder Aunty Dale Tilbrook is a pioneer when it comes to bush tucker. Many restaurants around Australia today feature native ingredients on their menus, whether wattleseed, quandong, saltbush or lemon myrtle. It's likely they took some inspiration from Dale, who has been operating a business highlighting Indigenous ingredients for more than 25 years. Her beautiful property grows a wealth of native produce, which vary over the six seasons in Aboriginal culture. “I know a lot about bush food. It's very dear to my heart. From my Elders I've acquired a lot of knowledge, and have backed that up with my own research,” she says.

Dale also co-owns a gallery in Western Australia and hosts culinary masterclasses around the world.

Also in Western Australia, Wola Gija woman Bec Sampi is the head guide at Kingfisher Tours, where she reveals stories of the Kimberley region in a way possible only for someone born, raised and educated with 65,000 years of intergenerational stories. Bec's playground as a child was Purnululu National Park – it was here that she gained a wealth of cultural and geographical knowledge from her Elders, who passed on their stories to her. She's an advocate for Aboriginal rights around Australia and is also the founder of Garingbaar Native Bush Botanicals, which makes beauty products infused with bush lavender and coconut oil, among other ingredients.

Cross over to the Northern Territory to meet Sarah Dalby, a tour guide and art teacher through Maruku Arts, Australia's only Anangu-owned regional gallery and cultural centre. She captures the immensity of the landscapes and legends that surround Uluru, her place of work, and has been doing so since she was a child and learnt the skills from her Aunty. Join one of Sarah's experiences and you'll not only hear the stories behind dot painting, but also discover the importance of sourcing Aboriginal art ethically and responsibly – things she is passionate about.

An esteemed lead guide at wukalina Walk in Tasmania/lutruwita's northeast, Carleeta Thomas studied hairdressing before being headhunted to join the Aboriginal-owned company. “I never thought of doing anything like this. Of talking about myself and my culture,” she says. “But I like being able to connect with guests on every level. I'm sharing what I know and learning every time I take a tour.” Carleeta, a pakana woman, was approached to become a guide on the experience – the first Aboriginal-owned tour in Tasmania – fresh out of high school. “I was really lucky for the Elders to see something in me at such a young age,” she says. “Being on Country is powerful. Learning about my culture and being able to share what I know is amazing.”

Image - Dale Tilbrook - Dale Tilbrook Experiences (please list business name if using the image)

DISCOVER ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES 

Tourism Australia's 'Discover Aboriginal Experiences' is a collective of quality and inspiring Aboriginal experiences, guided by Aboriginal people who share personal stories about their own country to bring the landscape and their culture to life. A diverse range of over 185 experiences is offered from 47 businesses. The collective is part of the 'Signature Experiences of Australia' program and is a flagship suite of extraordinary Aboriginal Australian experiences, showcasing the world's oldest living culture through the cornerstones of cultural insight, authenticity, and meaningful connection.

For further information:

Nicole Mitchell

Executive Officer

Tourism Australia

nmitchell@tourism.australia.com

+61 4 10 499 525

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