December 2024

Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes seven new members

The Discover Aboriginal Experiences (DAE) portfolio continues to grow, with seven extraordinary new members welcomed into the collective in 2025, taking the total to 55 members – that's a 45 per cent growth in membership since the collective launched. The latest report from Tourism Research Australia confirms the burgeoning demand for Indigenous tourism experiences around the country, showing that the number of international visitors partaking in Aboriginal-guided tours jumped 56 per cent in 2024, compared to figures reported in 2023.   

The seven new DAE members include Yura Tours, which welcomes guests to Quandamooka Country on Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island; Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours, operating out of Bundaberg in Queensland; Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, showcasing the Gold Coast in Queensland; In Culture Tours, offering Indigenous insights into Perth / Boorloo in Western Australia; Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb, revealing the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia; El Questro – Injiid Marlabu Calls Us, spotlighting the Kimberley region of Western Australia; and Tiwi Tours, taking guests from Darwin / Garramilla to the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. All are warmly welcomed into the Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio – a collective of quality, authentic, Aboriginal-guided tourism offerings.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, said the continued expansion of the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective is reflective of the growing demand we are seeing for Aboriginal-guided tours from international travellers.

“It is such a delight to welcome these seven new members into the thriving Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio – it represents the largest annual growth in members since the collective launched,” Ms Harrison said. “Every year we see more and more interest in quality Indigenous experiences that offer insights into Australia’s rich 65,000 years of history. And every year there are exciting new Aboriginal-guided experiences perfect for an international visitor’s itinerary.”

Yura Tours hosts a number of immersive experiences around Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island, including walking and 4WD tours to showcase the beauty of the island, discover native flora and fauna, and witness whales during migration. See Bundaberg through the eyes of Indigenous locals on Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tour’s immersive half-day tours featuring native bush-tucker tastings, storytelling and visits to significant Aboriginal sites. Based on the Gold Coast, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre takes you on a deep dive into the importance of the Burleigh Headland through guided walks, Dreaming stories, dance performances and art workshops.

Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb offers tours hosted by Bardi Jawi man Bolo Angus and his family, revealing culture, and hunting and gathering techniques while you explore mangroves, forests, saltplains and creeks on Country around Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula at Lullumb. In Culture Tours illuminates Aboriginal culture and the rich history of the Noongar people with Steven Jacobs, on walking tours around Perth / Boorloo, Fremantle / Walyalup and Cape Peron / Boya Kaarla, located one hour south of Perth, in Rockingham. And El Questro – Injiid Marlabu Calls Us spotlights the Kimberley region of Western Australia in an authentic Welcome to Country immersion introducing guests to the cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship the Ngarinyin share with the land and waters of the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Finally, Tiwi Tours offers a full-day experience from Darwin / Garramilla to Bathurst in the Tiwi Islands, to discover the culture of Tiwi people via guided tours through Wurrumiyanga, the Early Mission Precinct, a Smoking Ceremony and art workshops.

Discover Aboriginal Experiences Executive Officer, Nicole Mitchell, said the seven new additions to the collective take the number of DAE members to 55 businesses offering more than 200 Aboriginal-guided experiences around Australia.

“Aboriginal guides don’t just afford a unique means of bringing Australia’s landscapes to life. As the owners of the stories they share with you, they provide a way to connect with Australian places and cultures quite unlike any other medium,” Ms Mitchell said. “Each member of this collection is considered a world-class leader in Aboriginal tourism, representing local Aboriginal cultures with integrity and authenticity. Please see the following pages for further details on the seven new additions to the collective.”

The Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective is part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia program that promotes outstanding tourism experiences within a variety of special categories. This collection showcases a diversity of experiences delivered by the world’s oldest living cultures, creating memorable trips for adventure seekers, culture enthusiasts, foodies and nature lovers, ranging from exploring hidden rock art galleries to foraging for native delicacies, stand-up paddleboarding on culturally significant waterways to bedding down at wilderness lodges in serene natural settings.  

Find out more about the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective via our website. From the website you can access a dedicated trade and media portal, replete with a digital brochure listing all 55 members and the experiences they offer, a media kit packed with story ideas, interviews, Discover Aboriginal Experiences resources and more.

A collection of royalty-free Aboriginal tourism images are available here. Please see the dropdown menu for Discover Aboriginal Experiences on the Resources tab.

Find out more about the Signature Experiences of Australia program here.

For further information contact:

Nicole Mitchell – Tourism Australia

Executive Officer Discover Aboriginal Experiences

T: +61 410 499 525

E: nmitchell@tourism.australia.com

W: discoveraboriginalexperiences.com 

Yura Tours

Overview

Yura Tours welcomes guests to Quandamooka Country on Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island, outside Brisbane in Queensland. It offers experiences connecting people to Culture and Country through walking and driving tours, showcasing wildlife, coastlines and seafood. There are also seasonal tours offered during whale migration (June through September), with creation stories about the land and the significance of Minjerribah to the migration of whales.

Details

The Minjerribah Cultural Experience (3 hours) is a driving tour with a Quandamooka guide, featuring a Welcome to Country as well as visits to Brummiera (Brown Lake), Moongalaba/Terra Bulla (mission site), Capembah (Myora Springs) and Mulumba (Point Lookout). During migration, the Yallingbilla Whale Watching Cultural Walk (90 mins) takes you along the Gorge Walk at Mulumba (Point Lookout), replete with Minjerribah Creation stories, insights into native flora and its Aboriginal uses, and a spectacular show from migrating whales off the coast. Yura Tours’ Sand Beneath My Feet Cultural Walk (90 mins) is a Quandamooka-guided walk to discover traditional Aboriginal uses for the island’s flora. Stroll down Home Beach to Adder Rock enjoying South Passage Creation Stories and spectacular views. And the Bajara Footprints (4 hours) gets you off-road on a 4WD beach driving tour to witness lakes, beaches, flora and fauna. Learn how to gather clams and immerse yourself in island life.

Contact: Elisha Kissick

Phone: +61 438 882 003

Email: admin@yuratours.com.au

Website: yuratours.com.au

Images: assethub.australia.com

Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours

Overview

Born storytellers with a desire to share Aboriginal culture and the history of Bundaberg, Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours is family owned and emerged with support from Taribelang Elders, past and present, to help educate, grow and learn as a community. Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours offers guests a unique opportunity to connect and create authentic friendships with hosts on small-group tour experiences.

Details

Throughout the immersive half-day Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Cultural Tour, enjoy a genuine connection to Country while exploring sites of significance across the region, between the land and the true stories of Taribelang Bunda. Tantalise tastebuds with the flavours of native bush tucker during ‘Yarn Time’ morning tea, and be in awe of traditional Aboriginal artifacts like the boomerang, while gaining a newfound appreciation for how they are made and the meaning behind them for the Taribelang people. This inclusive cultural awakening experience offers guests the opportunity to engage in open conversation with new friends.

Contact: Waszanna Reed

Phone: +61 407 907 137

Email: info@bundaculturaltours.com.au

Website: bundaculturaltours.com.au

Images: assethub.australia.com

Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Overview

At the foot of the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Headland, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre offers a profound connection to the rich Aboriginal heritage and culture of the region. The centre is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories, traditions and practices of the Yugambeh language-speaking people, who have inhabited the region for millennia. From here, visitors can embark on immersive experiences that educate and inspire. Through these enriching experiences, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre fosters cultural awareness and cross-cultural sensitivity, allowing visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of the Gold Coast’s Aboriginal heritage.

Details

The Jellurgal Walkabout is a guided tour that begins with an audio-visual presentation followed by a walk around the culturally significant Dreaming Mountain. Guests hear Dreaming stories, discover traditional life practices, and learn about bush tucker, fishing, hunting and the important ecological practices of the Yugambeh people.

The Jellurgal Journey Tour offers private groups a three-hour experience, including a Dreaming Amphitheatre presentation, an Aboriginal dance performance and an ochre anointment. Participants also enjoy a guided walk to an ancient midden and participate in an art workshop, creating Aboriginal-inspired art to take home. Expect deep insights into Dreamtime legends, traditional ecological practices, and the cultural relevance of native flora and fauna.

Contact: Michelle Reid

Phone: +61 429 639 314

Email: hello@jellurgal.com.au

Website: jellurgal.com.au

Images: assethub.australia.com

In Culture Tours

Overview

Gain insights into Aboriginal culture and the rich history of the Noongar People on an authentic cultural walking tour experience with Steven Jacobs from In Culture Tours, walking on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth) land. Director and guide Steven is a Whadjuk man with a passion for his people and a love for Australia. Steven thoroughly enjoys sharing his culture and instils a sense of belonging and caring for Country within each tour.

Details

Explore Truth-Telling in Fremantle (Walyalup): Embark on a unique journey exploring history and culture of this beautiful port town. This immersive walking tour delves into the Moorditj Noongar stories of the Mammong Bidi, Whale Pathways and more. Experience Culture in Kings Park (Kaarta Gar-Up): Enrich your understanding of Indigenous culture, bush foods and medicine in this stunning inner-city park. Steven shares Noongar Dreamtime stories and the history of the park, as well as offering truth-telling tours around Fremantle / Walyalup and a cultural tour around nearby Cape Peron.

Contact: Steven Jacobs

Phone: +61 456 140 398

Email: bookings@inculturetours.com.au

Website: inculturetours.com.au

Images: assethub.australia.com

Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb

Overview

Southern Cross Cultural Tours at Lullumb is owned and operated by Bardi Jawi man Bolo Angus. Bolo shares secrets of his ancestral homeland with visitors from around the world. Bolo is from the Ardyaloon community on the Dampier Peninsula, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. He is strong in law and culture, passed on by his grandfather, and is passionate about keeping traditions alive for future generations.

Details

Bolo offers a half-day 4WD tag-along experience, Southern Cross Cultural Walk. Bolo welcomes you to Bardi Jawi Country and guides you through a fascinating cultural journey at Lullumb, the pristine coastal Country of his ancestors, where bush meets sea. Bolo shares his knowledge on an engaging and family-friendly tour. This relaxed journey unfolds through cultural stories, songs, hands-on experiences and survival skills including hunting methods. The tour culminates with a cook-up of bush tucker that has been collected during the tour. This is a 4WD tagalong tour, as Lullumb is accessible only via an unsealed track. Prior experience with 4WDing is not required as it is an easy track to follow in tag-along. Guests are required to hire a 4WD to join the tour, available through car rental services in Broome.

Contact: Bolo Angus

Phone: +61 484 986 167

Email: boloangus@gmail.com

Website: lullumbtours.com.au

Images: assethub.australia.com

Tiwi Tours

Overview

Tiwi Tours offers an immersive cultural experience on the Tiwi Islands, providing a unique opportunity to visit a contemporary Aboriginal community. Departing from Darwin, this one-day tour takes you on a scenic ferry ride to Bathurst Island, where guests are guided through the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Tiwi people.

Details

The journey begins with a warm welcome at Wurrumiyanga, where a local guide leads you through the Early Mission Precinct, showcasing the distinctive Tiwi-style Catholic Church. Participants will engage with Tiwi women, observing their intricate weaving and painting techniques, and experience a traditional Smoking Ceremony designed to bless visitors, all the while discovering the cultural significance of totem dances. The tour also includes visits to various arts-and-crafts centres, where guests can witness artists at work and purchase locally made artwork, fabrics and artefacts.

Contact: John Navarro

Phone: +61 422 051 635

Email: john.navarro@aatkings.com.au

Website: aatkings.com

Images: assethub.australia.com

El Questro – Injiid Marlabu Calls Us

Overview

Experience ancient family rituals of healing, listen to stories passed down from generation to generation, hear about El Questro’s history and ancestors, and learn about Ngarinyin culture and language. Through this unique cultural immersion on Injiid’s Traditional Country at El Questro (Marlabu), the Aboriginal legacy, and Ngarinyin language and culture, are being preserved for future generations.

Details

Injiid Marlabu Calls Us is a unique and authentic Welcome to Country cultural immersion experience that introduces guests to the distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship the Ngarinyin Aboriginal people share with the land and waters of the East Kimberley. The experience brings to life the stories and spirit of reconciliation of Injiid, the first Traditional Owner of El Questro to make contact with non-Indigenous people less than 100 years ago. Injiid Marlabu Calls Us incorporates ancient concepts and rituals that have been passed down from generation to generation, including a burning and cleansing ceremony that is important to Ngarinyin cultural and spiritual methodology. It awakens the senses to the call of Marlabu and invites guests to listen, breathe, speak, see and immerse themselves in the culture and Country of El Questro through the perspective of its Traditional Owners.

Contact: Bianca Sargent

Phone: +61 411 474 295

Email: bsargent@gdaygroup.com.au

Website: elquestro.com.au

Images:assethub.australia.com