First Nations experiences in Australia

We’ve always had great respect for the history and traditions of the First Australians.

The close working relationships we’ve established with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities inform our understanding of the land and the way we run our trips in Australia. The First Nations experiences on our trips help travellers learn from, and connect with, the world’s oldest living culture.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Country on which Intrepid’s headquarters is located, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. 

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and support the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices. We recognise the unique place held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original custodians of the lands and waterways across the Australian continent with histories of continuous connection dating back more than 60,000 years. 

We also acknowledge and respect our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander travellers, staff, Elders and collaborators, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

What to expect from our First Nations experiences

Traditional Custodian Vince Coulthard smiles while talking with travellers in South Australia
Meet local guides

Spend time with Traditional Custodians of the place you're visiting and learn more about their deep connection with their ancestral lands. 

Two travellers hug one another while looking at a converging stone formation in Northern Territory
Connect to Country

Immerse yourself in Australia's vast, ancient landscapes while deepening your understanding of their historical and spiritual significance within First Nations culture. 

First Nations guide inhales fresh burning smoke as part of a smoke ceremony in South Australia
Learn about culture

Witness and take part in traditional First Nations customs, from smoking ceremonies and traditional art to sharing a meal made from foraged bush tucker. 

Receive a warm welcome

Mersey Bluff's orange lichen covered coastal stone with ocean in the distance with petrogrlyphs near
Welcome to Country

Be greeted with a Welcome to Country ceremony, see ancient petroglyphs and discover the importance of this landscape to the local palawa people on the Cradle Coast. 

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Travellers walking under the enormous gulf of Cathedral Gorge stone overhead next to a stream
Bungle Bungles bush walk

Be welcomed to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) and learn about bush tucker and bush medicine from a First Nations guide before exploring Cathedral Gorge. 

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Milky Way seen over the landscape of Ikara / Flinders Ranges at night in South Australia
Adnyamathanha welcome

Share stories and a campfire dinner under the stars with the Adnyamathanha people, the traditional custodians of the Flinders Ranges.

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Influencer Sarah Holloway looks out over landscape of Flinders Ranges / Ikara in South Australia
How to connect with Country

Arakwal, Bundjalung man Drew Roberts – founder of Shared Knowledge, an organisation delivering Aboriginal cultural experiences in Sydney – shares what it means to connect to Country and how we can all do it respectfully and responsibly. 

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Learn about traditional skills

Countless stalactites hang from the ceiling of Ngilgi cave where travellers hear a didgeridoo
Didgeridoo cave performance

Head into Ngilgi Cave in Margaret River and be treated to a traditional didgeridoo performance, amplified by the cave’s acoustics. 

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Looking out over the rocky coast of Dampier Penninsula near Broome
Aquaculture

Tour a working aquaculture hatchery on the Dampier Peninsula and see pearling in action at one of Australia’s oldest family-owned pearl farms.  

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Smooth dipping stone of Mutitjulu Waterhole dips down toward a still pool of water at Uluru
Rock painting

Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole with a First Nations guide and listen to stories about the rock paintings and their connection to the people and landscape.  

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First Nations guide sits on elaborate dot painting stretched on ground giving demonstration
Aboriginal dot painting

In 2025 you can learn about the deep significance of art and storytelling to First Nations people and try your hand at some traditional dot painting. 

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Painter in Janbal gallery excitedly prepares to paint on a solid black boomerang
Learn about Country with First Nations artist Rachael Sarra

Rachael Sarra is a mixed-race, First Nations contemporary artist and designer from Goreng Goreng Country in Queensland, Australia. She uses art as a powerful tool to explore society’s perception of Aboriginal art and identity. 

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Explore sacred landscapes

First Nations guide Vince Coulthard leads travellers in Ikara (Wilpena Pound) in South Australia
Ikara-Flinders Ranges

Soak up the scenery of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) with a First Nations guide and gain insight into the culture of the Adnyamathanha people. 

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Plants and cave stones seen from looking out at the opening of Mimbi Caves from inside
Mimbi Caves

Tour the vast complex of Mimbi Caves with a Gooniyandi guide to learn about their spiritual significance for First Nations peoples. 

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Looking out over Red Rock Creek near Coffs Harbour amidst some trees and plants
Red Rock

Take a walk around Red Rock near Coffs Harbour to learn about the culture of the Gumbaynggirr people through stories, songs and the use of native plants. 

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Wide panoramic landscape from a hill of Mount Barney National Park around midday
Mount Barney National Park

Join a traditional smoking ceremony followed by a cultural walk to learn about Mount Barney and its surrounding landscapes from the traditional owners.  

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Crocodile floating in the Yellow River with thin fog on the water in Kakadu National Park
Kakadu river cruise

Spot eagles, crocs and more of Kakadu National Park’s rich wildlife on an Indigenous-owned river cruise along Yellow Water Billabong. 

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Travellers smile together walking through the South Australian landscape of Ikara
Getting to know South Australia’s fabled Ikara (Wilpena Pound)

Set in the heart of South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Wilpena Pound is a sacred place for the Adnyamathanha people and the perfect spot to connect with Country. 

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Discover history and culture

Visiting the Uluru - Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre in Northern Territory of Australia
Uluru cultural centre

Stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn about Anangu culture and the park’s natural environment through free exhibits and talks. 

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Tyto Wetlands in Ingham Queensland near Mungalla Station
Mungalla Station

Travel to Mungalla Station in Queensland to meet the land's First Nations owners, the Nywaigi People, and learn about their culture and history. 

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Learning about the traditional food art medicine and language of the Luritja people in Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon cultural experience

Meet with local guides to learn more about the culture in Watarrka National Park, including the traditional food, art, medicine and language of the Luritja people. 

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Close up look at ancient rock engravings in Wilpena Pound Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Sacred Canyon tour

Be immersed in culture in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park as you listen to stories from your Adnyamathanha guide, check out ancient rock engravings and discover bush medicine. 

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High shot looking out over George street in Sydney's the Rocks Precint
The Rocks Dreaming walk

Explore The Rocks in Sydney with a First Nations guide and learn about the history, land and water use, and spiritual connection here. 

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Dwayne Bannon from Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness enacting a smoke ceremony welcome to country
We asked First Nations artists and travellers what NAIDOC Week means to them

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week means different things to different Australians. 

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Frequently asked questions

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