Dreamtime Southern X, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Group enjoying a Dreamtime Southern X tour with Marget Campbell at Balls Head, Waverton in Sydney.
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With 60,000 years of living Aboriginal heritage, New South Wales is a treasure trove of cultural wonders, with many of them hidden in plain sight. And whether you’re being moved by the timeless heartbeat embedded in Sydney’s streetscapes or exploring ancient trails across the Outback, Aboriginal cultural tours can refresh your perspective and deepen your connection to this ever-surprising state. This handpicked selection of some of NSW’s most sought-after Aboriginal-led experiences will see you enjoying art, food, cruises, iconic landmarks and wild landscapes through First Nations eyes.
Explore Sydney’s rich Aboriginal heritage
Prepare to be moved as you learn of the extraordinary relationship Sydney’s first inhabitants share with Sydney Harbour on Dreamtime Southern X’s The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour (Illi Langi). Soak up an astonishing depth of knowledge as you join Dunghutti-Jerrinjha Elder ‘Aunty’ Margret Campbell or one of her fellow guides on a 90-minute walking tour of The Rocks, and come away with a fresh perspective on this storied harbour and its foreshores.
See Sydney Harbour through Indigenous eyes on BridgeClimb Sydney’s Burrawa Indigenous Experience. Experience a heady combination of exhilaration and amazement as you ascend to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in panoramic views of the Rocks and Circular Quay below as your Indigenous guide shares fascinating stories of Sydney’s Aboriginal past and present. Then take the water on a two-hour cultural cruise to hear stories of Sydney Harbour with Tribal Warrior.
Expand your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures at the Australian Museum , or spend a memorable evening surrounded by First Nations art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on the Yiribana Experience. Here you can explore the gallery’s renowned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection with an Aboriginal host before tucking into a five-course meal featuring native ingredients and complemented by paired wines.
Get a taste for bush foods on an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour in The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. And breathe in the salty air at Barangaroo Reserve, a culturally significant harbour headland a short walk from The Rocks, as your Barangaroo Aboriginal Cultural Tours guide explains how the Gadigal people, the first inhabitants of the area, used the native plants found in the reserve as food and medicine and for cultural practices.
Aboriginal Tour, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Guests learning about the rich Aboriginal culture of the Gadigal people on a guided tour in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
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Aboriginal Tour, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Guests learning about the rich Aboriginal culture of the Gadigal people on a guided tour in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
BridgeClimb, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the Burrawa Indigenous Experience at BridgeClimb, Sydney.
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BridgeClimb, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying the Burrawa Indigenous Experience at BridgeClimb, Sydney.
Discover the north’s ancient landscapes
Savour the unique experience of being serenaded by a didgeridoo played by Elder Kevin ‘Gavi’ Duncan before tasting bush foods paired with botanical wines infused with native ingredients with Firescreek Botanical Winery Aboriginal Experiences on the Central Coast, 75 minutes north of Sydney. Or get a thrill zooming around the southern hemisphere’s largest shifting coastal sand dunes in nearby Port Stephens with Sand Dune Adventures, which runs quad-biking tours in the private Worimi Conservation Lands.
See the ocean in a new light as you hear the story of how waves were created on a Gaagal Yuludarla (Ocean Dreaming) tour or delve into the heritage of Gaagal Wanggaan (South Beach) National Park with Unkya Cultural EcoTours at Scotts Head on the NSW North Coast, a five-hour drive north of Sydney.
Follow the coastal highway north another 50 minutes to explore the idyllic creeks of the Coffs Coast on a stand-up paddleboarding experience with Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours. Admire the fish darting through crystal clear waters as your Aboriginal guide brings the Dreaming to life, and introduces you to some coastal bush tucker.
Imagine what the iconic tourist town of Byron Bay on the Far North Coast was like before colonisation on a walking tour of Cape Byron led by Arakwal Bundjalung woman Delta Kay from Explore Byron Bay. Drift back to the Dreaming as Creation stories are shared in the shade of towering gum trees home to the odd dozing koala, and taste delicious bush tucker hiding in plain sight. Or treat yourself to a private tour hosted in Byron Bay, Bangalow or Broken Head
Stockton Sand Dunes, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens.
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Stockton Sand Dunes, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens.
Explore Byron Bay, Bangalow Credit: Destination NSW
Explore Byron Bay located in the Bangalow Parklands in the Byron Hinterland, guided by Delta Kay an Arakwal Bundjalung woman passionate about sharing local Aboriginal culture. Guests hear about Aboriginal existence before colonisation including how Bundjalung people cared for and preserved the land. Delta teaches some Bundjalung and provides information about local bush tucker, natural medicine, tools, weapons and artefacts.
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Explore Byron Bay, Bangalow Credit: Destination NSW
Explore Byron Bay located in the Bangalow Parklands in the Byron Hinterland, guided by Delta Kay an Arakwal Bundjalung woman passionate about sharing local Aboriginal culture. Guests hear about Aboriginal existence before colonisation including how Bundjalung people cared for and preserved the land. Delta teaches some Bundjalung and provides information about local bush tucker, natural medicine, tools, weapons and artefacts.
Soak up the south’s cultural wonders
Drink in a wealth of knowledge in the Riverina region as Wiradjuri guide Mark Saddler of Bundyi Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge takes you on a cultural tour of the riverside city of Wagga Wagga and surrounds. Spot living artefacts alongside the Murrumbidgee River on his Aboriginal Walkabout Tour and feel the spirituality of important sites visited on an Aboriginal Special Places Tour.
Admire the craftsmanship of the boomerangs, didgeridoos and clapsticks on display in Wiradjuri Elder Michael Lyons’s Sandhills Artefacts gallery in nearby Narrandera before joining him on a cultural tour to sacred birthing rocks and caves along the Murrumbidgee.
Revel in the wild and rugged scenery of Kosciuszko National Park on a five-night kayaking adventure with Alpine River Adventures. Paddle and camp in the rugged Byadbo Wilderness with your Aboriginal guide on this unforgettable experience on a remote section of the Snowy River, home to a number of significant cultural sites.
Broaden your horizons in Yuin Country on the South Coast of NSW. Explore the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Shoalhaven, around three hours south of Sydney, on a bespoke experience crafted by Djiriba Waagura. Join one of their regular group cultural bushwalks, beginning with a grounding Welcome to Country ceremony.
Feel culture all around you as you follow a coastal Dreaming track dotted with middens (ancient piles of shells and bones) in Eurobodalla National Park near Moruya with a local Elder from Minga Cultural Experiences. Also based in the Eurobodalla region, directly south of the Shoalhaven, Southbound Escapes offers a range of experiences in partnership with local Aboriginal guides – feel transformed by a
Bingi Dreaming Walking Tour with Yuin Nation knowledge holder Patricia Ellis or cruise Narooma’s serene turquoise Wagonga Inlet with Nar-Oo-Ma Aboriginal Cultural Tours.
Reflect on Aboriginal wisdom on the two-night Yuin Retreat hosted by Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness near Narooma. Hear sacred Dreaming stories passed down over generations as you walk on Country, bear witness to traditional ceremonies around a crackling campfire, and savour gourmet catering showcasing native ingredients.
Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga Credit: Destination NSW
Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga. Bundyi Cultural Tours specialise in sharing Wiradjuri/Aboriginal culture on full and half day tours by bus or 4WD. A 2 hour walking tour is now also available. All tours are conducted by Mark Saddler, a proud Wiradjuri man from whom visitors can learn about the oldest people and culture in the world.
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Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga Credit: Destination NSW
Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga. Bundyi Cultural Tours specialise in sharing Wiradjuri/Aboriginal culture on full and half day tours by bus or 4WD. A 2 hour walking tour is now also available. All tours are conducted by Mark Saddler, a proud Wiradjuri man from whom visitors can learn about the oldest people and culture in the world.
Sandhills Artefacts, Narrandera Credit: Narrandera Tourism
Wiradjuri Elder Michael Lyons leading a cultural tour at Sandhill Artefacts, Narrandera.
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Sandhills Artefacts, Narrandera Credit: Narrandera Tourism
Wiradjuri Elder Michael Lyons leading a cultural tour at Sandhill Artefacts, Narrandera.
Go west to meet the Outback’s Traditional Custodians
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture in major towns throughout the vast Central West plains of Country NSW. Absorb the ancestral learnings of Wiradjuri Elders on half-day and full-day Aboriginal-led cultural tours to notable sites around Bathurst, a three-hour drive west of Sydney.
Be astounded by the breadth of knowledge imparted by Gerald Power of Indigenous Cultural Adventures in the renowned wine region of Orange. His food-focused cultural tours begin in a local bush tucker garden before venturing out of town to visit ceremonial grounds and other significant sites.
Surrender to the mesmerising open road to Outback NSW and explore Mutawintji National Park, less than three-hours’ drive from the outback city of Broken Hill, where the Mutawintji Cultural Festival celebrates the region’s extraordinary First Nations heritage.
Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji.
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Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji.
Indigenous Cultural Adventures, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Native plants shown on a tour with Indigenous Cultural Adventures, Orange.
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Indigenous Cultural Adventures, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Native plants shown on a tour with Indigenous Cultural Adventures, Orange.
More Inspirational Stories
Sydney New Year's Eve, SydneyCredit: Keith McInnes
Spectacular 9pm Welcome to Country fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the New Year
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The countdown is on for the biggest night of the year. As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, more than one million people will gather around Sydney Harbour to ring in 2025. This year, experience Sydney at its summer best, spend the biggest night in the city, then wind down out of town.
Where to watch the fireworks
Observatory Hill
One of the highest points in the city, Observatory Hill is on the edge of The Rocks and is positioned straight at the Sydney Harbour Bridge – it’s probably the closest you can get to the bridge without being on it. Sensitive ears? Bring some ear plugs.
Free entry – no tickets required
Mrs Macquarie’s Point
This iconic NYE vantage point just next to the Royal Botanic Garden has spectacular views of Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and the barges that dot the water near the bridge. Here, there’s a real party atmosphere with pop-up bars and food trucks spread out around the point.
Free entry – no tickets required
NYE Pier Party
At Pier One Sydney Harbour‘s exclusive NYE Pier Party, you’ll be almost close enough to touch the fireworks. Tickets include a mouthwatering menu from food stalls along the pier, free flowing drinks and a set from famed Aussie singer-DJ Havana Brown.
Tickets from $549pp
Celebration New Year's Eve
The rooftop Sculpture Terrace at the Museum of Contemporary Art will transform into the city’s most spectacular LGBTQIA+ NYE celebration. From the rooftop setting, you’ll have a front row seat to the biggest night of the year, plus canapes, bottomless drinks, DJs and cabaret acts.
Tickets from $697pp
New Year's Eve Opera Gala at Sydney Opera House
This is a truly iconic Sydney celebration. Start the evening with drinks overlooking the harbour before heading inside for the Opera Gala Concert. Watch the 9pm fireworks during intermission then enjoy the rest of the show before the exclusive Midnight Party kicks off in the Northern Foyer. Expect incredible views of the fireworks, Champagne and a night of dancing.
Tickets from $199pp
Rooftop bars
Ring in the new year at one of Sydney’s glamorous rooftop bars where you can pair breathtaking views with live music, Champagne and a cocktail the colour of the fireworks. Aster at the top of the InterContinental Sydney has some of the best views in the city, looking out over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. At the Shangri-La Hotel, marvel at the fireworks from the sky-high Altitude restaurant and Blu Bar. For fireworks views from Darling Harbour, get tickets to the festivities at Zephyr (DJ and saxophonist included) at the Hyatt Regency, Untied Barangaroo (featuring flowing frosé and a DJ set) and CIRQ at Crown Sydney (where you’ll join a masquerade soiree).
Tickets required
Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens on New Years Eve at the Lawn With A View event
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Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens on New Years Eve at the Lawn With A View event
Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying the fireworks display at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
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Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying the fireworks display at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
Watch the fireworks on the water
Harbour islands
Three of Sydney’s tiny harbour islands are prime vantage points for the NYE fireworks. Clark Island and Shark Island sit either side of Point Piper and have clear views of the harbour and the bridge. Goat Island is close to Balmain on the western side, so you’ll get to see the ‘back’ side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the firework barges. Entry is free though you’ll need to pay for the ferry transfers. You can bring your own food and alcohol.
(Note that these islands are sold out for NYE 2024 – remember to book early for 2025)
Cockatoo Island
Spend the night in the middle of the action on World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island. Choose a pre-erected tent (or bring your own) on the Eastern Apron for stellar views of the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll also be able to see the explosives fire out of a fireworks barge just offshore.
Tickets from 514.42 for a four-person campsite
(Note that a minimum two-night stay applies – NYE guests will stay from Monday 30 December to Wednesday 1 January.)
Harbour cruises
The harbour will be dotted with hundreds of boats during the NYE celebrations, most illuminated with coloured lights and filled with excited revellers. Splash out on an indulgent multi-course dinner, free-flowing drinks and live music aboard the glass-walled Clearview, MV Vagabond Spirit or a Sydney Showboat ferry. Captain Cook Cruises offers a range of cruise options including a more budget-friendly evening where you can bring your own food and drink onboard.
Private charter
For a more exclusive experience, book a private charter boat to enjoy the countdown with your closest friends. Sydney Harbour Escapes, Sydney Harbour Specialists and Eastcoast Sailing have luxurious fleets available for hire. Prices start at around $3,000 and go up well over $100,000 for extra luxury options.
New Year's Eve Fireworks 2020, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Spectacular midnight fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the start of 2021.
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New Year's Eve Fireworks 2020, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Spectacular midnight fireworks display across Sydney Harbour to celebrate the start of 2021.
New year, new adventures: ultimate summer getaways close to Sydney
When the fireworks have faded and the last Champagne cork has been popped, take the opportunity to discover the wonders that await just a short drive from the city. Get a taste of spectacular scenery on a day trip or stay away a little longer in unique hotels or bush camps on postcard beaches. Sparkling coastline scenes, lush forests, one-of-kind adventures and stylish stays await on the Central Coast, in Kiama and the Shoalhaven, and in the city of Newcastle.
Central Coast | 1 hours’ drive
North of Sydney, a necklace of jewel-like beaches is strung along the coast, backed by the untouched bushland of national parks. It’s a quintessential slice of the Aussie coastal lifestyle with characterful villages packed with waterside eats, world-class surf, and family adventure.
Things to do:
- Take a dip or learn to surf in the gentle waves of Terrigal Beach, follow the new boardwalk around the Haven, and try snorkelling or diving in the crystal clear water.
- Hop between the 41 beaches that stretch along 80 kilometres of coastline. Try Toowoon Bay for families, Soldiers Beach for surfing and North Avoca for dog-friendly adventures.
- Cruise around the oyster leases of the Hawkesbury River with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, then get your waders on to sample a freshly shucked shellfish from a table in the water.
- Meet Elvis the crocodile and Hugo the Galapagos tortoise, then book in for a behind the scenes encounter at the Australian Reptile Park.
- Discover a new adventure in the lush Glenworth Valley – horse riding, quad biking, kayaking, abseiling, camping and more.
- Enjoy a romantic retreat at the five-star Bells at Killcare, a plush Hamptons-style retreat with private lodges boasting sunny rooftops and room service from Bells’ award-winning restaurant.
Terrigal Beach, Terrigal Credit: Destination Central Coast
Dolphins catching a wave at Terrigal Beach, Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW.
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Terrigal Beach, Terrigal Credit: Destination Central Coast
Dolphins catching a wave at Terrigal Beach, Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW.
Kiama & Shoalhaven | 2 hours’ drive
Part of the spectacular South Coast, these neighbouring regions sit south of Wollongong and promise golden beaches, legendary waves, charming villages and natural wonders. From the historic streets of Kiama – now home to galleries and small bars – to beautiful Huskisson, named Australia’s best Tiny Tourism Town for 2024, these areas made for meandering.
Things to do:
- Cruise alongside the bay’s 100 resident dolphins, on board, or in a boat’s boom net, an ocean adventure with Jervis Bay Wild.
- See ocean water crash through a rocky opening and explode up to 30 metres in the air at the Kiama Blowhole, the largest natural blowhole in the world.
- Savour native ingredients at one-hat restaurant Bangalay Dining, then check in to one of the breezy, luxury villas set among coastal sand forest.
- Sleep in style in the bush in one of Paperbark Camp’s stylish safari tents, where kangaroos and king parrots can be seen from the outdoor bathtubs.
Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
Water plume spouting from the Kiama blowhole.
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Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
Water plume spouting from the Kiama blowhole.
Newcastle | 2 hours’ drive
NSW’s second city, Newcastle was built on steel and shipping but today it’s better known for its thriving arts scene, creative community, delicious dining and photogenic ocean pools. Explore on foot, on two wheels or from the water, uncovering fascinating maritime history, vintage stores, tiny galleries and a buzzy night life.
Things to do:
- Take an adventure cruise with Coast XP, watching dolphins leap in your wake as you pass famed surf beaches, World War II forts and the bustling Newcastle Harbour.
- Join the locals for a beachside breakfast or a woodfired pizza on the rooftop of the always-popular Merewether Surfhouse.
- Toast the day with a drink at the city’s highest bar, Rooftop at QT. Sip unique cocktails or local Hunter wines while you take in the 180-degree views over the city.
- Wake to the sound of the waves at Noah’s on the Beach, a classy beachfront hotel. Choose an ocean facing room for that all important view and head out the front door for a sunrise surf.
- Splash out at Crystalbrook Kingsley, Newcastle’s first five-star hotel that has transformed the historic Council Administration Centre building. Don’t miss dinner with a view at the rooftop Roundhouse restaurant.
Merewether Baths, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying a day at the Merewether Baths in Newcastle.
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Merewether Baths, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying a day at the Merewether Baths in Newcastle.