Mangrove Boardwalk, Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkCredit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Cockle Creek and the Mangrove Boardwalk along the Gibberagong walking track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
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Sydney is home to countless Aboriginal storylines – many of them informing powerful experiences you can have today. Here’s how you can connect with Aboriginal culture in Sydney and beyond.
Learn about the waterways
Sydney Harbour has buzzed with life for thousands of years. For Traditional Custodians, its bays were hubs of hunting, fishing and camping, and they remain culturally significant today. Jump aboard the Mari Nawi (big canoe) with Tribal Warrior Cultural Cruise to learn about the Cadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal and Wallumedegal people and their connection to these waters. You’ll sail for two hours, learning the Aboriginal names and spiritual and cultural significance of Sydney landmarks before disembarking to Be-lang-le-wool (Clark Island). Here, you’ll learn about fishing practices before experiencing an immersive cultural performance of music and traditional dance.
To take your learning to another level, ascend to new heights and hear the history of this land with the Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Led by a First Nations storyteller, you’ll climb to the top of the iconic bridge while hearing Aboriginal stories and the importance of sites across the harbour.
Connect with Country
Out of the city, gain valuable insights into life on Country with Natcha Cultural Tours, which offers immersive experiences across NSW National Parks including Royal National Park, La Perouse and Kamay Bay. Created by Eric Brown, a descendant of the Yuin, Bidgigal, Dharawal and Gundungarra people, these tours explore language revival, bush foods, native medicine, traditional dance and song, grounding you in the spirit of Country.
In the Blue Mountains, the Buunyal Tour at Scenic World offers an authentic Aboriginal experience on Gundungurra Country. Developed by Uncle David King, a Gundungurra Custodian, the tour includes a ride on the world’s steepest train into the valley, a walk beneath the rainforest canopy, and Dreamtime storytelling aboard the Scenic Skyway.
Closer to the city, Splendour Tailored Tours offers a five-hour Indigenous Culture tour that pairs knowledge with flavour. Guests embark on a two-hour walk with an Aboriginal guide, enjoy morning tea featuring native ingredients, and a two-course lunch.
America Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjojing the senic views across America Bay and Cowan Creek from the America Bay Walking Track, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
America Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjojing the senic views across America Bay and Cowan Creek from the America Bay Walking Track, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
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.
See the past informing the present
To deepen your understanding of Aboriginal knowledge systems, book a Waranara Tour at the Australian Museum. Led by a First Nations guide, this 45-minute tour explores sustainable practices passed down through generations, informed by the museum’s collection of artefacts.
At the Art Gallery of NSW, the Yiribana Gallery showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks in Naala Badu, the North Building. Entry is free, and the adjacent kiosk features native ingredients curated by Indigiearth founder Sharon Winsor – think coconut crumble with Davidson plum or spiced tuna salad with roasted wattleseed butter.
Sample native ingredients
From the zesty popping pearls of native finger lime to the powerful aroma of bush honey, the tantalising flavours of Australian ingredients are hard to pass up. Housed beneath Australia’s most iconic building, the Sydney Opera House, Midden by Mark Olive is a restaurant that celebrates native ingredients. Here you can experience fine dining with a view, sampling dishes like wild thyme hummus or kangaroo prosciutto, all envisaged by Bundjalung man and ambassador chef, Mark Olive.
For a more hands-on experience, take part in a First Nations cooking class at the Sydney Seafood School. Held in collaboration with Luke Bourke and the National Indigenous Culinary Institute, the class teaches how to source native ingredients and pair them with seafood – think prawn and warrigal greens dumplings.
Walsh Bay aerial, afternoon Credit: Ethan Rohloff; Destination NSW
Aerial of Walsh Bay and Sydney Harbour in the afternoon
Walsh Bay aerial, afternoon Credit: Ethan Rohloff; Destination NSW
Aerial of Walsh Bay and Sydney Harbour in the afternoon
Learn about native flora
To get even closer to the source of native flavours, take a deep dive into the plants that have been an integral part of life in the Eora Nation for millennia. Join a Barangaroo Aboriginal Cultural Tour to explore the more than 75,000 native trees and shrubs that flourish in the reserve. Led by Aboriginal educators, these experiences traverse the six-hectare headland and are perfect for green thumbs and anyone keen to connect with this place of spiritual and cultural significance.
Further your knowledge with an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. A one-hour wander through the Cadi Jam Ora garden with a First Nations guide highlights how ingredients relied upon for thousands of years are now being adapted to modern plates and palates – and yes, you’ll get to taste them too.
Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Aboriginal educator Tim Gray leading guests on an Aboriginal Cultural Tour in Barangaroo, Sydney.
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Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Aboriginal educator Tim Gray leading guests on an Aboriginal Cultural Tour in Barangaroo, Sydney.
More Inspirational Stories
Sydney Harbour AerialsCredit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of North Bondi overlooking Bondi Golf & Diggers Club and Bondi Beach.
Looking for a fresh way to experience Sydney this summer? Sydney’s golf scene is booming, and it’s one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors while discovering some of the city’s most beautiful landscapes.
With over 100 courses within two hours of the CBD, Sydney offers a diverse range of public-access golf experiences, from cliffside fairways to lush hinterland greens. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon, there’s a course waiting for you.
Golf Near the City
Just 15 minutes from the CBD, Moore Park Golf is a public 18-hole championship course nestled in the heart of Centennial Parklands. With a top-tier driving range, expert coaching, and a relaxed bistro, it’s the perfect spot for a quick round or a full day of play.
A short drive away, St Michael’s Golf Club in Little Bay offers a dramatic links-style course perched above the Pacific Ocean. Open to guests and members, it’s a must-visit for golfers who love a challenge with a view.
Moore Park Golf, Sydney Credit: Centennial Parklands
Moore Park Golf, Sydney. Sydney's premier public golf course.
Moore Park Golf, Sydney Credit: Centennial Parklands
Moore Park Golf, Sydney. Sydney's premier public golf course.
Coastal Classics
Imagine teeing off with the iconic Bondi Beach as your backdrop. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Bondi Golf Club, a nine-hole course with sweeping ocean views and even the chance to spot migrating whales between May and November.
Nearby, Woollahra Golf Club offers a harbourside nine-hole course that’s open to the public—perfect for a quick game with postcard-worthy views.
Head north to Palm Beach Golf Course, nestled between Pittwater and Palm Beach, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views all the way to Lion Island. Just down the coast, Mona Vale Golf Club offers 18 scenic holes that are as challenging as they are beautiful.
To the south, Randwick Golf Course delivers a relaxed links-style experience with ocean views. It’s open to the public on Mondays and Fridays, and afternoons the rest of the week. After your round, treat yourself to a meal at the Bay Window Restaurant, where local chef Nik Eberhardt serves up contemporary Australian cuisine with views over Malabar Beach.
Palm Beach Golf Club Credit: Palm Beach Golf Club
The nine-hole Palm Beach Golf Course sits between Pittwater and Palm Beach, with views all the way to Lion Island.
Palm Beach Golf Club Credit: Palm Beach Golf Club
The nine-hole Palm Beach Golf Course sits between Pittwater and Palm Beach, with views all the way to Lion Island.
Greater Sydney Gems
Venture a little further and you’ll find even more golfing treasures. In the rural outskirts near Camden, Camden Golf Club offers an 18-hole course with a stunning Blue Mountains backdrop.
In the southwest, Bankstown Golf Club welcomes public players to its championship course. And in Sydney’s western hills, Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club, designed by Greg Norman, offers a premium experience on a world-class layout.
Make It a Golf Getaway
Want to turn your Sydney golf experience into a full-blown holiday? The Pure Golfer and LuxGolf offer bespoke golf tours, giving you access to exclusive courses, luxury transport, and curated itineraries that make the most of your time on and off the green.
Whether you're chasing birdies or just soaking up the sunshine, Sydney’s golf courses offer a fresh and scenic way to explore the city. So grab your clubs, hit the fairways, and discover why golf is one of the best ways to experience Sydney this summer.