Aboriginal Cultural Tours, BarangarooCredit: Destination NSW
Aboriginal educator Tim Gray leading guests on an Aboriginal Cultural Tour in Barangaroo, Sydney.
New South Wales is home to 60,000 years of continuous living culture – it's a treasure to explore. Whether you’re tracing ancient trails across the Outback or being moved by the buzzing heartbeat of Sydney’s streetscapes, Aboriginal cultural experiences can refresh your perspective and deepen your connection to NSW. This selection of some of the state’s most sought-after, Aboriginal-led experiences will see you enjoying art, food, cruises, iconic landmarks and wild landscapes through an Aboriginal lens.
Explore Sydney’s rich Aboriginal heritage
Breathe in the salty air at Barangaroo Reserve, the 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. Next up, get a taste for native foods on an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
See Sydney Harbour from a different point of view on BridgeClimb Sydney’s BridgeClimb Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience. Be exhilarated and amazed as you ascend to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in panoramic views of the Rocks and Circular Quay below as your Aboriginal guide shares stories of Sydney’s Aboriginal past and present. Afterwards, take to the water on a two-hour Tribal Warrior Cultural Cruise to hear stories of the waterways.
Expand your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures at the Australian Museum, or spend a memorable evening surrounded by Aboriginal 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.
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 ancient landscapes on the North Coast
Be serenaded by the didgeridoo by Elder Kevin ‘Gavi’ Duncan before tasting botanical wines infused with native ingredients with Firescreek Botanical Winery's Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Tour on the Central Coast, 75 minutes north of Sydney. Or be thrilled 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, led by Aboriginal guides.
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 highway north another 50 minutes to explore the idyllic creeks of the Coffs Coast on a stand-up paddleboarding experience with Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours. Admire the fish darting through crystal clear waters as your guide brings stories to life and introduces you to native coastal plants.
Imagine what the iconic tourist town of Byron Bay on the Far North Coast was like before colonisation on a tour with Explore Byron Bay. On the Byron Bay Lighthouse Aboriginal Tour, Arakwal Bundjalung woman Delta Kay will guide you along the Walgun Cape Byron Lighthouse Loop Trail, taking in panoramic views and beauty, connecting you to Country. On the Bangalow Native Bush Food Tour, Delta will point out the numerous native food and medicine plants, share an opportunity to learn some Bundjalung language and provide a variety of delicious native foods to sample. There are also private tours hosted in Byron Bay, Bangalow or Broken Head available.
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 cultural wonders down south
Broaden your horizons on Yuin Country on the South Coast. Explore the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Shoalhaven, around two hours south of Sydney, on a bespoke experience crafted by Djiriba Waagura. Join one of the burriburri Cultural Experiences to follow the footsteps of the Ancestors and experience a traditional smoking ceremony.
In Huskisson, Gadhungal Marring offers numerous cultural experiences, including the Baabaa-Gulli Murru Tour, a 90-minute ‘walk and talk on Country’.
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. Southbound Escapes Tours offers a range of experiences in partnership with local Aboriginal guides including a Bingi Dreaming Walking Tour with Yuin Nation knowledge holder Patricia Ellis.
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 and savour gourmet catering showcasing native ingredients.
In Eden, Yandama On Country invites you on gentle and immersive experiences on Country. Be guided through Country on a walking tour learning about plants, animals, cultural land management and more. Also based in Eden, Bundian is facilitated by the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, offering guided experiences along Bundian Way, a 365km pathway of shared Aboriginal and European History that leads between Turemulerrer (Twofold Bay) and Targangal (Mount Kosciuszko), the highest point on the Australian mainland.
At the very bottom of NSW, 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.
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.
Engage with Aboriginal culture in the Riverina
Soak up knowledge in the Riverina region as Wiradjuri man 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 enjoy lunch and visits to special Wiradjuri places on the Taste of Wiradjuri 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 sites such as the Birthing Rocks and caves along the Murrumbidgee.
Two hours’ drive southwest you’ll find Bullanginya Dreaming, a mesmerising weekly laser light show blending Bangerang Indigenous insights with the elemental forces of light, water and fire.
An hour and a half west to Lavington near Albury, Giilangyaldhaanygalang - Wiradjuri Storytellers offers On-Country experiences in the local area, including guided tours of the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and cultural immersion at Mungabareena Reserve Aboriginal Place.
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.
Feel lucky to receive the breadth of knowledge shared by Gerald Power of Indigenous Cultural Adventures in the renowned wine region of Orange. His food-focused Bush Tucka Garden Tasting 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 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 Aboriginal 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
Olympian Rock Lookout, Blue MountainsCredit: Destination NSW
Hikers enjoy the view at the Olympian Rock Lookout, Blue Mountains.
From practising mindfulness in Sydney and stretching out on a yoga retreat in Byron Bay to rejuvenating retreats in wine country and immersing in incredible natural beauty all across the state, here’s how to rest, reset and recharge via a wellness-focused holiday in New South Wales.
Seek out wellness experiences in Sydney
There are plenty of ways to reconnect with yourself and support your wellbeing in Sydney. You may want to treat yourself to a full-body massage at Capella Sydney’s serene Auriga Spa – you’ll walk away from the centrally located luxury hotel with a welcome inner glow.
Restore your sense of balance as you stretch out on a buoyant board anchored off the beach at Rose Bay during a memorable session of Aqua Sculpt Floating Pilates. Or feel at one with the ocean as you forage for edible seaweeds and coastal wild food with educator Diego Bonetto – during a three-hour workshop you’ll roam the coastline from Gordons Bay to Clovelly in the city’s east.
Weave your way into a state of mindfulness via a macramé-making session at Little Lane Workshops in the Northern Beaches suburb of Warriewood. Or lose yourself in the music as you take a dance class at Sydney Dance Company’s harbourside Wharf Studios in the Walsh Bay arts precinct.
As night falls, feed body and soul when you attend a Pay It Forward Dinner on a Wednesday or Thursday evening at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney in Surry Hills – for every dinner served, the food charity provides a tasty lunch to at least four people in need.
Bliss out in Byron Bay
You’ll be spoilt for choice of life-affirming activities in Byron Bay, the wellness capital of northern NSW.
Still your mind during a five-night or seven-night residential retreat at Byron Yoga Centre, a few minutes’ drive from the town centre. Or opt for the centre’s bed-and-breakfast package and add on yoga, massage and sauna sessions to suit your mood and your body’s needs.
Dive under the breaking waves and revel in the sense of freedom your surfboard brings during a private two-hour lesson with Byron Bay’s Soul Surf School. Or watch from the shore as local surfers effortlessly catch waves while you follow Bundjalung woman Delta Kay of Explore Byron Bay on an inspiring Walgun Cape Byron Aboriginal Tour.
Synch with nature as you sample bush tucker on a complimentary ranger-guided walk through Elements of Byron’s native forest and wetlands when you stay the luxury resort just north of the town centre.
Or base yourself at Sugar Beach Ranch in nearby Ballina, which offers bungalow and camping stays as well as extraordinary encounters with its horses. Experience the unique dynamic between horse and human during an equine therapy session – a powerful tool for healing and enhancing your emotional intelligence.
Elements of Byron Bay, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Elements of Byron guests enjoying morning beachfront yoga sessions, Byron Bay.
Elements of Byron Bay, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Elements of Byron guests enjoying morning beachfront yoga sessions, Byron Bay.
Relax in a river town
Lean into the laid-back vibe of Coffs Harbour, a 2.5-hour drive south of Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast, as you relax and rejuvenate in an idyllic setting. Drop in for a yoga or Pilates session, or simply enjoy a tension-melting massage, at the welcoming Shala Wellness centre.
For something more adventurous try OzFoiling, a low-impact, water-based wellness experience where you glide above the river on an electric hydrofoil board. It’s a graceful, fun-filled way to connect with nature and develop a fun new skill.
Look forward to lazy days by the beach when you stay in town, or base yourself in the charming hinterland hub of Bellingen, around a 30-minute drive away from Coffs Harbour.
Book a tiny house or a glamping tent at Levenvale Farm, a certified organic cattle farm outside of Bellingen, and feel yourself unwind as you drink in the rainforest and farmland views. Or enjoy a classic country escape at The Lodge Bellingen and ease tired muscles in the heated magnesium spa.
Wind down in wine country
Discover unique wellness stays among the vineyards in the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Check into one of The Wellness Farm’s lovely villas, cottage or homestead, enjoy a private massage or even an intravenous vitamin infusion in the comfort of your own room, then relax as Pokolbin’s Stay n' Sip brings a wine-tasting experience to your door.
Sleep deeply in your spacious suite at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin on a casual stay or as part of an all-inclusive retreat. Opt for the retreat and spend days soaking up knowledge in wellness seminars, doing breath work and tai chi or simply enjoying spa treatments in between nourishing meals.
Linger in the valley on your last day and head over to Margan winery in Broke for a Garden Tour & Dine tour of the vineyard and its one-hectare kitchen garden. Here you’ll learn about the estate’s regenerative farming and sustainability credentials before savouring a farm-to-table tasting menu at its renowned Margan Restaurant.
Roadtrip in a campervan, Bellingen Credit: Destination NSW
Yellow campervan driving down country roads in Bellingen
Roadtrip in a campervan, Bellingen Credit: Destination NSW
Yellow campervan driving down country roads in Bellingen
Elysia Wellness Retreat, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Woman doing some yoga in the sun at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Elysia Wellness Retreat, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Woman doing some yoga in the sun at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Challenge yourself in the mountains
Surround yourself with the sublime in Blue Mountains west of Sydney and you’ll return home feeling on top of the world. See a different side of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park as you abseil down dramatic gorges on a private canyoning adventure with Blue Mountains Climbing School, or hike through spectacular scenery on a Grand Canyon Walk with Tread Lightly Eco Tours.
Reward yourself for your efforts and stretch out aching calf muscles with a luxe treatment at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery’s Ubika Day Spa outside of Leura.
And make sure to schedule in a low-intensity day of grazing on nourishing food at villages across the mountains before taking inspiration from a one-on-one art class with an experienced art educator at Creative Abyss, in the lower Blue Mountains suburb of Winmalee.
Nourish yourself in Mudgee
Find relaxed vibes among the vines in the wine region of Mudgee, a scenic 3.5-hour drive from Sydney, or two hours from the Blue Mountains.
Relish the sense of seclusion you’ll experience when you check into a luxe eco-tent and slip into your outdoor bathtub at Sierra Escape, around a 20 minute drive outside of the Mudgee town centre.
Freshen up and head out for a delicious meal of organic and biodynamic fare at The Zin House restaurant at the nearby Lowe wine estate. Or book ahead to enjoy Indigiearth’s Warakirri Dining Experience, where Ngemba Weilwan woman and chef Sharon Winsor guides you through a five-course degustation celebrating Aboriginal cuisine and native bush foods.
Sweat out toxins in an infrared sauna or chill out in an ice bath at Mudgee wellness centre Sense of Solis, or follow an infrared sauna with a private float session in magnesium-rich water at The Clairfield Hotel’s Jila Wellness.
Then embrace the natural beauty of the region on foot as you tackle The Drip walking track in Goulburn River National Park, or glide through the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park with Southern Cross Kayaking.
Slow down on the South Coast
You’ll find welcoming sanctuaries all along the magical NSW South Coast, including in the stunning Jervis Bay area. Tune into the soundtrack of birdcall and you soak in a freestanding tub at your elevated tent at Paperbark Camp. Then prepare for a thrilling expedition with Woebegone Freedive, who’ll take you snorkelling and swimming among resident fur seals and dolphins – and migrating whales in season – in the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay.
Or head over to Life Centre Holistic Health and Wellness, around a 20-minute drive back towards the Princes Highway from Paperbark Camp, to expel toxins in the centre’s infrared sauna or dry barrel sauna, find serenity via a breathwork session, or meditate within a magnesium-water float tank in a peaceful bushland setting.
Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to the Ubika Day Spa inside the Fairmont Resort & Spa, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to the Ubika Day Spa inside the Fairmont Resort & Spa, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
The Zin House, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at The Zin House restaurant in Eurunderee near Mudgee.
The Zin House, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at The Zin House restaurant in Eurunderee near Mudgee.
Recharge in Western Sydney
Western Sydney offers a refreshing mix of nature, culture and wellness. Just 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD, Billabong Retreat is a tranquil sanctuary nestled in bushland, where you can unwind with yoga, meditation and locally-sourced organic wholefoods.
For something a little more high-energy, head to URBNSURF Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park. It is Sydney’s first urban surf park, offering consistent, quality waves for surfers of all levels. Whether you’re catching waves in the lagoon, relaxing in a cabana or enjoying a meal at RAFI or Sandy’s, it’s a dynamic wellness experience.
Or, step into serenity at Moroccan Hammam in Parramatta. Moroccan Hammam is a women-only bathhouse offering traditional treatments including Moroccan beldi (black) soap, clay masks and massages in a space that transports you to the medina of Marrakesh.
URBNSURF, Homebush Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arrives at Australia's best urban surfpark, URBNSURF, Homebush
URBNSURF, Homebush Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arrives at Australia's best urban surfpark, URBNSURF, Homebush