Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes seven new members

Media Release

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, salt plains 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 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 is 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.