Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective welcomes three new members
Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours, Western Australia © Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours
The Discover Aboriginal Experiences portfolio continues to grow, with three extraordinary new members welcomed into the collective in 2026, taking the total to 51 members. The latest figures from Tourism Research Australia show that participation in Aboriginal-guided tourism experiences continues to surge, with more than 1.1 million trips in the year ending March 2025 – a 22 per cent increase on 2019 figures.
The three new DAE members helping to bolster this growth include Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours, which takes guests on saltwater journeys through the Kimberley region of Western Australia; Wadna, a family-run enterprise sharing Adnyamathanha culture in South Australia’s Ikara–Flinders Ranges; and Explore Byron Bay, where guests walk on Country with Arakwal Bundjalung elder Delta Kay in northern New South Wales.
Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours offers intimate cultural tours led by Bardi Jawi woman Rosanna Angus, visiting important Aboriginal communities on the mainland before cruising across turquoise waters north of Broome in the Kimberley. Guests journey by boat to Sunday Island, once home to a remote mission, learning ancient saltwater stories while they glide.
Wadna in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges north of Adelaide, is owned and operated by Adnyamathanha man Kristian Coulthard and his wife Gabby. Their guided cultural tours explore the stories, bush foods and spiritual connections of the Flinders Ranges, while their on-site gallery and workshop display handmade artefacts crafted by artists from around Australia.
In New South Wales, Explore Byron Bay connects guests to the ancient stories and living culture of the Arakwal Bundjalung people. Led by Delta Kay, guided walks explore coastal dunes, rainforest and headlands around Cape Byron, Broken Head and Bangalow.
“It’s a privilege to welcome Oolin Sunday Island Tours, Wadna and Explore Byron Bay into Discover Aboriginal Experiences,” says Nicole Mitchell, Executive Officer, Discover Aboriginal Experiences. “All of the experiences offered by these exceptional operators can be found in detail in our 2026 Brochure.”
“Australians and international visitors alike are seeking deeper, more meaningful ways to connect with place – and Aboriginal-guided experiences do exactly that. With demand for First Nations tourism at record levels, these new members bring extraordinary outback, saltwater and rainforest perspectives to the collective, while ensuring communities benefit and culture is shared with integrity.”
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.
These three new additions bring the membership to 51 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.
Editor’s Note:
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 media kit packed with story ideas, interviews, Discover Aboriginal Experiences resources and more. Keep up to date and be inspired via our Connect to Country digital magazines, and explore operator experiences in detail in our 2026 Brochure.
A collection of royalty-free Aboriginal tourism images and video are available here. Please search for Discover Aboriginal Experiences in the Resources section.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicole Mitchell – Tourism Australia
Executive Officer Discover Aboriginal Experiences
M: +61 410 499 525
E: nmitchell@tourism.australia.com
W: discoveraboriginalexperiences.com
Julie Earle-Levine – North America
PR for Discover Aboriginal Experiences
E: Julie@julieearle.net
Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours © Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours
Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours is Aboriginal-owned and -operated, offering unforgettable cruises across the Buccaneer Archipelago from Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Bardi Jawi woman Rosanna Angus was born and raised in this remote and ravishing Kimberley region, and her tour draws on ancient saltwater traditions and intimate stories.
Set off on a guided 4.5-hour boat cruise that follows the journey of the Tide Drifters, weaving through the Pearl Passage’s dramatic whirlpools and tidal eddies between Jooloom and Jayirru islands, part of the Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park. Linger at culturally significant locations including Ardyaloon Community, Middle Beach and Goodngarngoon, learning Dreaming stories, environmental lore and the history of the Sunday Island Mission. Look out for whales, dolphins, dugongs, mantas and turtles en route – there are plenty of migratory birds to spot as well.
Contact:
Rosanna Angus
M: +61 2 9160 0373
E: sundayislandtours.com.au
Images: assethub.australia.com
Wadna, South Australia © Wadna
Deeply rooted in Adnyamathanha culture, Wadna began as a way to showcase the traditional woodworking art of owner Kristian Coulthard. It has grown into a cultural hub where you can discover works from a range of local artists before exploring the vast landscapes of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, the only Australian destination to feature on Lonely Planet’s list of Where to Go in 2026.
A former ranger, Kristian grew up on these lands, exploring them with his Elders and documenting the rich Indigenous rock art found across canyons and gorges. Immersive and educational, his tours are deeply rooted in place, whether that’s Sacred Canyon, Chambers Gorge, Arkaroo Rock or Dingly Dell. Wildly beautiful scenery aside, look forward to Dreaming stories and deep knowledge of the extensive rock art that makes this one of South Australia’s most important cultural destinations.
Explore Sacred Canyon on a self-drive, tag-along tour with an Adnyamathanha guide. Discover ancient rock art and the stories behind it, bush tucker and deep cultural stories in the heart of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. Or lace up your shoes for a guided walk to Dingley Dell, a 40,000-year-old petroglyph site in the Flinders Ranges. Hear Adnyamathanha stories, discover bush tucker and medicines, and hear the creation stories woven into the land and its ancient rock-art carvings.
You can also join a Traditional Custodian on a guided walk to Arkaroo Rock, where ancient ochre paintings tell the Yura Muda. Discover bush tucker, medicine and culture amid stunning Ikara-Flinders Ranges landscapes along the way. Or join a tag-along tour to Mt Chamber, a sacred Adnyamathanha rock-art site deep in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. Experience a smoking ceremony, bush tucker, billy tea and stories of Valnapa, deeply rooted in ancient culture. Finally, join an exclusive tour to Glass Gorge, a hidden cultural site featuring ancient petroglyphs, scar trees and bush tucker. Enjoy a traditional Welcome to Country, and receive a special bush medicine gift.
Contact:
Kristian Coulthard
M: +61 0428 545 566
E: info@wadna.com.au
W: wadna.com.au
Images: assethub.australia.com
Explore Byron Bay © Explore Byron Bay
From its shimmering beaches and surf waves to its ancient rainforest, Byron Bay’s scenery never fails to dazzle. Discover the Bundjalung history of the northern NSW coastal region with Delta Kay, whose ancestors have lived here for millennia. Walking tours are captivating on many levels, showcasing destinations that you normally see on postcards – through Indigenous eyes. Rich culture is revealed through Delta’s captivating stories, transforming the way visitors see the region and giving new appreciation for its history.
Discover the beauty of Walgun (Cape Byron), the easternmost point of mainland Australia, on a guided Aboriginal walking tour that blends local history and stunning natural landscapes. Stroll through coastal rainforests, hear traditional stories and discover native bush food and medicine.
Delta also offers an inspiring 3.7km Byron Bay Lighthouse tour taking visitors through serene coastal rainforests before reaching the Cape Byron Lighthouse, revealing breathtaking panoramic views of the region. Hear powerful Dreaming stories, providing deep insights into the cultural and spiritual significance of the surrounding landscapes.
You can also experience the beauty of Broken Head and its cultural history on a 1.6km walk. Along the way, hear fascinating stories while learning about the unique biodiversity and spotting wildlife like Wajung the dolphin and Miwing the sea eagle. From coastal rainforest to dramatic rocky coves, the scenery is truly magnificent.
Finally, enjoy a First Nations guided tour of Bangalow Parklands, a vast green space rich in Bundjalung history and teeming with edible bush tucker. Discover traditional uses for native flora and get the chance to sample bush tucker foods and bush tea.
Contact:
Delta Kay
M: +61 0467 277 669
E: info@explorebyronbay.com.au
W: wadna.com.au
Images: assethub.australia.com
