New cross-country tour focuses on experiences unique to Australia

In late 2022, Tourism Australia released insights from its “Future of Demand” research project highlighting a latent demand for Indigenous experiences, coupled with low understanding of First Nations tourism. That piqued Australia and New Zealand tour operator AAT Kings’ interest.

“We know from our research that demand for Indigenous tourism experiences has been rising among both domestic and international travellers and that there are specific areas of opportunities for new and emerging tourism experiences,” says its chief executive, Ben Hall.

The company’s response was to create the Aboriginal Culture & Australia Highlights tour, a 13-day, Indigenous-focused guided holiday moving from the city to the outback across Melbourne, Uluru, Sydney and Cairns with threads woven in of local connection, cultural immersion, sustainable footprints and wildlife and nature.

The itinerary was devised after close collaboration between the AAT Kings team and Discover Aboriginal Experiences (part of Tourism Australia’s “Signature Experiences of Australia”) and includes highlights such as sunset drinks, a barbecue dinner and a dot-painting workshop at Uluru; in Sydney a Dreamtime walking tour of The Rocks and an Indigenous harbour cruise; a Great Barrier Reef trip with Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, and a sumptuous lunch at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu in Melbourne’s Federation Square with cuisine by renowned Torres Strait chef Nornie Bero.

The tour also features optional experiences, including the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles or an Aboriginal Heritage Walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, BridgeClimb Sydney with an option to experience the Burrawa – Aboriginal Climb and a Daintree Dreaming Aboriginal Art and Culture tour or Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Cultural Cruise in Cairns.

“Our customers’ desire is to have more cultural experiences in our itineraries and AAT Kings is committed to helping drive Indigenous tourism and play a leading role in increasing understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture – a major step towards reconciliation and support of First Nations people in Australia,” says Hall.

The Aboriginal Culture & Australia Highlights tour will have limited departures in 2024 and 2025. It begins in Melbourne and finishes in Cairns.

See aatkings.com/amsc