Immerse yourself in the longstanding wisdom of our First Nations people with these foodie experiences.
With NAIDOC week upon us, we’re showcasing the best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander food experiences and tours around Australia. But, just like our First Nations people, you don’t have to wait until NAIDOC week to join them. This guide is great for NAIDOC week and beyond!
From exquisite dinners in the outback to cultural tours by the sea, these food experiences around Australia will have you feeling connected to the land and the people who have inhabited it for thousands of years.
Image supplied via Go Cultural Tours.
Cape Cultural Tours, Margaret River
Take part in a Cape Cultural Tours in the Margaret River region of Western Australia, where you will be connected with the local Noongar culture by learning about traditional fishing and foraging. There are three tours to undertake: from coastal fishing to light coastal treks and even a lighthouse tour. And, if you’re interested in the Top End, consider dining on foraged ingredients with Kooljaman at Cape Leveque near Broome.
Image supplied via Destination NSW
Aboriginal Bush Food Experience, Sydney
Walk through an immersive food foraging adventure without leaving the city on an Aboriginal Bush Food Experience tour in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. The experience will teach you how to use traditional methods to gather and prepare food and identify seasonal bush foods and taste bush food-inspired recipes. Tours depart from the Information Centre at the Garden Shop every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10am. Bookings are essential.
Photographed by CAPE COCONUT. Image via Shutterstock.
Fervor, Western Australia
Founded by chef Paul ‘Yoda’ Iskov in 2013, Fervor offers a unique pop-up dining experience. The roving restaurant tours Western Australia with a one-of-a-kind degustation menu that explores traditional Australian foods – from catfish to boab tubers. Their temporary outback venues are scattered across Western Australia and you can discover their next upcoming degustation event by following their socials.
Photographed by JayJM. Image via Shutterstock.
Sounds of Silence Dinner, Uluru
Partake in a dining experience unlike any other at the Sounds of Silence Dinner, where you’ll enjoy a bush tucker-inspired meal as you watch the sunset behind Uluru in the Northern Territory. Sip on Australian wine and beer and sample canapes as you watch the outback stars rise and sparkle, feast on Indigenous tucker, then embark on a guided tour of the vibrant night sky.
Image supplied.
Mungalla Tours, Townsville
Just an hour from Townsville in Queensland, this idyllic rural homestead is the venue for Mungalla Tours authentic kup murri experiences. You’ll be able to listen to traditional Aboriginal live music while dinner is cooked amidst hot embers in a traditional underground oven. The original homestead showcases plenty of history, from Aboriginal artifacts to pioneering stories of Australia’s first white settlers.
Photographed by Rob Burnett. Image supplied.
Wukalina Walk, Tasmania
The guided multi-day Wukalina Walk combines culture, nature and luxury in one of Australia’s most scenic landscapes: the magnificent Bay of Fires in Tasmania’s east. Stay in bespoke luxury accommodation, meet Palawa elders, hear creation stories and learn about traditional medicines and foods while feasting on muttonbird, wallaby and doughboy dumplings – as well as plenty of seafood paired with some of Tasmania’s finest wines.
Photographed by Thiago Leite. Image via Shutterstock.
Birrunga Gallery & Dining, Brisbane
Birrunga Gallery & Dining in Brisbane is Australia’s most expressive Aboriginal-owned and operated art gallery, which also offers dining that blends Indigenous tucker with a modern twist. Whether before or after your browse of the gallery, sink your teeth into a degustation of historical proportions, from emu steak sandwiches to grilled crocodile salad. This Aboriginal food experience even gives a nod to pub grub with their native bush spiced chicken parmy.
Photographed by ChameleonsEye. Image via Shutterstock.
Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Daintree Rainforest
Join Juan Walker from Kuku Yalanji country as he takes you through the Daintree Rainforest region of far-north Queensland to learn the ropes on mud crabbing – all thanks to Walkabout Cultural Adventures. Anything you catch is cooked up for lunch, alongside a platter of food from homemade Australian damper to local fruits. Juan will also point out and pick other native snacks such as green ants and Blue Quandong for visitors to try.
Photographed by Camillo Cinelli. Image via Shutterstock.
Dreamtime Performance with Dinner, Cairns
This is one experience where food meets entertainment! Take a palatable audiovisual tour from Dreamtime to the early 1800s Australia with this delectable degustation. As you dig your way through an Australian feast, you will be immersed in the sights and sounds of authentic Indigenous performance through Spirits of the Red Sand. Guests will also be able to participate in the performance, adding to the experience. There’s also tea and coffee available, as well as a cash bar.
Photographed by Ilia Torlin. Image via Shutterstock.
3-day Culture & Wine Tour, Flinders Ranges
Welcome to the ancient outback teeming with fascinating Indigenous history and culture. And in this 3-day Culture & Wine Tour, you’ll experience every inch of it including sampling proper bush tucker matched with Australia’s famous wine from Clare Valley. From the dazzling Lake Bumbunga (Pink Lake) to a plethora of Indigenous artwork and symbols, this is an experience not to be missed.
Looking for other foodie experiences? Hunt, harvest and feast your way through the 10 Best Mushroom and Truffle Picking Tours Around Australia. Can’t make it out? Treat your tastebuds to Koko Black’s Native Australian Ingredients Chocolate Collection.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
