Visit Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and the red center of Australia on a 13 day guided holiday
Australia
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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Dive Into Culture joining a local Anangu Aboriginal artist and interpreter to discover Western Desert Art at Maruku Arts Dot Art Experience. After traveling to and being inspired by the desert beauty, you’ll learn about traditional art, ancient symbols, tools, and Pitjantjatjara (a local language spoken by Anangu) from indigenous artists. Through this insider introduction to Anangu culture and the meanings of the dot art, you’ll learn more about their traditional and contemporary life in a fun and colorful way. Then it’s time to apply your knowledge and give it a try as you paint your own piece of Australian aboriginal art. Hearing others’ stories and telling your own by creating a personalized memento to take home is a memorable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on your Australia tour. Feel good knowing that you’re also contributing to Maruku’s mission to keep culture alive and accessible for future generations of artists as well as support artists living in remote communities of Anangu lands.
Alice Springs
At the base of the West MacDonnell Ranges, become immersed in the diversity of life in the desert with an Indigenous guide. Learn how Aboriginal culture, plants and animals thrive in the desert, and how the park contributes to the conservation of flora and fauna.
Tiwi Islands
Board the Tiwi Mantawi in Darwin and arrive at the idyllic Tiwi Islands, a modern-day Aboriginal community. Discover the traditional art of the Tiwi Museum, spend time learning to weave and paint with the Tiwi Ladies, and witness a traditional smoking ceremony.
Katherine
Guests get to interact with Top End Aboriginal artist Manuel Pamkal at Top Didj. Not only to they get to hear, but they also get to ask questions about aboriginal culture whilst being educated on the significance of his painting style, weapons used and how he lived off the land.
The highlight of the Cultural Experience and what sets it apart from other indigenous cultural experiences, is the painting style which is demonstrated by an aboriginal artist.
What better way to explore a key part of Australia's outback than with one of its custodians who share a special connection with the land? Guests gain an insider's perspective of the area and have an opportunity to get stuck in and practice some of their local traditions, e.g. playing a didjeridoo and throwing a spear.
Arnhem Land & North Kakadu
Owned and managed by the Traditional Owners of the clan estates it visits, experience an immersive cultural and heritage tour into Arnhem Land and Northern Kakadu. Meet Aboriginal artists, learn painting and weaving techniques and take in the world-famous scenery.
East Alligator River
Owned and operated by the Djabulukgu Association, the Guluyambi Cultural Cruise takes you along the scenically spectacular East Alligator River. An Aboriginal guide shares insight into culture, local mythology, the river’s abundant food chain and bush survival skills.
Kakadu National Park
The Indigenous-owned Yellow Water Cruises offers the ultimate discovery of the natural paradise of Kakadu. Regarded as one of Australia’s best wildlife viewing experiences, discover colourful birdlife and saltwater crocodiles and the dramatic scenery of the ever-changing landscape.
Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
Explore the natural beauty of Nitmiluk National Park on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience a riverboat cruise along Katherine Gorge. You’ll wind through this gorge carved through ancient sandstone alongside steep cliff walls, watching for lush rainforest gullies in giant cracks, and maybe a freshwater crocodile or two on the banks. To get a closer look at the gorge walls, you’ll dock and get out to walk the trails admiring the indigenous rock art. Uncover the past as you trace your hands along the rock, learning about the local culture through your indigenous guide’s expertise of the traditional Jawoyn landowners, their stories of how the gorge was formed, and about how the Jawoyn people live and work today. Your exploration continues as a second boat arrives to take you to the even bigger cliffs of the deep river gorge—a dramatic finish to an experience of stunning scenery and stories on your Australia tour.
Kakadu National Park
100% Aboriginal owned and operated family business, Pudakul offers cultural and nature-based experiences cultural experiences from the Adelaide River Flood Plains on Aboriginal owned Limilngan-Wulna Land. Engage with local Aboriginal people, the environment and wildlife, learn basket weaving, dilly bag making and the techniques used in the process. Learn to throw a spear, play the didgeridoo and clapsticks then learn about local bush food and medicine.
Central Australia
Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Tours is an authentic aboriginal cultural experience on areas of importance in their cultural knowledge on bush tucker and bush medicines used for spiritual and healing and a lot more, as used by the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Aranda) people and this helps with knowledge being passed on.
Uluru
Help protect the highlights of Australia's wilderness through your bucket list visit to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll encounter the iconic Uluru, or ‘The Rock,’ half a billion years old, standing 348 meters high and taller than the Eiffel Tower. View the impressive site over an intimate, classic Uluru sundowner: nibbles and sparkling wine amidst the red dirt and blowing spinifex grasses. Relax, toes in the sand, watching the Outback sky light up Uluru in shades of red, yellow, and purple as the sun sets. In the vast dessert, you'll experience your own mesmerizing, magical connection to the land that has brought its own meaning and been the home to the Anangu people for generations.
Northern Territory - Maruku Arts Dot Art Experience
Northern Territory - Alice Springs Desert Park
Tiwi Islands Aboriginal Cultural Experience
Northern Territory - Arnhemlander Cultural & Heritage Tour
Northern Territory - Yellow Water Billabong Cruise
Northern Territory - Nitmiluk Cruise
Northern Territory - Karrke Aboriginal Experience