Experience providers on Welcome to Country, have responded to Tourism Australia's 'Holiday Here This Year' Campaign with exceptional Indigenous cultural immersions now available across Australia. Welcome to Country, the first not-for-profit online marketplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences, are uniquely positioned to offer Australia's best Indigenous cultural immersions.
Why should an Indigenous cultural immersion be on every Australian's travel bucket list?
A cultural immersion is the act of surrounding yourself with the culture of a place. An immersion can be staying with a family in a community or sharing a meal with locals, listening, laughing and learning. An Indigenous cultural immersion will leave travellers with a completely new perspective and experience of Australia.
Jason Eades, the CEO of Welcome to Country, said "An Indigenous immersive experience creates a deeper understanding of a place and people, leaving the traveller with a meaningful connection. Immersive experiences not only benefit the traveller but also the places, cultures or communities visited and these benefits go far beyond the simple tourism dollar. Sharing in a culture preserves it, creates cross-cultural respect and opens a dialogue for understanding and change."
Rhoda Roberts AO and Board Member of Welcome to Country, added "There is also the depth of listening, witnessing the diversity of cultures, the mystery of rituals, foods, language, song and story. Country gets under your skin, be it through the unexplainable pleasure of gazing at a thousand stars or watching the tides that have travelled thousands of miles, hearing age old stories that have been told for tens of thousands of years."
Following on from Tourism Australia's 'Holiday Here This Year' Campaign, Tourism Australia have predicted the top travel trends for 2021. 'Travel as a force for good' and 'The rise of Indigenous experiences' both featured.
Australian travellers are increasingly seeking out experiences that are not only good for them, but good for the world around them. Tourism Australia's consumer research supports this "force for good" trend. 91 percent of people like to travel to become more open-minded and knowledgeable about the world, and 74 percent are actively seeking out travel experiences that allow them to give back to a destination.
Welcome to Country are uniquely positioned offering a great selection of premium cultural immersions on the marketplace. Every booking made with Welcome to Country not only supports the individual experience provider, it grows the Indigenous tourism sector.
Introduction to Welcome to Country Indigenous Cultural Immersions
On Country Two Night Experience + Kakadu: Join Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours for a two -night, hands-on educational experience delivered by the local people of the Adelaide and Mary River Region. This experience includes an art session, two-hour cultural tour, all meals and overnight accommodation. This experience also includes a full day trip to Kakadu National Park.
Crossing Country - Yolŋu Dhukarr: Spend five incredible days living as part of a small family community, at a Yolŋu Homeland. With Lirrwi Tourism learn about Yolŋu culture and participate in a range of traditional activities, usually with several generations. The Laynhapuy homelands (traditional clan lands) extend out from Nhulunbuy into Arnhem Land and consist of around 30 remote homeland communities.
Yuin Retreat: Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, the traditional custodians of Yuin Country, invite you to come, learn and immerse yourself in the world's oldest living culture. Your Yuin guide will explain the significance of Country, culture and dreaming. On this one day, two-night Aboriginal experience on the New South Wales, South Coast will allow you to walk away with a piece of the sacred dreaming of the Yuin forever.
Wukalina Walk: An incredible four-day Aboriginal guided walk the larapuna and wukalina areas with experience provider Wukalina Walk. The walk incorporates the famous Bay of Fires area in Tasmania, the cultural homeland of the palawa. The Walk will deepen your understanding of palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) culture and community as well as immerse you in the natural and rugged beauty of wukalina and larapuna.
Two Day Daintree Aboriginal Art and Survival: Enjoy a unique two-day tour including a traditional coastal survival experience and the awe inspiring ancient rainforest. Culture Connect will take you to Cooya Beach where you will be taught how to throw a spear and collect a variety of food and medicine amongst the ever-changing mudflats and tidal lagoons. Explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest and learn how Aboriginal people survived in this piece of paradise.
Two Night Adventure in Style at Wilpena Pound: This two-night Adventure in Style package from Wilpena Pound Resort includes accommodation in "glamping" Ikara Safari Tent, daily full buffet breakfast and dinner each evening. A half day 4WD tour of the 800 million year old "Corridor Through Time and the Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges and a 20 minute scenic flight over Wilpena Pound.
Five day Litchfield, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land Tour: This tour with Venture North Safaris takes in all the highlights of the Top End in the Northern Territory. In a small intimate group with a maximum of 6 guests you'll get the insider's guide to the history and culture of the region. You'll see plenty of wildlife and get to enjoy some glamping in Kakadu and a touch of luxury at Katherine Gorge.
Welcome to Country launched nationally last year on 2 December 2020 with a week-long program of free virtual events directed by Rhoda Roberts AO. Welcome to Country's mission is to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by creating sustainable economic and wellbeing outcomes through tourism and products. Welcome to Country is backed by Indigenous Capital Limited (ICL), a foundation started by technology entrepreneur, and start-up and social enterprise investor Roger Allen AM.
