Welcome

Palya, or hello in the language of the Anangu people of the Western Desert.

In this sixth edition of Connect to Country, a digital publication presented by Tourism Australia and Discover Aboriginal Experiences, we cater to those of you who don’t want your holiday adventures to end at sundown. We feature incredible nocturnal cultural experiences, including the new immersive experience at Uluru that uses drones, light and sound to bring to life a traditional Anangu story*.

Further north, we take a SeaLink ferry to the Tiwi Islands and learn why they are known as ‘The Islands of Smiles’. The Tiwi By Design tour takes place on the second largest island, Bathurst. It’s a hands-on experience, with visitors given the opportunity to create their own screen-printed design with guidance from Tiwi artists at one of Australia’s oldest art centres.

If you prefer your experience of Aboriginal heritage and cultures to come with a shot of adrenaline, we have you covered. This edition features thrilling adventures including strapping on a harness to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, quad biking over the longest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, discovering rock art that dates back to the Ice Age, and spotting stingrays as you paddleboard through pristine marine park waters.

We chat to professional photographer James Fisher to glean his tips on how to take incredible images of your travels and experiences. As a long-time photographer for Discover Aboriginal Experiences, James has travelled the length and breadth of the country and he shares some of his favourite spots, and pointers on when to get a great shot, and when to put your camera away.

Hundreds of unique Aboriginal communities lived throughout Australia pre-colonisation and evidence of their knowledge and heritage is now hidden in plain sight. We curate some of the best tours in the heart of Sydney/Warrane and Melbourne/Narrm that can open your eyes to the strong presence of Aboriginal communities past and present.