Backpacker Room

There are some truly wonderful tours, art and cultural centres that explore Australian Aboriginal culture, both in Sydney and throughout New South Wales, exploring traditional lifestyle, music and dance, as well as Bush Tucker, the name for traditional Aboriginal foods. Below is a sampling:

Sydney

Tribal Warrior

Take an Aboriginal cultural cruise on Sydney Harbour with Tribal Warrior. Tour operators entertain visitors with stories of the Eora, Cadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal and Wallumedegal peoples.

Visitors step ashore on one the islands on Sydney Harbour to experience a traditional welcoming ceremony. You can learn about the Aboriginal names and meanings of significant Sydney landmarks and about traditional fishing methods. Cruises depart Tuesday to Saturday, 12.45pm from the Eastern Pontoon, Circular Quay. The vessels Tribal Warrior and Deerubbun are also available for charter. Bookings are Essential. Phone 02 9699 3491 Tribal Warrior.

Blue Mountains Walkabout

Blue Mountains Walkabout is Aboriginal owned and guided, and it follows the Darug songline through the mountains. Visitors learn by following a traditional walkabout song line. A certain level of fitness is required, the full-day adventure includes challenging bushwalks with plenty of time to relax by crystal clear waterfalls and billabongs.

On the walkabout, you will be able to see traditional cave art and Dreaming stories carved in stone, ochre painting and try traditional bush tucker tasting. Blue Mountains Walkabout.

Yiribana Gallery

Yiribana Gallery, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, houses the largest permanent exhibition of indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander artwork in the world. Tours of Yiribana are conducted at 11am daily (except Mondays). Yiribana Gallery.

Gavala Aboriginal Art Gallery

Gavala Aboriginal Art Gallery, located at Darling Harbour in inner Sydney Central, is an Aboriginal-owned gallery and shop. Featuring authentic Australian indigenous art by significant indigenous artists, the gallery deals directly with the artists and their communities.

You can also find for sale didgeridoos, boomerangs, masks, statues and music. Gavala Aboriginal Art Centre, Harbourside, Darling Harbour, Phone 9212 7232 Gavala Aboriginal Art Centre.

Boomalli Gallery

Boomalli Gallery delivers a regular exhibition program highlighting urban Aboriginal contemporary arts to regional, national and international audiences. As well as a full exhibition schedule, Boomalli provides a commissioning service and advises artists on such collaborations. Phone: +061 2 9560 2541. Gallery: 55 - 59 Flood Street Leichhardt, Sydney.

Muru Mittigar

Muru Mittigar provides you with the opportunity to participate and interact with members of the local Aboriginal community. This is achieved by the educational and enriching cultural activities that they offer. Traditional Aboriginal dancing, Aboriginal Art, a Cultural Museum and lessons in Didjeridoo and Boomerang Throwing are some of the features. Phone: +61 2 47 292 377 Muru Mittigar.

New South Wales

Gamilarart

Located in Tamworth NSW, here Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Artists have joined together to form this co-operative, featuring upcoming and established artists. Phone: 61 2 6761 3321 Gamilarart.

Umbarra Cultural Centre

Umbarra Cultural Centre, 375 km south of Sydney near Bermagui, gives visitors the chance to learn about the Yuin Aboriginal people. The centre runs guided 4WD tours to local sacred sites at Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) and Biamanga (Mumbulla Mountain).

A boat cruise on beautiful Wallaga Lake reveals many significant sacred sites, including shell middens and Merriman’s Island. Umbarra Cultural Centre.

Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio

Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio is an Aboriginalowned and operated art gallery and studio in Forster, near Port Stephens, 304 km northeast of Sydney. It displays work mainly produced by members of the Wallamba people. Merchandise ranges from jewellery, T-shirts and sarongs to boomerangs, didgeridoos and music sticks. Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio.

Biame Art Gallery

Biame Art Gallery, based at Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin, 162 km north of Sydney, sells authentic traditional and contemporary arts and crafts made by high profile Aboriginal artists from across Australia as well as locals the Hunter Valley Region. The shop is located in The Village, a small collaboration of retail outlets. Biame Art Gallery.

Harry Nanya Tours

Harry Nanya Tours is an accredited Australian Aboriginal-owned and operated multi-award winning business, running half day, full day and overnight tours to Mungo National Park, 1050 km southwest of Sydney. The qualified guides belong to the local Barkindji people who have passed down their history and legends from generation to generation. Harry Nanya Tours.

NSW National Parks

A growing number of NSW National Parks and Reserves are being successfully preserved with co administration from the NSW government and Aboriginal Tribal Councils. There are Discovery Tours available, including the Aboriginal Discovery Program, giving you further chances to learn about Aboriginal Culture and Heritage.

Photo on the Top of Page: Guided tour of Aboriginal art with Badger Bates, Mutawintji National Park, Outback NSW. Badger Bates is a Broken Hill artist, Aboriginal Elder and Senior Archeological Officer for the NPWS, Broken Hill.

Call the National Parks Centre for more info at 1300 361 967. See more about NSW National Parks Tourist Information and about the National Parks and reserves in the Sydney Region Sydney Parks Tourist Information.

Supporting Aboriginal Artists

Please support Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists by purchasing only genuine original art, indicated by label.

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Melbourne Australia Best Places to Visit
Melbourne Victoria, on the south coast of Australia has a cosmopolitan and vibrant atmosphere - a sophistication and sense of history not seen, at least to the same degree, in other Australian cities.
Melbourne is definitely a city worth exploring - it is Australia’s events capital, its sporting hub and its cultural heartland, home to great theatre, music, nightlife and restaurants. Peel back the layers to uncover a place that’s constantly on the move - from the ever-changing bar scene to a non-stop rollcall of international events.

It is said people here are a little more snobby, but its probably they have a better sense of dress and are more in touch with fashion. You can find great clothes designers, shoes and accessories here.

Melbourne Fashion

Melbourne is a treat for those interested in culture, entertainment, great Australian wines, festivals and fine dining restaurants.

Even the cafes and smaller eateries outdo each other, from the small bakery cafes to the fantastic family run dining cafes, serving authentic Thai, Italian, Greek and foods from over a hundred countries.

Melbourne Surrounds

Not far from the city, Victoria being such a compact state, are places to visit that offer history, from scenic small wineries and villages to the rural cities that thrived during the Gold Rush era.

The road to Melbourne is spectacular no matter which direction you approach the city. There is a route through the rugged Australian Alps; as well as the Princes Highway seaside route from Sydney, passing beautiful sandy beaches, national parks and coastal resorts.

The Hume Highway, from Canberra and Sydney, is lined with vineyards and fine wineries. From Adelaide, along the Great Ocean Road provides a showcase for some of Australia’s most dramatic scenery.

Visit Melbourne and Victoria! Youl’l love it!

Description: View from High Street, Northcote - Melbourne Australia CBD.

Hotels in Melbourne Australia

You can find places to stay in throughout Melbourne Australia: luxury resorts and hotels to scenic campsites in Caravan Parks. Accommodation available includes a wide range of styles to suit almost any budget.

There are even Melbourne seaside resorts, conveniently located hotels, bed & breakfasts near the beach or in the city center or suburbs, caravan parks, serviced apartments and holiday homes.

Hunter Valley Wineries

Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tours. Only a two hour drive from Sydney is the Hunter Valley - famous as Australia’s oldest wine growing region.

Late January to late March is the harvest season, but there are things to do the year round and plenty of cellar doors to visit for tastings, even buy a case or two.

See more about this wine growing region in Australia Hunter Valley tourist information NSW.

Cessnock

The Cessnock Information Centre is an excellent place to start, it provides information for the many wineries operating here and can arrange bookings for such diverse activities available in the Hunter as ballooning, tours and horse riding.

Cessnock Information Centre: Phone (02) 4990 4477.

Wines

The many varieties grown here include superb Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Wyndham Estate, Tyrrell’s Vineyards, Rosemount Estate, Peppers Creek, Lindemans, Lake’s Folly and Farrell’s Wines are amongst the many esteemed wineries operating here.

Most of the cellar door tastings are free, even large groups can be accommodated if you book in advance. There are tours available for the Rothbury Estate, McWilliams Mt Pleasant Estate and Tyrells, showing you some of the finer points of wine making.

Hunter Wine Regions

Connected by the Hunter River, there are two distinct regions, the Lower and the Upper Hunter. In the lower Hunter area there is also the registered wine sub-region of Broke Fordwich.

The Hunter has many other things to offer such as horseriding and ballooning, and of course gourmet restaurants befitting such a renowned wine area.

Tours

With the many winery tours available from Sydney, you don’t even have to drive if you don’t want to... so you can savour them for yourself without having to worry about getting home safely.

There are a number of wineries operating around the periphery of Sydney as well. Tours are available for these and the Hunter from Sydney at Circular Quay and places like Newcastle and Gosford.

Things to Do

Check out the Cellars at the many Wineries
Ballooning
Bicyling
Gourmet Picnic from Local Produce
Sampling fine local Cheeses and Chocolates
Horse Riding
See the Weather for Today and Forecasts Hunter Valley Weather.

Dining Restaurants

Combined with the many great restaurants that the Hunter region has to offer, allows you to sample the fresh seafood that Australia is famous for. There are many other delicious cuisines made from locally grown produce, from Italian to Australian Noveau to Japanese.

Some of these restaurants have extensive wine lists spanning many years. At the same time, the Aussie tradition of B.Y.O. (bring your own - wine) gives you another chance to enjoy your choices from the cellar door sales available from the many Hunter Valley wineries.

Explore the history, the antique and art galleries, Australian bird and wildlife and play at golf courses with spectacular views.

The Blue Mountains offer majestic views and great bushwalk experiences. See the weather for the Blue Mountains, Today and Forecasts Blue Mountains Weather.

History

When the colony was first founded in 1788 it took many years before a route across the mountains was discovered by the European settlers. Led by William Cox, their explorer party, after listening to the aboriginal’s advice to stick to the ridges found their way to the rich fertile hinterlands.

Things to Do - Families

There are lots of things to do for families such as bush walking and hiking, riding the scenic Zig Zag railway or visiting the World Heritage Plaza at Echo Point with the Skyway cable car and its breathtaking views, as well as the world’s steepest railway. Or pan for gold at Sofala, just west of the mountain range or visit the Hartley Historic Village.

Megalong Valley

You can go horseriding at Megalong Valley or visit the Australian Heritage Centre. Visit Mt. Blackheath with spectacular views of the mountains or enjoy a Devonshire Tea at the Megalong Valley Tearoom.

Hiking (Bushwalking)

There are many different walks of differing length and difficulty available in the Blue Mountains.

Try the Jellybean pool at Glenbrook, a 2km easy walk to go for a swim, or see the South Lawson waterfalls with lots of birdlife and great views, a medium walk of about 150 minutes at Lawson.

There are more than 240,000 hectares of National Park to explore. People do occasionally get lost, so get advice at the one of the visitors centres at the villages and towns in the mountains.

New South Wales Blue Mountains Tours

The local aboriginals, the Gundungarra, Wiradjuri and Dharug tribes, had been traversing the mountains for thousands of years. Blue Mountains Walkabout tour offers a chance for you to experience the local aboriginal culture, education and adventure for yourself.

There are a number of bus tours operating from Sydney offering a wide range of Blue Mountains experiences, including Aboriginal, as well as 4WD adventures.

Accommodation in the Blue Mountains

There are many historic inns and pubs, grand hotels and resorts dating from the 1800’s in the Blue Mountains. There are also caravan parks to modern luxury resort accommodation that offers a variety of stays including backpackers and discount hotels for those wishing to stay longer than a day visit.

You can book hotels and resorts in the Blue Mountains - Blue Mountains Hotel and Travel.

Restaurants and Dining

The fresh mountain air and views can make food taste better! There are plenty of eateries and restaurants dotting the mountains to accommodate even the most discerning palate with almost all cuisines represented here.

Places in NSW

Here are 3 of the most popular places, yet still beautiful, to visit in New South Wales (NSW) after of course, Sydney. Within these regions are also many hidden treasures to explore off the main beaten tracks.

Map of New South Wales

The Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains, NSW - offer Sydney’s most spectacular views and great walks in the bush. Great restaurants, Australian heritage, birdlife and outdoor adventure. More about NSW Blue Mountains. See a Blue Mountains Map.

The Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley NSW - The Hunter Valley is renowned as Australia’s oldest wine growing region with cuisine to match. More about Hunter Valley Wine Tours. Also the Hunter Valley NSW Map.

North Coast NSW

North Coast NSW - Things to do, places of interest. North Coast NSW Getaway Choice Australian getaway from Sydney. Beautiful beaches, sleepy fishing villages on the East Coast of NSW. More about North Coast NSW Getaway. Also map North Coast NSW Map.

See more about New South Wales places NSW Tourist Guide.

Queensland Places of Interest

Gold Coast Surfers Paradise Queensland

Gold Coast Queensland

The Gold Coast Surfers Paradise is very popular for its Queensland beach lifestyle and nightlife the year round. With lots of attractions, activities and things to do.
Capricorn Coast QLD

Beautiful emerald rainforests, sapphire gemfields and the Queensland Great Barrier Reef. See more Capricorn Queensland.

Mackay Region QLD

The beautiful town of Mackay Queensland, surrounded by cane fields, has beautiful beaches and national parks with abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and bush turkeys. See more Mackay QLD.

See more about places of interest in Queensland Queensland Tourist Guide - Queensland Maps.

Places in Victoria

Victoria Maps

Great Ocean Road Victoria

Great Ocean Road & South West Coast - Winding from Geelong to the South Australia border is the Great Ocean Road - See more on The Great Ocean Road.

Goldfields Victoria

Goldfields Victoria - Explore the historic gold towns, take a chance at discovering gold, enjoy great cuisine and see where the armed 1854 Australian Eureka rebellion took place. See about The Victoria Goldfields.

The High Country

Victoria High Country - This beautiful Alpine Region of Victoria has dramatic escarpments, stunning views, snow fields in winter and wonderful heritage to explore. See more on The High Country of Victoria.

Places to See in South Australia

South Australia Maps

Barossa Valley South Australia

The Barossa Valley South Australia offers great wining and dining! Only an hour drive north east from Adelaide one could easily spend a number of days exploring what Barossa Valley has to offer. See more about Barossa Valley SA.

Limestone Coast

The Limestone Coast offers much to the visitor, great wines are grown here and the white sandy beaches, coastal scenery of cliffs and sheltered bays are delightful. See more Limestone Coast South Australia.

Yorke Peninsula

Where sheer cliffs meet the ocean! But a lot more as the Yorke Peninsula is also a place to explore Australia’s Mining Boom and Bust history, deep sea fishing, and white swimming and surfing sandy beaches tucked away amongst the cliffs. More about Yorke Peninsula South Australia.

More Australia Places of Interest - See:

Australia Places of Interest.
Australian Capital Territory Places.
Sydney Australia Places.
Melbourne Australia Best Places to Visit.
NSW Aboriginal Tours, Art Galleries and Cultural Centres.