Experience Aboriginal culture in Canberra

Mount Majura two-hour tour

Mount Majura is part of the Canberra Nature Park, which lies on the north-eastern edge of the city. At 888 metres (2,913 feet), it is the highest peak in suburban Canberra, mostly covered in eucalyptus trees, and home to 12 known culturally and archaeologically significant Aboriginal sites. On this two-hour Dhawura Aboriginal Cultural Tour, you’ll learn about the mountain’s importance to Aboriginal people and the wide range of wildlife that lives here (including several threatened species), identify and sample bush foods, and learn about the traditional uses of various tools. Perhaps you’ll even discover a “scar tree”, where the bark was once removed to create containers, shields or even canoes, leaving historical scars. The view of Mount Majura valley below is a fitting reward for the climb in itself.

Cultural sites in Canberra half-day tour

Hop into a 4WD troop carrier for a 3.5-hour driving adventure with this Dhawura tour, which will take you to several important locations that show abundant evidence of Aboriginal occupation in the Canberra area. Highlights include the bush food sites in Red Hill and “grinding grooves” in the suburb of Theodore. These grooves are the result of the Aboriginal practice of shaping and sharpening new stone axe heads on the rock, creating oval indentations in local sandstone that have existed for many centuries. You will also see both a canoe tree and shield tree near Lanyon Homestead, where bark was ripped from the trees to construct the objects, leaving scarring behind.

Namadgi National Park full-day 4WD tour

If you’ve got a bit more time to spare, consider the full-day 4WD Dhawura Tour through Namadgi National Park, which makes up almost half the entire land area of the Australian Capital Territory. Aboriginal occupation of the area has been dated to at least 21,000 years here, and there are many historical cultural sites – both Aboriginal and European – in the park. Forage for bush foods, spot wildlife, visit the “Yankee Hat” rock art site, discover Aboriginal artefacts and hear many cultural stories. You’ll gain an appreciation for the significance of the area to the local Ngunawal mob and receive a detailed Aboriginal interpretation of the landscape from your experienced guide. This tour is recommended for families with older children and runs seasonally, from September through to the March.

Feel inspired through Aboriginal art

The art of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is among the oldest and richest in human history. Expressed through dance, song, textiles, rock engravings, body painting, and paintings, art plays a significant role in the everyday lives of First Nations people and conveys their connection to the land. Well worth visiting is the National Gallery of Australia, which is home to the world’s largest collection of more than 7,500 diverse works of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

For original, handcrafted arts and crafts and exhibitions featuring local Aboriginal artists, head to Burrunju Art Gallery. This not-for-profit gallery showcases established and emerging independent Aboriginal artists where you can also partake in a dot painting workshops. Additionally, the Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery is a commercial gallery with an extensive collection of Indigenous art, gifts and jewellery which can be viewed and purchased from its gallery in Gold Creek Village, or sister gallery Artworld ADG in the city centre.