Aboriginal culture & tradition | Northern Territory, Australia

Download Aboriginal cultural itinerary

Culture is closer than you think in the Northern Territory. Immerse yourself in the stories, artworks and ancient traditions spanning more than 60,000 years.

Connection to Country is very much a part of the NT’s identity where the breadth and depth of cultural experiences on offer are like nowhere else.

There are many ways to learn and connect with the diverse Aboriginal cultures found throughout the Top End and Red Centre, whether it’s by taking a locally-guided tour; exploring the galleries and attractions along the Territory Art Trails or by venturing on a road trip through the World Heritage-listed national parks of Uluru, Kakadu or further into Arnhem Land.

From the bustling Aboriginal art fairs in Darwin to the cultural festivals in Alice Springs and the connections found on Country around Nhulunbuy – the NT acknowledges the traditional owners and celebrates Aboriginal culture as an intrinsic part of the Territory’s identity.

Discover Aboriginal cultural itineraries

Red Centre: Aboriginal culture itinerary

Watch Aboriginal cultural videos

Video:How to travel responsibly on Country in the NT

How to travel responsibly on Country in the NT

A local’s guide to exploring Kakadu

A local’s guide to cultural experiences at Uluru

A local’s guide to touring the Tiwi Islands

Discover Aboriginal cultural articles

Top End Aboriginal culture experiences

Become fully immersed in the world’s oldest living culture in the Top End. Explore Litchfield National Park with an Aboriginal guide who grew up with the park as her backyard. Admire ancient rock art in Kakadu, camp on the Tiwi Islands or cruise through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

How to connect with Aboriginal culture

The Territory's natural attractions, wide-open landscapes and cultural heritage command attention. These are places which hold significant cultural importance for Traditional Owners. With deep cultural history more than 60,000 years in the making, Aboriginal culture is everywhere you look in the Territory.

Red Centre: 10 best Aboriginal experiences

In the Red Centre you’ll discover the heart of Aboriginal culture more than 60,000 years in the making. Here in Central Australia, art, culture and tradition thrive in the arid desert landscape surrounding Alice Springs and Uluru.

Top End: Best Aboriginal cultural festivals

The Aboriginal experiences on Country and the vibrant forms of artistic expression are constantly evolving in the Northern Territory. There are so many different cultural events to engage with while learning more about the diverse Aboriginal cultures on Northern Territory’s Top End.

Meet the artists: Red Centre Arts Trail

Explore the “world’s biggest art gallery” when you visit the Territory's Red Centre, Australia's premier destination for Aboriginal art and cultural experiences.

7 Aboriginal experiences not to miss

Discover some of the Territory's best Aboriginal cultural experiences from Uluru and the Red Centre, through Kakadu and the Top End .

Arnhem Land: 6 best Aboriginal experiences

Have you heard of Arnhem Land? Could you find it on a map? It’s pretty remote, we know. What about East Arnhem Land? Remoter still. But the truth is, East Arnhem Land and the Gulf Country are little-known secret treasures of the Territory. We know it’s not easy to get there. But it’s worth the effort, trust us.

Red Centre: meet the desert weavers

Remote and rugged, the Red Centre has inspired Aboriginal artists for centuries. More recently it’s become known all over the world for its phenomenal fibre.

Red Centre: events & cultural festivals

There’s something special about the Red Centre of the Northern Territory that attracts people to its exciting events and festivals

Aboriginal culture for families

A family holiday in the Northern Territory is a great way for children and teens to get immersed in Australia’s Aboriginal cultures and learn on Country.

Meet the artists: Top End Arts Trail

Watch history unfold as art comes to life in the Territory's Top End. Meet Aboriginal artists who paint from their cultural knowledge and heritage and who are inspired by their surroundings and connection to the land.

The fine art of travelling the Red Centre

Follow the Red Centre art trails to open a window into Aboriginal culture of Alice Springs and Uluru. Visit Central Australian art galleries, join an Aboriginal cultural tour or attend an art festival or event in the Red Centre.

Barunga Festival a cultural celebration

Celebrate with the community of Barunga through Aboriginal culture, music and sport at the annual Barunga Festival, held over the King’s Birthday long weekend in June.

Red Centre: Aboriginal culture itinerary

Take a road trip through the Red Centre to discover Aboriginal cultural experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Top End: Aboriginal culture itinerary

Discover extraordinary Aboriginal cultural experiences in the Top End, including Darwin, Kakadu and Katherine. All are within reach on a 7-day long road trip starting from Darwin and the Stuart Highway.

Arnhem Way 7-day drive itinerary

Considered one of Australia’s last unspoilt areas, Arnhem Land is just waiting for you to discover. The Central Arnhem Road starts 50km south of Katherine and finishes in Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula.

4-day Darwin cultural experience

The Top End, so remote from the rest of the world, celebrates Aboriginal Australian culture and provides you with a remarkable array of experiences and stories to take home.

How to drive the Red Centre Art Trail

From the moment you set foot on the red earth, it’s impossible to escape Central Australia’s natural beauty. The stunning surroundings instantly invigorate you and it’s immediately easy to understand why the area has inspired creativity for thousands of years.

Red Centre local tips: Aboriginal culture

The vast emptiness of Central Australia is deceptive. Look below the surface of the Red Centre and you'll discover the world’s oldest living culture, a civilisation so intertwined with the land it is impossible to understand one without the other.

Darwin: local guide to art & culture

Darwin's identity as hub for arts and creativity is written on the wall, literally. A brightly coloured turtle glides along the side of a building, a giant crocodile watches over a supermarket and a stunning portrait of the late musician Dr G Yunupingu overlooks a laneway.

How to travel responsibly in the NT

How to travel responsibly on Country in the Northern Territory, where the cultural significance of the places and people have connections reaching back 60,000 years.

How to invest in Aboriginal art ethically

There's no better place to purchase original Aboriginal art than in the Northern Territory. Unique artworks may be purchased from galleries, art centres, markets or even direct from the artist. Here's how to invest in Aboriginal art ethically, while also helping to generate income which helps support Aboriginal communities.

Art trails guide: Alice Springs to Darwin

Road tripping the Territory Art Trails is an opportunity to immerse in the oldest living culture on Earth. The canvas of the Northern Territory is as vibrant as it is vast. As it unfurls before you on the 1,500km drive from Alice Springs to Darwin, there’s an urge to connect to the land, its people and their traditions.

Top 5 ways to discover East Arnhem Land

Arnhem Land is home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – found in the far flung north-eastern region of the Northern Territory.

Aboriginal cultural festivals & events

Taste of Kakadu

Kakadu Region

23 – 25 May 2025

Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu - Taste of Kakadu will be back in 2025 with a sensational program set to immerse Kakadu National Park visitors in a stimulating journey of the senses.

Barunga Festival

Katherine Region

6 – 9 June 2025

Barunga Festival is a must for anyone seeking an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience.

Parrtjima 2025 - A Festival in Light

Alice Springs Region

4 – 13 April 2025

Parrtjima is the meeting place where old meets new.

Wintjiri Wiru

Uluru Region

$190 - $295

Wintjiri Wiru, which in the local Pitjantjatjara language means 'beautiful view out to the horizon', is a breathtaking light and sound show that brings to life the ancient Mala story of the Anangu people.

Garma Festival

Arnhem Land

1 – 4 August 2025

Join Garma Festival in the remote north of Australia as the Yolngu clans of Arnhem Land come together for a four-day celebration of art, music, dance, ceremony and song.

Aboriginal cultural experiences in the Northern Territory