Sydney Aboriginal Walking Tour with Welcome Smoking Ceremony

2 to 3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Engage with authentic Aboriginal culture on this enriching cultural experience in Sydney's National Parks, starting with a traditional Welcome Smoking Ceremony.

Choose Your Location:

Sydney North (Ku-ring-gai Chase): Coastal landscapes, ancient whale rock engravings, and insights into women's roles in Aboriginal culture.

Sydney Central (La Perouse): Historic 1788 first contact site with Welcome to Country, museum visit, coastal walk, native plants, totemism, and cultural storytelling. Sydney city pickup available.

Sydney South (Royal National Park): Australia's first national park featuring rock art, midden sites, and teachings on respect for Country.
Led by local Aboriginal guides offering unique cultural perspectives in breathtaking landscapes.

Highlights:

- Traditional Welcome Smoking Ceremony
- Ancient rock engravings (except La Perouse) and sacred sites
- Local guide maintaining cultural responsibilities to Country
- Accessible walks in stunning coastal and bushland settings

What's Included

City pickup/dropoff if option selected
Fresh drinking water (bring reusable bottle)
Traditional Welcome Smoking Ceremony
Traditional storytelling and cultural knowledge sharing
Guided interpretation of ancient rock art and sacred cultural sites
Aboriginal cultural guide endorsed by National Parks to interpret Indigenous rock engravings
Air-conditioned vehicle transport between sites
Food

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
You can choose from multiple locations at checkout.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 2 to 3 hours (approximately)
  • (Pass by)

    Sydney North: if you select this option your tour will start at 12 Yulong Ave, Terrey Hills NSW 2084. Rest stop and toilet facilities available before entering the national park. Board the air-conditioned vehicle and begin your journey into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park with introductions and cultural context for the day ahead.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    Sydney East: if you select this option your tour will start at La Perouse Museum Forecourt, 1542 Anzac Parade, La Perouse NSW 2036. Your cultural experience begins at this historic coastal meeting point where Aboriginal heritage, colonial history, and spectacular headland views converge.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    Sydney South: if you select this option your tour will start in Sydney's Royal National Park, south of the city. Rest stop and toilet facilities available before entering the national park. Board the air-conditioned vehicle and begin your journey into the Royal National Park with introductions and cultural context for the day ahead.

    Admission ticket free
  • Sydney (Pass by)

    We take a short van ride during your tour to get to key locations where our walking tour will continue.

    Admission ticket free
  • The Rocks (Pass by)

    While your tour is not physically located in Sydney's CBD, your guide shares Aboriginal perspectives about Sydney's historic waterfront. Learn how Sydney harbour has been a significant gathering place since time immemorial, and hear stories that reveal the deeper cultural layers beneath the colonial architecture.

    Admission ticket free
  • Sydney Opera House (Pass by)

    While your tour is not physically located at the Opera House, for those travelling North your guide may share Aboriginal perspectives about Bennelong Point, the sacred headland where this iconic structure stands. Learn about the area's significance to the Gadigal people and hear how this culturally important site was used for millennia before becoming one of the world's most recognisable buildings.

    Admission ticket free
  • Sydney Harbour Bridge (Pass by)

    While your tour is not physically located at the Harbour Bridge, for those travelling North your guide may explain the Aboriginal significance of the crossing points along Sydney Harbour. Learn about ancient pathways and trade routes that connected communities across the waterways long before European settlement, and understand the cultural importance of these geographic connections.

    Admission ticket free
  • Darling Harbour (Pass by)

    While your tour is not physically located in Darling Harbour, your guide may Aboriginal perspectives about Tumbalong - the original name for this area meaning 'where the fresh water meets the salt.' Discover how this important estuary was a vital resource for the Gadigal people and hear stories that reveal the area's cultural significance beyond its modern entertainment precinct.

    Admission ticket free
  • 1

    (Sydney East option only): Sydney's most historically significant coastal Aboriginal site where the French La Pérouse expedition and British First Fleet arrived in 1788. Begin with a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony on the historic headland, then explore the La Perouse Museum with Aboriginal perspectives on first contact and ongoing Aboriginal presence. Walk ancient coastal pathways overlooking Botany Bay while learning about saltwater living traditions, seasonal food sources, native plant identification and traditional uses. Discover totemism and the custodial responsibilities connecting Aboriginal people to land, sea, and native animals across 30,000+ years of continuous presence. Conclude with interactive storytelling and cultural knowledge sharing in this intimate small-group experience.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

    (Sydney North option only): Located on Sydney's northern shores, Ku-ring-gai Chase is one of Australia's oldest national parks and a treasure trove of Aboriginal heritage. The park features extensive Aboriginal rock art sites, including engravings that are thousands of years old, nestled among stunning sandstone landscapes, lush bushland, and tranquil waterways. The traditional lands of the Dharug people, this park offers a powerful connection to ancient Indigenous culture amidst breathtaking natural beauty.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 3

    (Sydney South option only): Established in 1879, Royal National Park is the world's second-oldest national park, situated south of Sydney. This diverse coastal landscape encompasses dramatic clifftops, pristine beaches, rainforest valleys, and heathland plateaus. The park holds deep significance to the Dharawal people, whose ancestral connection to this land spans tens of thousands of years. Its varied terrain provides a stunning backdrop for exploring Aboriginal cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.

    1 hour Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Please note the itinerary shows a sample from each tour options (Ku-Ring-Gai, La Perouse and Royal National Park), however you can only select one of these options for your tour as the locations are very far apart. The itinerary is an example only and is subject to change on the day
  • The tour duration for Ku-Ring-Gai and Royal National Park is 3 hours; duration for La Perouse is 2 hours.
  • Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
Supplied by Natcha Cultural Tours

Tags

Nature and Wildlife Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
Walking Tours
Nature Walks
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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