7 Incredible First Nations Cultural Sites to Visit

First Nations culture is ingrained with the lands and waters that the people live on - an idea that is encapsulated in the term Country. According to the AIATSIS.gov website, "Country is the term often used by Aboriginal peoples to describe the lands, waterways and seas to which they are connected. The term contains complex ideas about law, place, custom, language, spiritual belief, cultural practice, material sustenance, family and identity."

One of the best ways to understand the First Nations connection to Country is to experience those landmarks, geographical locations, and traditional homelands yourself. See the beauty that the different First Nations people of Australia have been safeguarding for tens of thousands of years with our list of 7 First Nations cultural sites you absolutely must visit at some point in your life.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta is a must-see for many people. Existing at the centre of Australia both spiritually and physically, the two huge free-standing rock formations stand out against the red dirt landscape. It's easy to see why many of the different nations of Australia's north and red centre revere this landscape, and it plays a part in many creation myths. 

You might know them as Ayers Rock and the Olgas respectively, but those aren't their correct names - it's correct to refer to them by the names that they've been called for thousands of years, since in 1985 the Australian Government handed back ownership of Uluru and the Kata Tjuta National Park surrounds to the Anangu people who resided in the area. 

When visiting the rocks, make sure to take plenty of time to walk around them - it can take between 3 and 4 hours to walk around the entire base of Uluru! But just make sure not to climb on the rock itself. Not only is it really dangerous (some people have even died) but it's disrespectful to the Anangu culture. Uluru has been permanently closed to climbers ever since the 26th of October 2019.

We recommend camping out during the spring season so that weather isn't too cold, and you can see all the beautiful wildflowers that spring up out of the desert! Make sure to spend a night under the stars, since the view out there (without any light pollution or buildings in the way) is absolutely stunning. See if you can find a local Indigenous guide who can help you learn some of the names for the constellations in the Anangu language.

It's strange to think that such a lush, beautiful oasis can exist in the middle of Australia's vast desert, but Kakadu seems to delight in averting expectations around every corner. These beautiful wetlands are home to huge populations of Australia's native animal life. Not only that, but the ancient rock art shows that the people of the area, the Gagadju people, have been living here continuously for somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 years. 

Instead of winter, spring, autumn and summer, there are two seasons in the Northern Territory - the dry and the wet. During the dry season, you can access most parts of Kakadu, but during the wet season some parts of it might not be reachable due to the fact that the rivers and waterfalls begin to fill up with water. Make sure to check what the weather is going to be like before you plan your trip.

Don't miss the Gunlom Falls (in the picture above!) which have beautiful waterfall jumping spots and gorgeous water to swim in during most of the year. You'll also want to visit the Burrungkuy area, with the famous ancient rock art gallery showcasing some of the best representations of ancient Indigenous art.

A huge and interesting fact about the amazing connection to Country that all First Nations peoples have is that it doesn't just include the geographical landmarks and locations on land - this connection stems to Australia's beautiful waterways and coastal regions too. Many different tribes have taken care of the Barrier Reef all along Australia's coast for thousands of years, and it is only by working with Indigenous caretakers that Australia has a chance to preserve the reef for many generations to come.

Unfortunately, this natural wonder of the world (the only one visible from space!) is suffering from many different problems, including climate change raising the water levels and temperature, coral bleaching, overfishing, and illegal poaching for the exotic fish trade. Make sure you snorkel, fish, boat or scuba dive sustainably! By supporting First Nations-owned businesses and tourist guides when you visit the Great Barrier Reef, you'll ensure that you don't leave any negative mark on the beautiful coastal landscape, and are funding efforts to rebuild and protect the reef.

Take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints, as they say.

Mungo National Park, near Mildura NSW, is not just a beautiful collection of super interesting geographical rock formations and 3 gorgeous lakes. It's also the site of one of the most important archaeological finds regarding First Nations history that we've ever discovered.

Mungo Man was found in a ritual burial site, sprinkled with red ochre (the red earth that's plentiful in the centre of Australia). He was so well preserved that researchers were able to tell that he was a 50 year old hunter-gatherer, with injuries and advanced arthritis that were similar to the wear and tear we see on First Nations people who use woomeras (hunter's throwing weapons) today. It is incredible that this 42,000 year old man was able to be found in one piece and what he tells us about what society was like back then.

While you're in Mungo, you can also check out the Walls of China! An ancient dry lake bed creates huge, gorgeous and unearthy formations that look like something out of a movie. Travel with a tour guide to get the most out of it, since they'll be able to access the sites and show artifacts being unearthed which date back more than 50,000 years. 

Nestled deep inside the Purnululu National Park (purnululu means sandstone in the local Kija language) lie the Bungle Bungles, a striking stripy set of mountains that were formed while the area was in geographical turmoil.

In the past, the local Kija tribe scaled the cliffs and hid amongst the stripes after fighting off the European settlers who were trying to dispossess them from their lands. Now, they take ownership back of the land, and work with the National Park as rangers and teach the language in schools in the area. 

Many beautiful hidden waterfalls and pools, cool oasis spots, and gorgeous overhead views make the Bungle Bungles a must-see for anyone who loves the Australian outback. Ancient 20,000 year old rock art and Dreamtime stories mentioning the area mean that this land holds a huge spiritual importance too.

Long ago, Tower Hill was an active volcano, but after its most recent eruption (32,000 years ago!) the crater filled with water and became a beautiful lake, supporting thousands of different native Australian animals and plants. 

The local tribes of the local Gunditjmara nation were around when this eruption happened, witnessing it firsthand: we know this because of the stories they pass down about the event. After lava eruptions, the surrounding land becomes very fertile and great for growing food and supporting animal life, and the locals knew this, building settlements in the area and tending to the land.

Not only is it a beautiful part of Victoria, it's not too far off the beaten track, either, right near Warrnambool Airport. Take a walk with a local guide and learn about how the State Government has worked with volunteers and Indigenous advocacy groups to bring the beautiful landscape back to its gorgeous self.

Not only is Arnhem Land a beautiful part of Australia (just look at that white sand and clear, gorgeous turquoise water!) but it also holds massive amounts of significance for the very high Indigenous population of the area. In 1971, the Gove land rights case in Arnhem Land was the first native title case in Australia and served as a base for future cases.

Arnhem Land is also the location where the world's oldest stone axe was found, which is believed to be 35,500 years old and is amazing evidence of the way our ancient Indigenous culture has lived and worked continuously.

It's a beautiful part of Australia that stands mostly untouched by industrialisation, so if you're looking to get away from the big cities and skyscrapers for a bit and get back to nature, visiting Arnhem Land up in the Northern Territory could be just the spot you're after.

Will you be taking your next holiday to one of these beautiful pristine First Nations cultural locations in Australia? Or perhaps one of the hundreds of other sites around the country? Let us know!