First Nations cultural experiences offer a unique way to learn about the world’s oldest living culture. These Northern Territory tours, all owned and operated by Aboriginal people, provide insights into their traditions, stories, way of life, and are a fascinating natural and cultural explorations. Each group, or ‘mob’, has its own distinct identity and connection to the land, and these tours help highlight their significance.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best First Nations-owned tours in the Northern Territory. You’ll get a chance to meet local guides, hear their stories, and see the land through their eyes. These tours are a great way to understand the deep connection between the Aboriginal people and their country. Whether you’re interested in art, history, or exploring the Northern Territory’s top National Parks, there’s a tour for you.
Head over to our First Nations tour page to see all of our available First Nations tours.
Want to know all about planning your trip to the NT? Scroll to the bottom of the post to see which site locals use to book hotels, where trusted travelers book tours, and how to find the best flight deals. Or Click Here to be taken there now.
The Best First Nations Tours To Book Now
Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Tours
📍Kings Canyon, NT
⏰ 1 hour
The Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Tour, led by Christine Breaden and Peter Abbott, offers a unique glimpse into the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Arrernte) culture.
Located in the Wanmarra community, 450 km southwest of Alice Springs and near Watarrka National Park, this one-hour tour includes a guided walk and talk. Visitors learn about traditional bush tucker, medicine, and the crafting of spears, boomerangs, music sticks, and native seed jewellery. The tour is suitable for all ages.
Women On Country 4-Hour Weaving Tour
📍Lambells Lagoon, NT
⏰ 4 hours
Women on Country 4-Hour Weaving Tour is a unique and enriching day trip to LambellsLagoon, just east of Humpty Doo. Specially created for women looking to connect with nature and local culture, it’s led by senior community member Norma. This women-only immersive program invites you to learn traditional skills in a supportive and peaceful bush setting.
Norma will warmly welcome you and guide you through the process of stripping, dyeing, and preparing natural plant materials used in weaving and crafting. You’ll have the opportunity to create your own handmade item: a small mat, a necklace, or a pair of earrings, while learning about the cultural significance of each step.
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Indigenous Litchfield Spectacular
📍Litchfield National Park, NT
⏰ 9 hours
This small-group day tour to Litchfield National Park uncovers the real story behind this beautiful landscape. Be refreshed by the crystal-clear, spring-fed plunge pools and iconic waterfalls, while taking in the rugged stone country, lush woodlands, and monsoon forest. Along the way, hear the cultural stories by an indigenous guide that connect this land to its ancient Aboriginal heritage, and get hands-on as expert guides share traditional bush foods and natural resources.
Enjoy a delicious lunch made from quality local ingredients, served in a peaceful, shaded setting. Your guides bring generations of local family history and deep cultural knowledge, along with decades of experience as park rangers in World Heritage-listed areas. With breathtaking scenery, rich storytelling, and meaningful connections to Country, this is a magnificient way to explore Litchfield.
Muku Women’s Morning Tour
📍Berry Springs, NT
⏰ 4.5 hours
Enjoy morning tea and meaningful conversation in Berry Springs with Northern Territory Indigenous Tours owner,Tess Atie, in a welcoming women and girls-only setting surrounded by the natural beauty of Berry Springs. This is a unique opportunity to learn about local Aboriginal culture, from traditional ways of life to contemporary challenges and paths forward, through open and respectful dialogue.
Learn about the sustainable way Aboriginal people have lived for thousands of years, carefully managing the land and its resources. After the cultural exchange, relax and rejuvenate with a swim in the warm, mineral-rich spring water and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding monsoon forest.
Dalabon Aboriginal Cultural Experience
📍Katherine, NT
⏰ 3 hours
Manuel Pamkal, a proud Aboriginal elder and cultural custodian, offers a three-hour immersive experience at Gorge View Bush Retreat near Katherine. Seated outdoors, you’ll be welcomed by the soulful sound of the didgeridoo before being taken on a journey through Manuel’s personal stories of growing up in the bush. Learn traditional skills like spear throwing and fire making, and gain a deeper understanding of the rich meanings behind Aboriginal art.
As part of the experience, you’ll also get hands-on by creating your own rarrk-style painting to take home, a unique and meaningful keepsake. Please note that food, drinks, artworks, and other souvenirs are not included in the tour price but can be purchased separately on-site. The retreat is located at 1635 Gorge Road, Gorge View Bush Retreat, just outside Katherine.
Kurrindju 4WD Litchfield Adventure
📍Litchfield National Park, NT
⏰ 10 hours
Head off the beaten track in an air-conditioned 4WD LandCruiser and explore beautiful back-country landscapes that most visitors never get to see. With pickup from Darwin, you’ll visit Blythe Homestead, where you’ll be introduced to company founder Tess Atie’s family heritage hear the stories passed down through generations.
Along the way, you’ll travel through rugged bushland and open savannah before arriving at a tranquil, creek-side rainforest where few tourists venture. Cool off with a swim in a secluded plunge pool, surrounded by beautiful local plants and animals.
Darwin Bird Tour
📍Darwin, NT
⏰ 7 hours
For those keen to explore Darwin’s rich birdlife, this small-group morning tour is a must. Led by knowledgeable local guides, the tour visits some of the city’s hidden birding hotspots, ranging from coastal wetlands and mangroves to beaches and monsoon forests.
Each habitat reveals its own unique array of species, from vibrant locals to seasonal migratory birds. Along the way, participants also gain a deeper appreciation of the Top End’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Yingana (the creation mother) Arnhem Land Day tour
📍Arnhem Land, NT
⏰ 14 hours
Departing from Darwin, this full-day tour takes you deep into Arnhem Land, one of the few places in Australia where Aboriginal culture remains deeply rooted and largely untouched. Access to this sacred region is restricted to a select group of tour operators, making it a rare and privileged experience.
Explore a unique blend of traditional and living culture, from ancient Indigenous practices to historical encounters with Macassan traders and European settlers. Guided by a traditional Aboriginal custodian, you’ll visit Injalak Hill (Long Tom Dreaming), renowned for its extraordinary rock art sites, considered among the best in Australia and the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre at Gunbalanya.
Corroboree Private Bird Tour
📍Corroboree Billabong, NT
⏰ 9 hours
For a truly immersive Top End birding and wildlife experience, this micro-group tour offers a unique journey through the wetlands and outback of the Northern Territory. Guests travel with former park rangers and award-winning wildlife photographers aboard a purpose-built bird-watching boat, exploring the remote reaches of Corroboree Billabong. In the cool, golden light of early morning, you’ll encounter an astonishing array of wetland birds, raptors, and saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat.
After the cruise, the adventure continues along the rugged Marrakai Track, a little-used route once travelled en route to Kakadu. This stretch of country, rich in wildlife and cultural history, offers rare insights into traditional land use and stories of the region along with the flora and fauna.
Awu Mukmuk Bird Tour
📍Fogg Dam & Harrison Dam, NT
⏰ 8 hours
Another bird-watching option worth exploring is a morning tour to the world-class wetlands of Fogg Dam and Harrison Dam on the Adelaide River floodplain. This small-group experience offers the chance to see an impressive variety of waterbirds and other Top End wildlife across wetlands, floodplains and monsoon forests. Along the way, travellers also discover the area’s scenic beauty, pioneering history, and deep Aboriginal cultural connections.
High Flyers Best of the Top End
📍Litchfield National Park, NT
⏰ 10 hours
For a spectacular Top End adventure, this small-group, Indigenous-led tour offers a powerful blend of culture, nature, and scenic beauty. Departing from Darwin, guests travel by vehicle to Litchfield National Park and the Adelaide River, guided by a warm and knowledgeable local aboriginal guide whose deep connection to Country spans generations. Along the way, they’ll swim in iconic waterfalls, enjoy a freshly cooked lunch of local produce in a tranquil, shaded setting, and witness wild crocodiles in their natural habitat.
The day ends on a high with a spectacular helicopter flight over stone country, cascading falls, and floodplains, offering a bird’s-eye view of the Top End’s beautiful landscapes.
Northern Territory Personalised Private Charter
📍Customisable from Darwin, NT
⏰ Customisable
For those seeking a truly personalised Northern Territory experience, this fully customisable private charter from Darwin is the perfect solution. Travellers work closely with local experts at this indigenous-owned company to craft an itinerary that suits their interests. With the comfort of air-conditioned vehicles and experienced guides, guests can explore at their own pace, with their chosen companions.
Possible itineraries can range from a single day tour to multi-day trips and visit the ancient rock art and escarpments of Kakadu National Park, to the gorges of Katherine/Nitmiluk, the river systems of the Daly, or the seclusion of remote outback lodges. Every journey is tailored to reveal the Northern Territory’s natural beauty and rich cultural story.
Exploring the NT through an Indigenous-owned and operated tour company offers far more than sightseeing, it’s a chance to connect deeply with the natural and cultural heart of the region. Whether you’re wandering the streets of Darwin, cruising wetlands with an Aboriginal guide, or standing in awe at the wonders of Kakadu National Park, each experience brings you closer to the stories, landscapes, and enduring Aboriginal traditions that shape this remarkable part of Australia. Choosing a guided tour run by First Nations people means your visit supports community-owned businesses while offering an authentic, respectful, and enriching way to discover the NT.
Have you taken one of these First Nations-owned Northern Territory tours? Comment below with some of your experiences!
*Cover image by @thelifestylepioneers
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Heading to the NT? Here’s What You Need to Get Started
Travel Insurance
Whether you’re from Australia or across the globe, it’s a great idea to get insurance to cover unexpected accidents or medical emergencies. Cover More is our favourite travel insurance provider to give us the peace of mind while heading to the outback.
Flights
For the best deals on flights, we recommend using Trip.com. It’s super easy to compare prices across different airlines and booking sites. I always find great options for my trips, and it saves me so much time and money!
Hotels
We always recommend using Booking.com for hotels. They have a variety of accommodation options and great filters to help you find the perfect place for your trip to the NT. With amazing deals, a great loyalty program, and the largest selection of hotels and rentals, it’s our favourite place to book rooms.
Tours
Tours, either multi-day, half-day, or private excursions, are a great way to experience the NT. Viator has a great selection of activities to help you travel the Territory and learn from locals.
Car Rental
If you're looking to rent a car to explore the Territory on your own, we definitely suggest checking out Rentalcars.com. It’s so easy to compare prices and find the best option from their huge selection of cars from all rental companies in the NT.
National Parks Pass
If you live outside the NT and plan on visiting national parks, you'll need a Parks pass. Choose from a day pass, a 2-week pass, 12-month pass, or family pass at NT.gov.au. If you're an NT resident be sure you bring your NT driver licence or proof of residency. Note: Park Passes are not accepted at Kakadu or Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks. Purchase those from Parks Australia.
Sim Card
If you're travelling and need a reliable connection, We'd recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo. Choose from data only or cellular connection. It’s super convenient and helps you stay connected without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or paying exorbitant fees to your wireless provider.
