Media Release

30 June 2016

Celebrate Indigenous Tourism in NSW this NAIDOC Week: New immersive experiences offer more opportunities to educate and discover

Indigenous tourism experiences continue to be one of the most popular activities for visitors to NSW with more than 328,000 international and domestic visitors participating in an Aboriginal tourism experience*.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said NAIDOC Week, an event held across from 3 to 10 July, provided a great opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge NSW’s significant Indigenous history, culture and achievements.

“Indigenous tourism contributed $968.4 million to the NSW economy in the year ending March 2016 (up 18.3% on year ending March 2015), with visitors spending eight million nights in the State*. International visitors who engage in an Aboriginal tourism experience stay an average of 37.3 nights in NSW, giving them plenty to time to enjoy everything our State has to offer*,” he said.

“NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across and NSW with the NAIDOC Blak Markets and Aboriginal Culture Tours taking place at Barangaroo, NAIDOC in the City celebrations in Hyde Park, Tribal Warrior Sydney Harbour Island cruises, NAIDOC Week Movie Festival in the Hawkesbury, youth painting workshops in Guyra and a screening of the award-winning documentary Putuparri in Newcastle,” added Minister Ayres.

Here is Destination NSW’s list of new Indigenous tourism experiences to enjoy this NAIDOC Week:

• Splendour Tours – An Authentic Aboriginal Experience: Spend half a day visiting sacred Dreamtime sites throughout the inner city with one of Sydney’s most respected Aboriginal elders and learn the history and great significance of the area • My Detour – My Dreamtime ‘Ngurrumpaa’ Luxe Detour: One or three day tours exploring along the Hawkesbury River and into . Share open discussions with Aboriginal Elders, get involved in artefact making, traditional dance and more. Luxury tent accommodation, bush tucker lunch and private guide included • South Coast Seaplanes – Aboriginal Culture Experience by Seaplane : Take a tour of the Bingi Dreaming track and learn about the special significance of the local Aboriginal people and the sacred Gulaga Mountain. Enjoy a scenic 30 minute seaplane flight over Montague Island before lunch on the water at Quarterdeck Narooma • Nyanga Walang -Experience Aboriginal culture and immerse yourself on a journey through traditional Central Coast Darkinjung country. Choose from a number of available tours to discover the historical and cultural significance of kinship with the ocean and the land • Unkya Cultural Tours : Educational tours focusing on the creation of the ocean and the Gumbaynggirr people’s deep connection to the coast. The Whale Trail Tour is a 1.5 hour walk around Scotts Headland and Little Beach, and the Beach South Tour is a 3.5 hour scenic bush & beach walk including bush tucker tasting, food sources and medicinal plants • Bundyi Cultural Tours : Be immersed in a full cultural experience highlighting Wiradjuri cultural areas and language around Wagga Wagga. Proud Wiradjuri man Mark Saddler will tell the stories of the local people and tell the stories of local artefacts, scar trees and bush tucker • Jaali Tours : Explore Bundjalung country in the Northern NSW hinterland with a two day camp walking ancient trails and discovering sacred places hidden in the rainforest. Enjoy Media Release

daily walks up the mountains overlooking Wollumbin and Night Cap, hear Dreamtime stories from local Elders, prepare native food and camp overnight under the stars.

Sydney and NSW boast 14 Indigenous Tourism Champions that are part of the Indigenous Tourism Champions Program (ITCP). It is a collaborative national program instigated by Tourism Australia with significant involvement and support from State and Territory Tourism Organisation’s.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said: “NSW’s Indigenous Champions are leading the way in offering immersive tourism experiences that allow visitors to learn first-hand about one of the world’s oldest living cultures. The diversity of product on offer in NSW, from Indigenous sites in the middle of Sydney, sampling bush tucker in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, quad biking on Stockton Sand Dunes and discovering ancient Aboriginal heritage at Mungo National Park, ensures that visitors to NSW seeking an authentic Australian Indigenous experience are not disappointed”.

Here is the list of NSW’s 14 Indigenous Tourism Champions:

• Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness : Full weekend walking tours focusing on traditional cultural practices and significant sites on the South Coast. Conducted in and Central Tilba • Harry Nanya Tours : Learn about the Aboriginal significance of Mungo National Park in Outback NSW on a full day cultural immersion tour including interpretation on the restricted Walls of China • Aboriginal Blue Mountains Walkabout : Full day cultural immersion walking tour in the Blue Mountains focusing on the Dreamtime visiting sacred art and ceremonial sites • Dreamtime Southern X - The Rocks Dreaming : A 1.5 hour walking tour that uncovers the history of Aboriginal Sydney including The Rocks and around Sydney Harbour • Sand Dune Adventures : This is where fun meets history, on a two hour quad bike tours on Stockton Sand Dunes visiting heritage sites and enjoying bush tucker • Royal Botanic Gardens Aboriginal Heritage Tour : Located in the heart of Sydney, enjoy a two hour bush tucker and Aboriginal history tour through the Royal Botanic Gardens. • Taronga Zoo - Nura Diya : Hear stories of Australian fauna and flora through the perspective of an Aboriginal guide at Sydney’s iconic Zoo on Sydney Harbour • Australian Museum - Indigenous tour packages : Join a 1.5 hour guided tour of Aboriginal exhibitions and be entertained by Indigenous music and dance performance • Eco Treasures : Take a two hour Sydney Harbour foreshore walk with Aboriginal guides • Tri State Safaris - Mutawintji Eco Tours : Experience a full day immersion tour at discovering the significant rock art and engravings, with access to restricted sites • Waradah Aboriginal Centre : A contemporary Aboriginal cultural centre at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains providing dance performances and retail • Sydney Outback : Take a full day tour in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park including a 2.5 hour scenic cruise showcasing Aboriginal cultural demonstrations and Aboriginal rock-art sites accessible only by water • Blak Markets - Aboriginal Markets and Workshops : Aboriginal art and craft markets and workshops held at Bare Island, La Perouse and special events such as NAIDOC Week celebrations at Barangaroo • Tribal Warrior Association : A 2.5 hour Sydney Harbour cruise that provides insight into Aboriginal heritage and culture.

For a full schedule of NAIDOC Week events in Sydney and NSW go to www.naidoc.org.au Media Release

Share your favourite Indigenous tourism or cultural experience with Destination NSW via social media: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: Sydney @sydney, #ilovesydney; NSW #NewSouthWales

*Source: International and National Visitor Surveys, year ending March 2016

For more information on Indigenous Tourism Experiences in Sydney go to www.sydney.com and Regional NSW go to www.visitnsw.com

#ENDS

Note to editors: A selection of images to accompany this story is available on request.

Media contact: Elissa Tyrrell E: [email protected] P: 02 9931 1426, 0421 130 440