Top 5 hostels near Aboriginal cultural attractions in Australia. Below are the Top 5 hostels in Australia for travellers seeking to experience indigenous culture.
1. Sydney
Sydney and the surrounding areas are rich in Aboriginal history and there are
several hostels that can be your base for exploring indigenous culture. Walk the famous Bondi to Tamarama cliff path and see an ancient rock carving of a giant whale. This whale (or Basking Shark, no one is certain) depicts a character in the aboriginal legend of the arrival of the Dharawal.
Bondi Beachouse YHA is the perfect place to stay to access the coastal walk. Another unique location to experience rock art in Sydney is along the Aboriginal Heritage Walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, located near
Pittwater YHA. This 4.5km loop trail highlights the rock art and engravings of the Guringai people of West Head.
2. Blue Mountains
Go on an Aboriginal bush tour with Blue Mountains Walkabout. A local guide will take you through the spectacular World Heritage Blue Mountains as you gain a holistic understanding of indigenous culture through first-hand experiences of sites and resources. Stay at Blue Mountains YHA in Katoomba to relax after your immersive experience in nature.
3. Uluru
Uluru (Ayers Rock) is not only an iconic Australian landmark but also a sacred site for the local Pitjantjatjara tribe that have lived in the desert surrounding the rock for millennia. According to local lore, Uluru was formed from ancestral beings during the Dreamtime. Alice Springs YHA is your base to venture to the red centre.
4. Darwin
The ‘Top End’ and
Darwin YHA is your jumping off point to visit the thousands of years old aboriginal rock art of Litchfield National Park and Kakadu. You’ll never forget being taken around sacred sites by an indigenous ranger to see these ancient engravings and paintings, including striking images of the indigenous people’s first contact with white settlers.
5. Cairns
Finish off your aboriginal experience by travelling to Cairns and touring the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Located in the foothills of the Barron Gorge Rainforest, the Tjapukai are descendants of the world’s oldest living culture. Play the didgeridoo, learn to throw a boomerang and explore the bush, before returning to award winning Cairns Central YHA for the night.
