8 unforgettable cultural getaways to have around Australia

Everything from opera in the outback to the continuum of ancient cultural traditions in the Top End takes centre stage  as  in-depth ways to appreciate a destination.

1. Camping with Custodians, WA

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

Western Australia’s Camping with Custodians is a first for Australia. The program invites travellers to stay at one of the state’s Aboriginal-owned and operated campgrounds, such as Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula, Imintji on the Gibb River Road and Peedamulla in the Pilbara, to meet the Traditional Custodians and learn about their culture and land. Fees paid support employment, training and generating income, creating a positive impact for both camper and community.

the Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula — Stay on Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Garma Festival, NT

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

Garma is a four-day event hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation to share traditional Yolŋu knowledge systems and address and improve social equity for Aboriginal people. The annual festival in north-east Arnhem Land is the country’s largest Indigenous gathering, showcasing art, song, dance, film and storytelling. Garma attracts thousands of political and business leaders from across the globe who are invited to the remote Gulkula ceremonial site, about 40 kilometres from Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula. See also Cape York’s Laura Quinkan Dance Festival, slated next for June 2026, and the Katherine region’s Barunga Festival for more culturally significant First Nations gatherings.

dancers the Barunga Festival, NT — Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a broader community at Barunga Festival. (Image: Tourism NT/Alana Holmberg)

3. Festival of Outback Opera, Qld

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Opera Queensland has impressed its image into the red dirt of the outback. The Festival of Outback Opera, which runs annually during May, is about singing and scenery on a grand scale: gather under the stars at Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton for Dark Sky Serenade. Or linger in Longreach to see singers like Kate Miller-Heidke or soprano Sumi Jo lead Singing in the Night at Camden Park Station. Up the ante on the experience further with a stay at Rangelands Outback Camp.

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4. Illumina, K’gari, Qld

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

The sky is a liquid violet as luminous lilies bobbing on the silvery surface of Lake McKenzie/Boorangoora help to illustrate its magnificence. Illumina by Canadian-born artist Bruce Ramus uses lighting, lasers and audio-visual projections to incorporate and celebrate the natural environment on Queensland’s K’gari. The light and sound show, Return to Sky, invites guests of Kingfisher Bay Resort to immerse themselves in the island’s landscapes.

the Illumina Light Show, K’gari — See K’gari in a new light. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

5. Adelaide’s festivals, SA

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

March is arguably the most exciting month on Adelaide’s calendar, with three huge events – Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide and Adelaide Festival – creating an absolute buzz on the streets. Some locals call it ‘Mad March’, when some 6000-plus artists descend on the city, from comedians and musicians to street performers. No matter which day you visit, or which way you look, you’re sure to find music, arts and entertainment. Or set your sights on Illuminate Adelaide, a winter festival of art, light, music and tech.

the WOMADelaide festival — WOMADelaide is one of six WOMAD festivals. (Image: Saige Prime)

6. Townsville’s art scene, Qld

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

The temperature in Townsville isn’t the only thing that’s hot – the North Queensland capital of cool will have you wiping your brow thanks to its diverse culinary scene, incredible outdoor offerings and luxurious five-star waterfront hotel, Ardo. But the city’s relatively under-the-radar arts community and communal creative spaces are also raising the mercury. Whether it’s a rare exhibition at Perc Tucker Regional Art Gallery, a showcase of local work at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts or a hands-on pottery workshop at the North QLD Potters Association, Townsville’s creativity flows as freely as a sea breeze in summer.

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7. Big Red Bash, Qld

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

The tiny outback town of Birdsville in south-west Queensland has become renowned for its historic pub and annual Birdsville Races. But each year, the numbers in the town also swell for the annual Big Red Bash, an all-ages music festival held in the Simpson Desert. The epic event is on pause for 2025 but is expected to come back bigger and better in 2026. Festival-goers camp under the starry sky and enjoy performances by Aussie music legends. If you can’t wait until 2026, fill your cup at NSW’s Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash in August, at which Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, Birds of Tokyo and The Cat Empire will perform.

artists performing at the Big Red Bash festival — Catch iconic Australian artists at the three-day extravaganza. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Hayley Williamson Photography)

8. Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

A $54-million expansion of Bendigo Art Gallery is set to lure even more art lovers to the regional Victorian city, which has built its brand around arts, culture and events. Bendigo’s place in Australia’s art scene has also been bolstered by the exclusive exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image (until 13 July). Fans of the revolutionary Mexican artist are making a beeline for Bendigo to see the pop-up exhibition featuring some of the artist’s most treasured belongings.

the Frida Kahlo: In her own image exhibition, Bendigo Art Gallery — See *Frida Kahlo: In her own image* exhibition.

Hard to reach and harder to forget, East Arnhem offers something rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down and experience Country on its own terms.

The sky feels bigger in East Arnhem. It stretches wide and uninterrupted above rouged earth, stringybark woodland and beaches so empty they seem to belong to another era. The coastline curves for kilometres without a footprint and the horizon runs on forever.

For comedian Lou Wall, the scale of the place was the first thing that hit them.

“The sheer openness,” they say. “The sky feels infinite and the land stretches out endlessly. It’s pretty breathtaking visually.”

But the physical landscape is only part of the story. The real reward isn’t only the scenery but the shift in perspective the journey brings. Visitors stop trying to tick off the destination and a real engagement takes over.

“It made me never want to travel again,” Wall jokes. “In that I never wanted to leave East Arnhem.”

Getting there

Aerial shot of East Arnhem’s coastline as cars trace the curve of the shore. — Sail along the remote coastline on an expedition cruise.

Reaching East Arnhem is part of the adventure. Travellers typically fly into Gove Airport near Nhulunbuy via Darwin or Cairns, or arrive by expedition cruise along the remote coastline. Others make the journey overland along rutted dirt roads that cut through East Arnhem’s small pockets of monsoon forest.

However you arrive, there’s a distinct feeling of crossing into somewhere different. Permits are required to visit the region, reflecting the fact that this is Yolŋu land where communities and traditional owners maintain deep cultural connections to Country.

The extra planning becomes part of the experience. By the time visitors arrive, they understand they’re entering a place not just of respect, but also patience and curiosity.

At one with nature

East Arnhem’s landscapes leave a strong imprint. For Wall, one place in particular still lingers in their memory: Ngalarrkpuy, also known as Lonely Beach, near Bawaka Homeland.

“I genuinely felt like I was living inside an Instagram filter,” they say. “One of the most stunning feats of nature I’ve ever seen. The water was so clear I swear I could see even the fish smiling.”

Across the region, natural experiences unfold at a slower pace. Fishing, beachcombing and island hopping reveal the rhythm of the coastline. The tides shape daily life and the vastness of the landscape makes even simple moments feel downright cinematic.

For visitors with limited time, Wall says the Bawaka Homeland experience is unmissable.

“I just left and I’m already planning when I can get back there.”

The sense of remoteness is part of the appeal. In a country where many beaches are crowded and well-trodden, East Arnhem’s coastline still feels wonderfully wild.

Immersing in local culture

A visitor spends a meaningful moment alongside Yolŋu guides, gaining insight into their deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land. — Experience authentic moments with the locals.

Culture is woven through every experience in East Arnhem. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time on Country with Yolŋu guides and knowledge holders who share stories and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

For Wall, one of the most powerful moments came during a conversation with a Yolŋu elder.

“I got to meet a traditional elder, Mayalil, in Nhulunbuy,” they say. “Listening to her talk about her home made the land feel alive in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

The region is also home to internationally recognised Aboriginal art centres where artists shape works deeply connected to land and family knowledge.

Music carries the same cultural energy. East Arnhem has produced globally recognised artists such as King Stingray and Baker Boy, blending Yolŋu language, storytelling and contemporary sound.

Wall experienced this musical spirit first-hand.

“A jam session around the fire was it for me,” they say. “Letting the deep joy and history of their music wash over me… and meeting a few of the King Stingray musicians was unreal.”

These moments of human connection often become the most memorable part of a visit.

Spotting local wildlife

An aerial view of the beach shows tiny figures lined up across the white sand, moving as if in a rhythmic dance. — Step into a world where nature reigns.

The wildlife of East Arnhem adds another layer to the experience. The region is home to an extraordinary range of animals, from waterbirds and turtles to dugongs, dolphins and the formidable saltwater crocodile.

Wall admits they didn’t actually spot a croc during their visit.

“Devastatingly, I didn’t see one,” they laugh. “But with all the stories from the locals I definitely gained a healthy respect for caution.”

Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters can be surprisingly small., At Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island, Wall remembers walking along the beach one morning and watching it come alive.

“As you walk through the sand you see hundreds of crabs scurrying into their holes as you pass by,” they say. “Such a small thing, but it was completely magical.”

Moments like this reveal the quieter rhythms of East Arnhem, where even the smallest creatures seem to play a part in the landscape.

Visitors who make the journey soon learn the most important travel tip of all.

“Go in open-minded with a sense of curiosity,” Wall says. “Be prepared to ditch your plans. The land and the locals will guide you on an adventure no spreadsheets could ever compete with.”

And most importantly, they add, don’t rush.

“The land and people deserve your time and attention. You’ll be all the better for slowing down.”

For more information on visiting East Arnhem, head to eastarnhem.com.au.

8 unforgettable cultural getaways to have around Australia

Everything from opera in the outback to the continuum of ancient cultural traditions in the Top End takes centre stage  as  in-depth ways to appreciate a destination.

1. Camping with Custodians, WA

2. Garma Festival, NT

3. Festival of Outback Opera, Qld

4. Illumina, K’gari, Qld

5. Adelaide’s festivals, SA

6. Townsville’s art scene, Qld

7. Big Red Bash, Qld

8. Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic

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Discovering East Arnhem: Australia’s most unique and rewarding corner

Getting there

At one with nature

Immersing in local culture

Spotting local wildlife

Everything from opera in the outback to the continuum of ancient cultural traditions in the Top End takes centre stage as in-depth ways to appreciate a destination.

1. Camping with Custodians, WA

2. Garma Festival, NT

3. Festival of Outback Opera, Qld

AI Prompt

4. Illumina, K’gari, Qld

5. Adelaide’s festivals, SA

6. Townsville’s art scene, Qld

7. Big Red Bash, Qld

8. Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic

Australia’s most wishlisted Airbnbs revealed for 2026

Three Aussie beaches just made the world’s 50 best list

Australia has 3 of the world’s best new restaurants, according to Condé Nast

A record-breaking whale-watching season has begun. Here’s where to spot them

Getting there

At one with nature

Immersing in local culture

Spotting local wildlife

Everything from opera in the outback to the continuum of ancient cultural traditions in the Top End takes centre stage  as  in-depth ways to appreciate a destination.