Guidebook for San Francisco

Peter
Guidebook for San Francisco

Parks & Nature

You couldn’t find a better place for this two-hour Aboriginal Heritage Walking Tour: Barangaroo Reserve was previously a shipping port and it’s been transformed back into a beautiful park—based on what the headland looked like before Europeans arrived. Stories of local Aboriginal history are told to the theme of the city’s changing landscape as you walk. You can easily take this tour more than once—there’s a range of Aboriginal tour guides and they all offer something different. In keeping with the culture, only the female guides can talk about Barangaroo, while Clarence is a well-known local identity and native-plant expert. They’re all excellent.
46 locals recommend
Barangaroo Reserve
Hickson Road
46 locals recommend
You couldn’t find a better place for this two-hour Aboriginal Heritage Walking Tour: Barangaroo Reserve was previously a shipping port and it’s been transformed back into a beautiful park—based on what the headland looked like before Europeans arrived. Stories of local Aboriginal history are told to the theme of the city’s changing landscape as you walk. You can easily take this tour more than once—there’s a range of Aboriginal tour guides and they all offer something different. In keeping with the culture, only the female guides can talk about Barangaroo, while Clarence is a well-known local identity and native-plant expert. They’re all excellent.
This two-hour quad biking tour is an ultimate adventure day out, led by a local Aboriginal guide along the spectacular Stockton sand dunes—the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. A massive chunk of this area was given back to the Worimi people, and you’ll learn about all that they do to look after it, with a focus on heritage sites and bush tucker. This experience is very heavily weighted toward adventure with a hint of culture thrown in. It’s run by a Land Council which supports the local community, so it’s a great story of Aboriginal enterprise—but really, you’re here to go crazy on bikes! Definitely worth a day trip from Sydney.
45 locals recommend
Stockton Beach
45 locals recommend
This two-hour quad biking tour is an ultimate adventure day out, led by a local Aboriginal guide along the spectacular Stockton sand dunes—the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. A massive chunk of this area was given back to the Worimi people, and you’ll learn about all that they do to look after it, with a focus on heritage sites and bush tucker. This experience is very heavily weighted toward adventure with a hint of culture thrown in. It’s run by a Land Council which supports the local community, so it’s a great story of Aboriginal enterprise—but really, you’re here to go crazy on bikes! Definitely worth a day trip from Sydney.

Shopping

I’m proud to say my charity, First Hand Solutions, started these events, which run both at Barangaroo and Bare Island every couple of months. Each is a unique festival of Aboriginal song, dance, bush-tucker foods, craft stalls, smoking ceremonies, and different entertainers. I can’t overstate the social impact these micro-businesses have—and it’s a fantastic day! The bush-tucker barbecue always sells out: try gourmet bush sausages, kangaroo kebabs rolled in wattleseed and saltbush, or little dishes of kangaroo and crocodile served up with salad. The craft workshops are also fantastic—you’ll enjoy whatever you choose. Check our website for dates and details.
Anzac Parade
Anzac Parade
I’m proud to say my charity, First Hand Solutions, started these events, which run both at Barangaroo and Bare Island every couple of months. Each is a unique festival of Aboriginal song, dance, bush-tucker foods, craft stalls, smoking ceremonies, and different entertainers. I can’t overstate the social impact these micro-businesses have—and it’s a fantastic day! The bush-tucker barbecue always sells out: try gourmet bush sausages, kangaroo kebabs rolled in wattleseed and saltbush, or little dishes of kangaroo and crocodile served up with salad. The craft workshops are also fantastic—you’ll enjoy whatever you choose. Check our website for dates and details.

Everything Else

An hour-and-a-half train ride from Sydney, this full-day tour is quite an emotional, meditative experience. Walk the area’s songline—story of place—through rainforest and sacred Blue Mountains sites, and along the way guide Evan Yanna Muru shares ancient Aboriginal knowledge that offers so much modern-day wisdom. You’ll feel completely immersed in the country. Although you’ll learn about bush tucker and get to taste some berries, leaves, and traditional herbs and spices, you’ll need to bring your own lunch and water. The tour starts and finishes at Faulconbridge Train Station and runs for six hours—wear comfortable walking shoes.
Faulconbridge Station
An hour-and-a-half train ride from Sydney, this full-day tour is quite an emotional, meditative experience. Walk the area’s songline—story of place—through rainforest and sacred Blue Mountains sites, and along the way guide Evan Yanna Muru shares ancient Aboriginal knowledge that offers so much modern-day wisdom. You’ll feel completely immersed in the country. Although you’ll learn about bush tucker and get to taste some berries, leaves, and traditional herbs and spices, you’ll need to bring your own lunch and water. The tour starts and finishes at Faulconbridge Train Station and runs for six hours—wear comfortable walking shoes.
The two-hour Nura Diya experience gets you up close to native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and birds, but your Aboriginal guide will also explain their own stories, share their personal connection to the land, and teach you of the strong link between Aboriginal people and their wildlife. You can also see the Harbour Bridge across the water! Go to the bird show, set in a little open amphitheatre, while you’re visiting the landmark zoo. You’ll have everything from big sea eagles to brolgas flying straight over your head and around the theatre before settling on the zookeeper’s arm. It’s so incredible it borders on circus.
645 locals recommend
Taronga Zoo Sydney
Bradleys Head Road
645 locals recommend
The two-hour Nura Diya experience gets you up close to native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and birds, but your Aboriginal guide will also explain their own stories, share their personal connection to the land, and teach you of the strong link between Aboriginal people and their wildlife. You can also see the Harbour Bridge across the water! Go to the bird show, set in a little open amphitheatre, while you’re visiting the landmark zoo. You’ll have everything from big sea eagles to brolgas flying straight over your head and around the theatre before settling on the zookeeper’s arm. It’s so incredible it borders on circus.

Arts & Culture

The Yiribana Gallery is a permanent exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and it’s just stunning. The fact that there’s a changing roster of Aboriginal art from across the country here—on display for free—is incredible. Expect traditional and contemporary displays, from beautiful dot paintings to modern indigenous art. Some of it gives me goosebumps. The gallery building is right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Treat yourself to a lazy walk through the gardens on your way here—it’s a great way to slow down after the busy-ness of the city—and put yourself in the right mind-frame for art appreciation.
32 locals recommend
Art Gallery Of NSW station
32 locals recommend
The Yiribana Gallery is a permanent exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and it’s just stunning. The fact that there’s a changing roster of Aboriginal art from across the country here—on display for free—is incredible. Expect traditional and contemporary displays, from beautiful dot paintings to modern indigenous art. Some of it gives me goosebumps. The gallery building is right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Treat yourself to a lazy walk through the gardens on your way here—it’s a great way to slow down after the busy-ness of the city—and put yourself in the right mind-frame for art appreciation.
This two-hour Aboriginal history tour through the Royal Botanic Gardens has a heavy focus on the food and medicines associated with Australian native plants. They’ve got plants from across the nation, so in a sense it’s a ‘highlights reel’—offering a great overview of the connection between country and Aboriginal people all around Australia. The tour starts and finishes at the Garden Shop in the middle of the gardens, which is a beautiful place. Make sure you try the bunya nut, the finger lime, or the Davidson plum, if they’re offered—these are delicacies native to Australia and they are absolutely delicious. And nutritious!
The Garden Shop
Mrs Macquaries Road
This two-hour Aboriginal history tour through the Royal Botanic Gardens has a heavy focus on the food and medicines associated with Australian native plants. They’ve got plants from across the nation, so in a sense it’s a ‘highlights reel’—offering a great overview of the connection between country and Aboriginal people all around Australia. The tour starts and finishes at the Garden Shop in the middle of the gardens, which is a beautiful place. Make sure you try the bunya nut, the finger lime, or the Davidson plum, if they’re offered—these are delicacies native to Australia and they are absolutely delicious. And nutritious!

Sightseeing

Walk with Aunty ‘Marg’ Margret on a tour led by company Dreamtime SouthernX, and see that Aboriginal culture is still very much alive in the city. You’ll visit various significant sites in and around the Harbour Bridge, and learn the Aboriginal history of the site where the Opera House sits. An excellent way to get a different perspective on Sydney’s icons. This 90-minute walk starts and finishes at Cadmans Cottage, the second-oldest surviving residential building in Sydney. Fittingly, it harks from the time when traditional Aboriginal life and modern European settlement first intersected, offering a window into local British history.
Mr Wolf
20-40 Meagher Street
Walk with Aunty ‘Marg’ Margret on a tour led by company Dreamtime SouthernX, and see that Aboriginal culture is still very much alive in the city. You’ll visit various significant sites in and around the Harbour Bridge, and learn the Aboriginal history of the site where the Opera House sits. An excellent way to get a different perspective on Sydney’s icons. This 90-minute walk starts and finishes at Cadmans Cottage, the second-oldest surviving residential building in Sydney. Fittingly, it harks from the time when traditional Aboriginal life and modern European settlement first intersected, offering a window into local British history.
Watsons Bay is a naturally spectacular area of dramatic sandstone cliffs and bushland, but when you’re exploring it with a renowned Aboriginal identity like Tim Ella, things take on extra meaning. Get away from cars, roads, and the sounds of traffic on this 90-minute walk by Kadoo Tours—a wonderful introduction to local Aboriginal culture. The tour starts at The Gap Stairs, and it finishes at an iconic, decades-old Sydney restaurant, Doyles, known for its seafood. Tim’ll jump the queue, order fish and chips for everyone, and you’ll eat together by the water, with a view back to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Watsons Bay Pharmacy
23 Military Rd
Watsons Bay is a naturally spectacular area of dramatic sandstone cliffs and bushland, but when you’re exploring it with a renowned Aboriginal identity like Tim Ella, things take on extra meaning. Get away from cars, roads, and the sounds of traffic on this 90-minute walk by Kadoo Tours—a wonderful introduction to local Aboriginal culture. The tour starts at The Gap Stairs, and it finishes at an iconic, decades-old Sydney restaurant, Doyles, known for its seafood. Tim’ll jump the queue, order fish and chips for everyone, and you’ll eat together by the water, with a view back to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.