Northern Territory Indigenous Tours
Northern Territory Indigenous Tours is a wholly indigenous owned, locally-based tour company established in 2009. We specialising in natural and cultural interpretation from an Aboriginal viewpoint. Based at the indigenous tourism hub of Darwin, we offer:
- intimate, small-group day tours and private charters to Berry Springs, Litchfield National Park and beyond, focusing on Aboriginal culture, history and circumstances, as well as environmental interpretation
- 4WD adventure tours into areas to which we have family connections
- bird-watching and wildlife photography tours demonstrating our Aboriginal and photographic skills to providing unforgettable experiences.
Our vision is a world of understanding, empathy and respect between people of different cultures, enhanced by charismatic guides delivering high-quality, engaging and interactive tourism experiences.
Northern Territory Indigenous Tours offers safe, comfortable and educative tours. Being owned and operated primarily by women, they are ideal women’s tours.
Meet Tess Atie
Born in Darwin, Tess Atie grew up in the area in which Litchfield National Park was later proclaimed. She has family all the way from Mandorah, across Darwin Harbour, to Peppimenarti, beyond the Daly River.
Tess was the beneficiary of a quality education, in her middle school years attending Lilydale Adventist Academy in Victoria before completing year 12 at Kormilda College in Darwin. Tess says:
‘I grew up where Litchfield is now, travelling and camping with my family. I developed a great respect for my old people. They showed me all the fine details about the plants and animals on our country, and how to live properly there. Now I want to teach visitors about our beautiful country.’
After working as a park ranger and wildlife guide for many years, Tess established Northern Territory Indigenous Tours in 2009 to showcase her family’s traditional country and provide employment opportunities for young indigenous people in the tourism industry. Tess and the company have developed an enviable reputation, going from strength to strength and implementing a training program for new indigenous guides to satisfy the growing demand for tours.
As visitors to her country, you will benefit from her deep knowledge of the country, its culture and its history; her exceptional customer service; her keen business acumen; and her ability to train young indigenous guides.
Woolaning Spring
In 1949 Tess’s grandparents, Ray Petherick and Rosie Nangalaku, established a sawmill camp in this beautiful spot. With soft, crystal clear spring waters emanating continuously from a rocky hillside to form a creek lined with shady rainforest, it was an ideal place to live and mill the paperbark, native pine and ironwood used in Darwin houses in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
Now surrounded by Litchfield National Park, Woolaning is the private home of Tess’s family and the site of two small schools built to educate Aboriginal children in the area. In the dry season you may be exclusive visitors to Woolaning Spring as Tess takes you into nature’s rainforest dining room for a very special lunch and therapeutic dip in its clear spring waters.
Verified
Anne O2022-11-26Beautiful day in Litchfield Every single part of the trip was my favourite - fromchatting about all things Litchfield on the way out there,to swimming in a pristine pool underneath a rushingwaterfall, having walked through stunning rainforest, toeating the freshest barramundi I've ever tasted with limeleaves off their tree…. Of all the time my friend and Ispent in the top end, this day with Tess and Greg wasour absolute highlight. I could not recommend them anymore highly.With much love from Anne and VivienneVerified
Caz M2022-11-22An unforgettable experience Wow! What a brilliant day. We learnt so much. Tess and Greg are absolutely lovely. We learnt so much. Some very funny stories were shared. I was moved to tears over the way aboriginal people were persecuted and very sad to hear that it still happens today. It was, however, wonderful to visit their land and that of Tess' family. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch, swam in the creek, visited Tonga Falls, Wangi falls, Victoria falls and Billabongs, saw many birds and a crocodile and Tess taught us much about the flora and fauna and how her people hunted and lived off the land. Thank you so much for sharing your culture and experiences with us. Highly recommend this tour. Worth every penny.Verified
Jason A2022-11-08Fantastic tour with tess We enjoyed the whole trip and the knowledge / experiences delivered by Tess will be looking at doing it again I highly recommend itVerified
Leroy2022-11-07SOUL ENRICHING - A day I will never forget The time we spent with Aunty Tess and Greg was honestly one of the most magical, soul and spirit enriching days of my entire life. As the ONLY Aboriginal owned tourism operation in the region the tour wasn't only magical in sense of the places you see but the cultural knowledge added so much meaning the stunning landscape and scenery. I choose to only spend my money on genuine experiences, that are Aboriginal owned and this did not disappoint. They were personable, friendly, knowledgable and so genuinely kind and human. When I tell you I travel constantly, running a national business but this was a moment I could stop, listen, learn and sit in culture and my spirit is enriched because of it. Deepest of gratitude to you, your people and your ancestors for allowing us the this experience, I will never forget it.Verified
FarAway5574302022-10-15Litchfield spectacular Yesterday was a special day on tour on country with Tess & Greg. Beautiful springs, gorges, wonderful lunch cooked on the open fire with wild caught barramundi and crocodile! Tess is the only aboriginal tour guide and her country is where Litchfield National Park is now. I feel so grateful to have experienced Litchfield through Tess’s eyes. Do yourself a big favour and book this must do tour whilst you’re in Darwin NT.Verified
Hajnalkatl2022-10-12A privilege to learn from them both. We had a fantastic day with Tess and Greg. It was such a privilege to learn from them both. Tess grew up in Litchfield park learning from her elders, both Tess and Greg have worked as park rangers in various parts of Australia and bring an abundance of knowledge about plants, animals, geology, land Care etc with them. We learnt about traditional uses of plants and animals- the dreaming stories that don’t make it into children picture books ?. They spoke openly and honestly about challenges and problems with the community and possible solutions. Tess is an amazingly intelligent, kind, articule and generous guide. We had a fantastic time swimming in a few different springs and had the nicest lunch cooked by them.Verified
boyci2022-10-11Indigenous Litchfield Spectacular- just amazing The information from Tess and Greg was brilliant, no question was unanswered. I would highly recommend you taking this tour with these two lovely people, it was an unforgettable trip with a small group, the tucker was superb and the sites were incredible,thank you.Verified
Joy D2022-10-11Absolutely blown away! This tour was recommended by a friend and although we thought it a little pricey for our budget we wanted to experience something authentic. We are only in Australia for a year so we are trying to do as much as possible in the time.Determined to get a taste of culture and insight into the indigenous history we booked this tour.I was absolutely fascinated from the get go. Tess and Greg were phenomenal hosts / guides and were happy to answer every single one of my questions, even the ones where my ignorance about the country's history was apparent.We swam in creeks, and put out heads under the Wangi Falls (despite my intrepid fear of snakes and crocs) I felt safe with Tess and Greg.The knowledge we gained was immense! Although I have to admit some of it was hard to hear and made me ashamed to be British, but the story of resilience and rectification which is a fight that Tess is still fighting daily is awe inspiring.If you want a basic day of swimming and viewing the beauty of the landscape of Litchfield National park, then book with a mainstream tour operator.If you want a genuine day of education from someone who has lived and breathed that very land and is connected to it through generations, if you want to hear the bad along with the good, and if you want an intimate personal experience where you are not just a number but an actual guest, then this is the tour for you.This has turned out to be one of our favourite days since we landed in Australia and it is chock full of memories that we will cherish and remember forever.And as for Tess's barramundi at lunch, that is a recipe I'm stealing! I'm not a huge lover of fish, but that is the best fish I have ever eaten!Highly recommended! Thank you Tess and Greg! We wish all the luck with this and all your future endeavours! From Joy and Kara.Verified
allison a2022-10-09Highlight of our trip to the top end It was an absolute privilege to be guided through Litchfield and Tess's country with Tess and Greg. Greg knows everything there is to know about the land, the flora and fauna, and Tess gave us a unique and honest cultural experience and perspective. Delicious lunch and wonderful swimming spots too! Tess and Greg are both fabulous guides and wonderful people, we really enjoyed and learned from our day with them and we will remember this highlight of our trip to Darwin always.Verified
Heidinewie2022-10-06Do this tour! So glad i booked this trip with Tess and Greg. She has the local history/indigenous persoective frim growing up here and Greg has a lifetime of knowledge of olants and animals. I wanted to support a local small business rather than do this ourselves. It was chilled out, fun and active. My young bits loved it too!
