The most comprehensive program of native flavour experiences celebrating Indigenous food and culture in Australia today is now on offer at Ayers Rock Resort in Australia's Northern Territory.

'Bush tucker' is the Australian term for the huge variety of native herbs, spices, fruits, seeds, insects and wildlife that Indigenous Australians have been eating for tens of thousands of years. To most non-Indigenous people the plants are a mystery, the ancient cooking methods unconventional and they are at a loss as to how to incorporate these ingredients into everyday cooking.

Ayers Rock Resort's Bush Tucker Journeys program brings these ancient flavours into modern cuisine – it influences every dining experience, cementing Ayers Rock Resort's place as the Bush Tucker capital of Australia.

“Located in the spiritual heart of Australia, and home to the world's oldest living culture, this is arguably the best place in Australia to experience its unique and rich native flavours”, said Andrew Williams, Voyages Chief Executive Officer.

The Bush Tucker Journeys program features the Uluru Feastival – a quarterly culinary weekend showcasing Indigenous food and culture. The event includes open air fine dining and traditional bush tucker tastings, as well as a signature masterclass and a three-course tasting dinner under the stars with Indigenous celebrity chef Mark Olive. The next Uluru Feastival weekend will take place on 9-10 March 2018.

Other key elements of the program are:

• A free daily Bush Food Experience where guests learn about native Australian ingredients, ancient food preparation techniques and a demonstration of how these ingredients can be used in modern cooking as they learn to make wattle seed shortbread. 
• Each of the Resort's 10 restaurants feature menus that celebrate bountiful bush ingredients. From the humble croc-dog at Outback Pioneer's BBQ Bar to the perfectly succulent Indigenous herb crusted steak at Desert Gardens Hotel's more sophisticated Arnguli restaurant – there are endless options to discover new tastes. 
• The ancient flavours take centre stage at each of Uluru's under the night sky dining experiences. Taste dukkah seared kangaroo loin on quandong cous cous with native mint yoghurt at the magical A Night at Field of Light or try house-smoked crocodile on mini dampers with desert lime preserve at the award-winning Sounds of Silence.
• The pinnacle of the outdoor dining experiences is Tali Wiru; the open air gastronomic experience offers a magical evening of fine dining on a remote sand dune overlooking Uluru limited to just 20 people per evening. The menu features canapes such as pan seared scallop with gulgulk beurre noisette or smoked kangaroo and kutjera crostini, entrees including pressed wallaby with fermented quandong. Mains include pan roasted toothfish with carrot and ginger puree, baby heirloom carrots, sea greens, spiced activated lentils and candied lemon aspen. To finish, desserts on offer are textures of chocolate with Davidson plum, lemon myrtle and quandong.
• During the warmer months, the Mayu Wiru fine dining experience is available in place of Tali Wiru. A maximum of just 16 guests enjoy an exceptional Indigenous-inspired gourmet menu in a private dining room at Sails in the Desert Hotel, followed by a private tour of Field of Light Uluru.
• Guests can learn about native food gathering daily– with Bush Yarns explaining the skills of the hunter, or learn the gatherers ways on one of the Garden Walks, as they hear how Indigenous people traditionally lived by using the bush for food and medicinal purposes, both daily and free to guests.
• A wide range of bush tucker ingredients are available for sale at the Resort so that guests are able to take home the unique tastes of Australia and incorporate them into their daily cooking.

“The appetite amongst today's travellers for truly authentic experiences is seemingly insatiable and bush tucker is such a wonderfully engaging way of helping to tell Australia's rich Indigenous story”, said Tourism Australia CEO John O'Sullivan.

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About Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and offers unique experiences including Ayers Rock Resort, Home Valley Station and the Mossman Gorge Centre. Profits from all business activities are re-invested.

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