THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Walk into Simpsons Gap with Arrernte bush-food experts from Kungkas Can Cook to taste wild-harvested native ingredients and learn traditional harvesting methods. This private 1.5-hour cultural tour pairs short, easy walking with a shared tasting platter that connects flavor to First Nations stories and land stewardship.
Walk into Simpsons Gap with Arrernte bush-food experts from Kungkas Can Cook to taste wild-harvested native ingredients and learn traditional harvesting methods. This private 1.5-hour cultural tour pairs short, easy walking with a shared tasting platter that connects flavor to First Nations stories and land stewardship.
Book with Kungkas Can Cook
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Kungkas Can Cook · Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Simpsons Gap, in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park just west of Alice Springs, is a narrow quartzite cleft where a reliable waterhole gathers light and pale ghost gums grasp the red rock. On the Explore Ancient Flavours of Simpsons Gap private tour, Arrernte guides from Kungkas Can Cook bring that geology and ecology alive as a working pantry. This 1.5-hour guided cultural walk and tasting centers ancient flavours and First Nations knowledge in the heart of Central Australia. Start at the Simpsons Gap walking shelter and follow a short, easy trail down to the gap floor, where steep red quartzite walls and a cool microclimate support local plants. Rayleen Brown and her team, nationally recognised bush-food experts, point out wattle seed, quandong, bush tomatoes and other native ingredients, explaining how seasonal cycles, traditional fire practice and local tracking point hunters and gatherers to the best harvests. The walk is interactive: guides show preparation techniques and the ecological logic behind sustainable harvests. After the trail, Kungkas Can Cook serves a shared tasting platter featuring ethically harvested, organic native products—wattle seed damper, aromatic dukkahs, dried fruits, seeds, native jams and chutneys—presented in both traditional and contemporary ways. Flavors are elemental—nutty, citrusy, smoky—and each taste is paired with stories of use, ceremony and care. What distinguishes this experience is its rooted stewardship. Kungkas Can Cook is 100% First Nations owned, operating for over 25 years to support local harvesters, build native supply chains and keep foraging ethical across the Central Desert. The guides are Arrernte knowledge holders; tours may be altered for cultural reasons such as Sorry Business, a reminder that these are living places for local people. Practical details: the route covers roughly 2 km at an easy grade and welcomes children five and older (parents supervise). Guests must arrange transport and hold an NT Parks visitor pass to enter Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. Tours are private and require a minimum of four adults to operate. Bring sun protection, sturdy shoes, water and a camera to photograph the gap, ghost gums and—if you catch dusk right—black-footed rock-wallabies. This is for travelers who want more than a postcard: it’s a chance to taste place, learn practical harvesting knowledge and leave with a clearer sense of how plants and practices have sustained Arrernte people for tens of thousands of years. Bookings are strictly private to preserve cultural integrity; minimum numbers and seasonal availability mean plan ahead. Expect small-group conversation, hands-on sampling and take-home. If you have dietary restrictions or mobility concerns, contact Kungkas Can Cook in advance so guides can adapt the tasting and walking route to suit your needs.
The guided cultural walk portion is approximately 2 km and the full experience runs about 1.5 hours.
Meet at the Simpsons Gap shelter at the beginning of the walking trail in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park—look for the Kungkas Can Cook sign.
Children five years and older are welcome; parents or guardians must supervise them at all times.
Many native items are plant-based, but guests with dietary restrictions should notify Kungkas Can Cook in advance so guides can adapt the platter.
No—guests must arrange their own transport and purchase an NT Parks visitor pass to enter the park.
Tours may be cancelled for cultural reasons (e.g., Sorry Business) or extreme environmental conditions; full refunds are provided in those instances, otherwise standard cancellation terms apply.
Kungkas Can Cook is a family-led cultural food business based in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Founded and led by Rayleen Brown and her family, the business offers short guided walks and tasting experiences showcasing First Nations bush foods from the Central Desert. The signature Bushfood Walk & Tasting Experience is a one-hour guided walk that introduces visitors to native plants and flavors ethically sourced and enjoyed for over 60,000 years. The Private Group - Bushfood Walk & Tasting Experience brings the same stories and tastes to groups seeking a more personal cultural connection. Work on country, seasonal harvesting practices, and traditional knowledge are shared by First Nations women who guide guests through identification, tasting, and discussion about cultural context. Experiences focus on edible plants and bush ingredients specific to Central Australia, with an emphasis on respectful, ethical sourcing and local custodianship. Kungkas Can Cook combines culinary demonstration, storytelling, and hands-on tasting to create accessible cultural experiences for visitors to Alice Springs. The business serves domestic and international travelers, tour groups, and private gatherings. Practical details include short, walk-based formats suitable for a range of fitness levels and family-friendly participation. Booking options include public sessions and private group bookings tailored to schedules and group size. The business operates from Alice Springs and draws on deep local knowledge of the Central Desert landscape, language, and food traditions. Information on accessibility, meeting points, and booking policies is provided at time of reservation to help visitors plan their visit. Guides share local language and knowledge.
Book with Kungkas Can Cook