26 May 2025
Ayers Rock Resort will honour National Reconciliation Week 2025, running from 27 May to 3 June, with a powerful and immersive program of art, cultural storytelling and film that celebrates truth-telling and connection to Country. During the week, Ayers Rock Resort will also unveil the brand-new Guest Protocols that have been developed by Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara Traditional Owners, the Anangu, to guide visitors on how to meaningfully engage with them and their culture.
This year's theme, "Bridging Now to Next," highlights the essential link between past, present, and future, urging all Australians to walk together towards a more unified tomorrow. This week's programming reflects this theme by offering guests opportunities to engage with First Nations voices, history, and living traditions of Anangu.
A centrepiece of the program is The Road to Punu exhibition at the Gallery of Central Australia (GoCA). Open from Tuesday 27 May, the exhibition will celebrate 40 years of Maruku Arts by showcasing a collection of wood carvings (punu) that are drawn from Central Australia practices and contemporary expression. Guests are invited to attend during opening hours and all exhibition works are available for purchase.
A live punu carving demonstration on Friday 30 May will invite visitors to observe world-renowned artists Billy and Lulu Cooley together with their daughter Marlene, as they share traditional wood burning techniques and the stories behind their craft.
From 28 May, guests can experience a free dedicated National Reconciliation Week movie program at Arkani Theatre, commencing with the short documentary Punu and followed by a curated program of Indigenous films exploring identity, resistance, and reconciliation.
Screenings will include movies like The Final Quarter, Bran Nue Dae, Ten Canoes and Sweet As.
Marking National Sorry Day on 26 May, a special screening of Apology to the Stolen Generations will honour the survivors of the Stolen Generations and reflect on the importance of truth-telling and healing. On 3 June, guests can commemorate Mabo Day with a screening of Mabo, acknowledging the landmark 1992 High Court decision that recognised Indigenous land rights and helped reshape Australian law.
Throughout the week, interactive displays and installations across the Resort’s Town Square will offer historical insights into key moments of Australia’s reconciliation journey, encouraging guests to reflect and connect.
Ayers Rock Resort reinforces its role in reconciliation through new Guest Protocols, developed in partnership with the Anangu Advisory Group. The guidelines will support culturally respectful engagement by encouraging visitors to:
- Walk gently on Ngura (Country): Honour sacred sites and stay on marked tracks.
- Support Waltja (Family): Respect privacy and uplift local families by engaging with Aboriginal-run art centres
- Speak Wangka (Language): Learn and use simple Pitjantjatjara or Yankunytjatjara phrases like "Palya"
- Listen to Tjukurpa (Stories & Law): Embrace ancient stories shared through experiences like Wintjiri Wiru
- Celebrate Inma (Ceremony): Witness living culture through song, performance, and tradition
These protocols help guests walk mindfully bridging understanding, respect, and connection.
Guests are also encouraged to visit the Kulata Academy Café, where trainees from the National Indigenous Training Academy provide warm hospitality while gaining valuable skills and pathways to future employment. It’s here, in the everyday interactions and shared stories, that reconciliation becomes more than an idea - it becomes action.
For more information on National Reconciliation Week at Ayers Rock Resort, including event schedules and bookings, click here.
Image: Piti Bowl, Marianne Fraser, Maruku Arts
