Clubmates Travel
How Supported Travel Helps People with Disability Experience First Nations Land
Posted on March 6, 2026 by Matilda Negri
Reading time about 13 minutes
Some of the most meaningful places in Australia are also the hardest to reach. Regional and remote parts of the country sit well outside public transport routes, mainstream tourism pathways, and accessible infrastructure. For many people with disability, these barriers mean that learning about First Nations cultures or spending time on Country simply is not possible, no matter how strong their curiosity or desire to experience it.
At ClubMates Travel, we have seen how the right support can change this. With specialist planning, experienced leadership, trained support crew, and the right vehicles and equipment, people with disability have been able to safely reach places that would otherwise remain out of reach. Supported travel for people with disability is not just about getting from one place to another. It is about removing barriers that prevent people from accessing meaningful parts of the world around them.
This blog shares how ClubMates supports people with disability to travel respectfully on First Nations land in regional and remote Australia. Our role is not to interpret culture or speak on behalf of communities. Our role is to provide safe access, so passengers can be present on Country and experience these places for themselves.
Access to Country
For many of the people we support, travel is not about ticking off famous landmarks or following a checklist of destinations. Spending time on Country allows people to better understand Australia’s story in a way that feels grounded and real. Being physically present in remote landscapes creates opportunities to listen, observe, and reflect on the deep connection between people and land that has existed for tens of thousands of years.
There is also a broader inclusion issue involved. Education about First Nations cultures is still limited for many Australians, and this gap can be even greater for people with disability who may have fewer opportunities to travel or explore the country beyond their immediate community. When access to Country is limited, people miss out on important experiences that help shape understanding and perspective.
Providing pathways for people with disability to visit these places is one way of addressing that gap. It allows people to see landscapes, communities, and environments that are rarely accessible through mainstream tourism or public transport. Through inclusive travel experiences for people with disability, individuals can begin to build a deeper appreciation of Australia’s history simply by being present in these environments.
The Realities of Travelling in Regional and Remote Australia
Places such as East Arnhem Land, Cape York, and the Top End are not destinations that can be reached without careful planning and experience. Distances are long, roads are often unsealed, services are limited, and weather conditions can change quickly. These factors create a level of unpredictability that most mainstream travellers do not have to consider.
For people with disability, these challenges can be significantly greater. Accessible accommodation may not exist in remote areas, medical services may be hours away, and standard vehicles or travel arrangements may not meet the needs of passengers who require support. As a result, many people with disability never have the opportunity to explore these parts of Australia, even if they would love to see them.
Travelling safely in these environments requires detailed preparation. Routes must be planned carefully, vehicles must be suited to difficult terrain, and support crews must be prepared to operate in environments where resources are limited. Remote travel also demands flexibility. Conditions may change quickly and plans sometimes need to adapt in order to keep passengers safe and comfortable.
How ClubMates Supports Access in a Respectful Way
ClubMates Travel approaches travel on First Nations land with care and humility. We do not position ourselves as cultural educators or spokespeople. There are many things about these regions and cultures that we do not claim to fully understand, and we believe it is important to acknowledge that. Our role is not to interpret culture but to create access so people with disability can experience these places in a respectful and supported way.
This begins with planning. Every journey into remote Australia requires detailed preparation, including route planning, equipment selection, and careful risk management. Vehicles are chosen for their ability to handle difficult terrain while still providing comfort and accessibility for passengers. Support crews are selected based on their experience working with people with disability and their ability to adapt when travelling in unpredictable environments.
When travelling on Indigenous land, permission and permits are required before entering. This process is respected carefully. As ClubMates Director Peter Negri explains, travelling through these communities requires an understanding that visitors are guests. When travelling through Indigenous settlements, the group becomes the minority within those communities, and interactions must be approached with respect and sensitivity.
Rather than speaking for culture, our role is to support passengers to observe, listen, and engage respectfully whenever opportunities arise. In many cases, simply being present in these environments is enough to spark curiosity, questions, and reflection among passengers.
Our Experience Leading Travel in Remote Australia
ClubMates Director Peter Negri has spent many years leading supported travel through regional and remote Australia. His experience travelling through places such as East Arnhem Land, Cape York, and the Top End has shaped the way ClubMates prepares for remote travel with people who require support.
One of the biggest differences between remote supported travel and standard touring is safety. When travelling far from major towns or services, the team must be prepared to operate independently if something goes wrong. Communication systems are essential. Vehicles are equipped with satellite internet so the team can call for assistance anywhere in the country if needed. This ensures that even in extremely remote areas, help can be reached in an emergency.
Preparation also means carrying supplies well beyond what might normally be required. Extra fuel, food, water, and spare vehicle parts are always packed before heading into remote regions. On one journey to East Arnhem Land, the team carried around two weeks’ worth of food supplies even though the trip itself was shorter. While there are towns along the way, Peter prefers to prepare for situations where supplies may not be available when needed.
The same approach applies to training. Support crew travelling in remote regions are trained in first aid, CPR, and emergency response skills such as treating snake bites. When travelling far from hospitals or medical services, crews must be ready to respond quickly and confidently if a health issue arises.
Learning Through Experience in East Arnhem Land, Cape York and The Top End
Travelling to East Arnhem Land, Cape York, and the Top End creates experiences that are very different from mainstream tourism. The distances involved, the landscape, and the sense of remoteness all contribute to an environment that many passengers have never encountered before.
In East Arnhem Land, the journey itself becomes part of the experience. Travellers pass through small communities and remote landscapes that feel vastly different from city environments. For many passengers, simply being present in these regions sparks curiosity and questions about the people and history connected to the land. The goal is not to provide formal cultural education but to allow passengers to experience the environment firsthand.
Cape York presents its own set of logistical challenges. Preparing for this journey requires careful consideration of how to carry enough supplies for long stretches without services. Sleeping arrangements must also be comfortable and accessible. On these trips, passengers often stay in quality camping swags, some equipped with raised mattresses to ensure people who require extra support can still rest comfortably in remote environments.
Despite the challenges, passengers often respond positively to the sense of adventure and discovery that comes with travelling so far from major towns. Many enjoy seeing landscapes they have never encountered before and experiencing parts of Australia that most people only read about.
The Top End offers another unique perspective on remote travel. The environment is shaped by heat, vast distances, and powerful natural scenery. One of the moments Peter often remembers most clearly from these journeys happens at the end of the day. After travelling through incredible landscapes, the group stops to cook dinner and gather around a campfire.
Sitting together around a fire creates a moment where the usual roles of support worker and passenger begin to fade. Everyone shares the same environment, the same meal, and the same experience of being far from home. These shared moments often become some of the most memorable parts of the journey.
The Outcomes We See
Across these journeys, similar outcomes often emerge. Travelling through remote Australia builds confidence, patience, and resilience for many passengers. People gain a sense of pride in having travelled somewhere that once felt impossible to reach.
These trips also support social and community participation. Travelling together creates opportunities for conversation, teamwork, and shared experiences that naturally build connections between passengers and support crew. The journey itself becomes a platform for personal growth and social engagement.
Many passengers return home with stories about landscapes they never thought they would see and experiences they never imagined possible. The sense of achievement that comes from reaching remote parts of Australia can stay with people long after the trip ends.
Going Back to Country
There are also many First Nations Australians with disability who would like to return to Country or spend time in places of cultural significance. While awareness of this need is growing, accessible pathways to make it possible remain limited.
Supported travel, when delivered carefully and respectfully, has the potential to improve access and inclusion for people who may otherwise be unable to reach these important places. Creating these opportunities requires collaboration, patience, and ongoing learning about how to do things the right way.
Our Role
ClubMates Travel’s role is not to interpret culture or speak on behalf of Country. Our responsibility is to remove barriers that prevent people with disability from accessing meaningful places across Australia.
Through careful planning, trained support crews, accessible vehicles, and specialist travel knowledge, we help people reach parts of the country they may never have thought possible. By focusing on safe access and respectful travel, supported travel for people with disability can open doors to experiences that would otherwise remain out of reach.
Explore Australia with the right support
If you or someone you support would love to experience more of Australia but need the right assistance to make it possible, our team can help. Discover how carefully planned supported travel can open the door to remote landscapes, new experiences, and places that may have once felt out of reach.
China is one of those countries that keeps surprising people—especially when you see the landscapes that don’t even look real. Towering rainbow mountains, glass walkways over steep cliffs, mist-covered peaks that inspired movies like Avatar—China’s natural wonders feel like stepping into another world.
And guess what? With the right support and planning, these mind-blowing places can be explored by people of all abilities. At ClubMates Travel, we believe that accessible travel should be more than just getting from A to B—it should be about awe, wonder, and saying “I can’t believe I’m actually here.”
Here are a few incredible spots in China that look out of this world—and why they might just end up on your travel wishlist.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – The Real-Life Pandora
Ever seen floating mountains? Well, you’re about to. Zhangjiajie is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the inspiration behind the flying mountains in Avatar. Giant stone pillars rise up through misty clouds—it’s so surreal it feels like CGI.
There are cable cars and glass elevators that take you up into the peaks, and accessible walkways in many areas, making this a great option for travel for people with disabilities when paired with the right support crew.
The Rainbow Mountains – Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Imagine layers of red, orange, gold, and green rock stretched across rolling hills. These colourful formations look like someone took a paintbrush to the land. They’re even more breathtaking in person.
The Rainbow Mountains are best explored in daylight hours when the colours shine brightest. Some viewing platforms and paths are paved and can be navigated with mobility assistance. Like all our accessible holidays, having specialist travel support makes a huge difference in comfort and safety.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces – A Living Mirror
At sunrise or sunset, the rice terraces of Yuanyang reflect the sky like an enormous mirror. It’s peaceful, dreamlike, and incredibly calming—perfect for travellers who want to slow down, connect with nature, and just take it all in.
This spot is especially powerful for people who are working toward NDIS goals like mindfulness, emotional regulation, or confidence in new environments. With supported travel, it’s more than sightseeing—it becomes a sensory and emotional experience.
The Glass Bridge – Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
If you’re feeling brave, there’s a 430-metre-long glass bridge suspended over the canyon. Yes—it’s see-through. But it’s also safe, sturdy, and absolutely unforgettable. For those not afraid of heights, this is an epic moment that will stick with you for life.
We understand that thrill-seeking looks different for everyone. At ClubMates, our support crew are trained to encourage, not push—so passengers can take part in activities at their own comfort level.
Jiuzhaigou Valley – China’s Fairytale Water World
Think turquoise lakes, sparkling waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. Jiuzhaigou is a dreamscape—peaceful, scenic, and full of charm. It’s also one of the more accessible nature parks in China, with eco buses and walkways that help make the journey smoother.
This kind of environment is great for building confidence, promoting social participation, and feeling part of something beautiful.
Why China? Why ClubMates?
Travelling to a country as big and bold as China might feel impossible—but that’s where we come in. As one of Australia’s most experienced NDIS holiday providers, we specialise in international supported travel that opens up the world for people with disabilities. We design every itinerary to work toward common NDIS goals—things like independence, community access, resilience, and joy.
Our team handles everything: accessible hotels, ground transport, daily activities, and of course, personal support workers who are trained specifically for disability travel.
If you’ve ever dreamt of seeing the Great Wall, watching lanterns float across the sky, or standing in a place that feels like another planet—then maybe it’s time to get curious.
ClubMates makes accessible travel across the globe achievable, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
Talk to our team about our upcoming tours to China or ask about designing your own supported adventure. We’ll help you figure out how your supports work with your NDIS funding and what out-of-pocket costs you can expect.
Because no one should miss out on the wonders of the world—especially you.
