Desert Song Festival

12/11/2025

On the road again!

Following the artistic triumph of their national tour in March 2025, The NIMA award-winning Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir offers you another rare opportunity to experience this unique vocal ensemble - LIVE in concert in December 2025 in three stunning performances.

6 December 8.00pm, Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
7 December 11.00am Meredith Festival
12 December 7.30pm Hamilton Performing Arts Centre

The incomparable Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir has been impressing audiences across Australia and internationally for over a decade. Be transported by this extraordinary meeting of cultures and an unforgettable experience of song and history.

29/09/2025

Before the dust settles too much, we have a favour to ask of all of you who attended our first Kwarta Tuma Festival. Please click on this link and complete our brief Event Satisfaction Survey. Many thanks!

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22/09/2025

A new festival is born!

The weather was superb
The Gorge put on its best Centralian clothing
The waterhole had just been refreshed and replenished by an unexpected storm
Camping under the open sky
The sunrise walk up to Ghost Gum
The meditations, the choral workshop
Listening to some amazing music
The magnificent Gala Dinner
And Taarna Valley…Oh Taarna Valley!
And 600 souls shared in and unforgettable A ca****la in the Gorge
The inaugural Kwarta Tuma came, conquered our souls, and left its imprint
…For the next chapter

13/09/2025

Today's wonderful program! 🧡❤💜 Even if you missed out on the new camping experiences of Kwarta Tuma Festival, you can still enjoy the iconic, free, A Ca****la in the Gorge today from 3.45pm. See you there 🎶

12/09/2025

Today's wonderful program! 🧡❤💜

11/09/2025

🧡❤💜 Something Old and Something New this weekend for Kwarta Tuma Festival! ✨

Book your tickets NOW ~ https://desertsong.com.au/

08/09/2025

✨ Thursday Middays at Yaye's Cafe 🎶

Live music with Kirryn, 12pm Thursday the 11th of Sep, in the lead up to Kwarta Tuma Festival this weekend! Kirryn is a local singer and musician, performing a soulful mix of old and new acoustic tunes.

📍Yaye's Cafe in the Araluen Arts Centre precinct. See you there!

06/09/2025

TAARNA VALLEY ~ Bush Camping Essentials

🚙 Getting there:

📍 Taarna Road Mt Zeil NT 0872. Drive west from Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive, then turn right onto Namatjira Drive. Follow Namatjira Drive until you see the Kwarta Tuma Festival signs to the Taarna Rd. turn off. (appx 124km from Alice Springs)

Please leave Alice Springs with a full tank of fuel and allow for at least 400km of driving over the weekend. FUEL IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE WEST MACDONNELL RANGES!

🔩 What to bring:

🔵 Your own vehicle!* This is a self-drive bush camping event. Vehicles with reasonable clearance will be needed for Taarna Valley.

🔵 Your tent or swag, and any cooking equipment suitable for cooking on campfires.

🔵 A basic First aid kit, toiletries, insect repellent and for the fainthearted a fly net!

🔵 Suitable outdoor attire for sitting in the dirt and for cool desert nights (you are not going to the Opera!)

🔵 A 10-litre box of drinking water per person

🔵 A torch!

🔵 Any food for extra meals not included in your ticket.

BOOK NOW: https://desertsong.com.au/taarna-valley-program/

*Kwarta Tuma Festival may be able to facilitate coach transport to and from these sites and invites expressions of interest if this is your only option.

05/09/2025

Last choral workshop is on today, 1pm, at Yaye's Cafe at the Araluen Arts Centre precinct. This is your chance to join the Central Australian Women’s Choir, The Shavings, The Splinter Sisters and the Mparntwe Children’s Choir for A Ca****la in the Gorge next weekend.

05/09/2025

TAARNA VALLEY 🌄🔥

Imagine! It’s Friday September 12. You are on the Red Centre Way taking one of the best commutes in the world along the West Macdonnell Ranges to your destination ~ Taarna Valley...

🕒 Around 3pm you arrive and are welcomed by Western Arrarnta Traditional Owners, Hors D‘oeuvres follow, you set up camp.

🕔 At 5pm you take the short drive to Ormiston Gorge for a bush dinner, be serenaded under the stars and if you choose, enjoy a guided nighttime walk. Then...

🌅 Saturday morning breaks at Taarna Valley. Mind-blowing! Take your pick of program options either at Taarna Valley or Ormiston Gorge and after lunch take a gentle dive into Western Arrarnta Culture under the guidance of Bobby Abbott and Mary Tupou.

It’s an immersive afternoon meeting with elders, making art, hearing stories, experiencing Western Arrarnta culture and ending with the best dinner you will ever eat in the West Macdonell Ranges!

On Sunday, you move back to Ormiston Gorge…from sunrise to almost sunset for a meditation, a singing workshop, music, music and even more music and, the Jewel in the Crown, A Ca****la in the Gorge….

A weekend like you have never ever experienced: unique and life-transforming!

Book now:

TAARNA VALLEY EVENTS (Some events at Ormiston Gorge) Friday 12 September 3pm Welcome to Taarna Valley Bobby Abbott and Mary Tupou welcome you to their beautiful outstation on Western Arrarnta Country for your special time of cultural activities. Set up camp and gather for a yarn around the campfire....

05/09/2025

🧡❤💜 TWO UNIQUE EXPERIENCES 🌅⛺🎶🌌

1. Taarna Valley ~ 2 nights camping with cultural activities led by Elders Bobby Abbott and Mary Tupou, musical delights, dinner under the stars and more!

Full program and tickets here:

https://desertsong.com.au/taarna-valley-program/

2. Ormiston Gorge ~ Ranger guided walks and talks both day and night, musical delights, dinner under the stars and more!

Full program and tickets here:

https://desertsong.com.au/ormiston-gorge-program/

OR create your own adventure with our hybrid experience!

Hybrid details and tickets here:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1442355