Tasmania Indigenous tourism: Explore the history and culture of the palawa on this trek

We need to let our people know we are coming," says Indigenous elder Clyde Mansell, as he welcomes us to his ancestors' country on Tasmania's north-east coast. Speaking in palawa kani, his voice starts strongly but falters midway.

Banished, banned and broken over the past 200 years, the ancient language is being revived. Pieced together from colonial diaries, songs passed down through families and audio recordings, palawa kani is a reconstruction of the dozen or so Indigenous languages that once existed across Tasmania.

Conscious of the significance, we gather at the base of wukalina (Mount William) in preparation for our 45-minute hike to the summit. It's the start of a seven-day escorted Tasmania's Footsteps and Trails tour, run by Inspiring Journeys.

After a first night in Launceston our group of 10 (this was pre-pandemic) drives north-east for the start of the wukalina walk – the state's first and only multi-day trek through the Mount William National Park and Bay of Fires regions owned and operated by local Indigenous people. We'll trace the east coast from Launceston to Hobart – a little on foot, but mostly by vehicle – indulging in art, architecture and Indigenous culture while sampling some of the state's best food and wine.

Cut off from mainland Australia when sea levels rose about 10,000 years ago, the palawa (Indigenous peoples) of lutruwita (Tasmania) became among the most isolated on earth. From a population of about 15,000, only a few hundred palawa survived the brutalities inflicted by British colonists during the early 19th century.

"When Truganini passed away [in 1876], she was considered to be the last Tasmanian Aboriginal," says Carleeta Thomas, our palawa guide, as she leads us to the summit overlooking Bass Strait's offshore islands. "But 47 had also survived on Flinders Island after they had been detained there."

The shadows are long when we reach wukalina walk's standing camp of krakani lumi (resting place), our base for the next two nights.

Designed by Hobart architects Taylor + Hinds, the award-winning camp, based on the traditional shape of palawa seasonal shelters, consists of five sleeping pods and a domed communal hub looking onto a fire pit. After a communal dinner of scallops, mutton bird and roasted vegetables, I retire to my pod, falling asleep to the hum of the sea and the sweet scent of lemon myrtle.