Liandra Gaykamangu on the meaning behind her swimwear designs

By Carla Grossetti
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For a snapshot in time, we asked eight people around the country to reflect on Australia Now. Here, Liandra Gaykamangu, Creative Director & Founder of Liandra Swim in the NT, shares her thoughts on what the global pandemic has taught her.

Keep reading our Australia Now series here.

You were born in East Arnhem Land, but moved to Wollongong in 2000 with your mum. What drew you back to the Northern Territory?

Dad passed away in December 2019 when I was eight months pregnant with my third baby. When I returned home for his funeral, I found it comforting to have my wider family around me. I also wanted my kids to know their family, culture and language and thought it would be good for them to spend time in East Arnhem Land learning who they are. There was always an expectation in my family that I would achieve as much as I could and then bring that back to my community and make a positive impact. My parents always pushed me to achieve. When I left high school for university, Dad said to me: “Don’t forget who you are and where you’re from. Come home when you’re ready." After his passing, it felt right on a personal and professional level to make the move.

East Arnhem Land secluded beach

The remote beaches of East Arnhem Land in the NT. (Image: Tourism NT/Hayley Anderson)

You have a teaching degree. Why swimwear?

My mum remarried a surfer and we spent a lot of our family time on the beach. The ocean is a naturally comforting place for me; I am a Yolngu woman, and it is integral to our culture and livelihoods. I love swimwear and it felt like a comfortable place for me to use fashion and wrap it in education and give people an opportunity to learn about Indigenous women, our culture and stories. My swimwear is an extension of what I care deeply about. It’s who I am.

Model wears Tara Top and Tara Bottom from the Liandra Swim Community Collection

Tara Top and Tara Bottom from the Liandra Swim Community Collection. (Image: Tim Henry)

What are you most proud of with Liandra Swim?

My swimwear is wrapped up in all the things I love – it merges tradition with sustainability and education. I am really proud of my partnership with David Jones and our first runway at Afterpay Australia Fashion Week. I am also really proud of our growing Liandra Swim community and love seeing women wearing Liandra Swim.

Tell us about your new line, the Community Collection?

I wanted to put the focus on my beautiful Milingimbi Island. This collection is inspired by the landscape and my experience of being from there. My hand-drawn prints are a contemporary take on Aboriginal art and culture. I have some incredible artist family members who I look forward to working with, when the timing is right, because I want to do those songlines justice. I am not launching a collection just to make money. It has to make sense and be done correctly with appropriate conversations and family consultations.

What has launching Liandra Swim taught you about yourself?

To always believe in myself. I had people say, ‘Swimwear is an oversaturated market’. But I stayed true to my vision and now, being able to partner with David Jones and being recognised by international magazines such as Vogue in the US, Elle (Italy), Harper’s Bazaar and The Zoe Report after just a few years in the game validates that. I am glad I followed my gut and my dream.

Proud Yolngu woman Liandra-Gaykamangu-in-Milingimbi in East Arnhem Land

Proud Yolngu woman, Liandra Gaykamangu returned home to Milingimbi in the Crocodile Islands in East Arnhem Land, after rthe launch of her swimwear line, Liandra Swim. (Image: Yasmin Steel)

How do you perceive Australia right now?

I am the co-CEO of an NFP, Enterprise Learning Projects, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to achieve their goals in business and entrepreneurship, so I have a lot of conversations around social enterprise and I see conversations shifting, which is exciting. The batons are being passed to the next generation. And I can’t speak for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But I am in a position to take that baton from those in fashion, education and the social enterprise space and continue to open discussions.

Social enterprise is not a new term for Indigenous Australians, is it?

No. It’s not. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, community impact has always been a part of how we do business. I have to make money, because that is how you grow and stay in business. But money is not how I, as an Aboriginal woman, view success or how I see our biggest impact.

How do non-Indigenous Australians find pride in our Indigenous history?

I highly recommend for non-Indigenous people to connect with their local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community first before feeling the need to explore beyond that. It’s a huge sign of respect to understand the stories of the Country you live on and engage with every day. It’s really important to know that Australia is versatile in terms of culture and language so stories may be similar, but there will always be differences. It is also good to be mindful of history and how that has impacted people. Australia is a very big place with varying cultures, languages and impacts. Lean into your local community and engage with where you spend most of your time. Then go and explore all Indigenous Australia has to offer, so you can get a deeper understanding of why we have, and need, so many different voices, faces and perspectives.

Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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It’s official! The Northern Territory’s best restaurant is in Uluṟu.

    By Emily Murphy
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    Australia’s most iconic rock now rocks the food scene.

    You already know Uluṟu as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders – but did you know it’s also home to the Northern Territory’s best dining?

    At the 2025 Hospitality NT Gold Plate Awards, Tali Wiṟu, the signature open-air dining experience at Ayers Rock Resort, was crowned Restaurant of the Year. The win cements Uluṟu as not only a bucket-list destination for awe-inspiring landscapes but also for world-class food.

    A fine-dining experience under the stars

    A table of people dining at Tali Wiṟu in Uluṟu

    Tali Wiru has a Chef’s Hat. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    Meaning “beautiful dune” in the local Aṉangu language, Tali Wiṟu offers diners an unforgettable four-course banquet beneath the desert sky. Think native flavours like wattleseed, quandong, and desert lime woven into contemporary dishes, paired with premium Australian wines and uninterrupted views of Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa glowing at sunset.

    It’s a recipe that has already earned Tali Wiṟu a coveted Chef’s Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide – making it the highest-rated restaurant in the Northern Territory and the only open-air restaurant in Australia to hold such an honour.

    More than one win for Uluṟu

    Dining at Arnguli Grill & Restaurant in Uluṟu

    Arnguli Grill & Restaurant won the Best Hotel Restaurant. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    The resort didn’t stop there. Its Arnguli Grill & Restaurant, located at Desert Gardens Hotel, also took home the award for Best Hotel Restaurant, impressing judges with refined dishes that showcase premium Australian steak and native ingredients in an elegant yet relaxed setting.

    A taste of Country

    Tali Wiṟu in Uluṟu chef plating entrees

    The culinary philosophy is to champion bush foods and pay respect to Anangu culture. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

    For both restaurants, the accolades recognise more than just flawless cooking – they’re also a celebration of connection to Country. Central to Ayers Rock Resort’s culinary philosophy is championing bush foods and paying respect to Aṉangu culture. Native ingredients like lemon myrtle, kangaroo and desert lime feature heavily on the menus, offering travellers a true taste of the Red Centre.

    Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO Matt Cameron-Smith said the wins highlight their dedication to delivering world-class dining experiences.

    “These awards are a testament to the passion and creativity of our culinary teams, and to the unique cultural and natural setting that inspires everything we do,” he said.