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How to Make Didgeridoo

📝 This post, Making Your Own Didgeridoo, was originally published in 2012 and has been updated with new information and resources.

When my (now ex)husband accepted a job in Sydney, Australia, our family packed up our lives in Washington State and moved halfway around the world for two years. It was an incredible adventure, and one of my biggest goals while we lived there was to help my boys experience as much of Australia’s history, culture, and natural beauty as possible.

One of the most memorable experiences was attending a community celebration during NAIDOC Week, an annual event that celebrates the history, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We watched traditional dancing, listened to beautiful didgeridoo music, and even participated in a kid-friendly workshop where we learned about this remarkable instrument.

When we came home that afternoon, my oldest son couldn’t stop talking about everything he had seen. So we decided to create our own didgeridoos inspired by what we had learned that day.

What Is a Didgeridoo?

A didgeridoo is a traditional wind instrument that has been played by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia for thousands of years. Traditionally, it is made from eucalyptus trees that have been naturally hollowed out by termites and is known for its deep, rich, resonating sound.

The didgeridoo is much more than a musical instrument. It has long been used in ceremonies, storytelling, and cultural traditions, and it continues to hold great cultural significance for many Aboriginal communities today.

Creating a simple classroom version gives children an opportunity to learn about another culture through art, music, and hands-on exploration. While our homemade didgeridoos certainly aren’t the same as traditional instruments, they sparked wonderful conversations about Australia’s First Peoples and helped my boys remember everything they had learned during our day at the festival.

How We Made Our Homemade Didgeridoos

After we got home from the festival, my youngest settled in for his afternoon nap while my oldest and I gathered a few supplies from around the house. We certainly didn’t have hollow eucalyptus trees in our apartment, so we improvised with two cardboard mailing tubes instead!

Before we started painting, we looked at photos of traditional didgeridoos and talked about the earthy colors, dot painting, and geometric patterns we had seen earlier that day. I also printed several traditional Aboriginal symbols so we could discuss their meanings and use them as inspiration for our designs.

We spent nearly an hour painting and talking together. As we worked, my son shared what he had learned at school about Aboriginal culture, and we talked about the dancing, music, and stories we had experienced at the festival. Looking back, I realize those conversations became my favorite part of the project.

When the paint dried, it was time to see if they worked. To our surprise, they actually made sound! No, they didn’t sound quite like the beautiful didgeridoos we had heard that morning, but they brought back wonderful memories of a very special day in Australia.

How to Make a Homemade Didgeridoo

Materials Needed

✔️ Cardboard mailing tube
✔️ Acrylic or tempera paint in earthy colors (brown, black, red, yellow, and white)
✔️ Paintbrushes
✔️ Photos of traditional didgeridoos for inspiration
✔️ Printouts of traditional Aboriginal symbols for inspiration (optional) 

Directions

✔️ Begin by looking at photos of traditional didgeridoos together. Talk about the colors, patterns, and symbols you notice. This is a great opportunity to discuss the cultural significance of the instrument and appreciate the beautiful artwork created by Aboriginal artists.

✔️ Decorate the mailing tube using earthy colors. Add dots, geometric patterns, and symbols inspired by traditional Aboriginal artwork. Encourage children to create their own unique designs rather than copying a specific instrument.

✔️ Allow the paint to dry completely.

✔️ Once dry, try playing your homemade didgeridoo! Experiment with making different sounds and compare them with recordings of authentic didgeridoo music.

Children’s Books About the Didgeridoo

If you’d like to continue learning after making your homemade didgeridoo, these picture books are wonderful additions to your classroom or home library.

Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: For the Children of Gunbalanya by Alison Lester

When Ernie moves from the city to Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory, he writes letters to his former classmates describing his new friends, daily life, and adventures. This engaging story introduces children to life in northern Australia while celebrating friendship and cultural discovery.

And Kangaroo Played His Didgeridoo by Nigel Gray

This fun, rhyming picture book tells the story of a lively Australian gathering where Kangaroo steals the show by playing his didgeridoo! Filled with playful language and colorful illustrations, it’s a wonderful read-aloud for young children learning about Australia.

Do You Do a Didgeridoo? by Nick Page

This delightful rhyming story follows a mysterious customer searching for a didgeridoo in Mr. Music-man’s marvelous music shop. Full of humor, repetition, and beautiful illustrations, it’s a fun way to introduce children to this unique instrument while encouraging a love of reading.

Bringing Australia Home

Living in Australia gave our family experiences we’ll never forget, and making these homemade didgeridoos is still one of my favorite memories from our time there. What started as a simple afternoon craft became an opportunity to learn, create, and talk together about everything we had experienced that day.

Whether you’re studying Australia in your classroom or simply looking for a unique art and music activity, I hope this project inspires your own conversations and creativity.