Experience Queensland’s nature through an Indigenous lens

There’s no doubt about it, Queensland is full of big, showstopping nature – home to the five UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, 1000 national parks, and 6973 kilometres of coastline, just to name a few natural attractions within its borders.

But to see Queensland through only its flora and fauna misses the State’s spiritual side – one which dates back tens of thousands of years and is as rich as it is diverse.

If you want to see Queensland’s natural attractions through a different lens, discover our landforms with an Indigenous guide.

To explore the reef: Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel

There’s no shortage of Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns, but only one is a specialised cultural experience on the reef: Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel.

You’ll still get to explore the reef with a snorkel or scuba mask, but your Indigenous hosts will give you unparalleled insight into how their ancestors lived on Sea Country long before European settlers anchored in these parts.

Learn more about the tropical fish and colourful corals through the lens of locals who have been passing down stories about the reef environment for tens of thousands of years.

Blending science and spirit is what Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel seeks to achieve, and if the visitor feedback is anything to go by, its powerful combination is working.

What’s mind-blowing is the fact the Sea Country people had so much knowledge that predates modern science, with evidence the Indigenous people were documenting migrating patterns of marine species for tens and thousands of years.

When you don’t have your head underwater experiencing the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, be transported by song, dance and bush tucker lessons on the deck of their purpose-built vessel.

To see a different side of the Sunshine Coast: Saltwater Eco Tours

To see the Sunshine Coast in new light, hop aboard Saltwater Eco Tours which sets sail through the canals of Mooloolaba, transporting you back in time to ancient sea culture.

Hosted by Kabi Kabi, you’ll hear about the relationship the Sunshine Coast’s first people had with the animals and landscape for a lot longer time than everyone who’s on board the vessel has even been alive.

You won’t look at Mount Coolum, Maroochydore or Glass House Mountains in the same light after hearing their story of creation involving a romantic encounter, a tale which has been passed down like a fable and lesson in having strong morals.

Across two hours you’ll learn about the bush tucker and medicine that’s sustained the Saltwater People for thousands of years, that will leave you walking away with a sense of pride for the ingenuity of Australia’s first people.

To really see stars: Yagurli Tours

You’ll need to head north to Burketown in the Gulf Savannah to find this experience – taking the Savannah Way to the sweeping bite out of the Queensland map where the Northern Territory and Queensland meet.

Your Indigenous guide from Yagurli Tours (not currently operating) will let you in on local knowledge and education otherwise reserved for the Gangalidda and Garawa people, offering rare insights into the untold history of this part of the world.

If you’ve done much touring of Outback Queensland, you’ll know the history told is largely European-centric, so taking a Yagurli Tour feels like holding a VIP entry ticket to hear history that’s been passed down from the first people who walked these lands.

You’ll discover how the Indigenous people lived symbiotically with the curious Burketown landscape, which even to this day is one of contrasts, transforming each wet season into the largest wetland in Australia.

There are four Yagurli Tours to choose from – but the stargazing tour at night combines history with the overwhelming beauty of the outback night sky.

With the aid of state-of-the-art telescopes set up on the edge of Australia’s largest salt pans, your Gangalidda guide will share stories of how Aboriginal people have been using the stars as their guides for thousands of years.

If you like your history transformative, you’ll love how ancient history is told up here. It’s easy to feel like a small blip in the universe, standing under just a blanket of stars.

To see another side of a World Heritage-listed icon: Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours

What you might not know about K’gari (Fraser Island) is that it was only handed over to the Butchulla people in 2014.

While their native title ownership on paper might be recent, the stories of the Butchulla people are ancient, and to hear them, you’ll want to join Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours.

With the choice of three tour formats, you’ll turn back the pages of history to K’gari’s creation as passed down from generation-to-generation.

Butchulla stories will be shared as you explore a handful of the small islands of the Great Sandy Strait, onboard a smooth, glass-bottomed boat.

Book the sunset tour to discover traditional fishing methods and food gathering techniques, which have been honed for tens of thousands of years, set to the soundtrack of a didgeridoo playing. 

For rock art and ancient wisdom: Culture Connect Tours

Culture Connect Tours takes you on tours of their country, Normanby Station near the North Queensland town of Cooktown.

Hear stories from the Dreamtime that appear to flow from a secret vault of history that your host will unlock before your eyes and ears.

You’ll explore Normanby Station, navigating through hidden passageways to see remarkable rock art dating back 6000 years.

Like a living encyclopedia, you’ll see illustrations depicting crocodiles, dingos, emus and barramundi and even sailing ships – thought to be some of the first recordings of the first European visit.

The walls really talk, proving just how nomadic Indigenous people were – with images of plants and animals found hundreds of kilometres south than the walls they’re painted on.

As you wander the property, your hosts will explain how their ancestors used the cues from Mother Nature to eat seasonally.

What you might not be aware of, is every plant and animal leaves clues, to the point that when the wattles and scarlet gums are in flower, you can guarantee on the coast, the crab, stingray, mullet are fat and full of meat.

It’s ancient wisdom like this that you can’t help but be transformed by and take away as memories.