Five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences in the tropical north

Jarramali Rock Art Tours | Culture Connect | Yagurli Tours |  Strait Journeys by Strait Experience | Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours

You might expect history that’s 60,000 years old to be locked in a museum, kept behind glass and secured by armoured guard, but they share their history a little bit differently in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.  

From the Gulf Savannah, which stretches from Cairns to the Northern Territory border, the length of the Cape York Peninsula and over water to the Torres Strait, every town and landscape in Tropical North Queensland is like an ancient history book lying open for you to discover.

If you prefer your history told out of the classroom rather than in it, let these Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences take you back to the Dreamtime.

1. Jarramali Rock Art Tours 

What do you say to wandering through an art gallery that’s 20,000 years old?

Join Jarramali Rock Art Tours to tour the ‘Magnificent Gallery’, one of the Quinkan Rock Art sites, which earned UNESCO status as one of the ten most significant bodies of rock art in the world.

You’ll tour this rugged part of the country by 4WD or scenic helicopter, with interpretive commentary from a Kuku Yalanji guide who translate the Dreamtime stories of the region.

The tour winds its way to exclusive rock art sites only accessible to Jarramali guests, where you can bask in artworks sketched into the sandstone escarpments some tens of thousands of years ago (for more information about Aboriginal rock art, step over here).

Sure, you can experience the rock art sites in a day, but two days are recommended to truly immerse yourself in this rich serving of Aboriginal culture. The benefit of an overnight stay is that you’ll get to camp out in one of nature’s penthouses – camping on a sandstone escarpment with views that trail long beyond what the eye can see.

With nothing but canvas connecting your comfortable tent or swag to the unpolluted night sky, you’ll feel instantly grounded in nature, falling asleep under the stars and waking up to the birds.

Is it a transformative experience? You better believe it.

2. Culture Connect

What does cattle farming, 200km west of the Great Barrier Reef have to do with protecting the World Heritage-listed wonder? Join Culture Connect for a tour of Normanby Station to find out.

Tour the station, which sits halfway between Cooktown and Laura, to see how Aboriginal farming techniques and traditional practices are helping to reduce sediment emptying into the Great Barrier Reef.

Led by Traditional Owners across both a half or full day tour format, you’ll share in the stories of the Balnggarrawarra people as you tour the property. Along with native land practices, discover rarely seen rock art sites, which date back 6000 years.

Like a life-size encyclopedia, the walls of this escarpment talk with images of crocodiles, dingos, emus and barramundi and even sailing ships, which perhaps are some of the first recordings of European settlement.

The stencil drawings, which are clear as day, tell clear stories of the Aboriginal way of life. How else can you explain the fact there are illustrations of saltwater stingrays 200km from the coast unless the Aboriginal people thousands of years ago were nomadic?

Looking for more? For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tours in Cairns just like this, you can connect with culture on these tours too.

3. Yagurli Tours

You’ll need to head 890km west from Cairns along the iconic Savannah Way drive route to find this Aboriginal experience, which is worth the 10.5 hours you’ll put on the bitumen between Cairns and Burketown.

While Burketown might be small in population (just the 238 residents call it home), it’s big on cultural experience with Yagurli Tours operating from this Gulf Savannah base.

Choose between four tour formats – sunset cruise, 4WD,  fishing charter or stargazing (not currently operating) – to go behind the scenes of the Gangalidda and Garawa people’s way of life. No matter which you choose, expect to be mesmerised by the connection between people and country which are inextricably linked thanks to weather phenomena like Wet Season and Morning Glory cloud formations which define the Burketown landscape.

Having built their home around Australia’s largest salt pans for tens of thousands of years, the Gangalidda and Garawa Peoples have deep connections with the river, sea and birdlife that both water systems support. It makes sense one of the best ways to experience the area is from the water and their Gambumanda Sunset Cruise transports you to another world as you putter along the Gambumanda or Albert River.

No matter which tour you choose, your guide will share their traditional knowledge and insights into the river system, which has supported their culture for 70,000 plus years.

4. Strait Journeys by Strait Experience

Are you big on curiosity but short on time? One of Australia's most untouched tourism destinations – the islands of the Torres Strait – is now easily accessible to travellers for one big day out. Thought to be Australia’s most unique one-day package, 'A Strait Day' by Strait Experiences gives visitors the rare opportunity to experience one of the few places in the world where ancient culture is still part of everyday life. Departing from Cairns, the tour incorporates six iconic Torres Strait Islander experiences, including a tour of Ngurapai (Horn Island) and Waibene (Thursday Island).

You’ll want to consult this itinerary to discover the Torres Strait before you start making bookings.

For more celebrations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture just like this, mark your diary with these dates for this year.

5. Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours

Travel to Cairns and you’ll quickly become familiar with the World Heritage beauty that surrounds you, from the Great Barrier Reef to the rainforest-clad mountains. Want to go deeper? Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours share the Dreaming stories behind their creation.

100% Aboriginal owned and operated, the Indigenous Rangers - all direct descendants of lead warrior Jabulum Mandingalpai – introduce you to their traditional land on a half-day 'The Hands on Country' eco tour. Jump on board in Cairns Marina and glide across Trinity Inlet to where the salt water meets the fresh water flowing from the mountains on Mandingalbay Yidinji Country. Arrive to a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, then learn all about local flora and fauna, culturally significant places, and take a guided walk through the land as they pass on stories and traditions spanning 50,000 years.

Want to extend your experience? Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours hosts monthly 'Deadly Dinners', as well as the opportunity to camp overnight on Mandingalbay Yidinji traditional country.