Daintree Aboriginal Cultural Tour | Mossman Gorge | ANDD/ANDDN

Daintree Aboriginal Cultural Tour | Mossman Gorge | ANDD/ANDDN

Explore the stunningly beautiful Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest on a unique aboriginal cultural tour. 

Nothing quite compares to standing in the oldest rainforest in the world at over 135 million years old – that’s a lot of birthday cake candles! 

As you walk under rare ferns as big as umbrellas and trees as tall as office blocks, with flora and fauna untouched since time began.

Your tour guide will show you how the Aboriginal Indigenous tribes lived for centuries off the land and the plants they used.

What an amazing day tour learning experience for adults and children alike. This is what is meant by bringing education alive. 

Our small bespoke Aboriginal cultural tour cater for only 16 guests per day ensuring your day tour is one that you will really feel a part of something amazing.   

Not only to learn about the land and its cultural heritage but also to experience the wonder of the Daintree Rainforest and the Aboriginal people makes this a day to remember for everyone.

Imagine your first taste of your own freshly caught bush tucker – beats even a five star restaurant!

Way before Bear Grylls, the Aboriginals were hunting and fishing for their own food and living off the land in a sustainable cohesive way.

Your Indigenous rainforest guide, from the local Kuku Yalanji tribe, that have inhabited the Daintree Rainforest for 50,000 years, will show you the techniques used for generations to catch your own bush tucker.

Walk through the 135 million year old Daintree Rainforest under rare overhanging ferns and trees as tall as office blocks. 

Just soak up nature through your every pore as the sounds of insects and birds are your acoustic backdrop and the pure rainforest air invigorates your lungs. 

Be amazed as your personal tour guide will show you how the plants and trees were used for food, medicine and hunting. 

After all your activities refresh yourself swim in the clear crystal waters of the Mossman Gorge. 

The invigoration as the water, direct from the rainforest cloud droplets covers your body under the filigreed branches of the rainforest canopy is pure heaven.

This is a day for learning, discovery, adventure, surprises and wonder.  Understand more about the Indigenous Aboriginal culture and how they use the land and respect it. 

If you love adventure and want to learn about the different aspects of their culture and nature then this definitely is the tour for you.

Your wonderful day tour has the following amazing activities:

Coastal Mangrove Walk, Cooya Beach – Catch Your Own Bush Tucker (food)!

Your chance to get your own tucker… and eat it!

Your amazing day will start with a 2 hour walking tour starting at the stunning Cooya Beach (Kuyu Kuyu) just north of Port Douglas in Queensland Australia. 

This special place is the traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people.  You will join one of the Kubirri Warra brothers Bradon or Linc on their beach, mangrove walks and mudflats. 

This unique coastal environment has three diverse eco systems – mangrove, beach and coastal reef that are connected by the ever changing tidal lagoons and mudflats. 

Here you will be introduced to the traditional way of fishing used by Linc and Bradon and their ancestors before them.

With some skilful demonstrations you will then have the chance to find your own tucker Your catch may include, mussels, crabs or fish or all of them. 

Whatever you have expertly caught will be cooked up for everyone to share along with homemade damper on the balcony of their family home.

This is a real immersive Aboriginal cultural experience and you will be welcomed with a Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony.

When you see your guides lighting up a cigar, it is actually a mix of herbs that have properties to spiritually cleanse the surroundings and ward off evil spirits. 

The traditional smoking ceremony is the traditional start to the Welcome to Country Ceremony. 

This smoking ceremony is conducted only by Aboriginals who have a specialised cultural knowledge to welcome people to the land. 

It is so to ensure that while you are present on traditional land that the Kuku Yalanji people accept and honour you on your visit.

Mossman Gorge – Daintree Rainforest Tours

The beauty of the Daintree Rainforest in its natural magnificence is awe inspiring. 

Wander into the lush rainforest of this World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park and it’s not hard to understand why it has been listed.

Your guide will take you on an easy walk across boardwalks, tracks and bridges that are designed to protect the delicate ecosystem from human impact. 

Your guide will bring to life the rich flora, fauna and diverse ecosystems of this amazing rainforest.

The tour will also take you to an area of Mossman Gorge that is usually off limits to normal visitors and comes with its own private swimming hole so you can immerse yourself in the tranquillity of your stunning beautiful surroundings. 

Lay back in those pristine waters and the rest of the modern world seems a lifetime away.

The Daintree Rainforest is a tick list must for nature lovers. Under its canopied auspices it contains scientifically acclaimed examples of fauna and flora representing eight major stages in the earth’s evolutionary history. 

Some native Australian wildlife is only particular to this area and very rare. 

From kangaroos that live in trees to 6 foot tall flightless birds, the animal diversity here is astounding. 

A third of Australia’s mammals and frogs, a quarter of its reptiles, including over 12000 insects that have been catalogued so far, and they are still finding more every day.

For bird watchers, ornithologists or twitchers this is indeed a haven for getting out the binoculars and securing the zoom camera lenses. 

You might even be lucky to run into (hopefully not literally)  one of the rare remaining 1200 Cassowaries that inhabit the Daintree Rainforest. 

For entomologists or insect lovers you might see the flashing electric blue glimmer of a passing Ulysses butterfly or a stick insect cleverly camouflaged on a supporting twig.

For reptile lovers or herpetologists you might see a scuttling Boyd’s Rainforest Dragon as it dashes for cover running on its hind legs like an athlete hurtling towards a finish line.

For anyone who isn’t an ‘ologist’ there is much to excite people of all interests.  There is much to see for children as there is for adults. 

Your Aboriginal guide will make it educational, entertaining and really bring to life the beauty of this rare Rainforest jewel.

Lunch – Mossman Gorge Centre

A wonderfully flavoursome lunch with local flavours is served in the Mossman Gorge Centre at the edge of the Daintree Rainforest. 

The centre is the main cultural focal point for the area. 

You will fall in love with at least one of the Aboriginal artworks shown in the Mossman Gorge Art Gallery and want it at home on your wall. 

The high standard of work from these talented local artists come in a variety styles, as etchings, oils, photography and are more contemporary in their subject matter than the traditional points of paint method. 

The well-stocked shop also has much to tempt you with a wide range of beautiful souvenirs of your visit.

Optional Extra

As an optional extra you can take an Aboriginal Guided Daintree Rainforest Walk (1.5 hours). Ngadiku Walk

There’s nothing quite like hearing and seeing an Indigenous Aboriginal guide demonstrating traditional plant use and identifying bush food.

Your Aboriginal guide will even show you how to make traditional ochre paint and bush soaps. (Wonder if the soap was discovered after wanting to remove the paint) as well as taking you on walk through the stunning rainforest on private walking trails.

You will learn which plants are used for food and medicine. You will also gain an understanding how the Indigenous culture incorporates its ancestors in their daily lives. 

See more Aborignal Cultural tours 

This tour is also available as a private tour for up to 6 guests - timing may differ slightly