Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is a growing industry in Australia. Visual arts and crafts, performing arts, cultural centres and guided tours all involve increasing numbers of Indigenous Australians as producers, owners, managers and employees.

In the Wet Tropics region, there are a variety of ways to experience Rainforest Aboriginal cultures first hand. A number of communities have developed their own enterprises that showcase their culture. Ask at a visitor centre or tour desk about the range of Tropical North Queensland's award winning indigenous owned and operated cultural tourist businesses.

You can also read about cultural toruism research in our research section.

 
Cultural Centres

Step into the Menmuny Museum at the Yarrabah Aboriginal community near Cairns and you will learn about the history and people of the settlement. The museum offers excellent displays of traditional artefacts and historical photographs of the early Mission days. Contact Menmuny Museum by phone on (07) 4034-1142.

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is joint venture with the Djabugay Aboriginal community and is located on a 10 hectare park just 15 minutes north of Cairns. Tjapukai is featured in the 1997 Guinness Book of Records as the longest running show in Australia and has won over 15 major tourism awards. This unique attraction combines the latest in theatrics and technology to feature Djabugay traditional culture and customs. The $9 million enterprise is the largest employer of indigenous people in Australia.

 
Tour Guides

A unique way to learn about the rainforest is to learn from an Aboriginal guide. Rainforest Aboriginal people are very proud of their heritage and want to share their culture with you. If you experience the rainforest with an Aboriginal guide you will take away a greater understanding of the deep respect Aboriginal people have for their country.

The best way to learn about Aboriginal culture is from Traditional Owners. Rainforest Aboriginal people are very concerned that some tourism companies are profiting from Aboriginal culture and not respecting Aboriginal peoples' desire to "tell their own stories".

A number of award winning indigenous owned operations offer a variety of tour packages. Experience the Daintree in a day with Kuku Yalanji tour guide, Hazel Douglas of Native Guide Safari Tours.

The Mossman Gorge Community (Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku) welcomes visitors to their enterprise, Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walks, to join their 11/2 hour guided walks.

 
Dancers

There are many dance groups in the Wet Tropics region performing traditional dances that have been handed down from generation to generation. The dancers show their audience how all aspects of Rainforest Aboriginal culture connect - songs and dances celebrate and teach about the importance of country and keeping culture strong.

Catch a performance at Aboriginal owned and operated cultural centres and at arts and culture festivals. Some of the troupes to keep an eye out for include the Bama Ngappi Ngappi dancers from Yarrabah, the Jidda Girri dancers from Ravenshoe, the Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku dancers from Mossman Gorge, and the Mayi Wanba dancers at Kuranda. Many schools also have troupes as well.

 
Artists

The Wet Tropics is a creative hub for traditional and contemporary art. Art has always been important part of Rainforest Aboriginal culture and the tradition continues with a variety of thriving Aboriginal owned and operated art galleries and artefact workshops through out the region.

As Aboriginal art and culture gains in popularity, it is unfortunate that some tourist shops are selling cheap imitations which are made without any meaning and infringe upon the cultural property rights of the traditional owners for that particular design or artwork. This applies to song and dance as well. Rainforest Aboriginal people are very concerned about these "rip offs" and people profiting from their culture inappropriately. There are many well known cases of non-Aboriginal people copying designs and putting them on t-shirts or tea towels to sell to tourists for a quick profit. Rainforest Aboriginal people disapprove of this cultural infringement.

If you are planning to buy Rainforest Aboriginal art, there are a few easy things to do to ensure you buy authentic work and prevent cultural infringements. When buying Aboriginal art, check to see it carries a logo or paperwork guaranteeing its authenticity or ask the owners who the artist is and where they come from. It is your right as a discerning consumer to question the authenticity of artwork and to choose to shop elsewhere if you are not satisfied that the artwork is genuine. Apart from buying an authentic product, you are also helping to promote ethical behaviour in our tourist industry and supporting indigenous artists and businesses.