Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours

Just a 15 minute drive north of Port Douglas is beautiful Cooya Beach (Kuyu Kuyu),  a special place and traditional fishing grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people and home to Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours.

Join  Kubirriwarra guides on their beach, mudflat and mangrove walk! Brothers, Linc and Brandon Walker follow the traditions of their ancestors by educating visitors about their traditional country on the far north east coast of Australia. This unique coastal place has three diverse ecosystems – beach, mangroves and coastal reef – that are connected to each other by the ever-changing mudflats and tidal lagoons. Learn how to throw a spear, hunt  and how to find plants for food and medicine. They will  introduce you to some of their family members and share knowledge of this special area and how they care for their country.

Coastal Beach And Mangrove Walk

Traditional Aboriginal fishing activity - mud-crabbing, spear fishing

Kuku Yalanji Traditional Custodian will meet with visitors to their traditional homeland on Cooya beach where they continue to practice their cultural activities and maintain their cultural heritage.

After explaining the cultural importance of this country, guides will introduce guests to their traditional fishing activity of spear throwing and handling as it is still practiced here today.

Visitors will then follow their cultural guide with a spear each along Cooya beach observing cultural medicine and food plants. The guides will then take guests along with them as they continue their daily spear fishing and gathering for their families into the mangroves and onto the mudflats.

After about 2hrs of cultural activities and coastal walking guests will return with the guides to see Kuku Yalanji artefacts and share rare stories from their traditional land while they prepare their daily food for their families.

Departs Daily: 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. Bookings are essential.

Note: Minimum Numbers of 4 Adults required to operate the tour. Medium to high level fitness required.

Coastal Beach Night Time Walk

Try a night-time fishing activity – night walking

Night-time fishing activities are still a common traditional activity and now is your opportunity to experience it with a local family. New lighting technology is sure to make your experience one to remember.

Departs On Request: 7.30 pm. Bookings are essential.

Note: Minimum Numbers of 2 Adults required to operate the tour. Medium to high level fitness required.

Cultural Beach Mangrove and Mudflat Tour - Private

Join our First Nations guides on this exclusively unique tour and immerse yourself in our rich culture and history on Kubirriwarra Country.

Upon arrival a Traditional Welcome followed by a Traditional Smoking Ceremony will be performed to protect you while you walk with us on our traditional lands.

First Nations guides will then introduce guests to their traditional fishing activity of spear throwing and handling as it is still practiced here today.

With spear in hand you will then follow along the beach mangrove and mudflats identifying cultural medicine and food plants and are included in their daily activity of spear fishing and gathering for their families.

After about 2 hrs of cultural activities and coastal walking guests will return with the guides to see Kuku Yalanji artefacts and share rare stories from their traditional land while they prepare their daily food for their families.

What to Bring: wear a hat, sunscreen and cover up.  Bring drinking water and don’t forget the insect repellent.  Wear beach shoes and comfortable clothing for walking through water, mudflats and mangroves.