Jetsettersblog

Tours in Tropical North Queensland

May 31, 2006 on 8:30 am | In Queensland |

A savvy selection of indigenous entrepreneurs is sharing their intimate knowledge of Tropical North Queensland with travellers through a new range of tours and safaris.

A life-changing week awaits guests to Chivaree Camp in remote Mapoon, where the Cape York Turtle Rescue Project works to protect the green sea turtle and its fragile habitat. Guests, led by indigenous rangers, scientists and researchers, assist with removing fishing nets, collecting data on nesting turtles and generally focus on protecting and rescuing the endangered turtles in the waters of Tidal Janie Creek at the Gulf of Carpentaria. Five-night all-inclusive Chivaree Camp packages from Weipa cost $1875 per person. Contact: Stuart Wright (07) 4090 9124; email: mapoon.ceo@mapoon.qld.

Wujal Wujal, four hours drive north of Cairns, is home to Walker Family Tours. Guests join the women of the Walker family for a half-hour walking tour to the beautiful Bloomfield Falls in the pristine Daintree rainforest and share stories of their ancestral land and the ways of the local Yalanji people.

They show guests traditional bush foods and medicine plants and recount the many ways Yalanji cultural practices cared for the environment that nurtured and provided for the community. The Walker family are the only group in Wujal Wujal to ever open a business. The tours operate daily and cost $15 for adults and $7.50 for children (5-15 years). Contact: Francis Walker (07) 40608069; email: walkerfamilytours@bigpond.com

Also four hours north of Cairns, adventure-seekers can join Aboriginal entrepreneur Warren Clements for a five-day Aboriginal-style hunting safari on Bulimba Station. The Gangaligan Aboriginal Safari Tour teaches traditional Aboriginal hunting styles, including spear hunting a kangaroo and fishing for barramundi as well as providing a chance to see bush life close up. Contact: Warren Clements 0419615636, email: gangaligan@bigpond.com.au

Fishing and boating fans can head to remote Aurukun on the junction of the Archer, Ward and Watson Rivers for a sport-fishing trip or eco-tour aboard the region’s mother ship, the Pikkuw with Aurukun Wetland Charters. Guests on the five-day, four-night fishing tours have the chance to catch reef fish (coral trout), blue water fish (mackerel, tuna), river and estuary fish (barramundi, fingermark, salmon) and freshwater/ lagoon fish (barramundi, saratoga).

The three-day eco-tour in the Aurukun Wetlands offers an insight into the ancient culture and traditions of the Wik and Wik Way people. Highlights include a swim in a natural waterhole, fishing for breakfast and harvesting the delicate honey of the native, stingless bees. Fishing charters cost $495 per person per day and eco-tours $380 per person per day. There are direct daily flights to Aurukun from Cairns with Skytrans Airlines.

For more information on the charters and tours contact: Tony Varnes 0407 575 618; email: tony.varnes@gmail.com or visit www.aurukunwetlandcharters.com