Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise

What a great tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and I really enjoyed learning about the culture.

Fantastic morning out with great guides Tamara and young Shirley who shared their stories and a part of their culture that many visitors to Cairns would not experience with the other more standard tours. It was a great price for the experience and the tour itself is catered most ages (10+ for the knowledge that is shared). Will be back for the next stages of their tour development

Unfortunately it was canceled the afternoon before the tour. We were offered a sunset tour instead or refund.

Amazing. The sharing of knowledge in a fun and friendly manner. Fantastic hosts who made you feel apart of the family. Just an incredible tour.

Loved this tour - super informative and enthusiastic guides. Plus we even saw a croc sunning itself on the riverbank on the way back. Learnt heaps. Thanks Shirley and mandi!

Yes, an excellent tour without spending 12 hours on a bus to go up to Mossman. They picked us up across from a café. We got coffee and ice cream before heading out on the boat. They took us across the river to tribal lands and gave us history of the local area. From there, we transferred to a bus and drove up to tribal lands where we took a tour and learned about local plant life and culture. They provided fruit snacks and drinks. We looked for crocs, but due to cooler weather we did not see any. Brenda and Mundi were fantastic and I would highly recommend this tour.

One of my best adventures at Cairns. The tour leader had a great presentation about the indeginous culture and history and patiently answered all my questions. The whole team was so nice and friendly, including the 15 yrs old indeginenous girl who beautifully showed us the indegineous plans and their usage. Amazing place to visit. Nobody wants to visit Australia and miss the culture and beauty of the orihonal owners of the land. With much respect. Highly recommended!

First the positives. Huge energy and commitment from the staff we met. Very friendly, welcoming and keen to share. Next the could do better. We saw a few plants and had their role explained to us, but that was basically it. They were very willing to answer questions on any subject, but I think they need to develop more content to present rather than just describing the plants. How about how they are used in modern medicine, or describe how a family diet was made up or changed during the year. I asked about the granting of native title and had a short discussion on this - which would be a fascinating area

Great touu.This tour was very enlightening about the indigenous Australians. Tour guides, driver and captain were very pleasant

We thoroughly enjoyed the Madinggalabay Indigenous tour. The passion of the family members for their land and the work they have done in helping to preserve the natural beauty of the mango groves and local rainforest is impressive. A great way to spend three hours in the morning when visiting Cairns.

Wonderful morning spent on this tour. Scenic boat ride from Cairns, knowledgeable friendly staff/guides ~ we learnt a lot about significant plants and practices before a morning tea of fresh fruit, muffins and coffee. Recommend to all, locals and Cairns visitors.

18 of us booked the experience and would highly recommend it to anyone. The tour guides were very friendly, very well informed and part of the local Aboriginal mob. Their knowledge and generosity made the trip very authentic and memorable. Please make a booking its such an interesting perspective and a privilege to understand the real history. Annie Parks

We learnt so much from Yidinji guides, saw crocs and a goanna, loved the boat cruise and walk and enjoyed a great morning tea.

Such an incredible morning spent with excellent hosts. This tour gives you experience on the water and walking on country and we learnt so much. Morning tea was great (scones with lashings of cream and delicious fresh fruit) and we ate this whilst watching a goanna visitor (or maybe he was watching us). We can highly recommend this tour.

Our morning tour was moved to the evening which turned out to be great! I strongly value the visit by boat to the indigenous tribal area. The brief lecture with examples of indigenous art was well worth the time! Thank you!

This was a very authentic experience. Being a small group enhanced this. The guides were friendly, and welcoming with a wealth of knowledge. They were open to the group asking questions. Great to learn the history and culture of the Mandingalbay people. The uses of the plants and trees was very educational. The morning tea was lovely however I suggest having some cultual food included. Thank you for this experience

Very good informative tour. Great people, good information about the tribes in their area, tools used for life and survival. I would certainly do this tour again and highly recommend it.

Interesting authentic experience. We were very fortunate to be on a day when the group was very small. The guides were friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Great to learn some more about the history and culture of the mandingalbay people. And to top it off we saw one of the local crocodiles!

An engaging tour up the creek, learning about the regeneration of the once degraded land,to traditional lands. After a welcome we took a short walk and had bush tucker plants pointed out and their uses explained to us. This was followed by an interactive talk about weapons and tools. A delicious morning tea followed by an explanation of the land we were on. A most fascinating, informative tour. Huge thanks to all involved, especially Tess and Marshall.

An incredible tour led by really passionate people. If you're craving a small tour with a personal touch, you won't be disappointed. Learning how the local plants and trees are used and the history of the tribes was fascinating - sampling a variety of different fruit was a particular highlight. The tour was really informative and fun, and it means all the more that it's helping the local community.

Meet and talk with indigenous people. Learn their history, their tools, their past, and culture after boating their mangrove destination.

An educational and beautiful day! 993530931 An educational and beautiful day! We took a boat ride into the mangrove forest, then a short drive to Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation Environmental and Tourism Facility. Although it was a little too rainy and slippery for our jungle walk, there were plenty of plants to see there. Our guides were fantastic! We learned about aboriginal culture and history, various weapons, animals, and plant uses. They spoke about the influences of Western culture and the impact of the missionaries on their people - identical to so many other indigenous peoples experience, including sadly, our own peoples. There was a photo of the last king with tears in his eyes the day he surrendered and was shot. Our guides were 7th generation in his line. We had delicious snacks and coffee and headed back to our ship. We highly recommend this tour.

What an incredible experience! Authentic, thoughtfully curated tour, including beautiful boartride to and from the grounds, welcoming ceremony, a variety of homemade desserts and fruit that were delicious, and a tour through the woods. We could see first hand how sacred the land is, serving to provide pharmacy needs, food, shelter and in the past, weapons. Our guide Tess was so accommodating and the perfect guide for this tour of her homelands. One of the best tours of our trip!

The meeting point and time provided by Viator.com were wrong. We (a group of 8) waited for 30 minutes and were not be picked up. We sent the messages to tour operator multiple times and got no answers. The hotel tour desk helped me to find the tour company and called them. They told me different meeting point and time. The tour already left without answering my message. What a terrible experience. Viator and the tour company ruined our priceless vacation at Cairns. If I could give a 0 star rating, i would.

Interesting tour with a very open group of indigenous ladies. A lot of information on the bond with nature and a nice atmosphere, tea and cookies and a ceremony.

Lovely morning excursion with the all female crew who are clearly passionate about educating people about their heritage. A lovely short river cruise followed by a short bus trip and then short easy track through the forest. The tour got better and better as the guides relaxed and got to know us especially towards the end when we were making bracelets. We loved it! This will soon become Cairns No1 tour so book early!

We really enjoyed our tour today. The all girl crew were really passionate about their jobs. They were well informed, knowledgeable and friendly. They were proud of their culture and family connection to the country we passed through. Their grandfather was an important influence on their upbringing, and along with other family members, is the reason the girls are keen to pass on their stories and knowledge and to tell you of their personal experiences growing up nearby. It was a treat to be able to experience what we did today, in an area so close to Cairns. A very pleasant boat trip from Cairns to Hill Creek, where we spotted a crocodile at the mouth of the Creek , a greater egret and a grey heron. This was followed by a small bus trip through mangroves, wetlands and farming country where we were excited to spot a black necked stork and a lovely blue kingfisher. The guided walk through the Mayi Bugan Rainforest trail was really interesting. We learnt about foods, Medicines and tools that come from the bush as well as cultural sites. Morning tea with a cuppa was delicious ... the fruits so fresh and tasty! The sweet treats were yummy. It was interesting to see and hear about the woven baskets, boomerangs, spears and shields etc and to be able to pick them up and photograph them. We would thoroughly recommend this trip.

Such an amazing experience! We learnt so much, and it felt so authentic and genuine. You can really feel the love and appreciation for the culture and history. We loved how this is also a family owned and run business. Could not recommend it enough! The crew were wonderful and made it enjoyable and thought provoking. An experience we will never forget! Thank you for sharing your family history and knowledge with us, we are so grateful and appreciative :)

Fabulous tour. Truly interesting and inspiring. Staff were delightful, deeply connected to country and passionate about sharing their stories with us. Their work also helps their community. Highly recommended.

A very interesting and pleasant morning with Brenda and co learning all about the Mandingalbay clan, their history and local fauna and flora.

We went on the deadly after dark tour last night! It was brilliant! Everyone from 7-60 loved it! The team was so brilliant, we could not have asked for more!

From the moment we stepped onboard through to leaving, the staff were so beautiful, welcoming and informative. Loved hearing all the knowledge they shared, the smoking ceremony was special. I can’t wait to come back and experience the other tours. Thank you so much for wonderful experience.

Amazing cultural immersion Absolutely lovely staff and so informative - so open to talking Beautiful experience Thank you!!

We had a beautiful time cruising through the mangroves. The guides were so knowledgeable and we learnt so much. Food was delish!

Phenomenal experience. The tour was safe, yet adventurous. Educational, yet fascinating. Professional, yet friendly. I would do this tour again in a heartbeat. I recommend this to anyone with the opportunity to go.

An Aboriginal led, beautiful experience cruising the river inlet culminating in a cultural experience with local Elders. Telling us historic facts of the region, the regeneration of their land and their modern experience. Highly recommend this tour, a wonderful group of loving, caring and inspirational people.

Beautiful cultural tour, self determination in action for this community. So much knowledge and willingness to share. Would highly recommend

Guides were very friendly and welcoming, well spoken and good knowledge of their area. Saw some crocs on the boat cruise, and we learnt about hunting tools and weapons, family history, plant use and was also provided with a nice morning tea and coffee. Highly recommended.

We loved this tour. Our Indigenous guides were very friendly & informative & we learned so much about the traditional cultural practices, plants, foods & animals. It was a really memorable experience to be on country with such knowledgeable hosts. Many thanks!

Amazing experience. Jo and Leanne were open to any questions we had. So friendly, inviting and informative. The stories and education starts from the minute you step on the boat. Their lives in tune with country and respect is obvious and it was a privilege to see and feel so welcomed. Even saw a croc as a bonus! Highly recommend this tour.

Amazing experience seeing and understanding more of Cairns and surrounding areas from the perspective of the First Nations people who live on and love the land. Incredibly open and honest conversations were able to be had and I felt very comfortable and welcomed. I left with a deep sense of appreciation and love for this sacred land and its people.

Great experience and friendly guides with so much knowledge of their culture. thanks Jo, Tess ,Rae and Leanne for your time and wisdom

What an amazing experience that I will highly recommand. Such genuine people, we could ask anything, I learned a lot and had fun :) to top it off we saw 2 crocs very close and a Sting gray. No hesitation 5 stars

Amazing experience felt one with the traditional people of the land . Best tour in Cairns 👍👍😊😊 have to see before any other tour

This is an excellent tour, with friendly, engaging, and informative traditional owner guides. I was grateful for their welcome to the land that their families have lived on for generations, and for the insights they shared with us. As someone who has had a long-term interest in Australian cultural history, I valued being able hold and learn about the manufacture of traditional items and wares. It’s one thing to read about and see items in books and museums, but quite another to hold and learn about manufacture from people who know how it’s done. Feeling the weight of a bloodwood club, holding a rock-hard piece of tree resin that can be heated and manipulated to haft an axe or join blades to form an X-shaped boomerang, seeing how a woomera is actually used – wow! There’s nothing like “hands on” to really gain understanding. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cairns. For me, it was the highlight of our time here. Yeah, there’s the reef, and the rainforest, but there is so much more here in Cairns – take a glimpse of the depth of Australian culture that Mandingalbay tours offers you and gain a fresh perspective of Australia’s quite chequered post-European history. Along with meeting some great people, it will (hopefully) also leave you with much to think about afterwards, and I mean that in a very positive sense.

Great tour experiencing local traditional culture and stories. On the boat ride across, local landmarks around Cairns harbour and creation stories were explained, the various Indigenous tribe names and delineations of their boundaries. Arriving at an award-winning shelter constructed within the Mandingalbay Indigenous Protected Area, we found out more about the Traditional Owners' efforts to overcome high levels of acid sulphate degradation from past sugarcane land clearing. The area is now close to being restored, after decades of hard work in conjunction with scientists. We then boarded a bus and visited the Ranger Station, where a traditional welcome and cleansing smoke ceremony were performed. Ladies get a special clay face treatment as well! A nearby guided bushwalk uncovered Indigenous customs, bush foods, tools and medicines - make sure to wear sturdy covered shoes and plenty of insect repellent. Morning tea awaited us afterwards, consisting of fresh scones, jam & cream, seasonal fruit, tea and coffee. Highly recommended tour for someone seeking an authentic local experience that is out of the ordinary.

This 2.5 tour consists of meeting an aboriginal ranger who talks about his family's background and short work in the forest with an aboriginal guide who points out medicinal plants used by the Aboriginals. We were expecting more. Not worth the money.

We had an amazing morning during the tour. We started with the boat ride and since we were with a small group there was more then enough time to ask any question. Our guide Barbara explained a lot about the Nation. After the boat ride we drove to the station and uncle Vic told more about the history of the people living on the land. We also learned more about native plants, food and medicine. Thank you all for the great experience. We absolutely recommend this great tour

We learned so much in a short time and really appreciate this genuine experience. All of the staff were friendly, open, informative and so knowledgeable. Thank you so much for today. I’ve never been able to experience Aboriginal culture like I did today. Thank you!