Aboriginal Culture - Rainforest Coast

These villages are on The Bama Way, which follows the coast road from north of Cairns to beyond Cooktown. This is a journey along story-lines, through coastal mangroves, rich rainforest and hilltop Savannah. The word Bama (pronounced Bumma) is widely used throughout Cape York to mean an Aboriginal person, but in Kuku Yalanji, the word simply means ‘person’ regardless of nationality or race.

Most of the Aboriginal people in this area live in the small community of Wujal Wujal, which was established in 1960 alongside the beautiful Bloomfield River. The community, which takes its name from the nearby Bloomfield Falls, has modern infrastructure now, but Yalanji lores and customs are still practiced.

Although you can visit the Falls on your own, this is considered disrespectful by its traditional custodians, and it’s highly recommended that you take the half-hour tour offered by the Walker Family. They are members of the Nyungkul clan, whose traditional lands are part of the beautiful World Heritage rainforest area which encompass the Falls. It is also an opportunity to see the Falls through their eyes, and to learn about the cultural significance of this area.

Wujul Wujul Aboriginal Community welcomes visitors. Visit their website for further information. 

Walker Family Tours Bloomfield Falls Tours depart daily. Departure times are flexible. Cameras welcome.

Rossville Retreat Indigenous Tours operate from Rossville, led by Kuku Nyungkul elder and traditional owner, Harold Tayley (Mooks). As a tour guide, Mooks has over 40 years’ experience and in Kuku Nyungkul language he is known as a ‘Kuku bugga’ which means he loves to talk. Throughout his life Mooks has always been a keen communicator of traditional culture, helping people from all walks of life, to make a deeper connection to country. Come and experience it for yourself!