Epic adventures for kids of all ages

Cast away

Children wading through knee-deep water, spearing coconuts and hunting for mussels sounds like something out of Cast Away, but it’s actually part of Down Under Tours’ family-friendly Daintree Dreaming experience.

Members of the Walker family give kids and adults alike a taste of their Kubirri Warra clan’s traditional hunter/gather lifestyle in Tropical Queensland.

‘The guides will show you how little dimples in the sand tell you that a crab, or perhaps a mussel or a clam, is hiding underneath, and how to use the backend of a spear to dig it up,’ says Jane van Graas, from Down Under Tours.

‘It's not for the faint hearted—you are taking off your shoes and your socks, you're going to have to roll your pants up and even wade through up to knee-high water at times—kids love it.’

Next stop is Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, to meet local Kuku Yalanji people and learn how they have lived and thrived in the rainforest for over 40,000 years.

Finally, at Janbal Gallery, artist Brian ‘Binna’ Swindley demonstrates how to create a dot painting, with children encouraged to paint something they have spotted that morning to make their own souvenir of their epic adventure.

Pamagirri dancers. Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland.

Rainforest adventure

Clambering onto a World War II amphibious vehicle, performing traditional dance moves on stage, learning the right way to throw a boomerang, and seeing saltwater crocs and cassowaries up close are just some of the activities that will keep children and parents occupied at Rainforestation Nature Park.

Set on 100 acres of tropical rainforest in North Queensland, Rainforestation is home to the largest fleet of Army Duck vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere. The distinctive six-wheeled amphibious vehicles were used by the US military to transport troops and supplies from ships to beaches during WWII.

Now, civilians can experience for themselves how Army Ducks negotiate both land and water during a 45-minute tour that winds through the World Heritage-listed rainforest and a dam filled with eels and turtles.

The Pamagirri dance troupe’s Authentic Indigenous Australian Culture Experience includes an interactive performance where the Aboriginal performers explain the meaning behind the dances before inviting the audience to perform alongside them.

‘Then, on the Dreamtime Walk, you get to throw a boomerang, and watch a spear throwing and digeridoo demonstration,’ says Rainforestation’s Barbara Vichova.

One of the Pamagirri Elders, William, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest spear throw with the aid of a woomera, a device that leverages the throw.

At the Koala & Wildlife Park, children can roam as freely as the kangaroos, wallabies and paddymelons, whilst purpose-built enclosures keep less friendly wildlife, including Tasmanian devils and saltwater crocodiles at a safe, but thrillingly close, distance.

Pamagirri aboriginal experience. Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland.

Bush survival

Your kids will lose their shoes and gain survival skills during the four-hour Southern Cross Cultural Walk tour with Bardi–Jawi man Bolo Angus, where they will learn how to find freshwater, build a shelter and thrive in the bush.

Walking barefoot along the pristine coastline, on Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula, kids are soon intrigued by the idea of foraging for their own lunch. Under Bolo’s expert guidance, they’ll learn the tiny clues the land provides—the ripple of water hinting at a hidden stingray, the sun hitting the rock where oysters are at their juiciest, or how to spot the freshest leaves to brew a tangy bush tea.

Once the foraging is done, Bolo turns the day’s haul of mud crabs, clams and oysters into a feast over an open fire.

The experience ends with a cleansing ceremony, as Bolo adds soft-leaved branches to the fire to create fragrant smoke and a time for reflection.

Bolo sees the tour as an opportunity to close the gap between cultures.

‘You’re pretty much living a day like the old ancestors when they were living off the land.’

Bolo Angus, Maxwell Hooper and Sal-Lee Hooper get water from a paperbark tree. Credit: Tourism Australia.

Traditional secrets

Learning survival secrets from a man who grew up in one of Australia’s most stunning and remote landscapes is sure to keep your kids enthralled.

Led by Terry Hunter, a fourth-generation pearler and proud Bardi man, the two-hour Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tour is a fascinating blend of history, culture, and hands-on adventure set against the rugged beauty of the Kimberley coast.

Terry shares his deep connection to Country with stories of growing up on Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, where his family has lived for generations.

Kids will be captivated by his tales of bush adventures, carving pearl shells, and the ingenious Bardi Jawi survival technique of cooking oysters on rocks with nothing but spinifex grass.

Whilst exploring the tidal flats, Terry reveals the secrets of finding freshwater spring water in the most unlikely of places. For kids, it’s like discovering hidden treasure, and you can see their eyes widen with excitement as Terry scoops up crystal-clear water from beneath the rocks.

Note: The NRMA is in partnership with Tourism Australia’s Discover Aboriginal Experiences. We are committed to promoting First Nations culture and experiences. The original text has been modified for clarity and style.