Rainforestation Nature Park
Authentic Indigenous Australian Culture
The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience invites you to discover authentic Indigenous Australian culture.
Australia’s Indigenous culture is one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world and Rainforestation Nature Park recognises the importance of preserving and sharing this unique culture. Our Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience won a 2019 Queensland Tourism Award in gold for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism.
Local Indigenous Pamagirri Guides welcome you to join them on a journey to discover the Dreamtime and learn about the fascinating customs and ancient traditions that are kept alive in the rainforest of Kuranda, in Tropical North Queensland.
The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience takes approximately 1 hour which includes both the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance Performance held in the Rainforest Amphitheatre and the Dreamtime Walk conducted either before or after the show. Extended Dreamtime Walk activities are available at an extra cost for groups to learn even more about the fascinating history of Australia’s Indigenous culture.
Dreamtime Walk
This half-hour guided tour along an all-weather walk-way modelled on the Rainbow Serpent gives further insight into Aboriginal traditions and beliefs and how several ancient implements were used.
Enter the Pamagirri Cultural Centre at Rainforestation and experience Tropical North Queensland through the eyes of the people who have been its custodians for tens of thousands of years.
Try your hand at boomerang throwing and after a demonstration and a few lessons, you’ll be ready to test your skills. The area is specially netted for your safety, as boomerangs do come back!
When you observe spear-throwing, you’ll be amazed at the distance the Pamagirri Guides can throw spears using a Woomera. As a matter of fact, two of our Pamagirri Guides are in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest spear throws!
Discover how the spear was used for hunting and to uphold traditional law in tribal communities. Thankfully, spears are not used for punishments today like they were in times gone by – but you will get an opportunity to take aim at a target instead.
At the end of the tour, your personal Pamagirri Guide will be available to answer questions and take photographs.
Pamagirri Dance Performance
The rainforest amphitheatre provides a beautiful backdrop for the Pamagirri Dance Performance; a traditional dance performance depicting aspects of Indigenous culture including animals, food gathering and hunting.
The rainforest serves as the theatre walls whilst sounds of wildlife provide accompaniment to the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo and clapsticks. During the performance the Pamagirri Dancers will explain how didgeridoos are made and used in ceremonies, and then reveal the techniques used to play this ancient instrument by imitating the noises of Australian animals. Listen carefully for sounds imitating Kangaroos or the Kookaburra.
Be sure to watch the performance closely – there’s a surprise for the audience at the end! The amphitheatre is wheelchair accessible, and has a large protective canopy and tiers of comfortable wooden seats with the capacity for four hundred people.
Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout
Looking for a Cairns Aboriginal experience that provides an in-depth and personal insight into authentic Aboriginal culture? The Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout is an engrossing, educational experience that explores this ancient culture amongst the backdrop of the tropical rainforest.
Join your Pamagirri Aboriginal Guide as he shares a personal insight into his ancient surviving culture, and its connection with the oldest surviving rainforest in the world. This in-depth and interactive experience will teach you about the traditions that were learnt in the wilderness on the spiritual transition into manhood. Hear about the customs that were passed down, such as totems and body painting, before embarking on a guided walk to learn about survival in the rainforest - the plants, fruits and berries used as bush tucker and remedies, as well as traditional shelters, artefacts and implements. Through the story of his own 'mob', your guide will take you on an enlightening journey through Australia’s diverse indigenous culture and lifestyle, from earliest history to the present day.
Please note that the walk is along an uneven path on undulating ground. Moderate fitness required. Comfortable walking shoes recommended. Subject to an alternative wet-weather talk.
$27 per adult | $17 per child | $71 per family
Available daily at 11 am and 1 pm.
The Pamagirri Gallery
The Pamagirri Gallery displays and sells authentic Aboriginal artwork and artefacts by local hand-crafted by local Indigenous craftsmen and hand-painted on-site by our Pamagirri guides. Each piece demonstrates traditional art and woodworking techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Browse a range of hand crafted emu callers, didgeridoos, boomerangs and canvases and purchase a piece of authentic Indigenous artwork to take home with you!
Some artworks and artefacts are produced on-site by our Pamagirri Guides, who also participate in our Dreamtime Walk. Artefacts that cannot be made on site or cannot be sourced locally are sourced from other Indigenous communities throughout Australia and are hand-painted by our Pamagirri Guides on site.
The Pamagirri Gallery is located inside the gift shop.
