Clients can experience Brisbane’s Indigenous treasures
Story: Mitchell McClung + Photos: Tourism Australia
Brisbane, the capital of Australia’s Queensland state, is about to become a very well-known part of the global tourism lexicon. In 2027 it will host 10 matches in the Rugby World Cup. Five years later, the destination will be on the world stage as Brisbane hosts the 2032 Summer Olympics. There is no better time for clients to visit this world class city before it becomes a “see and be seen” destination.
Also known by its Aboriginal name, Meanjin, and home to the Turrbal and Jagera people, Brisbane offers visitors a deep connection to Country that predates its modern identity.
While visitors to Brisbane and Queensland as a whole can enjoy remarkable sites, nature and sunshine, it would be a disservice not to commit some time for some rich cultural immersion into the beautiful, and for international travellers, perhaps unknown Indigenous Australian experiences the city has to offer.
Willem Janzoon was the first European to engage with the Aboriginal people of the region in 1606, and Captain James Cook went on the map the region in 1770, with the first European settlements only starting in 1824 with a penal colony. But European history in Australia is a small blip in time given that Indigenous Peoples’ culture can be traced back 65,000 years in the region.
Cultural Immersion on Stradbroke Island
The starting point for any traveller’s journey of learning about Indigenous Australians’ culture commences with a visit to Stradbroke Island, a convenient 45 minute ferry journey from Cleveland (Toondah Harbour) in Brisbane. The Quandamooka people are the original stewards of these lands and the name is derived from the name for the island and adjoining regions they inhabited prior to European arrival. A visit to QUAMPI (Quandamooka Arts and Culture Centre) will allow visitors to see Indigenous artefacts and more contemporary Quandamooka art, offering spaces for quiet reflection and vibrant learning opportunities. Art will be a common thread throughout a visit to Stradbroke Island and the unique traditional and contemporary offerings will create a visual narrative to visitors’ experiences.
An excursion by a local Quandamooka guide provides an immersive cultural and nature experience in Stradbroke island, known as Minjerribah by the First Nations. Participants will learn of creation stories, their symbiosis with the local flora and fauna and how they foraged and blossomed as a community. Follow their traditional paths, and enjoy wildlife such as kangaroos on spectacular white sands or opportunities to walk on cliffs and view whales below.
Guides will share the history of the lands and the profound connections the Quandamooka have to their ancestral lands.
A new way to deepen that connection is through SeaLink’s Goompi Trail, led by respected Quandamooka Elder Matt Burns, who has been sharing his culture with visitors for more than 30 years. Through a guided coastal walk, he brings the island’s stories to life—sharing bush medicine, traditional knowledge and the deep cultural connection to Country. It’s less a tour and more a conversation, offering a powerful perspective on tens of thousands of years of living history. For more information, visit: www.sealink.com.au/
For Minjerribah local Elisha Kissick, that connection begins in childhood, with long days at the beach, salt-dried hair and a close-knit group of cousins who treated the island as their playground. Raised in a community where “everyone looked after each other’s kids,” the island remained a constant anchor, even after her family moved to the mainland. Her understanding of culture was shaped by family, particularly her father, a “connector” who travelled widely to keep community ties strong, and her grandparents, respected hosts and leaders who welcomed visitors with a cup of tea and a yarn.
Through them, she learned culture in the traditional way, by doing, from gathering paperbark as a child to understanding its purpose later as part of women’s knowledge passed down on Country. After studying and working away, Kissick returned home and channelled those experiences into tourism, launching Yura Tours, a business grounded in connection, storytelling and a deep sense of place that visitors can now experience firsthand. Plan your clients’ visit at yuratours.com.au.
Traditional Storytelling and Ancient Sounds
World class snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and surfing are just some of the activities visitors can enjoy. Travellers will appreciate first hand why the Indigenous Peoples of Minjerribah have such a deep rooted connection to their homeland.
Travellers can feast on the freshest seafood from the local waters, including prawns, crabs, oysters and fish. Taking time to reflect on the cultural experiences with a visit to the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club for a local beer while enjoying the spectacular Brisbane weather will be the perfect way to cap off a visit to Minjerribah.
Boat rides offer a perfect combination of fresh air, scenic views combined with traditional storytelling, smoking ceremonies and enjoyment of the sounds of Australia’s famous didgeridoo, an ancient instrument made from Eucalyptus trees known for its deep and continuous drone.
Visitors to Brisbane will all have remarkable experiences that will create everlasting memories, but those who seek out a deeper connection to a culture spanning 65,000 years will be rewarded with exceptional memories.
