Mossman

Outdoor Activities

Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime. On this 1½-hour walk along easy, graded rain-forest tracks, you'll visit culturally significant sites and traditional bark settlements with a Kuku Yalanji guide. He or she will demonstrate traditional plant use, explain the history of cave paintings, point out bush tucker ingredients, and share Dreamtime legends, conveying the indigenous owners' special relationship with this ancient tropical terrain. Afterwards, enjoy billy tea and damper, then browse the aboriginal art and artefacts at the gallery shop and info center. Mossman Gorge Rd., Mossman, Mossman, QLD, 4873. 07/4098-2595. www.yalanji.com.au. A$35, Pt. Douglas transfers available. Gallery/infocenter, Daily 8:30-5. Tours, Mon.-Sat. 9, 11, 1, and 3.

Walkabout Cultural Adventures. Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa offers a raft of Aboriginal-guided activities, mostly operated by Juan Walker, the owner of Walkabout Adventures. His hour-long Guided Aboriginal Rainforest Walk (A$40), offered several days a week, gives insights into the Kuku Yalanji culture, indigenous bush tucker, medicinal plants, and local wildlife, and takes in a waterfall important for women's healing. A two-hour hands-on, sociable Aboriginal Art and Cultural Workshop (A$68) takes place most afternoons on the bar/restaurant's airy deck. Both of these shorter experiences should be booked directly through Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa. But if you're looking for something a bit more adventurous, Juan also offers half- or full-day rain-forest safari and coastal hunting trips and is happy to create more unique, personalized itineraries. Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, 20 Daintree Rd., 3 km (2 mi) past Daintree village, Daintree, QLD, 4873. 07/4098-6100 for Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa; 04/2947-8206 for Juan Walker. www.walkaboutadventures.com.au. Longer tours A$150 (half-day)-A$190 (full-day). Daily, prebooking essential.

The Australian Muster Experience. Impressive displays of horsemanship and "jackeroo" (cowboy) skills are the draw at The Australian Muster Experience, 35 minutes' drive north of Port Douglas. Daily shows, staged in a 19th-century-inspired "Outback station shed" arena in rain-forest environs 12.5 km (8 mi) north of Mossman, include whip-cracking, cattle-driving, a bull catcher, quad bikes (ATVs), plus super-smart cattle dogs, stunt horses, and various other animals. It's all delivered with dry Outback humor and followed by a BBQ lunch or dinner, live music, and bush tales. Choose between the Stockmans Lunch Muster and the Grand Outback Experience (after which you can test your rodeo skills on a mechanical bull). There's a cash bar and combined gallery-giftshop on-site. Kingston Rd., Whyanbeel Valley, Mossman, QLD, 4873. 07/4098-1149. www.australianmusterexperience.com. A$108, A$156 with transfers (Grand Outback); A$63, A$120 with transfers (Stockmans Lunch). Daily 8:30 am, 2:30 pm.

Wonga Beach Horse Rides. This terrain is ideal for exploring on horseback, and one of the area's best guides is Wonga Beach Horse Rides. Well-guided 2½-hour rides take you along Wonga Beach and pristine Daintree rain-forest trails, crossing creeks in wet season. Keep an eye out for rays, dolphins, and jumping cod in the ocean; birds, butterflies, and reptiles in the forest. The cost includes gear, drinks, and Port Douglas pick-ups. You can also book two-hour sunset rides in season (A$90), exclusive guided rides (A$170-A$210, min. 2 persons), and one-hour lessons (A$60). Wonga Beach Equestrian Centre, Mossman-Daintree Rd., Wonga Beach, Mossman, QLD, 4873. PO Box 238, Mossman, QLD, 4873. 07/4099-1117. www.beachhorserides.com.au. A$115 plus $A10 insurance. Daily 8:30 am, 2:30 pm; sunset rides 4 pm.