Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples
The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area extends for about 450 kilometres along Australia’s northeast coast, covering nearly 900,000 hectares of predominantly tropical rainforest. The region is renowned for its extraordinary beauty and significant biodiversity. It also holds a deep cultural heritage, being home to one of the world's oldest and continuously evolving cultures—the Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples. This area is recognised as a National Heritage site for its exceptional natural and Indigenous cultural values.
Today, there are more than 20 Rainforest Aboriginal groups in the Wet Tropics, and they continue to embed traditional knowledge within contemporary management practices to ensure the region is protected for future generations. To learn more about some of these groups and discover how to get in contact, read more about them here and explore the information available in this interactive map.
Buluwai
Buluwai Country spans the Kuranda region, including the areas around Speewah, Davies Creek, and Emerald Creek.
Girramay
Girramay Country stretches the inland areas of the Herbert River to the Upper Murray River in the north.
Gugu Badhun
Located northwest of Townsville, Gugu Badhun Country encompasses the upper Burdekin River and its catchment.
Gunggandji
Gunggandji Country encompasses False Cape, Mission Bay, Rocky Island, Yarrabah, and nearby islands.
Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji
Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Country encompasses coastal lands and mountain ranges from Oombungi to the mouth of the Mulgrave River.
Jirrbal
Jirrbal Country stretches from the coastal regions near Tully inland to Ravenshoe and Herberton.
Warrgamay
Warrgamay Country stretches from Lucinda inland to the Herbert River Valley and Seaview Range.
Yirrganydji
Yirrganydji Country is a captivating coastal paradise nestled between Cairns and Port Douglas.