Cairns tours Australia offer visitors the chance to not only experience bustling city life, but also the chance to dig deep into the rich and lengthy Aboriginal history that imbues the region.
Just outside of the city centre, Tjapukai, a restaurant set inside an Indigenous cultural centre, provides a set of unique experiences for curious travellers, including their Nightfire experience. This evening encounter lets you meet the Bama, the Indigenous rainforest people who have lived in this part of Australia for thousands and thousands of years. Throughout the evening-long ceremony, they introduce you to their fascinating culture and let you in on their age-old traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation.
As well as learning about the compelling dreamtime stories that have remained a part of the culture for as long as time, you’ll get to immerse yourself in Bama life by having your face painted and listening to an evening performance complete with haunting didgeridoo music and a lively dance show.
The event is Tjapukai’s most popular offering, bringing together modern-day Australia with its fascinating and colourful ancient history. You can discover the lives of the local Tjapukai warriors and join in the Rainbow Serpent circle as you learn traditional songs spoken in the local language.
When darkness falls, a ceremonial fire is lit, shooting a spectacular ball of fire right towards the clear night sky. When the fire is underway, it’s time to eat – another chance to experience the daily life of the local people.
Around the heat of the flames, you’ll tuck into a delicious selection of Australian meats, seafood, salads, and desserts, all of which are made using Indigenous flavours from the Flame Tree Bar and Grill. While you eat, you can chat to the Tjapukai warriors and discover their personal stories along with the stories of their people.
The Schedule of Tjapukai’s Nightfire
The evening begins with a browse through the on-site art gallery, where you can peruse works by local artists before tucking into a selection of spiced canapes and a complementary glass of bubbly.
Afterwards, you are invited to have your face painted in the traditional Bama style while you are given a cultural greeting by the local people and taken on the Didgeridoo Journey.
Later, it’s time to witness age-old traditions come to life in the Tjapukai Aboriginal Dance Performance, after which the Lakeside Firemaking Ceremony begins, complete with a spectacular fire ball that shoots skywards.
Dinner is a selection of meats, seafood, and salads, during which you can meet the Tjapukai performers and learn more about their daily lives. Before you go, you’ll have the chance to take photos with the performers and say goodbye.
View Cairns Tours website for more information!
Tips to visit Cairns
Cairns Guide
FAQ about Cairns Tours
View Cairns Tours website for more information!
Tips to visit Cairns
Cairns Guide
FAQ about Cairns Tours
