Ready to dream deeper?
This five-day itinerary invites you to experience Far North Queensland through the eyes and voices of Traditional Custodians — across sea, rainforest and city. Along the way, you’ll walk sacred Country, listen to story and song, and witness how the world’s oldest living cultures are carried forward with power and pride.
Cairns is your basecamp for the journey — the perfect launchpad for meaningful day trips that connect you with Country while keeping travel easy and grounded. Each day offers a new window into culture and place, with evenings spent back in the tropical heart of Gimuy.
Finishing in the heart of Cairns at Dream Aloud Festival on Saturday 18 October, the weekend promises a high-energy celebration of Blak music, food, art and community.
Begin where the story begins — on the reef. Join a full-day Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel tour to the Great Barrier Reef, led by Indigenous Sea Rangers who share ancient creation stories, marine knowledge, and cultural practices passed down over generations. This is no ordinary reef trip — it’s an immersion into Sea Country.
Back on shore, stretch your legs with a self-guided walk along the Cairns Esplanade, where contemporary artworks celebrate living culture.
Top it off with dinner at Ochre Restaurant, where native ingredients like wattleseed, bush tomato and saltbush elevate modern Australian cuisine.
Just across the water from Cairns lies a world rarely seen. Travel with Traditional Owners of the Mandingalbay Yidinji People into a rich wetland environment, cruising through mangrove forests where crocodiles bask at low tide.
Step onto one of Australia’s few Indigenous Protected Areas and follow the Mayi Bugan Rainforest Trail, guided by rangers who share stories of Country, bush foods, native medicines and cultural traditions that endure to this day.
It’s an eye-opening journey into deep time — and it all begins just 10 minutes from the city.
Plus, use the code DREAMALOUD to grab 20% off adult tickets!
Travel 40 minutes up the range to Kuranda, nestled in lush rainforest on Djabugay Country. At Rainforestation Nature Park, the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience offers a powerful window into culture through dance, music, bush foods and more. Throw a boomerang, hear the didgeridoo, and walk the rainforest with guides who carry ancient knowledge.
In the afternoon, take the iconic Skyrail Rainforest Cableway back to Cairns for sweeping views over the Wet Tropics.
By night, gather at Tanks Arts Centre for Blak Rising — a high-impact showcase of emerging First Nations artists including Miss Kaninna, Jada Weazel, Dean Brady and Tjaka.
Set beneath the rainforest canopy, it’s more than a concert — it’s a meeting place. With music, food trucks, art and lively bars, Blak Rising invites you to listen, learn and celebrate the next wave of Blak voices.
Start your morning with a visit to UMI Arts, a dynamic gallery and cultural hub showcasing First Nations artists from across Far North Queensland. It’s the perfect place to connect with stories and artworks that reflect the strength and diversity of Blak voices.
Then, from midday, Munro Martin Park in Cairns transforms into the beating heart of Dream Aloud Festival — a powerful, celebration dedicated to First Nations music, food, art, and connection.
With a lineup that champions emerging and established Indigenous artists, vibrant market stalls, hands-on workshops, and delicious native-inspired cuisine, Dream Aloud is more than a festival — it’s a movement. Expect electrifying performances, community gatherings, and a deeply immersive cultural experience that inspires, uplifts, and connects.
Prepare for a day filled with joy, pride, and the unmistakable spirit of First Nations culture.
Ease into your final day with a quiet morning stroll along the Aboriginal Plant Use Trail at the Cairns Botanic Gardens. This self-guided walk offers insight into the deep knowledge Traditional Custodians hold of native plants — from bush foods and medicines to tools and ceremony.
Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of the tropics, it’s a gentle way to reflect on the journey you’ve taken — and the stories, songs, and connections that will stay with you long after you leave.
Grab a coffee nearby, revisit your favourite gallery, or simply sit with Country before heading home.
The Tropics Trail
October 9 - 12
Mareeba, Cairns Hinterland
October 16
CAIRNS / GIMUY
October 17
October 18
Cairns / Gimuy
October 24 - 26
Yungaburra QLD
October 3 - 13
Cairns Esplanade & Salt House
October 9
Mt Uncle Distillery, Walkamin
Jilara Oval, Yarrabah
October 5
Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns
Images courtesy of Tourism & Events Queensland.