TARIBELANG BUNDA CULTURAL TOURS

Welcome to Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours

Yee’Gee – Hello! We offer you a warm invitation to immerse yourself in the oldest living culture on Earth.

Enter the heart of the Bundaberg region and experience a powerful cultural awakening with Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours – an immersive Indigenous experience like no other. Informed by the wisdom of Taribelang Bunda Elders past, present and emerging, this journey allows you to walk in the footsteps of a people who have called this land home for over 60,000 years.

Led by passionate local guides, David and Waszie, you’ll be transported on a half-day tour rich in storytelling, Dreamtime and deep cultural knowledge. As you explore sacred sites, taste native bush tucker and handle traditional artefacts like the boomerang before seeing them in action, you’re guaranteed to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between land, people and spirit.

Developed alongside community Elders, this experience is more than a tour – it’s an invitation to connect, to listen and to learn through genuine conversation and heartfelt hospitality.

About Us

Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours is a family-owned business created with the guidance and blessing of Taribelang Bunda Elders past and present. Founded by proud local guides Waszie and David, the tour was born from a shared passion to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage of their people with visitors from near and far.

Rooted in Country that stretches from Burrum River north to Baffle Creek and inland along the Burnett River, Taribelang Bunda culture is deeply connected to land, water and the sacred Milbi, or freshwater turtle – our totem and teacher. Through our tours, we honour this connection, offering guests insight into the values, stories and traditions that have shaped our culture for tens of thousands of years.

More than just a guided experience, our tours are about meaningful exchange – building friendships, opening conversations and walking together toward greater cultural understanding. With every story shared and site visited, we aim to inspire respect for Country and a deeper appreciation for the world’s oldest living culture.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Tour Experience

Step into a world of ancient traditions and cultural wisdom on the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Tour – an immersive journey that shines a light on the deep cultural roots of the Bundaberg region. As you arrive, you’re greeted with a traditional Welcome to Country, spoken in both English and the Taribelang language, setting the tone for an experience grounded in authenticity and respect.

As the tour begins under the Booral Booral, or Burnett River, bridge, you’re guided through the heart of Bundaberg, discovering traditional place names and learning how these lands were once used for gathering food, shelter and holding ceremonies. The journey soon takes you into nature, with a stop at Baldwin Swamp, where you are immersed in the earthy aroma of tea tree leaves as you listen to stories of the land against a background murmur of native birdlife punctuated by the shrieks of rainbow lorikeets.

The tour takes in iconic landmarks such as the East Water Tower, Millaquin (PRON: ‘mill-a-kwin’) Mill and the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, but with each reframed through the lens of Taribelang Bunda history. At The Hummock, one of Bundaberg’s rare hills, the landscape opens up with panoramic views of patchwork farmlands. While here, you’ll discover the craft behind traditional boomerangs, made from the wattle tree’s taproot, and enjoy a morning tea of native bush tucker – homemade damper paired with lilly pilly jam and bush tomato relish – a simple yet profound culinary experience connecting past and present, which is always a tour highlight.

As the tour weaves through Mon Repos and Kirby’s Wall, appreciate the natural beauty of the region intertwines while listening to cultural stories of totems, environmental stewardship and traditional practices. But the tour does not ignore the darker chapters of colonial history. At Kirby’s Wall, the gentle rustle of fig trees and the river breeze create a poignant atmosphere as you hear the painful history of Paddy’s Island, which offers a moment of reflection that underscores the importance of truth-telling.

What You’ll Discover

A Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tour is more than just a glimpse into history – it offers a deep and personal exploration of culture, resilience and connection to Country. Designed to engage all the senses, this experience brings to life the stories, practices and places that define the Taribelang people, or bunda.

Throughout the tour, you’re encouraged to handle traditional artefacts such as boomerangs. You’ll have the opportunity to feel the texture of the wood, learn how they are handcrafted and understand their significance – not just as tools, but as symbols of culture, survival and identity. These tactile encounters create a powerful sense of connection to traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Language plays an important role in the experience. Waszie and David share the traditional Taribelang names of locations across Bundaberg, offering a new perspective on familiar places. These names reveal the purpose of and stories behind each site – whether it was used for ceremony, gathering food or as a place of shelter – helping you to understand the deep-rooted connection between language and land.

Dreamtime stories are woven throughout the tour, too, each one linked to the places you visit. These stories are not just myths; they are spiritual teachings that guide cultural laws, explain natural phenomena and honour ancestral spirits. By listening to these stories in the places they originated, you’ll gain a deeper and truer appreciation for the sacred nature of the land.

You’ll also acquire insight into the Taribelang Bunda’s relationship with Country. You’ll learn how, traditionally, they live in harmony with the environment, using native plants and natural resources for food, medicine and everyday living. This sustainable way of life is at the heart of Aboriginal culture and continues to guide their community values today.

Dreamtime stories are woven throughout the tour, each one linked to the places you visit. These stories are more than myths – they are spiritual teachings that guide cultural laws, explain natural phenomena and honour ancestral spirits. By listening to these stories in the places they originated, guests gain a deeper appreciation for the sacred nature of the land.

Another key part of the journey is understanding the impact of colonisation. The tour respectfully shares stories of displacement, hardship and worse, highlighting the incredible resilience of the Taribelang Bunda. Despite adversity, their culture remains strong, kept alive through storytelling, community and a continued connection to the land.

By the end of the tour, what we want you to take away is not just knowledge, but a meaningful and lasting connection. A Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tour is an invitation to listen, learn and walk together in respect and understanding, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for one of the world’s oldest living cultures.

Accessibility

Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours aims to create a welcoming and respectful experience for all visitors. However, we acknowledge there are currently accessibility limitations that may affect some guests.

Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours begin from the Taribelang Bunda Designs & Tour office located at 18/96 Mount Perry Road, Bundaberg North. The nearest bus stop is Mount Perry Rd at Botanic Gardens, serviced by routes 607 and 621, and is approximately 160 metres from the tour office. Please note that buses are not frequent, with very limited service in the afternoons. Taxi and rideshare services are also options for those not self-driving.

For those arriving by car, there is no designated accessible parking at the tour departure point. However, a drop-off area with a step-free path to the tour bus is available nearby. The tour itself takes place on a private bus, which unfortunately is not wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible bathroom available at the office.

We warmly welcome service dogs on our tours. There is a grassy area near the car park that can be used for toileting. 

Our staff have undertaken basic accessibility training to help us better support a diverse range of visitors. We’re happy to discuss your needs and explore how we can best support your visit to Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours. We encourage guests with specific needs to contact us at info@bundaculturaltours.com.au prior to booking so we can provide additional guidance or assistance where possible. We are continually working to improve our services and accessibility and we invite feedback and inquiries to help us do so.