Dreaming of a Bushtucker Christmas?

Sonya Jeffrey, from Tully's Ingan Tours, knows just the place. Her family runs a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned tourism experience in Davidson Valley – home to the Janbanbarra Jirrbal Rainforest people. Situated halfway between Townsville and Cairns, it's also Australia's lushest corner, recording the highest rainfall in the country and third highest in the world.

Embracing the mantra 'build it and they will come', Sonya's family are in the business of building a strong connection to local culture and nature, offering tours from river walks and traditional clay face painting to rainforest adventures that take in waterfalls and a 'healing' swimming hole – where every rock and river bend has a name. The family also share the art of boomerang throwing, basket weaving and 'must-do' kayak tours along an idyllic creek complete with rapids, a resident platypus and hundreds of curious jungle perch. Seeing is indeed believing: click here

So, what's new? Ingan Tours HQ, which occupies heritage-listed Tully railway station, is gearing up to launch a café and museum. Until doors open, however, Sonya is keeping the menu, featuring 'secret' bushtucker recipes, under wraps. “There's a particular fruit in the rainforest and we use it to make jam and it just melts in your mouth,” she says. “I want to trial sauces and ice creams with it. The rest is a secret!”

Further information:
W: www.ingan.com.au