The world’s oldest living rainforest has been officially returned ownership to the Traditional Owners, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in a historic handback ceremony including the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest. Under the Indigenous Management Agreement, the Traditional Custodians will go into joint management with the Queensland government and say it will lead to cultural learning and employment opportunities.

Silky Oaks Lodge is ‘looking forward to working in company with the Kuku Yalanji people on their incredible Country’.

Guests of the luxury rainforest lodge have the opportunity to explore Aboriginal Kuku Yalanji Country and share in the cultural connection the First Nations people have with their land. The Dreamtime Gorge Walk takes visitors on a journey along gentle rainforest tracks, visiting traditional shelters or humpies. Guests can explore the nearby beach mangroves and partake in traditional Kuku Yalanji hunting and gathering practices and sample seasonal bush tucker as operator Juan Walker and his team share traditional knowledge and experiences. The Cultural Tour on the Daintree River’s southern side includes a guided rainforest walk learning about traditional hunting techniques, seasonal bush foods and medicine identification, while the Sightseeing Tour travels north, exploring Cape Tribulation, where guests can learn about the tropical ecosystem through the eyes of the Traditional Owners and discover Aboriginal cultural sites on a guided rainforest walk with an introduction to seasonal bush foods and medicines.