Summer is coming to Guurrbi (2)

This is mulun, the quandong tree, which is in flower at the moment. This clever tree sends off a single branch of bright red leaves to attract passing birds to eat its fruit and disperse its seeds. It helps us on the ground to find the fruit too! The blue plums are very sweet, but it's best not to eat too many as they can cause constipation.

This is also when all the reptiles are mating and laying their eggs. The pictures below were taken a couple of weeks ago and are of manuya, the sand goanna, who stands on his back legs when he's looking for a mate. This is the goanna after which Lizard Island was named, and we believe its fat helps to prevent arthritis. The best time to extract the oil is just before the wet season when they hibernate. This is when they are at their plumpest.

Willie on Imparja TV's 'Footprints' (short video)

On Tour with Willie (short video)

Summer is coming to Guurrbi

Here’s some pictures of walanggar, the death adder, which were taken on tour last week. When we found him he was lying very still, trying to hide himself in the earth. As soon as we woke him he showed off his bright colours. At this time of year the snakes have mated and there are young snakes about, so we keep an eye out for snake tracks.

This is an exciting time at Guurrbi, with the flowers beginning to bloom and attracting many birds and insects. The beautiful red flower of nanggaarr-buurra, the kapok, is out now, showing us the seasons are changing and summer is on its way. This is the time diwaan, the brush turkey, lays its eggs in a leaf-mound scratched together to act as incubator. And recently we heard our first Torres Strait pigeon, the wabul, so we know the migrating birds from Papua New Guinea are now nesting on the outer islands and coming in to feed.

More pictures from Guurrbi...

Bush creatures

Bush foods and medicines

Rock art & Picture Gallery

Seen in 'The Weekend Australian'

Michael Gebicki, in Travel & Indulgence this weekend, describes Willie as "The exemplar of indigenous tourism in tropical north Queensland" and "an outstanding interpreter of Aboriginal culture, with the knowledge and the communication skills to make this a spiritual as well as a physical journey." Thank you Michael!

Here's the link...

Michael went on our Rainbow Serpent Tour in October last year

A lovely 'thank you' from Spain

Dear Willie (and Judy),

Still trying to adapt to our daily routines after our amazing holiday in your country, here's a few lines to send you a big heartfelt thank you for a magical afternoon. The beauty of your land, your art, your mind and your heart will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Don't forget you have friends in Barcelona now: we'd be honored to be able to show you both a few of our Mediterranean Guurrbis too. Until then, here's a big fraternal hug from us all to you and yours.

Isabel, Fernando, Marc, Roser and Hector.

9 September 2009 (by e-mail)

Isabel and family went on our Great Emu Tour with Mason's Tours

More customer reviews...

Reviews on TripAdvisor...

Another lovely e-mail...

Australia's Best Indigenous Experience!

Great news! Guurrbi Tours has just been selected as Runner Up of Australia's Best Indigenous Experience in Travelling in Australia Magazine's 20 Best Experiences Awards.

This is an exciting award for us, as it's the first we've received from the tourism industry overseas. Our nomination was one of many presented to an international panel of Premier Aussie Specialists, who voted for the best of the best.

Gone are the days of bumping and bouncing!

Whoopee! After years of bumping and bouncing up to the rock art sites, we now have a very smart new track, which means for those wishing to take our self-drive tour options, the sites are now normally accessible to ALL vehicles, including regular 2wd saloon cars. Just remember that during or after wet weather it can get a bit slippery, and if you're renting a vehicle remember to check that your insurance covers off-road driving.