FAQ

Passengers are required to check-in directly at the tour vessel – Cairns Marlin Marina, 1 Spence Street, Cairns – D-Finger, Berth # ??

Morning Departure:

Check-in time is from 8.45am for 9.00am departure

Returning at 12pm

Afternoon Departure:
Check-in time is from 12.45pm for 1.00pm departure

Returning at 4pm

There are a few different options for car parking near Reef Fleet Terminal

• Eco-Cultural Half Day Tour – Check Availability

For the most up to date availability, please visit the tour page and click the Book Now button.

East Trinity is located directly opposite Cairns CBD and is part of the Wet Tropics area, which can experience high rainfall during the summer months. Our vessel is covered, as is our transfer vehicle. However we do walk on a trail through the rainforest, which does offer some cover, but a rain jacket, umbrella or poncho is advised if you think it might rain.

Days of extreme weather may result in the cancellation of tour, in which case you will be contacted by our reservations team, and given the choice of re-scheduling your tour to another date, or a full refund.

Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours is 100% Indigenous owned and operated.

Mandingalbay Yidinji are the Traditional Owners of both land and sea country on which the tours operate as recognised by Native Title since 2006.

The tours provide guests with the chance to experience ancient lands including rainforest, open woodland, estuarine mangroves, wetlands, and marine environments with Mandingalbay Yidinji Guides who cover topics of cultural significance, and lead interpretative walks, showcasing traditional use of natural resources used for medicinal purposes and sustenance.

Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours holds the following certifications:

Eco Certified Tourism - This certification is recognition of a high standard of operations,and assures travellers that our products are backed by a strong, well managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Respecting our Culture - This program demonstrates our commitment to protecting cultural authenticity and integrity, developing sound business practices, environmental protection and acknowledging Indigenous peoples spiritual connection to the land and water.

We operate one vessel which has a capacity of 42 seats.

By traveling with Traditional Owners of the land, with their cultural knowledge, at any time of year you will understand the seasonal changes that impacted on the traditions and way of life of first nations people.

Dry Season in Cairns is generally between April and November – with acceptations to that rule of course. During these months, the average temperature can be between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.

However travelling to Cairns and the Tropical North during the wet season is spectacular given the landscape, waterfalls and animals come to life. It is a green, tropical paradise.

At least 3 days in advance of your intended travel day is advised. The months of June through to September can be very busy in Cairns particular during school holidays so perhaps booking even a month or more ahead of arrival is advised to secure your spot.

Local Rates are available for people living with a postcode beginning with ‘48’. These special rates are only available for direct bookings only. Local ID, must be provided upon check in.

Child 4 - 15 years
Infants 0 - 3 years FOC
Adult 16+ years
Family 2 Adults, 2 Children (child age 4 - 15 years)

Passengers under the age of 18 years old, must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

On our 3 hour Eco-Cultural Tour, we provide a simple but fresh morning or afternoon tea which generally includes a fruit platter, together with a baked option. There is no meat served on this tour but any special dietary requirement should be entered at the time of booking – particular with all group and private charter booking.

Yes, we accept VISA, Mastercard and AMEX. We do accept cash onboard but prefer Eftpos to avoid any contamination with money handling.

Yes.

Passengers can go directly to the vessel and our team will carry an eftpos machine for credit and debit card payment. No cash will be accepted, and bookings on the day will be subject to availability of seats.

It is recommended that a booking be made prior to departure. Reservations can be called from 7.30am each day.

The Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours vessel is 12 metres long and can carry up to 42 passengers.

Our Tour Guides and Rangers are English speaking but will also be using cultural names and their traditional Indigenous language throughout the tour.

Foreign speaking guided sourced here in Cairns can be booked for an additional $200 per half day tour if guests are non-English speakers.

Yes. These tours are designed to engage with people of all ages. The tour is educational but also a lot of fun. Children will get to ride in a boat across Trinity Inlet with the chance to view Crocodiles along the banks. The walk is not strenuous or long. We welcome families with children of all ages.

The waters of Trinity Inlet are sheltered and reasonably calm, however we realise that some people are prone to sea-sickness and therefore we recommend taking sea-sickness medication at least 30 minutes prior to departure.

Water bottle, Sturdy footware as some walking on unlevel ground is involved, light long sleeve shirt and pants if travelling in summer, Hat, Sunscreen, Insect repellent, Camera/Phone to capture the moments.

While our vessel and coach do not have wheelchair access, we can accommodate most people who have mobility challenges and we want to understand more about each guests needs. It would be essential that we speak with the person or their carer prior to the day of travel so that we can understand their needs and ensure that we can deliver our tour for them. 

Our Mayi Bugan Rainforest Trail is not wheelchair accessible, however we always provide a guide present to provide an alternative cultural activity such as traditional weaving while sharing information regarding native bush foods, medicinces implements and other resources. 

Cancellations happened from time to time for a number of reasons. An example would be due to high rainfall combined with gale-force winds. In the event that we must cancel the tour, we will contact you as soon as possible to reschedule or offer a full refund.