Tour operator
Captain Cook Cruises Perth
A long-established Swan River cruise operator linking Perth city, Fremantle and the Swan Valley wine region, with dining and wine-tasting cruises.
Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences
A Perth-based, Aboriginal-owned company led by Walter and Meg McGuire, offering cultural walking tours, smoking ceremonies and Welcome to Country experiences.
At a glance
- Type
- Aboriginal cultural tours
- Area
- Elizabeth Quay, Perth, Australia
Good to know
- Aboriginal-owned
- Smoking ceremony
- Wheelchair-accessible walking route
- Group and corporate programmes
Why we recommend it
Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences is a fully Aboriginal-owned and operated company based in Perth. It is run by Walter McGuire OAM, a Noongar man from the Perth region and a Traditional Owner, and Meg McGuire, a Kungarakan woman whose traditional lands are in the Northern Territory. Alongside its tours, the company delivers Welcomes to Country, smoking ceremonies, cultural awareness programmes, public speaking and cultural consultancy for visitors, schools, government agencies, conferences and businesses.
For travellers, the most accessible way to experience its work is a cultural walking tour in the city. At Elizabeth Quay, known in Noongar as Goomup, the company runs a walking tour of around two hours, supported by the state development agency DevelopmentWA. It begins with a smoking ceremony to welcome participants to Country, followed by an interactive display of traditional artefacts, before a relaxed walk along the water's edge beside the Derbarl Yerrigan, the Swan River. Along the way the guides explain the Noongar six seasons and share Dreaming stories.
The tour is designed to be easy going. The route is a gentle 200-metre walk with no stairs and seating along the way, and it is wheelchair accessible, so it suits older travellers and families as well as anyone with limited mobility. Bring a hat, a water bottle and sunscreen, and an umbrella if the weather looks changeable. The meeting point is on the lawn near the Elizabeth Quay Carousel.
The Elizabeth Quay walks run on set dates through the year, often in the late afternoon, and tickets are booked online through the company's booking page. Because the schedule changes, check the current dates before you plan your trip. Kings Park and Botanic Garden also points visitors to Go Cultural's tours as part of its Aboriginal cultural programme, and private and group bookings can be arranged for organisations.
A tour with Go Cultural is a good way to start a visit to Perth, as it gives Aboriginal context to places you will see later, from the river and Kings Park to Rottnest Island. It suits curious first-time visitors, families with school-age children, and anyone who wants to understand the city through the knowledge of its Traditional Owners.
Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences FAQs
Who runs Go Cultural?
It is owned and operated by Walter McGuire OAM, a Noongar man from the Perth region, and Meg McGuire, a Kungarakan woman.
Is the company Aboriginal-owned?
Yes. It is fully Aboriginal-owned and operated.
How long is the Elizabeth Quay walking tour?
About two hours.
Where does the Elizabeth Quay tour start?
On the lawn area near the Elizabeth Quay Carousel.
What happens on the tour?
A smoking ceremony, a display of traditional artefacts, and a walk by the river with stories about the Noongar six seasons and Dreaming.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It is an easy 200-metre walk with no stairs and seating along the way.
What should I bring?
A hat, water bottle and sunscreen, plus an umbrella if needed.
Does Go Cultural offer other services?
Yes. Welcomes to Country, smoking ceremonies, cultural awareness programmes and consultancy.