From New Beginnings to Regional Leadership
How Rennee Turner is transforming Carnarvon into a destination for cultural tourism
Just a few years ago, tourism was completely new to Rennee Turner.
With a background in mining and civil engineering, she had never worked in the visitor economy. What she did have, however, was a deep connection to Yinggarda Country, a vision for sharing culture with visitors, and the determination to build something meaningful for her community.
In April 2022, Rennee launched Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys with a simple but powerful goal: to create authentic cultural experiences that would encourage travellers to stay longer in Carnarvon and develop a deeper understanding of the region's Aboriginal history, culture and connection to Country.
Today, Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys has become one of the Gascoyne's leading Aboriginal tourism experiences. Through guided cultural tours and immersive storytelling, Rennee is helping reshape perceptions of Carnarvon—from a place travellers pass through to a destination where visitors can connect with Yinggarda culture and community.
Her journey demonstrates what can be achieved when cultural knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit and targeted support come together.
Building the Skills to Grow a Business
Like many new tourism operators, Rennee faced a steep learning curve in the early years of her business.
While she possessed the cultural knowledge and passion to deliver exceptional visitor experiences, building a sustainable tourism enterprise required developing new skills across business operations, administration, marketing and customer management.
Through the Aboriginal Tourism Academy and ongoing Hub support, Rennee received intensive mentoring and guidance over multiple years. Support was tailored to her individual needs and included regular one-on-one mentoring sessions focused on product development, business growth, operational support and personal development.
The relationship extended far beyond traditional business coaching. Through consistent support, training and encouragement, Rennee gained the confidence and capability needed to take increasing ownership of her business operations and long-term planning.
One of the most significant outcomes from a capacity-building perspective has been her growth in digital and business management skills. When support first began, Rennee largely relied on the Hub team to assist with administrative and computer-based tasks. Today, she independently manages her accounting systems, reservations and day-to-day business operations.
This represents a remarkable transformation and highlights the long-term value of investing in capability development alongside business growth.
Turning Determination into Results
The impact of that investment has been substantial.
Between the 2023 and 2024 tourism seasons, Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys experienced an approximately 800% increase in bookings, reflecting growing demand for authentic Aboriginal-led tourism experiences in the Gascoyne region.
During this period, Rennee welcomed more than 114 individual guests onto Country through her tours, with additional private bookings occurring outside her reservation system.
Beyond visitor growth, Rennee has successfully expanded her business offerings to create new income opportunities. In 2025, she launched her bush medicine product line, Bibbi Murra, which experienced strong demand and created an additional revenue stream that complements her tourism experiences.
Her success has also extended into community engagement. Through funding secured from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) for NAIDOC Week 2024, Rennee delivered cultural activities and experiences for school groups, palliative care patients and members of the public, creating opportunities for cultural learning and connection across a diverse audience.
These achievements demonstrate not only business growth, but growing confidence in pursuing opportunities, developing new products and expanding her impact within the community.
Creating Impact Beyond Tourism
The significance of Rennee's work reaches far beyond visitor numbers.
Every guest who joins a Wooramulla experience gains insight into Yinggarda culture, history and connection to Country. Every school group engagement creates opportunities for education and cultural understanding. Every new visitor who chooses to spend time in Carnarvon contributes to the local economy and strengthens the region's visitor offering.
Rennee has also emerged as a strong advocate for Aboriginal tourism and regional development.
Her appointment to Board positions with both WAITOC and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre (ACC) reflects her growing leadership within the sector and her commitment to advocating for opportunities that benefit Carnarvon and the broader Aboriginal tourism industry.
By supporting Rennee's journey, investment has contributed not only to the success of one business, but to the development of a regional tourism leader whose influence extends across community, industry and cultural sectors.
Looking Ahead
Rennee's ambitions for the future remain firmly focused on growth, sustainability and creating opportunities for her community.
She plans to expand her tourism experiences further along the coastline, allowing visitors to experience more of Yinggarda Country and hear stories connected to places not currently accessible through existing tours.
She also aims to continue growing the Bibbi Murra bush medicine range into a recognised and sustainable brand, helping diversify income streams during seasonal fluctuations in tourism demand.
Industry engagement remains another priority. Building on her growing profile, Rennee hopes to leverage opportunities such as Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2026 to increase trade partnerships and reach new domestic and international markets.
Ultimately, her vision is to build a sustainable business that provides a reliable income, strengthens cultural tourism in the region and creates employment opportunities for members of her community.
Rennee's story illustrates the transformative impact of investing in people with vision, determination and a strong connection to culture. Through mentoring, capacity building and ongoing support, an emerging tourism operator has grown into a respected business owner, cultural educator and industry leader.
The result is more than a successful tourism enterprise. It is a powerful example of how Aboriginal-led businesses can create economic opportunity, foster cultural understanding and strengthen communities while sharing the stories of Country with visitors from around the world.
