The Kuranda Tour from Cairns

You will embark on a spectacular rail journey comprising matchless views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls. This famous railway winds its way on a journey of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Cairns to Kuranda, the ‘village in the rainforest’.

The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was built between 1882 and 1891 and even today is considered a tremendous feat of engineering. Hundreds of men were employed to build the 15 hand-made tunnels and 37 bridges on the route and many sadly lost their lives carrying out this difficult and dangerous work.

From the train windows, you will enjoy incredible views of North Queensland's World Heritage Listed rainforests, and the Barron Gorge National Park.

You alight at Kuranda Village, a quaint township in the rainforest famous for its arts, crafts and Aboriginal artifacts. Kuranda is also the location for popular attractions such as the Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld. Guests on the Kuranda Tour from Cairns may obtain a discount entry at these venues by showing their Scenic Train or Skyrail pass. You have 3 or 5 hours to spend in Kuranda.

If you opt for 3 hours in Kuranda, you will board Skyrail at 1300h (1:00pm) or If you opt for 5 hours in Kuranda, you will board Skyrail at 1500h (3:00pm). Jump into a gondola for a 7.5 km journey over the top of the rainforest back to Cairns. As you glide just metres above the tops of the trees in a comfortable six-person gondola cabin, your Skyrail experience will reveal one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas on earth.

Voted Australia’s Best Major Tourist Attraction, the multi-award winning Skyrail is recognized not only as a premier tourist experience, but as a world leader in eco-tourism, providing you with a truly unique rainforest experience available nowhere else in the world.

At the end of your tour a coach will drop you back at your hotel.