• So many to choose from! Whether it be patting a python or riding through jungle on a WW II Army Duck, you’ll find each diverse step of the tour an adventure!
• Get your flash on ready, because it’s going to get dark for a moment! The tunnels you’ll encounter on the Kuranda Train and Scenic Railway are handmade, cut into mountain, and over 130 years old! Snap the unique selfie of a lifetime!
• Kuranda is surrounded by rainforest with stunning walks and markets to explore. Keep your eyes peeled for the friendly water dragons in the market area!

Combining the Skyrail journey up the mountain and the Kuranda scenic railway journey down, This is one of the most stunning day tours you will have to explore the wonders of this World Heritage Rainforest site and the iconic rainforestation.

What To Expect

After being collected from your Cairns hotel you will start your journey to Kuranda onboard the award winning Skyrail cableway as you glide above the rainforest canopy in the “The World’s Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience” as you marvel in the beauty of the Barron Fall’s with its cascading waterfall and the plunging crevices of the Barron Gorge.

At the Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda you will explore the rainforest in a restored WWII amphibious vehicle called an Army Duck that will take you into the depths of this World Heritage rainforest on a unique jungle adventure. Your tour guide will drive you past ancient tree trunks, prehistoric ferns and rare flora and fauna dating back 150 million years. As you cruise down the rainforest river you may see turtles, fish, frogs, snakes (non-venomous) and other lizards and insects. You and your family will be filled with wonder at the amazing sights of nature not to mention the thrill of travelling in such an historic novelty vehicle.  

Your return trip will be onboard the famous Kuranda Scenic Railway as it winds it way through the lush rainforest and spectacular waterfalls.

This is a great day for your family to enjoy, with the added bonus of adding flexibility for you to suit the day tour around all your own interests and preferences as you have extra time to explore Kuranda and the attractions it offers.

Features and Highlights

1 Day | Kuranda Army Amphibian Duck Tour, Skyrail & Kuranda Scenic Train

• Your tour bus will pick you up from your accommodation in Cairns between 7:00am and 7:40am (a more precise time will be given when you book) and take you Skyrail station at Smithfield where you will begin your journey to Kuranda. If you wish you may self-drive to Smithfield and join the tour there.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

• This is one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia. This historic train journey will take you from the lowlands of Freshwater Station up to 328m (1076.12ft) to the rainforest and village of Kuranda. This amazing feat of engineering will take you up into the mountain, amongst the rainforest and allow you to view the spectacular Barron Gorge and the cascading waterfalls of the Barron Falls.
• This ambitious construction was started in 1886 and completed in 1891. It was a massive feat of engineering as it was built through such difficult terrain. With steep gradients and dense jungles, plus violent Aboriginals defending their forest home there was a lot to overcome. The train was converted in World War II to an ambulance that was used to transport wounded soldiers from the SW Pacific Islands and New Guinea battlefields.
• You will be travelling on a 1720 Class Diesel Electric Locomotive which was built in 1966. At 60 tons this locomotive train is comparatively light which is perfect for the branch line?
• Your journey will include commentary and you will receive a trip companion that includes information and history of this unique railway journey. You should reach Kuranda around 10:25am.

World Heritage Kuranda – “The Village in the Rainforest”

• Kuranda is a quaint village that has been attracting visitors for over a century and it has a quirky hippie style old charm about it. You will certainly see some interesting sights. The village shops are filled with wonderfully crafted clothes, jewellery and homewares all with their Kuranda charm and creative edge.  Local Indigenous artworks and artefacts like boomerangs, didgeridoos are displayed alongside hand crafted ceramics, crocodile skins and Crocodile Dundee hats.
• You will be picked up from Kuranda around 12:00noon to go on your Army Duck Tour. After your Army Duck Tour departs at 1:00pm. The Army Duck Tour goes for 45 minutes. Once the Army Duck Tour is finished you will be taken back to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway terminal at 2:00pm for the last leg of your trip. Your Skyrail return trip leaves at 2:30pm

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway 

• The views and the stop-off stations on the way up on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway will give you total ‘aaah!’ factor as you see the most amazing sights that nature can offer.
• Descending in your Skyrail gondola from 328m (1076 ft) back to the lowlands this is the perfect way to finish your day.  All the while you will have 360 degree views of this World Heritage Rainforest.  Looking out from the rainforest you will also see out to the horizon of the Coral Sea as it stretches out to The Great Barrier Reef. Truly stunning. This is the only place in the world where a rainforest meets a reef.
• The rainforest around Kuranda was claimed as a World Heritage site in recognition of the importance of this pristine jewel of nature and is one of only nineteen such sites in Australia. This World Heritage Site contains nature from an ancient super continent call Gondwana.  It was from this ancient forest that unique animals and marsupials originated in this rainforest eco-system.

There are two stations along the way where you can get out and wander along to soak up the views.

• Red Peak Station, Kuranda Skyrail

The Red Peak Station is located at 545m (1788ft) above sea level and is the highest station.

• From this Skyrail station you can take a walk along a 175m (574ft) boardwalk that will have you looking up at the trees and not down.  From this level you can’t help but be impressed by the wonder of these giant trees and feel immersed in the experience. This is the oldest rainforest in the world and the true majesty of the trees and plants around you are just stunning.
• At this station you have the opportunity to go on a complimentary guided tour along the boardwalk.  Your tour guide rangers are there to answer any questions and to impart their knowledge to you in an easy-to-understand and fun way. The surrounding rare flora and fauna has a fascinating history with some species being so rare that they are only found in this rainforest pocket. Take as long you like to wander along the boardwalk and soak up the ambiance of this amazing natural wonder.

Pick up the next Skyrail gondola to the next Skyrail Station. 

• Barron Falls Station, Kuranda Skyrail

• As you approach this station you will see the amazingly dramatic view of the steep sides of the Barron Gorge with its granite walls lined with thick rainforest vegetation.
• The Barron Falls Station has three lookouts and is located above the Barron Gorge with views across to the top of the Barron Falls and the mighty torrents of cascading water (especially dramatic in the Green Season December to March). The top of the Barron Falls is at 125m (410 ft) is quite a sight as you view the gushing water of this dramatic waterfall being forced through the rock crevices as it cascades through to tumble in a foaming fury to the depths below.
• If you want to gasp at the amazing spectacle of nature it doesn’t get much better than this.  This is not Hollywood special effects but the amazing results of nature as you take in the amazing view of the rainforest framing the Barron Falls and the Barron Gorge. It’s not just the sight of this natural wonder, but the sheer noise of the water and the fresh mist of the water vapour as it settles on your face which makes it a total sensory experience.

You will return back to your accommodation around 5.00pm.

See all the Kuranda tour options and learn more about the best things to do and see in Kuranda, all the things you need to know before you go. 

Kuranda Tour Itinerary

Itinerary

Pick up by your coach transfer from Cairns accommodation: 7:00am – 7:40am

Skyrail Cableway Journey at 0930

Arrive in Kuranda 10:25

Free time in Kuranda approx: 10:25am - 12:00noon (plenty of time to grab some lunch, visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary or the markets...etc)

Bus pickup to go to Rainforestation at 12:00noon

Army Duck Tour: 1:00pm

Bus transfer back to Kuranda at 3:00pm

Scenic railway depature at 3:30pm 

Back at Cairns accommodation by coach transfer: 5:30pm

What to do in Kuranda

Butterfly Sanctuary

An unbelievable 60% of the total species of butterflies that inhabit Australia are found in this 0.1% of the country in the rainforest. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary displays this diversity in celebration of this amazing insect.In a lush, vast enclosure you will walk among hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies including the iconic electric blue iconic Ulysses Butterflies that are regarded as the unofficial emblem of the area of Tropical Far North Queensland Australia. If you wear bright pink or red colours, you never know, they might land on you thinking that you are a large flower.  Australian Butterfly Sanctuary opening hours are from 10:00am – 4:00pm.

Bird World

This area has 7% of all the birds in Australia. Many of these birds are housed in a massive aviary so you can view them in their natural environment as they fly around the lakes, ponds and waterfalls of this amazing enclosure. Bird World houses 45 species of birds that are native to the local area including a host of parrots, lorikeets, bowerbirds and the pre-historic rare 1.8m (6ft high) Cassowary. You can get up close and feed the birds as well. Open 9.00 am – 4.00pm.?

Kuranda Village Markets

The Kuranda Markets are world famous. In this “Village in the Rainforest” there are two markets located in Kuranda, one on the original market area and the other one is in the Heritage Markets.

Kuranda has been a refuge for artists and artisans and a tourist destination for over a century.   Today it is still as beautiful and is home to many artists and artisans whose wares and artworks are sold in the markets of Kuranda that visitors love for their craftsmanship and beauty.  Whether for something to wear, a souvenir or just because you fall in love with an item, Kuranda offers a unique shopping experience.  Sip on a juice from a fresh coconut and watch and listen to the musicians that perform there.

Rainforestation Army Duck Tour

This is your chance to experience the rainforest from a completely different and unique perspective. Hop on board this amphibious World War II Army Duck (it is officially spelt DUKW) that will be your tour vehicle for this rainforest tour.  Each Duck holds 30 passengers and their design consists of 6 wheels with a propeller and a rudder.  As you are immersed into the jungle for a 45 minute unforgettable rainforest tour, your knowledgeable Duck Captain and tour guide will take you on a journey of discovery and adventure.  You will find out about this amazing environment as you learn about ancient ferns that date back 150 million years, rare orchids, figs that strangle and trees that sting.  The rainforest contains 3% of the frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia with 90% of the butterfly and bat species with 7% of the bird species and with over 12,000 types of insects.  All this is in an area of the country that only takes up 0.1% of the landmass of Australia. The Army Duck Tour operates from Rainforestation Nature Park.

You will then be taken for a splash into a rainforest lake.  With the propeller whirring your Army Duck will cruise around the water’s edge whilst you view turtles, eels and fish.  You might even see water dragons or sunbathing pythons.

Why’s it called a Duck? Information on your amphibious tour vehicle

Rainforestation has twelve Army Ducks that were built between 1942 and 1944 in Detroit. The name DUCK is actually from DUKW which comes from “D” which indicates that the vehicle was designed in 1942, “U” means “Utility”, “K” indicates that it is an all-wheel drive and “W” indicates that it has a two powered rear axle.

Although DUKWs were originally used for mainly military use other civilian organisations such as fire stations, police departments and rescue units also use them. The Australian Army even loaned two DUKWs to the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.  They were also used locally in Cape York to supply lighthouses on remote islands.

They have been used as rescue vehicles in many a disaster. They were used extensively in New Orleans to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Locally, the DUKWs were used in the 1955 Hunter Valley Floods.

The DUKW weighs 7.5 tons and goes at a respectable 10km/h (6.4mph) on water and a top speed of 80 km/h (50-55 mph) on land.  It is 9.3 m long (31 ft) and is of a steel construction.  The high capacity bilge pump system will keep the DUKW afloat in case of a leak. The DUKW also has a unique feature in that the driver can vary the tyre pressure so that it can be fully inflated for hard road surfaces and deflated for softer surfaces like sandy beaches.  The Rainforestation DUKW’s were recently converted to LPG gas.

After your tour at 1.00pm you have the choice of getting transport back into Kuranda or staying on for lunch and exploring Rainforestation Nature Park further.  Transport will then pick you up at 2.30 pm to take you to the Skyrail Gondola station to start your amazing journey back down the mountains towards Cairns.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Departs Cairns 8.00am
• Returns Cairns 5.30pm

Pickup Locations

Cairns

Destinations

• Kuranda
• Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

9 hours (approx)

Fitness Level Required

Low

Additional Information

Languages: the Army Duck tour has pamphlets available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, German and Italian

Eco Certifications

Walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, camera & film, food or money for souvenirs, meals.

• Children 3 & under travel free
• Child price applies to children ages 4 - 14
• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children