• You’ll see a ginormous Saltwater crocodile in captivity. The 5m ‘Jack the Ripper’ lives in an elevated enclosure, so you can marvel over this prehistoric creature with barely any distance! 
• If you love exploring rainforest mountains then this is a fully immersive Kuranda day tour from Cairns that not only allows you to learn about its flora and fauna but also its unique and highly endangered native animals
• A Kuranda day tour that offers some or all with add on options for you to choose from. Inclusions are return coach transfers, Koala and Wildlife Park entry, Kuranda Village, Pamagirri Aboriginal experience, Army Duck rainforest tour.  
• Choose your options for the type of Kuranda day tour you prefer; Optional extras available: Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, animal photo opportunities, Pamagirri Aboriginal Rainforest Walkabout tour.
• Family Deal - Save $61 based on 2 adults & 2 children

Kuranda Coach Tour to Rainforestation Nature Park and visit Kuranda Village Markets on an electric bus.

What to Expect

Kuranda Coach Tour to Rainforestation Nature Park and Visit to Kuranda Village Markets

Begin your Kuranda tour adventure with a pickup from your Cairns hotel and embark on an eco-friendly electric bus tour. Enjoy a day filled with native Australian wildlife encounters, cultural experiences, and exploring the vibrant Kuranda Village Markets. This full-day tour offers a unique blend of nature, culture, and adventure perfect for the whole family.

Features and Highlights

Rainforestation Nature Park

Experience the wonders of Rainforestation Nature Park, nestled in the World Heritage-listed rainforest. Here, you’ll encounter native Australian wildlife, immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture, and explore the rainforest on a unique amphibious Army Duck tour.

• Wildlife Park: Meet "Jack the Ripper," a 5-meter saltwater crocodile, and see rare Cassowary birds, koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. Enjoy a guided tour along elevated boardwalks for an up-close look at these incredible animals. Have your photo taken cuddling a koala or holding a crocodile (extra cost).
• Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience: Join the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience to learn about the ancient customs and traditions of the local Pamagirri Aboriginal tribe. Try your hand at spear throwing, playing the didgeridoo, and making a boomerang come back. Enjoy traditional Aboriginal dances and music in the rainforest setting.
• Army Duck Tour: Hop on a WWII amphibious Army Duck for a 45-minute tour through the rainforest. Your guide will share fascinating insights about the flora and fauna, including ancient ferns, rare orchids, and unique wildlife. Glide through the rainforest river and spot turtles, fish, and other creatures.

Kuranda Village Markets

Spend the afternoon exploring Kuranda Village, known as the "Village in the Rainforest." Wander through the famous markets, discover local artisan crafts, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

• Kuranda Markets: Visit the Original Kuranda Markets and Heritage Markets to find Aboriginal artifacts, handcrafted goods, and unique souvenirs. Enjoy fresh coconut juice and listen to local musicians as you explore.
• Butterfly Sanctuary: Discover the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, home to 60% of Australia’s butterfly species. Wander through the lush enclosure and marvel at the vibrant colours of the Ulysses Butterfly and Cairns Birdwing.
• Bird World: Explore Bird World, a massive aviary housing 45 species of native birds. See lorikeets, parrots, bowerbirds, and the rare 1.8m tall Cassowary in a beautifully landscaped environment.
• Riverboat Cruise: Take a 45-minute river cruise along the Barron River. Enjoy the serene surroundings and spot wildlife such as crocodiles, water dragons, turtles, and Darter Birds.
• Kuranda tours and visitor information guide. 

Kuranda Tour Itinerary

• Morning:
  • Pickup from your Cairns accommodation between 7:45 AM and 8:15 AM.
  • Scenic coach ride up the Kuranda range to Rainforestation Nature Park.
• Midday:
  • Arrive at Rainforestation Nature Park and enjoy the Army Duck Tour.
  • Participate in the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience.
  • Explore the Wildlife Park and meet the native animals.
• Afternoon:
  • Travel to Kuranda Village around 1:00 PM.
  • Spend 2.5-3 hours exploring Kuranda Village and its attractions.
  • Visit the Butterfly Sanctuary, Bird World, and enjoy a riverboat cruise.
  • Shop at the Kuranda Markets and discover local crafts and souvenirs.
• Late Afternoon:
  • Meet at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary at 4:00 PM for the return trip.
  • Return to your Cairns accommodation by 5:00 PM.

Why Book This Tour?

This Kuranda Coach Tour is perfect for families and those looking to experience the natural beauty and cultural richness of Far North Queensland. Enjoy the convenience of an eco-friendly electric bus, the excitement of wildlife encounters, and the charm of Kuranda Village, all in one unforgettable day.

See more Kuranda tour options here

Read our blog on all the things you need to know when booking a Kuranda tour.

Rainforestation Army Duck Tour

This is your chance to immerse yourself in the rainforest and see it from dry land and on the water. Your tour vehicle is an historic amphibious World War II Army Duck (the official abbreviation is DUKW).  

Your Duck tour vehicle holds 30 passengers and you will be sitting atop 6 wheels a propeller and a rudder.

As your journey continues you will be taken into the depth of the jungle for an unforgettable 45 min/1 hour tour into this pristine wilderness led by your Duck tour guide and driver. 

You will pass ancient prehistoric ferns and trees in a rainforest dating back 150 million years. 

See rare orchids, trees that sting and figs that strangle, you might also see some of the rare and exotic wildlife. Even though this area of rainforest only takes up 0.1% of the total land mass in Australia it has amazing diversity.

With 3% of the marsupial, frog and reptile species in Australia with 90% of the bat and butterfly species, over 12,000 species of insects and 7% of the bird species, this is a precious corner of Australia for this amazing pocket of natural beauty and preservation of it.

After travelling along the jungle floor the propeller will be automatically lowered as you glide gently into the rainforest river. 

Your army duck tour vehicle will then cruise along the water’s edge whilst you view fish, eels and even turtles.  You might be lucky to see water dragons or even a sunbathing python.

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

The duck tour vehicle you will be on is one of a fleet of 12 owned by Rainforestation.  These amazing tour vehicles were built between 1942 and 1944 in Detroit. 

The name ‘Duck’ isn’t quite correct as it should really be ‘Dukw’.  The “D” shows the year that it was designed – 1942, “U” means that it is a Utility vehicle, “K” indicates that it made with all-wheel drive and “W” shows that its two rear axles are powered.

Although the Ducks were originally manufactured for military use, other civilian organisations have recognised their potential and are used now by rescue, police and fire departments. 

The Australian Army loaned two Ducks to the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition and were even used locally in Cape York to supply manned lighthouses on remote islands.

They have been used extensively in post disaster work. In the U. S they were used in New Orleans to help after Hurricane Katrina hit and used locally in Australia in 1955 in the Hunter Valley Floods.

The Duck weighs 7.5 tons and its top speed on water is 10km/h (6.4mph).  On land its top speed is 80 km/h (50-55 mph).  It is of steel construction and is 9.3m (31 ft) long.

There is an advanced high capacity bilge system and it also incorporates a unique feature where the driver can vary the tyre pressure from his console.  This is especially good for gaining extra grip when tyres can be deflated when driving along sandy beaches. 

All the Rainforestation Duck’s run on LPG.

After this tour you are free for the rest of the day.  You have the choice of going into Kuranda and having lunch there or having lunch at Rainforestation (you can upgrade when you book the tour for an extra cost that will include lunch). 

Transport will take you to Kuranda to explore after you have finished your lunch at Rainforestation. 

Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience

At the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience you will be taken on a 30 minute tour by a local Indigenous tribe's person, where you will immerse yourself in the amazing Australian Aboriginal culture.

Your Aboriginal tour guide will take you on an all-weather walk-way that is modelled on the Rainbow Serpent. You will see how ancient tools were used and experience Tropical North Queensland through the eyes of the Indigenous people that have lived and survived off the rainforest here for 50,000 years.

You will see Aboriginal dancing, learn about indigenous culture and food gathering and hunting techniques.  

After a few demonstrations by your Aboriginal tour guide you can try throwing a boomerang yourself and see if you can make it come back to you. 

Don’t worry you won’t lose it as you’ll be throwing it in a specially netted off area.

See your Pamagirri tour guide throw a spear using a traditional Woomera. This was used as their traditional hunting weapon.  You will also have a chance to try and throw it. 

See if you can beat the World Record held by one of the Rainforestation Guides at an astounding 147.75 metres (484 ft) – that’s nearly two footballs fields!

An important part of Indigenous culture is music and dance and this has been passed down through the generations.  You will discover how didgeridoos are made and their use in ceremonies. 

After being taught the techniques you will have a chance to try it for yourself.

Koala and Wildlife Park

The Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda has a wonderful collection of local native Australian wildlife. Your half hour guided tour will have you following a wildlife keeper tour along a series of elevated boardwalks that allow you to have uninterrupted close-up views of the animals.

You can have your photo taken (extra cost) cuddling a koala or holding a not so snappy crocodile (it will have its mouth taped shut, so no snappy snaps).

Feed free roaming wallabies and kangaroos and see snakes (non-venomous), turtles, frogs and see quolls and wombats. 

Your tour guide will give you interesting information on the animals and on each of their quirky character traits.

You’ll even get to meet the VIP animal of the wildlife park, “Jack the Ripper” a whopping 5 metre saltwater crocodile that allegedly got his ominous name after he killed 12 of his crocodile girlfriends.

World Heritage Kuranda – “The Village in the Rainforest”

At 1:00pm you will be taken back to Kuranda Village to have some free time there;  around 2.5-3 hours. Your tour bus will meet you again in Kuranda in front of the Australian Butterfly Sanctutuary at 4:00pm to take you back to Cairns.

Here are some other attractions that can be seen when you explore Kuranda.

Butterfly Sanctuary

It’s amazing that 60% of all the butterfly species in Australia are found in this little corner of this World Heritage rainforest. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary celebrates this diversity with an amazing vast enclosure displaying hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies that will be flitting around you as you wander round.

Watch out for the large electric blue ones, which are the wings belonging to the iconic Ulysses Butterfly and regarded as the unofficial emblem for Far North Queensland.

Wear bright colours and you might find butterflies landing on you as they think you are a flower. Pink, red and white are their favourites. 

Bird World

This World Heritage Area has an amazing 7% of all the species of birds in Australia. Under a massive landscaped aviary you can view them flying around in their natural environment with ponds, lakes and waterfalls. 

Bird World has 45 species that are found in the local area and includes lorikeets, parrots and bowerbirds. You’ll even see the very rare Cassowary that at 1.8m (6ft) high is one of only 1200 left in the world.

Riverboat Cruise

This is a wonderful cruise that for 45 minutes will have you mesmerised by the beauty of the stunning Barron River and its wildlife. Fringed by the tall trees of this World Heritage rainforest you might see a basking wild crocodile, water dragons, turtles, or a Darter Bird drying its outspread wings.

Kuranda Markets

Kuranda and its markets are world famous.  At the “Village in the Rainforest” there is the original market area with also an additional Heritage Markets.

During the last century Kuranda has become a refuge for artisans and artists. Visitors have always loved the unique souvenirs and beautiful unusual artworks that they can find in the markets in Kuranda.

Still today you can find unique and creative clothes, souvenirs and artworks. Refresh yourself with a fresh coconut juice, sip a coffee made with locally grown coffee and listen to the local musicians perform.

You’ll sleep well tonight after seeing so many beautiful animals, learning about this wonderful corner of the world’s nature and culture.  A wonderful day for children and adults alike.

If you drove to Freshwater Station in the morning you should be back there around 4:45pm to pick up your vehicle and if you were picked up from your Cairns accommodation in the morning you should be back there by 5:00pm.

Tour Languages Offered

• Chinese
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Spanish

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Times Are Approximate Only
• Departs Cairns: 7:45am - 8.00am - Returns Cairns: 4:30pm

Pickup Locations

Cairns

Destinations

• Kuranda
• Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda and Kuranda Village

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Excludes Christmas Day

Duration

8.5 hours (approx)

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Animal photo - picture of you holding a small Crocodile or cuddling a koala
• Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout Walk
• The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda Village

Fitness Level Required

Low

Additional Information

Languages: the Army Duck tour and the Pamagirri Aboriginal experience have pamphlets available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, German and Italian

Comfortable shoes & clothing (if you decide to visit the Butterfly Sanctuary you should wear a bright colurful shirt to attract a maximum of butterflies, pink, red or white), money for souvenirs, Koala or Croc photo, snack and lunch

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child Fare 4-14 years inclusive