Kuranda tours self drive. Includes Kuranda Scenic Train and Skyrail. Make your own way in your car to the departure terminals.
Visiting Cairns and like being independent whilst on holidays and you have a rental car then why not make your own way to the Kuranda day tour departure points?
The historical Kuranda Train and Scenic Railway has been winding its way through the Macalister ranges for over 100 years.
It has not always been a passenger railway, coming into existence originally as a supply train after a series of floods left the regions pioneering miners starving.
The miners slowly left the region in search of fortunes elsewhere, but the allure of the rainforest and the isolation of Kuranda meant the railway would not stay disused for long.
Now you can immerse yourself in history as she slowly winds her way up and down the range, passing waterfalls, entering several hand cut tunnels and traversing some hair-raisingly thin bridges with deep gorges below.
You will be issued your Kuranda Train and Scenic Railway boarding passes on arrival which means you will have very limited boarding times at either station.
Our great value day tours also provide you with a detailed itinerary, map and express check-ins to ensure your day goes as smoothly as possible.
You will be pre- issued a carriage and seat number, and then you will board the train.
Sit back and enjoy the ride, as you listen to the overhead commentary or read the information booklet provided.
There are water taps available in every restored carriage for your extra comfort.
Kuranda has been a local favourite for many years. It began life in 1888 as a supply station for the areas mining and logging workers, and it wasn’t long before it had its own good old Aussie pub and hotel which became the local meeting place and watering hole.
Soon word spread of the glorious Barron Falls, and the seclusion of the rainforest brought honeymooners and locals seeking a short escape from city life down below the mountain on the beaches.
During its lifetime this village has seen the Gold Rush, the rise and fall of tobacco farming, military training, and hippy communes.
Thankfully this hippy vibe still remains today as the town thrives on self-sustainability, local crafts and isolation from the hustle and bustle of Cairns.
During your free time in Kuranda, you can wonder the streets and explore the many hidden secrets of this tiny rainforest village.
Market stalls line the streets and fill several market complexes, offering home-made, hand crafted and second-hand delights.
You can ask the information centre about self-guided walks, or pay a visit to the bat refuge centre, BatReach.
Sample local produce, eat lunch at a local café and buy authentic Aboriginal artworks.
There are many Indigenous Australian wildlife experiences to be found around Kuranda, a wildlife lover’s dream.
The Koala Gardens should be your first stop if you love the cute and cuddly symbols of Australia. You can even cuddle a koala for a great photograph for your souvenir album.
Birdworld puts on fantastic free flight bird shows, and the venom zoo is for those seeking the thrill of seeing some of Australia’s most dangerous and deadly animals.
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is Australia’s largest free flight butterfly aviary, and provides the children and adults alike with the education center within their breeding laboratory.
Just make sure you wear red, white or pink as the butterflies just cannot keep themselves away from these colours.
The Skyrail Cableway station is located near the bottom of the village centre, within easy walking distance.
Once again, your pre-allocated boarding passes mean you do not need to join the line at the ticket booth; you can proceed directly to the boarding line and begin the beautiful journey across the river and rainforest canopy.
The Skyrail cable way line is 7.5kms long, taking you up over the ranges from Kuranda, over the mighty Barron River Falls and down onto the coastal plain.
It gives you amazing views and magnificent photography opportunities!
Along the way you can look forward to two rainforest interpretation centre stops, to enhance your rainforest experience.
The first is at Barron Falls, giving you a second opportunity to take photographs of these magnificent waterfalls from the opposite of travel from the view you had on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
This is also the location of a CSIRO rainforest interpretive centre that aims to educate and entertain all who visit their centre of the sensitive environment we all need to protect for our own survival.
Your second gondola stop is at Red Peak Station, where a free guided rainforest interpretation walk is held every 20 minutes along the 175 metre boardwalk, to help further your understanding of this fragile ecosystem.
The Kuranda Boarding Pass is a helpful tool designed to provide guests with an easy-to-understand guide for their day in Kuranda, including a map, schedule, location guide and information about each of the attractions available in Kuranda.
The Kuranda Boarding Pass is also available in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese or Chinese, making it much easier for foreign-language guests to know where they should be and at what time throughout the day, ensuring all guests reach the different attractions and buses on time.
You must pre-book for the tickets and the coach transfers to ensure you will be collected at the Skyrail carpark for your journey to the Kuranda Scenic Railway Station.
A great tourist attraction for not only visitors to Cairns but a big favourite tour for Cairns locals also so don’t miss booking this day tour when you come to Cairns Queensland Australia for your next holiday.
See more Kuranda Tour options here
Cairns
January - December
Daily
Closed Christmas Day
Operation may be affected by adverse weather events or scheduled maintenance
Varies depending on option selected
Low, Disabled
Wheelchairs cannot exceed 630mm in width and 950mm in length.
The cableway will be paused to assist with boarding for all mobility impaired guests.
Wheelchairs must have handles to assist loading
Wheelchairs must be capable of being tilted back during loading
Complimentary ranger-guided tour at Red Peak Station
Printed information provided at Tjapukai and also in the form of the Kuranda Boarding Pass, which provides a detailed tour itinerary
Wheelchair accessible restroom facilities at all 4 stations
Ramp access to boardwalks at the 2 scenic viewing stations
Access to CSIRO Interpretation Centre at Barron Falls Station
Wheelchair lifts onto train carriage at Freshwater and Kuranda stations
Cairns Train Station level with platforms
Wheelchairs cannot exceed 630mm in width and 950mm in length
No wheelchair access facilities at Barron Falls Station
Wheelchair compliant ramps at all stations
Maximum 4 dedicated wheelchair areas on each train located in central carriages
Information in braille at Cairns Station
Audio commentary during train journey
Visual information provided
1 wheelchair accessible toilet on board all train services and at Cairns, Freshwater and Kuranda Stations
Please advise upon booking if you require a wheelchair-friendly coach transfer.
All cancellations must be in writing.
Please note that all cancellations will incur an administration fee.
Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.
Tour Operator's Cancellation Policy:
50% cancellation fee for any cancellations within 24 hours of travel, or for passengers who fail to appear on the day of departure.
All passengers who cancel will be advised to contact their booking Agent for all refunds.
au$148.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$78.00
Family: au$374.00
Tour Code: 199