Barron Gorge

Experience white-water rafting in Barron Gorge National Park, known for its rugged rainforest mountains, steep ravines, and the falls carved out over thousands of years by the Barron River. Enjoy optional pickup from Cairns or Port Douglas before heading to the national park. Meet your guide at Lake Placid, and get ready for your river rafting tour on the river. Enjoy the area’s scenic beauty and a combination of calm water and a series of white-water rapids as well. Spend two hours navigating rapids up to grade three. No experience is necessary, making this a good choice for beginning rafters. There is also plenty of excitement for the more experienced. Please note: $30 per person River Levy payable on the day of travel

Start your day with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over a pristine rainforest with the canopy just meters beneath you. It is recommend you spend time at the two stations en route: Red Peak Station and Barron Falls Stations. Once in Kuranda, you will travel to Rainforestation Nature Park via shuttle. Explore the rainforest on a 6-wheel drive World War II Army Duck amphibious vehicle over land and water. Your experienced duck driver will help you search for wildlife and teach you about the plants and trees that make up the surrounding rainforest. After your tour, you can sample exotic fruits and locally made ice cream at a Tropical Treats fruit orchard.  Then, take the shuttle bus from Rainforestation Nature Park to Kuranda Village. Once in the village, you have free time to explore the markets and shops. At the end of your day, you will travel back to Cairns with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through tunnels and over bridges on this magnificent journey, passing Stoney Creek and Barron Falls. Upon arrival in Cairns, you will be transferred back to your accommodation. 

Enjoy a trip to explore Kuranda at your leisure. Travel to Kuranda via the Kuranda Scenic rail or Skyrail first. Glide over the world's oldest rainforest on the magnificent Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Take a rainforest boardwalk with views of the spectacular Barron Gorge and Falls. Relax with pickup in a small bus by your guide, who will deliver you to Kuranda. Once there, choose from a vast array of activities including local markets, arts and crafts, enjoy an encounter with animals or butterflies. Enjoy a relaxing lunch before joining the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway on a spectacular journey through 15 tunnels and over 37 bridges. Learn about Kurada’s history as you pass through the flora. Then, enjoy magnificent views as you make your way to Freshwater Station to be met and transferred to your hotel, arriving about 4 pm. Alternatively, you can opt to continue to Carins Station, and walk to your accommodation.

The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes you on an unforgettable journey over and through Australia's World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest in the Barron Gorge National Park. Glide just meters above the canopy along a 7.5-kilometer span in a comfortable 6-person gondola. Take in views of tropical Cairns, the Coral Sea and lush Cairns Highlands. You’ll stop at Red Peak Station for a guided boardwalk tour with a Skyrail Ranger, to learn about the ancient tropical forests. You’ll also make a stop at Barron Falls Station, where you’ll find pathways and lookouts over the Barron Gorge and Falls, historical displays and a Rainforest Interpretation Centre. Developed in conjunction with CSIRO, the Interpretation Centre features interactive touch-screen computers that provide an engaging and fun learning experience for people of all ages. Multiple winner of the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is The World's Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience. It is located just 15 minutes from Cairns city center and 50 minutes from Port Douglas. During busy periods, sharing of gondolas with other guests may be required

Prepare for adventure and action on this guided white water rafting tour on the Barron River. Receive all rafting training and equipment needed before venturing into the water to experience grade 2 and 3 rapids. The Barron River is located only 20 minutes from Cairns and offers a great introduction to white water rafting. You’ll get to experience up to 2 hours of rafting with a combination of exciting rapids and calm water paddling. Begin with pickup from your accommodation or self-driving to the starting point at Lake Placid. Once here, meet your river guide and fellow paddlers and get fitted with your life jacket, helmet, and rafting shoes, if you choose to rent a pair.  Follow a short track with your group down to the river where you will board your raft and receive a comprehensive safety briefing and paddling instructions from your guide. You will have the chance to practice in the flat water before it's time to hit the white water. The first couple of rapids you raft through are small and easy, giving you plenty of time to get a feel for how the raft moves through the water before it's time to navigate the bigger, more exciting rapids, including the Rooster Tail. The combination of grade 2 and 3 rapids will ensure you have a thrilling trip rafting down the Barron. At the bottom section of the river, enjoy a flat paddle where you'll have time to admire the stunning scenery and learn about the surrounding rainforest and native wildlife. After arriving at the take-out point, change into your dry clothes. On the journey back to your hotel, find the action photos available for preview to purchase. Please note: $30pp River Levy is payble on the day of travel.

Drive to the Skyrail Smithfield Terminal, and use your digital trip guide to check in for the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Your digital trip guide includes a detailed itinerary with a time schedule, as well as your Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Cableway tickets. Board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and enjoy an unforgettable journey through the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest, stopping along the way to explore. Once you arrive in Kuranda, you'll have free time to see this unique village. Use the discount vouchers on your digital trip guide, or visit the markets. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can purchase refreshments.  Return to Cairns on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Admire the views as the train winds its way from Kuranda to Freshwater Station, passing spectacular waterfalls and through Barron Gorge. Disembark at Freshwater Station to board the coach back to your car at the Skyrail terminal.

Start your day with a pickup from Cairns. Leave the city behind, travel past suger cane fields and then through the World Heritage-listed rainforest on a bus as you make your way to the charming rainforest village of Kuranda. Once there, choose from a vast array of activities including local markets, arts and crafts, enjoy an encounter with animals or butterflies, and enjoy a relaxing lunch (at your own expense) before joining the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway. Take a journey through 15 tunnels and over 37 bridges while enjoying magnificent views. Conclude your adventure with ease as you are met at Freshwater Station and transferred to your hotel, arriving at around 4 PM, having experienced a full day of natural wonders and cultural delights.

This small-group tour includes a short transfer from your hotel to Cairns Railway Station where you will board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway for an amazing journey over 37 bridges & through 15 tunnels passing through the rainforest to the charming village of Kuranda. It’s a short walk to the village where you will have about 2.5 hours to dine, explore, shop or perhaps an exciting encounter with wildlife at one of the zoos (fees apply) Later, make your way to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway where you will glide over the rainforest canopy as you make your way to the Barron Falls. View the magnificent Barron Gorge, the falls & visit the Rainforest Interpretive Centre before re-boarding the cableway and making your way to Red Peak Station. From there explore the World Heritage listed rainforest before re-boarding and completing your journey at Smithfield where you will be met and transferred to your accomodation.

After pickup from your accommodation, begin your journey. Drive up the Kuranda Range, passing through the small village of Kuranda. Enjoy a short driving tour of the village, before continuing to the World Heritage-listed Barron Gorge National Park. Witness the majesty of Barron Falls, which makes for a great photo opportunity at the stunning Wrights lookout. Heading further west, detour off the bitumen and head onto the Clohesy River Road to begin a four-wheel drive journey. Wind through the rainforest and over some of the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. View ancient King Ferns before stopping at Clohesy Boardwalk, where your guide will interpret the rainforest surroundings and introduce you to the giant strangler fig tree, which is hundreds of years old. After leaving the Clohesy River area, make a stop at Davies Creek, where you can go for a swim in the crystal-clear waters. Then, stop to try some local ice cream. Finally, head back toward Cairns via the Wet Tropics World Heritage drive on the Kuranda Range. Make one last stop at the breathtaking Henry Ross lookout, before returning to your accommodation in Cairns.

First stop is the Cattana Wetlands, for a guided walk through the heart of a preserved feather palm forest and past picturesque Jabiru Lake. Immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere of this unique landscape, as you gain valuable insights into the distinctive plant and animal life that inhabit this remarkable wetland ecosystem. Next on the itinerary is an exclusive Make Travel Matter® experience. Visit the beautiful Barron Falls, locally known as Din Din. Changing with the seasons, this magnificent waterfall holds profound significance to the Djabugay Aboriginal People. This experience goes beyond the surface, as we receive a warm welcome from a Djabugay cultural guide who will enlighten us about the spiritual and historical importance of the falls in their rich heritage. Skybury - Australia's oldest coffee plantation and largest papaya grower - is our destination for lunch. After a tasty meal, enjoy stunning views from the deck overlooking the Atherton Tablelands, as you sample the wonderful locally grown coffee! Travelling on through the Tablelands rich farming area we arriver at Emerald Creek Ice Creamery where you can delight your tastebuds with a cup of 4 different ice cream flavours, proudly produced on site. In the afternoon you’ll board the famous Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and journey over and through the World Heritage Listed rainforest. You will have a bird's eye view of the rainforest canopy from the gondola and breathtaking views over the lush rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Take the opportunity to visit The Edge lookout - one of two enroute stops - for spectacular views of the Barron Falls. At Skyrail’s Smithfield terminal meet your coach for return journey to Cairns.