Things to do in

Kuranda

On this 7-hour excursion, visit Kuranda village in pristine World Heritage-listed rainforest. Be picked up from your hotel and travel to the train station. Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway and marvel at mountains on the way. Rising from sea level to 328 meters, pass waterfalls into the Barron Gorge. Explore the markets, shops, and walking trails, or take a river cruise (seasonal) for 2.5 hours. Discover the food stalls and cafés, or dine with the water dragons at Frog’s Restaurant famous for its sauces and dressings. Take the famous Skyrail down, spanning 7.5km over the rainforest canopy. Spot native wildlife, including the cassowary, the world's 3rd-largest flightless bird. Next, take the 2:00 PM Skyrail back to the bottom (Skyrail Smithfield station). Embark on a fascinating journey of discovery over and deep into the world’s oldest, continually-surviving tropical rainforest. The iconic Skyrail experience is a must-do Cairns attraction of Australia’s World-Heritage listed tropical rainforest, immersing you in one of the most botanically fascinating areas on earth. At the end of your Skyrail experience, be picked up again by bus at 3:30 PM to be brought back to the hotel.

The itinerary is as follows: Hotel pickups commence from Cairns Beaches at 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM from Palm Cove, and Cairns at 10:00 AM. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Transfer to Caravonica Lakes to board Skyrail Rainforest Cableway  for your journey to Kuranda. Once aboard you will be amazed as you glide silently over the rainforest. There are 2 stations en route where you can alight and enjoy a walk through the rain forest to spectacular lookouts or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Center. Arrive in Kuranda. You have approximately 3 hours free time to explore the many and varied shops, as well as the Heritage Markets which operate daily. 2:00 PM: Kuranda Scenic Rail. Board the famous train for an amazing journey, as you travel one of the world's most scenic rail routes, through hand-hewn tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges. Please note: if Gold Class requested, Kuranda Scenic Rail will be 3.30 PM not  2.00 PM, and return transfer will depart at 5.00 PM not 3.30 PM. 3:30 PM: Coach departs for Cairns and Cairns Beaches.

Getting around by car? The Kuranda Self Drive trip is a great option for you. Drive yourself to the Skyrail Smithfield Terminal, where a representative will check you in and issue you with the Kuranda Boarding Pass. This includes a detailed itinerary with a time schedule, as well as your Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail tickets, allowing you to proceed straight to the boarding area.  Board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 10:45 AM 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 Kuranda Boarding Pass, or visit the heritage markets. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can purchase refreshments.  Return from Kuranda to Cairns on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia. Choose either the Standard service that retuns at 2 PM, or the Gold Class service with comfortable lounge seats, a dedicated host, and refreshments included, retuning at 3:30 PM. Admire the views as the train winds its way from Kuranda to Freshwater Station, passing spectacular waterfalls and through the beautiful Barron Gorge. Disembark at Freshwater Station to board the shuttle bus back to your car at the Skyrail terminal.

Explore a secluded estate atop the majestic Barron Falls on a personalized ATV tour with a friendly local tour guide. The estate, owned by a local family since 1969, is surrounded by a UNESCO World Heritage Rainforest and is home to the elusive cassowary and other Australian wildlife. You’ll feel secure and prepared after receiving a training session at the beginning of the tour. Confidently ride through the rainforest and take in the atmosphere of this vibrant flora. Follow the ancient timber logger tracks and discover unique trees. As you venture through the forest, your tour guide will share amazing facts and stories from the history of the pioneers. Get your blood pumping as you ride through the water of a permanent creek crossing. Bite into a piece of fresh fruit straight from the tree. The property houses a gorgeous orchard of 600+ trees. If you're lucky, you may be able to spot a cassowary. This blue-headed flightless bird is related to ostriches and emus and makes its home in these rain forests. Although it’s incredibly rare to see these elusive birds in the wild, several cassowaries make their home on the estate, and many visitors have had the chance to lay eyes on this rare and beautiful bird.

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 complimentary transfers 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.

Begin the day with hotel pickup in Cairns at 7 AM or soon after. Make your way to the Kuranda Scenic Rail, then board the famous train for an amazing journey along one of the world's most scenic rail routes at 8:50 AM. Sit back and admire the views as you travel through hand-hewn tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges. Upon arrival in Kuranda at 10:30 AM, enjoy 1 hour of free time to explore the many and varied shops, as well as the heritage markets which operate daily. Once your hour is up, board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for your journey to Caravonica Lakes at 11:30 AM. After boarding, be amazed as you glide silently over the rainforest. There are 2 stations en route where you can alight and enjoy a walk through the rainforest to spectacular lookouts or visit the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Interpretive Center. At 12:40 PM, the coach departs for the return journey to Cairns.

Get an adrenaline rush on a fantastic river tubing activity in a beautiful rainforest close to Cairns. Escape the usual tourist path and join the locals in the Behana Gorge, where a canopy of trees arch over gently tumbling waters, or experience the small rapids of the Mulgrave River in safety. Navigate the river fully supervised by a minimum of two guides on the water at all times. Suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, the activity requires no previous experience and includes all safety equipment. Spend a couple of hours floating down a pristine stream in the rainforest and soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural surroundings.

Start your immersion into the culture and nature of the Kuranda Rainforest with a ride aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Wind through the mountains and rainforest to the village of Kuranda.  Upon arrival, experience Australia's largest butterfly aviary at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with 1,500 tropical butterflies, including the vibrant green Cairns Birdwing. Next, travel by shuttle to the Rainforestation Nature Park for a barbecue buffet lunch.  After lunch, explore the rainforest by 6WD amphibious vehicle as you climb aboard a World War II Army Duck that can drive over land and in water. Search for wildlife as you learn about the plants and trees of the surrounding rainforest. Then, sample some exotic fruits and locally-made ice cream at the Tropical Treats fruit orchard.  Learn about Aboriginal culture at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and watch spear-throwing demonstrations and traditional dances. Try your hand at throwing a boomerang, and hear all about the didgeridoo. Then, get up close to Australian animals including koalas, dingoes and the endangered Cassowary and Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo. See typical Australian critters including wombats, crocodiles, lizards and birds. Feed the kangaroos and wallabies by hand. Then, travel back to Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and ride over the canopy of the pristine rainforest. Transfer back to your accommodation at the end of the tour services.

Start your day with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through tunnels and over bridges on this magnificent journey, passing Stoney Creek and Barron Falls. 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 via 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. Upon arrival in Cairns, you will be transferred back to your accommodation. 

7.00 am - 8.00 am Hotel pick-up at Cairns & Cairns Beaches 8.50 am Kuranda Scenic Rail:  Board the famous train for an amazing journey, as you travel one of the world's most scenic rail routes, through hand hewn tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges. 10.25 am Arrive in Kuranda.  You have limited free time (1hr) to explore the many and varied shops, as well as the heritage markets which operate daily. 11.30 am Skyrail:  Board Skyrail, an experience which takes you over the rainforest canopy with stops along the way allowing you to take a stroll or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre. On arrival at Caravonica Lakes, board the coach for your transfer to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. 1.20pm Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures:  Is the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland. Highlights of the park include the Wetlands Cruise, Crocodile Attack Show and Snake Show. 4.45pm Coach departs for Cairns