Kuranda
Partly sunny. Warm.
5:58 PM Monday, May 20
Partly sunny. Warm.
7 day forecast
Half the fun of visiting the quaint mountain town of Kuranda is getting there! Jump aboard the historic scenic railway, ride the skyrail, or hire a car and take a splendid drive through the winding hills from Cairns.

Kuranda offers a feast of artistic, wildlife, shopping and dining pursuits. Order local seafood at a palm-shaded outdoor cafe, then visit the Original Kuranda Rainforest Market for incense and hippie chic. The Kuranda Arts Co-op specializes in locally crafted artworks and pottery, the Heritage Markets has jewelry and opals, and the New Kuranda Markets sells didgeridoos, boomerangs and other souvenirs of indigenous Australia.

Croc-spotting cruises head out from Kuranda along the Barron River, signed walking trails lead through the rain forest, and all sorts of animals are corralled in these parts – cuddle a koala, spot flutterbys at the butterfly sanctuary, see big cats at the wildlife reserve, or hang out with feathered friends at BirdWorld.

Latest Reviews

5 star rating: Highly Recommended Review by Eileen, USA, April 2013
Doing what: Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

What a wonderful day! The rail trip to Kuranda was so picturesque in the old rail cars and the Skyrail return was a beautiful experience. We are so glad we visited the RainForestation and Wildlife Park and its indigenous animals, holding a koala and feeding the kangaroos and wallabies. Took a ride on an amphibious World War II Army Duck through the rainforest, and experienced Aboriginal culture.

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5 star rating: Highly Recommended Review by Sunshine, USA, March 2013
Doing what: Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

This was a wonderful tour. It was a lot of walking but worth the effort. The Skyride and the rain forest had beautiful sights of the area surrounding Kuranda. We showed our hunting skills by throwing a boomarang and a spear. We had decided that starvation would have soon set in if we were the hunters. It's harder than you think folks. The tour is diverse and every element offers something new and interesting. Be sure an take this tour when in Cairns.

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5 star rating: Highly Recommended Review by Mona R, February 2013
Doing what: Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

Two very interesting places - the aboriginal "village" and Kuranda where there was not enough time to explore because we had to get the train back fairly early - a shame.

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Practical Info

Kuranda is 25 km (15 miles) northwest of Cairns. You can drive here in around 15 minutes, or take the 90-minute Skyrail or the Scenic Railway, which takes just under two hours. For a less spectacular but cheaper option, catch a Kuranda shuttle bus from Cairns' transit center.
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