When I did my East Coast trip in Australia I didn’t plan everything out. I made it to Cairns and signed up for a week long PADI course to learn scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, unfortunately because I booked on at the last minute I couldn’t get on right away and had to wait a whole week for my class to start. With a week to kill in Cairns and no solid plan I spent a fair amount of time at Gilligan’s bar and resort. This is where I met a group of backpackers who invited me on a day trip to Kuranda. I didn’t know what to expect but this turned out to be an amazing adventure.
Taking the Kuranda Scenic Skyrail
The day started with a hotel transfer from Gilligan’s’ resort where we added one more backpacker to our group. That is the thing I love about being a backpacker in places like Cairns: it’s so easy to find like minded travelers so even traveling solo you are never really alone. We then headed to our first stop: The Kuranda Scenic Sky-rail. This is no ordinary sky-rail; it carries you 7.4 Kilometers over the McAlister range. The experience is otherworldly, it feels like the start of an adventure movie as you ascend past the lush canopy wisps of mist floating above the skyline.
The sky-rail adventure is served in 3 parts with two stops on the way up. The first stop is at Red Peak station. Here friendly rangers provide umbrellas as you get off the railway and embark on a self-paced walk along the rainforest boardwalk and experience firsthand the lush biodiverse rainforest. After that it’s back on the sky-rail to Barron Falls. The next stop is also self paced and takes you to the grandiose Barron Falls waterfall. With 3 lookouts to take in the majesty of this 260 meter waterfall. I’ve seen a lot of great waterfalls in my life but this one was top of my list. After that back on the sky-rail to the mountaintop village of Kuranda.
Visiting the Market
Departing the sky rail it was time to grab some breakfast. We headed to the local market for coffee and a ham and cheese toastie. We then wandered around Kuranda’s Artisan market. This place is full of souvenirs with some pretty unique shops including a crocodile leather shop with taxidermied crocodiles, handcrafted jewelry shops and aboriginal art.
Kuranda Koala Garden and Birdworld
After the market we were up for more sightseeing so we went to the Kuranda Koala Gardens this is a quaint but lovely zoo with a variety of native Australian animals. It holds a reptile room, a feeding area where you can interact with kangaroos and wallabies and of course Koalas.
Tip: This is one of the few places in Australia that allows you to have a koala interaction. Spots are limited and must be booked on arrival so make sure to arrive early.
Next we went to the adjacent Birdworld. This is a small and lively exhibit featuring an impressive array of vibrantly colored birds. You could purchase a bit of bird feed and interact with some very charismatic parrots and tropical birds that would land on your shoulder or perch on your finger for a bit of food. The park also had a Cassowary: one of Australia’s biggest bird species.
Tip: Buy a discounted bundle pass for The Koala Garden, Birdworld, and The Butterfly Exhibit.
Lunch
We stopped for lunch at Frogs Restaurant. This was an excellent casual dining restaurant with an open air concept and a fantastic view overlooking the rainforest. The menu had a bit of everything from fish and chips to chicken parmi to a classic burger.
Walk
We ended up with an hour left before our train departed. We found the Jurm Creek Walk, a short 3km trail starting at the visitor information center. It was a tranquil way to spend the afternoon enjoying the shade and listening to the sounds of the birds above and the water trickling past in the nearby creek.
Taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway
Everything about the Kuranda Scenic Railway is absolutely beautiful. The station itself is beautifully landscaped and has a vintage vibe that transports you back to the late 1800’s when it was first built. Boarding one of the beautifully restored heritage train carriages you are treated to a luxurious experience. The carriages are designed with open air windows, leather seating and a timber interior. As the journey goes on you learn the history of the railway that was hand built over 5 years. The ride Thames you through 15 hand carved tunnels, and over 37 bridges. The railway is full of jaw dropping views of cliffs, gorges, and rainforest. Once again we saw the cascades of Barron Falls.