Down Under Tours Kuranda, Scenic Railway (09:50am), Skyrail (3:45pm) incl. Return Cairns Transfers

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Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway up through Barron Gorge on the 9:50am train, spend about four hours in the rainforest village of Kuranda, then come back down over the treetops on Skyrail at 3:45pm. Return coach transfers from Cairns and all your tickets are included.

Days

Full day

Group size

Self-guided day with coach transfers

Start / finish

Cairns / Freshwater Station, Kuranda, Smithfield / Cairns

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Coach, Kuranda Scenic Railway up, Skyrail cableway down

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Down Under Tours Kuranda, Scenic Railway (09:50am), Skyrail (3:45pm) incl. Return Cairns Transfers

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Included experiences

Kuranda Scenic Railway — 9:50am train up through Barron Gorge with a stop at the Barron Falls lookout
Kuranda village — Heritage Markets, cafes and wildlife attractions in your free time
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway — gondola down the range over World Heritage rainforest
Barron Falls and Red Peak stations — lookouts, boardwalks and free guided walks

Down Under Tours Kuranda, Scenic Railway (09:50am), Skyrail (3:45pm) incl. Return Cairns Transfers

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: PICK-UP AND FRESHWATER STATION

Your driver collects you in Cairns, or from the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas if you chose those pick-ups, checks you in and hands over your Kuranda Boarding Pass. It holds your train and Skyrail tickets, a timed plan for the day and discount coupons for the village, so you skip every ticket queue. Cairns sits on Trinity Bay, which Captain Cook named on Trinity Sunday in June 1770. On the way to Freshwater Station, about 10 km from the city centre, your driver-guide shares stories of the area. Depending on the option you booked, your train leaves at about 8:50am or 9:50am.

MID-MORNING: THE KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY

The Kuranda Scenic Railway took about 1,500 workers five years to build: work began in 1886 and the first trains carried people up it in 1891. In 37 km it climbs 327 metres through Barron Gorge National Park, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, threading 15 tunnels and crossing 55 bridges. The commentary tells the story of the pioneers who blasted the line out of the mountainside. Hold on to your camera as the train swings around the 180-degree bend at Jungara and crosses the curved bridge in front of Stoney Creek Falls. Then it stops at the Barron Falls lookout, Din Din to the Djabugay people, for photos. In the wet season the water roars across the whole rock face. The climb to Kuranda takes about an hour and a half.

MIDDAY: FREE TIME IN KURANDA

Kuranda sits on Djabugay Country at the top of the range, and depending on your Skyrail time you have about two to four hours here. The Kuranda Heritage Markets, open every day, sell local art and craft, and the cafés and restaurants make lunch easy (at your own cost). Your boarding pass carries discounts for Birdworld, where the birds fly free around you, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, home to the Cairns birdwing, Australia's largest butterfly, and Kuranda Koala Gardens. Rain showers come and go quickly up here, so keep an umbrella in your bag.

AFTERNOON: SKYRAIL DOWN THE RANGE

In the early or mid-afternoon, at the time on your pass, you board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the 7.5 km ride down. It opened in 1995, and its towers were lowered in by helicopter so no road had to be cut through the forest. Get off at Barron Falls station for the lookouts and the Rainforest Interpretation Centre, then at Red Peak, at 545 metres the highest point of the line, where free guided boardwalk walks run through the day. Allow about 90 minutes with both stops. A guide meets you at Skyrail's Smithfield terminal for the coach back to your accommodation.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from listed Cairns hotels and stops; wait out the front of your hotel or at the marked stop. The booking system matches your accommodation to the nearest point.
Departure time: About 8:15am from Cairns. Exact pick-up, train and Skyrail times are confirmed when you book.
Finishes: Skyrail ends at Smithfield Terminal, and the coach takes you back to Cairns.
Fitness: Easy. You sit on the train and in the gondola; the Skyrail stations have short boardwalks.
Please note: Written trip guides come in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin as well as English; say which you need when you book. A wheelchair-accessible coach is available but places are limited, so tell us when you book.

What to bring

Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Water bottle
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Umbrella

What is included

Return coach transfers from Cairns hotels with a driver-guide
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Freshwater to Kuranda (9:50am train)
Free time in Kuranda village
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda to Smithfield (3:45pm)
Kuranda Boarding Pass with tickets, itinerary and discount coupons
Written trip guide in seven languages

Not included

Meals and drinks (cafes and restaurants in Kuranda)
Entry to Kuranda attractions such as Birdworld, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Kuranda Koala Gardens (your Boarding Pass has discount coupons)

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

I loved the Kuranda tour with pick-up and drop-off in Port Douglas. The drivers were friendly and shared lots about the area, I took the Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail down with its two stops, and Kuranda is a cute town worth the trip.

Mona Kortmann Verified· Travelled 24th May 2026

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