Kuranda Scenic Railway Kuranda Wildlife Experience (departure from Cairns Station)

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Go up to Kuranda on the historic Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater, spend the day with butterflies, birds and koalas at three wildlife parks, then glide back over the rainforest canopy on Skyrail. Entry to all three parks and the coach back to your station are included.

Days

Full day

Age

All ages; under 15s with an adult

Group size

Scheduled train and cableway

Start / finish

Cairns or Freshwater station / Kuranda / Skyrail / your station

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Scenic train up, Skyrail cableway down, coach back to the station

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Kuranda Scenic Railway Kuranda Wildlife Experience (departure from Cairns Station)

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Included experiences

Kuranda Scenic Railway — ride up the Barron Gorge with a stop at Barron Falls
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary — walk among about 1,200 free-flying butterflies
Birdworld — hand-feed parrots and see a cassowary
Kuranda Koala Gardens — meet koalas, wombats and quokkas
Skyrail — glide over the rainforest with stops at Barron Falls and Red Peak

Kuranda Scenic Railway Kuranda Wildlife Experience (departure from Cairns Station)

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Itinerary

Map

MORNING: THE TRAIN UP THE RANGE

Board the Kuranda Scenic Railway at Cairns station, inside Cairns Central, or at Freshwater in the north-western suburbs; be there 30 minutes early. The line climbs 327 metres over 37 km through Barron Gorge National Park, in the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. Work began in 1886, and about 1,500 men cut its 15 tunnels and 55 bridges largely by hand. Watch for the bridge across the face of Stoney Creek Falls, and step out at the Barron Falls lookout for photos. You reach Kuranda station, built from 1913 and famous for its gardens, in the late morning.

KURANDA: BUTTERFLIES AND BIRDS

The three wildlife parks are a short walk from the station, and you visit them in whatever order you like. At the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary about 1,200 tropical butterflies, all bred on site, fly free in a big rainforest aviary. Watch for the Ulysses, which flashes electric blue in flight, and the Cairns birdwing, Australia's largest butterfly. Wear red or pink and they may land on you. Birdworld has more than 350 birds of nearly 60 species, from macaws to cockatoos, and some will take food from your hand. Look for the cassowary, Australia's heaviest bird.

KURANDA: KOALA GARDENS AND LUNCH

At Kuranda Koala Gardens, inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets, the koalas doze in the forks of branches for up to 20 hours a day. Wombats, wallabies and gliders live here too, along with quokkas, which in the wild live only in the far south-west of Western Australia, and freshwater crocodiles you look down on from a bridge. A photo with a koala costs extra. In between, have lunch in one of the village cafés (at your own cost) and browse the markets. Kuranda's Djabugay name, Ngunbay, means place of the platypus.

AFTERNOON: SKYRAIL DOWN OVER THE CANOPY

In the afternoon, at the time you chose when you booked, you board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the 7.5 km ride down just above the treetops. Step off at Barron Falls station for boardwalks and lookouts over the gorge, and at Red Peak, at 545 metres the highest point on the line, for a boardwalk loop among the giant trees. At the bottom, the Smithfield terminal, a coach takes you back to the station where you started, Cairns or Freshwater.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Cairns railway station, part of Cairns Central shopping centre, with free parking at Cairns Central next door, or Freshwater railway station, with free parking in the station car park.
Departure time: The train leaves Cairns around 8:45am or 9:30am, or Freshwater around 9:10am or 9:55am, set when you book. Be on the platform 30 minutes before.
Finishes: Back at your boarding station by coach from Skyrail's Smithfield terminal. From Cairns, Skyrail leaves Kuranda at 2:30pm or 3:30pm, meeting the 4pm or 5:25pm coach. From Freshwater, it leaves at 1:30pm or 3:30pm, meeting the 3pm or 5:25pm coach.
Minimum age: All ages. Children 14 and under must be with an adult; infants up to 3 travel free.
Please note: The parks keep their own hours: Butterfly Sanctuary 9:30am to 3:30pm, Koala Gardens 9:30am to 4pm, Birdworld 10am to 4pm, so check your Skyrail time and plan your visits. Skyrail runs in the rain and lends umbrellas at its stops.

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
A camera
Headphones and the free Kuranda Scenic Railway app for the train commentary
A day pack only; no suitcases on the train, Skyrail or coach

What is included

Kuranda Scenic Railway journey from Cairns or Freshwater station to Kuranda
Entry to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Birdworld and Kuranda Koala Gardens
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from Kuranda to Smithfield, with stops at Barron Falls and Red Peak
Coach from Skyrail's Smithfield terminal back to Cairns or Freshwater station

Not included

Photo with a koala (extra fee, limited places)
Lunch, food and drink

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

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.

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 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

4.7

Based on 3 reviews

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.

(4/5)

“Great day out - a Cairns must-do”

An easy start from Cairns station, where a very helpful staff member at the booking office sorted everything, including our trip home when the gondola was closed for maintenance; we got return train seats on a cancellation. We had the wildlife package, and the bird sanctuary was the highlight of the three. Kuranda is a good town to wander. Well worth it.

Jason P Verified· Travelled 1st July 2026

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(5/5)

“Beautiful Views on the Kuranda Railway”

We loved the ride up to Kuranda. The trains are well kept, the station runs efficiently, and assigned seats mean no scramble to sit together. Fantastic views and good commentary on how the railway was built. We came back on the Skyrail and added the Wildlife Experience as we had kids with us. Book ahead.

Sarah E Verified· Travelled 1st July 2026

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(5/5)

“A good day on the train and in Kuranda.”

We took the train from Cairns, visited Bird World, the butterfly farm and the koalas, and came back on the cable car. The train ride is nice, with assigned seats and a stop at the falls. Bird World is a must, with birds landing on you to be fed, and we got to hold koalas.

Bud56 Verified· Travelled 1st October 2024

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