Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
4.5

Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

By Down Under Tours - Day Tours
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The Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the most popular attractions in Queensland’s tropical north, affording incredible views of the Barron Gorge National Park. This flexible tour offers a choice of five different itineraries, so you can tailor your tour to your preferences and include optional extras such as a ride on the Skyrail, a visit to Birdworld, or a tour of the Rainforestation Nature Park.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 80 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: German, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
More

Highlights
  • Customize your tour with several activities to choose from
  • Stunning views as you ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway through the Barron Gorge
  • Free time in Kuranda Village: browse the many shops for souvenirs
  • Hassle-free tour with hotel pickup and round-trip transport from Cairns

  • Cairns pickup and drop-off
  • One-way trip on Kuranda Scenic Railway
  • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  • Rainforestation Nature Park (if option selected)
  • Kuranda Boarding Pass
  • Written itinerary available in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin
  • Entry/Admission - Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  • Entry/Admission - Kuranda Scenic Railway
What's not included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Birdworld, Kuranda Koala Gardens & Butterfly Sanctuary (own expense)
  • Any other optional activities not mentioned
  • Entry/Admission - Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
  • Entry/Admission - Rainforestation Nature Park
  • Entry/Admission - Kuranda Koala Gardens
  • Entry/Admission - Birdworld Kuranda

With several different itineraries to choose from, this full-day tour from Cairns lets you create your ideal day trip. All tours include a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, through the heart of the Barron Gorge National Park. The 1.5-hour journey climbs through the mountain valleys, passing the dramatic Stoney Creek Bridge, and affording spectacular views over Kuranda Waterfall and the Barron Gorge. Additional options include a thrilling ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which soars over the Barron Gorge National Park, stopping at treetop viewpoints along the way; an off-road adventure in the Rainforestation Nature Park; or observing Australian wildlife at Birdworld or the Kuranda Koala Gardens. All tours include hotel pickup and drop-off from your Cairns or Northern Beaches hotel.

Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, 6 Skyrail Dr, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia
    6 Skyrail Drive, Smithfield, Bus Zone at the front of Skyrail Terminal
Pickup details
  • Pickup is available from selected locations in Cairns - please contact the operator after booking to confirm your pickup location and time.
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    Additional pickup options
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.
    • Cairns Railway Station, 142 Bunda St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
    • Cairns Night Markets, 54-60 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
    • Harley Magic, 385 Sheridan St, Cairns North QLD 4870, Australia
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Infants must sit on laps
      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Pushchair accessible
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2570KRPS

      • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
      • Most travellers can participate
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
      • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travellers

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2570KRPS

      From
      ₹11,276.03
      per adult
      Select date and travellers

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        Down Under Tours - Day Tours
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Down Under Tours - Day Tours
        4.5 of 5 bubbles2,915
        Australia
        Joined in October 2011
      • TrapnellsofNailsea
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic day out
        Excellent day, visiting the rainforest with a great guide. Seeing baby crocodiles with mum to visiting a beach in the pouring rain to ice creams made from local fruits. Fabulous
        Written 14 March 2025
      • rosantoniad
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Excellent
        very interesting adventure. fantastic places. breakfast, lunch and ice cream all super. a special thanks to the guide, Adrian Heizel, nice person, kind and very efficient. His description of the places and the nature very detailed and amazing a memorable day. Thank you Rosantonia Da Corte
        Written 14 March 2025
      • ComplacentlyInsane
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour, and Scott an amazing guide
        The tour was pretty good and our driver+guide Scott was amazing. I mean really amazing. He knew the area really well, and his knowledge of aborigine practices was astonishing. The pick-up was about 10 minutes late but since Scott was so completely awesome otherwise, he more than made up. Especially when he showed us a salt-water crocodile along a random riverbank after we were disappointed at not seeing one during the Daintree river cruise.
        Written 11 March 2025
      • janes402
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Your Best Darwin Adventures starts with Scotty and Becs of Down Under Tours!
        We had the best two days with Scotty as our guide. He took us all around Darwin and was very knowledgeable about the area. He showed us the best places to visit as well as for lunch and accompanied us to various beautiful sites with amazing vistas of the coast. Down Under tours is your first stop to hire the best guide for the area! Jane S Florida
        Written 10 March 2025
      • K9052NSneila
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great trip
        Our tour guide Adrian H was excellent, we saw great sites and despite the heat he did his best to keep us cool . Well worth doing!
        Written 9 March 2025
      • 70lesd
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Awesome tour!
        Scott was a fantastic tour guide. Not only was he very knowledgeable, but he had great stories and was very entertaining. We had a great experience.
        Written 8 March 2025
      • jshortay
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic
        Scott was a fantastic guide - one of the most knowledgeable I’ve ever experienced when it came to native wildlife & indigenous cultures. A varied day with lots of stops. Learnt a lot about northern Australia and ate lots of delicious things. Loved the rainforest and seeing crocodiles in the wild
        Written 8 March 2025
      • K9198JJsamp
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour
        Awesome trip! It was a long day but we saw so much! Adrien H. Was an awesome hide. He took the time to answer questions while keeping out group on schedule. Very informative.
        Written 4 March 2025
      • Z9434HPricks
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Daintree Rain Forest / Mossman Gorge
        The day was great. Thanks to Adrian Hazel for sharing your knowledge and stories of the area. Saw some amazing sights and grabbed some beautiful pics. Met some wonderful people too.
        Written 3 March 2025
      • Departure501657
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Daintree tour
        Amazing and fun day in the Daintree. Adrian Hazel was an amazing tour guide!! So knowledgeable about the Daintree and its history and a great and funny guy!! Highly recommend this tour!!
        Written 3 March 2025
      • B4679WHmichaelh
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dantree Rainforest, River and Cape Trib
        Scott was an excellent guide and very informative. Seems to have a passion for the area and it shows. Well done. Highly recommend.
        Written 1 March 2025
      • JennyS3509
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Must do Daintree tour!
        Great Day and our guide Scott was very friendly, well informed and a great ambassador for the Daintree and far North Queensland!! Highly recommended.
        Written 1 March 2025
      • CNHoward
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A lovely day trip
        We had a super day today with tour guide Daniel exploring the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation He’s very interesting and entertaining, talking about the wildlife, the history, the ecology and geology of the area. A memorable outing thank you! Chris and Lyn Howard, Badminton,UK
        Written 26 February 2025
      • laurahX1879RX
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Daintree Rainforest adventure during the "Wet, Wet, season".
        We did this tour with Adrian Hazel. He was very informative and knowledgeable. He answered our questions and told us interesting stories to help us understand the history and importance of where we were visiting. He also told us some corny jokes and encouraged us to have a great day! He was also our driver. He was very safe and competent on and off the road. We highly recommend this tour and Adrian! Thank you.
        Written 18 February 2025
      • dushimab
        0 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Daintree
        Well organised and timed. Guide was helpful and informative. Accessible trip and learnt a lot. Definitely would recommend.
        Written 18 February 2025
      See all 2,915 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

      Popular mentions

      4.5
      4.5 of 5 bubbles278 reviews
      Excellent
      178
      Very good
      70
      Average
      19
      Poor
      4
      Terrible
      7

      Udita Taneja
      New Delhi, India4 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Though the pickup was late because of no-shows we had a good time once we got to the skyrail. We went up to Kuranda on the skyrail. At the first stop of Red Peak we took a short free tour with Ranger Ash. He was very knowledgeable and we learnt and saw things we wouldn't have on our own.

      Barron Falls was an amazing sight. At the village we went to see the Koala Gardens though we felt it was a little bit of rip-off for the price (AUD 38 with the 10% discount for 2 tickets). We wanted to have lunch at the Frogs restaurant but they had closed at 2 pm!

      Ended up having lunch at a family run place with very friendly youngsters. A new place that opened in 2023. The picture of the sign is from this restaurant.

      The scenic train back was everything that it promises and the on-train audio is clear and understandable.

      The coach was waiting for us at the station.
      A very enjoyable day that. Highly recommend this.
      Written 16 June 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for your in-depth review. Happy to hear you had an enjoyable day overall.
      Written 17 June 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Ryan K
      Denver, CO30 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dec 2022 • Couples
      So first for the upgrade options review because the rides themselves have plenty of raving reviews and I feel some folks are looking to see if the extra cost of upgrading class is worth it.

      Gold class: This was worth every penny. Unless this is financially not possible it is so worth it. The gold upgrade gets you a welcome mocktail, and separate waiting area to line up, individual seating (assigned in advance so you do not have to fight for a spot near the window) in a separate cabin vs the bench style seats in the regular cabin. You also get unlimited wine/beer/coffee/tea and they serve you a lunch-ish sized meal brought out in several courses. Portions are not a full meal type situation but plenty to enjoy for the duration. For reference we skipped lunch and we were fine for the day until dinner with this as our meal. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten/dairy free menus available, you just let them know when booking (it’s self explanatory they ask about dietary restrictions).

      The Diamond upgrade for the lift gets you a glass bottom gondola and separate line. It’s cool but not as crucial as the gold upgrade for the train. But having the ability to look down is awesome and, less people use them so you are more likely (not guaranteed) to get a gondola without strangers. The ride down (or up depending on if you choose train up vs lift) gives you two places to stop and get out and walk, for a few minutes, and the Diamond lifts come by every 5-10 min so you wait for those in an easily marked line.

      For both upgrades it is incredibly easy to navigate, don’t stress. Your ticket shows them you’re upgraded and you don’t have to search for lines etc.

      As for the tours themselves they are awe inspiring. We had a downpour on our way up on the train and it was still gorgeous seeing the rainforest breathe. The lift down was sunny so we got to see the iconic views you see in the photos. I won’t go much deeper because frankly the other reviews speak for themselves. This was a wonderful experience. It’s obviously targeted for tourists but frankly we didn’t care because it was an easy and beautiful way to experience the region.
      Written 17 December 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Kim D
      Melbourne, Australia43 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      An enjoyable day out and a must do while in Cairns. We did the scenic railway up and sky rail back, with 3 hours in Kuranda.

      The scenic railway was really interesting, with great history and stunning views. We were lucky enough to have a window seat, without that it wouldn’t have been anywhere near such a great experience. The seating is quite tight for a 90 minute train journey also.

      Once you get to Kuranda, you really need to plan your time well. We spent a lot of time trying to find a good lunch spot, and as everyone gets off the train at the same time, it’s a bit crowded until after lunch. We chose to do Birdworld ($18 entry with boarding pass discount) which was highly enjoyable, although smaller than I expected.

      After that, we were getting close to our return time. We had noticed a rainforest walk nearby (Jumrum walk) but only had 15 minutes and didn’t really get a good experience as we had to turn around shortly into the walk.

      The sky rail back - we arrived 20 mins early and were still able to board. Sky rail is a unique experience gliding over the rainforest canopy, however it is missing the voice over from the train. Regardless, what a way to end the day! The views were phenomenal, amazing!
      Written 2 August 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Cusco43
      Figueira da Foz109 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      I don’t know why they call it a tour? It basically consists in picking and dropping you up at the hotel and buying the tickets…
      Now the tour… we booked the tour at Down under Tours for a family of 5. The bus arrived with a 15 m delay( you’ll see why i’m refering this) gave us a sheet with the tickets, basic information about the times and in the back of the paper a few discounts on several atractions. So, when arriving you have to book everything on your own. There is little time to stay in Kuranda before having to return in the Skyrail. We arrived at the final station 4 min( I repeat 4 min) after the time and the bus has departed so we had to return by taxi which come out not to be so bad because I realize that it wasn’t that expensive
      So my advice is ,if you are travelling in family buy your tickets online for the scenic railway and for the skyrail and then go by taxi to the station. It Will cost you less then half the price and you will have twice the time in Kuranda.
      If you are travelling alone it might be worth having the tour but please, please choose another company other than Downtown Under tours
      Written 5 April 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Mike M
      6 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dec 2024 • Family
      This is the "sauna" railway with NOTHING to see, slow ancient train no AC to the point of being unsafe. Same company runs the skyway but canceled that often. You are basically getting a glorified bus service with hours of delay and waiting on queues.

      Rude staff who did say that this happens often and weren't surprised people were unhappy.

      Views: none most of the ride it's dirt on one side and foliage blocking your view, in 2 areas there is a city view that's nothing special and a brown (poluted?) waterfall.

      To management: why do this to tourists, especially families with kids? Disappointment
      Written 16 December 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear mikemU3783JV, I'm so sorry to hear about how you feel after your recent experience visiting Kuranda. For this, please accept all my sincere apologies. Unfortunately, neither Queensland Rail or Skyrail teams can influence the weather so as such, there is at times longer than expected delays! Both teams always try their best in making everyone journey as comfortable as possible. I will share your feedback with both teams. Please note that the Barron Falls (brown waterfall you describe) is not polluted in anyway. It's color is due to the river been very muddy and an ideal habitat for our very large population of crocodiles!! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Cairns. Kind Regards Nicolas Vernerey Operations Manager
      Written 19 December 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      MYC000
      Melbourne, Australia21 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Took the Skyrail up and gold class train back. Note that you can opt to take the train back to Cairns central if that is more convenient and not pay for the return transfer back to hotel. Spend the extra on gold class comfort and service. Pick up was spot on time and guide who took us to Skyrail was interesting and funny. Kuranda is naturally a bit touristy with the markets. I spent most of my time at the bird park and butterfly park. There was more to see at the butterfly park (if you’re short of time) and it was a bonus seeing the newly hatched butterflies being released into the aviary - very lucky with timing. Bird park - not a big area but quite a few different varieties packed into a little area. Main attraction was seeing a cassowary bird. Gold class rail on the return trip had good service and it’s not limited to 1 drink. Worth it for the extra comfort and the snacks were of good quality too.
      Written 20 August 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for such a detailed review! Your timing was impeccable to catch the butterfly release, what a treat. We are pleased you enjoyed the Gold Class experience also.
      Written 21 August 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Emma Millhouse
      Newport, UK64 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2023 • Couples
      This was booked as recommended by our tour guide . We were taken in a bus door to door from our hotel to Kuranda, we enjoyed 2-3 hour free time in Kuranda village admiring the little shops and cafes, mini markets, library, rainforests, little zoo where we saw kangaroo and koala. We were then taken to cable cars, amazing views, two stops, then the railway, which took us to cairns station where the bus was waiting for us to take us back to our hotel. During the entire excursion, the highlight was the gigantic waterfalls, spectacular views from the road, cable cars and the train. Highly recommended trip.
      Written 22 February 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you so much for your wonderful review of your day and our 5 star rating. We are thrilled you enjoyed all aspects of your day.
      Written 14 March 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      L B
      1 contribution
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Aug 2023 • Family
      This tour company could not run a bath. Staff have no idea of their product, schedules or activities paid for. Paid for a full day tour from 9am and the bus does not get our family to the first activity until well after 12pm.

      We asked if there is a pickup from trinity Beach area and was told your tour only has one pickup which is now later. We then call on the day and was told the 9am was still happening but asked if there was a local pickup and only gave this option. We asked if they could taxi to Cairns for pickup to be told the 11.25 was the only shuttle for pickup.

      This was found to be also and truly misguided. Our family travelled from overseas and had on their list to do. They only had 90 mins to explore instead of the paid for 5 hrs.
      Written 11 August 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      We hope all our guests have a positive experience with Down Under Tours and would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. Please contact us on +61 (07) 4047 9050
      Written 14 August 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Denise M
      Tweed Heads, Australia197 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2022
      We booked online and it was super easy and informative. We were able to walk to the railway from the cruise terminal. All the staff involved were fabulous!
      It was a very scenic rail journey with a 10 minute stop at the Barron River falls before we got up to Kuranda. It is easy to wander around Kuranda for a couple of hours (although I can’t recommend the Butterfly House)
      We then came back via the Skyrail and were picked up and taken back to Cairns by bus.
      It was a very enjoyable day
      Written 4 December 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Fiona G
      23 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Aug 2022 • Family
      Booked the Kuramda Railway, Village, Rainforestation Park and Cable car day trip. Railway was ok. You don't see much unless you have a window seat. Not much time to get lunch, see Kuranda village or markets before heading to Rainforestation Park. Asked reservation team prior to booking if the day trip would provide enough time for lunch, markets and both Army Duck and Cultural show at the Rainforestation Park and was told yes. Didnt have time for markets after grabbing lunch. Army Duck and Cultural Show were on at the same time so was only booked on Army Duck. Very disappointed as I asked twice if we'd have time for both and was told yes both times. If I was told you can only do one or the other then I would've chosen the cultural show and dream time walk. So we missed out on the main attraction I wanted to experience with my 10yr old. So we were extremely disappointed as it was our only opportunity to experience the Aboriginal culture. Cable car was great. Better view of Barron Falls than from the railway but only took 5mins. Skipped the rainforest walk as we did this at the Rainforestation park so spent over an hour waiting for bus back to Cairns which would've been better spent at the village of we had the opportunity.
      Written 30 August 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns provided by Down Under Tours - Day Tours

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