In addition to the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland has another world heritage site, the Australian tropical rainforest! And it is one of the largest and oldest rainforests in the world. The Kuranda Rainforest is a part of this vast forest and is the inspiration behind the rainforest of Pandora planet in the movie Avatar.
Where is Kuranda
How to explore the tropical rainforest in Kuranda
Take the Skyrail cable car
From Smithfield Station to Kuranda Cable Car Station This is one of the world’s longest cable cars, allowing you to overlook most of the park’s scenery in mid-air.
Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway
From Cairns City to Kuranda Town The vintage train was built in 1892 and has a strong retro feel. Along the way, you will see villages, waterfalls, and rainforests.
We would recommend getting the combination tickets for the cable car and train. Cable car one way – train return, or train one way – cable car return.
Kuranda Rainforest Park Attractions
Take the land and water vehicle
This amphibious vehicle was left over from World War II and now shuttles between the tropical rainforest and tropical fruit orchards. You can experience the historical atmosphere of war and meet unique inhabitants – butterflies, water dragons, pythons, turtles, and eels.
Indigenous performance
There is a circular outdoor performance venue that can accommodate 400 people. The daily Pamagili indigenous dance performance is held here.
How to explore Kuranda Town
After arriving at the terminal by train/cable car, 🚶You need to walk 5-10 minutes to reach the town. If you want to go back and forth to the rainforest park, you need to take the shuttle bus to the Butterfly Garden.
Heritage Market
The flea market next to the park has many interesting handicrafts and cute souvenirs to take home.
Butterfly Garden
It has been rated by Guinness World Records as the largest living butterfly exhibition in Australia, with many rare species, and the butterflies are very gentle, sometimes even resting on people.
Koala Gardens
You can take a photo with a cute koala (for a fee). Although the zoo is small, it has some of the representative animals of Australia.