explore

Best Things to do in Kuranda – Guide to World Heritage Rainforest

what to do in kuranda

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

Kuranda Rainforest Park is located in the town of Kuranda, Cairns, Queensland. Approximately 40 minutes from Cairns.

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.

Check out our latest posts

How Can I Avoid Crowds During School Holidays?

How Can I Avoid Crowds During School Holidays?

We learned this one the hard way at Bondi. It was the October long weekend crossing into the spring school holidays, we’d promised the kids the “famous pool by the beach,” and by the time we found parking (twenty minutes,
Read more
Day Camp or Vacation Care? What Actually Suits Your Family

Day Camp or Vacation Care? What Actually Suits Your Family

There’s a message that does the rounds in every parent group about a week before the holidays start. “So what are you doing with the kids this time, camp or vacation care?” Someone always replies with a laughing emoji, because
Read more
Power Play Sydney Reviews: Prices, Hours & Is It Worth It?

Power Play Sydney Reviews: Prices, Hours & Is It Worth It?

We had heard a few other Sydney parents talking about Power Play before we booked, so we went in with fairly high expectations. It still managed to surprise us. Nine rooms, two kids, one very sweaty hour later, we walked
Read more
Categories: Travel