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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

By Down Under Tours - Day Tours
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 Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park, a tour of the Rainforestation Nature Park, or lunch in the rainforest.
from
$120.33
per adult
from
$120.33
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 80 per group
Duration:7h
Start time: Check availability
Ticket type:Mobile
German, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Highlights
  • Customise your tour: five different itineraries 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 Hotel 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 - Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
  • Entry/Admission - Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
  • Entry/Admission - Rainforestation Nature Park
  • Entry/Admission - Kuranda Koala Gardens
  • Entry/Admission - Birdworld Kuranda
With five 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 an immersive cultural experience at the Tjupakai Aboriginal Cultural Park. All tours include hotel pickup and drop-off from your Cairns or Northern Beaches hotel.
Departure details
  • Traveler pickup is offered.
  • Pickup is available from selected hotels in Cairns - please contact the operator after booking to confirm your pickup location and time.
  • Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2570KRPS
  • Only one tour option is wheelchair accessible: Tjapukai w/ Lunch-Sky-Rail (code: KRST)
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • KQS and KSQ are both wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled 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 travelers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Community
Ask a questionWrite a review
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
Which attractions will I visit with Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns?
During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns on Tripadvisor
How much is Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns?
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns price starts from $121.83. Discover and book Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns on Tripadvisor
What is the Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns cancellation policy?
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns?
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns is hosted by Down Under Tours - Day Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Down Under Tours - Day Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns on Tripadvisor
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
Itinerary
  • You'll get picked up
    See departure details
  • 1
    Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
    Stop: 2 hours - Admission excluded
    See details
  • 2
    Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
    Stop: 30 minutes - Admission excluded
    See details
  • 3
    Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
    Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 4
    Rainforestation Nature Park
    Stop: 2 hours - Admission excluded
    See details
  • 5
    Kuranda Scenic Railway
    Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 6
    Kuranda Koala Gardens
    Stop: 30 minutes - Admission excluded
    See details
  • 7
    Barron Gorge National Park
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • 8
    Barron Falls
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • 9
    Birdworld Kuranda
    Stop: 30 minutes - Admission excluded
    See details
    Pass by
    Down Under Tours - Day Tours
  • You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Down Under Tours - Day Tours
2,578
Marcos C
Marcos C
00
Nap on the way back
Listen, my rating may be a little misleading. I thought we spent way too much time on the bus and not enough time d…
TJDom1969
TJDom1969
00
Awesome day, absolutely loved Kurunda
We went up in the sky-rail which was an amazing experience to travel over the rainforest. We listened to the range…
273kerris
273kerris
00
Good value
Very organised and professional. Pleasant driver with good commentary. Not too much, some drivers talk way too much…
Tour06285065148
Tour06285065148
00
An excellent day out
Scott was our guide and he was excellent. Picked us up on time and worked hard to give us a day of humour and inte…
Sarah-Jane G
Sarah-Jane G
00
Great trip - thanks to tour guide Scott
Our travel agent booked us on this tour and we hadn’t done a lot of research ourselves before the trip. We are glad…
GrandTour56200766509
GrandTour56200766509
00
We had a blast.
This place was fun. We had a great time and the staff were entertaining and helpful. Definitely recommend going to…
88leeannj
88leeannj
00
Lovely Day
Had an enjoyable and relaxing day taking the Skyrail trip to Kuranda. The view from the gondolas were amazing. Th…
jajavalB
jajavalB
00
Do the whole day trip with train on 9:50am, skyrail on 13:45 pm is very good.
I did my trip with single day: scenic railway tour and skyrail to and from Kuranda. It’s a bit pricey but It’s ok …
313jennyg
313jennyg
00
Can’t miss this.
Took the train up to Kuranda & the Skyrail back to Smithfield. Although it was hot & sticky in the train, plenty of…
844marilynw
844marilynw
00
Great trip, great tour guide.
On the 20th-23rd October 2022, we had the pleasure of Scott as our bus driver and tour guide for the above tour and…
lizhK4514IQ
lizhK4514IQ
00
Waste of money
Overpriced and very disappointing. Felt like I had been completely ripoed off. Much better ways to spend my money.
Phil R
Phil R
00
Don't like heights
This was an awesome way to get up to Kuranda and back. Recommend you get off at the stops for the short walks. Se…
S7477CLdavidp
S7477CLdavidp
00
Terrible customer service and did not provide the Tour we paid for
Booked on this trip for Tuesday 4th October through Trailfinders. Our Trailfinders voucher advised pick up time at …
garydY2266FG
garydY2266FG
00
Kurranda
Very efficient and helpful tour operator. Skyrail was great fun and the shopping and food in Kuranda was great, Rel…
Go34375158522
Go34375158522
00
Cairns to Cape Trib and back in a day, with animals at sanctuary, fabulous views, good lunch in a relaxed setting, River Cruise
We (Mum and 16 year old son) had a fabulous day. Tour was well organised. Driver/guide was great: so knowledgeable …
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
229 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
63
Average
18
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Kim D
Melbourne, Australia11 contributions
A must do while in Cairns
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 August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Denise M
Tweed Heads, Australia203 contributions
Enjoyable
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 December 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
allthelowes
Sydney, Australia40 contributions
FABULOUS DAY
Mar 2020
I would highly recommend Dowunder Tours, very professional and very punctual company. We were picked up from our hotel in a lovely coach, the highlight being our gorgeous driver named Paul who kept us entertained with his extremely funny personality which everyone enjoyed on the journey to Freshwater train station - we truly loved him! The train ride to Kuranda was really enjoyable and very educational taking approximately 90 minutes. Once we arrived, we had 3 hours to explore Kuranda which we had no problem filling with a visit to the koala park ($19 per adult to get in but we loved it) and the jungle walk which was approximately 3km. We then made our way to the sky rail for our journey down to Smithfield, enjoying to 2 stops on the way, where we were met by our coach and was dropped back to our hotel. It is a little pricey to do the trip to Kuranda but well worth the cost to visit.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DUT_Marketing
Hi allthelowes Thank you for your lovely review – we are so glad to hear you had a great day visiting Kuranda via the Skyrail and Scenic Rail, and had a great experience with our staff too! Paul is a valued team member here who truly loves what he does, being able to share the region with our passengers and meet new people. I will pass on your lovely feedback to Paul and the rest of our team. Thank you for choosing to travel with us and we hope that you enjoyed the remainder of your holiday! Safe travels, The DUT Team #downundertours
Written October 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fiona G
23 contributions
Disappointed not enough time to experience what was promised
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 August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jenny M
Wollongong, Australia18 contributions
Kuranda train trip
We took the train up to Kuranda and the Sky rail back. Parked the car at the Sky rail and were then transferred to the train station by bus which worked very well. The carriages on the train were heritage with each seat holding 4 people. The people in the seat in front of us were facing us so we were touching knee to knee and very squashed. Given the recent COVID scare here in Queensland I didn’t think this close proximity to other patrons was appropriate.
When booking online we did not have a choice of seats. We did have a window seat but travelled the whole trip facing backwards. There was NO social distancing and we had to remain seated the whole journey. With a number of tunnels diesel fumes could be an issue for those with breathing challenges.
The view was pretty and some different scenery to the sky rail. Would not want to do this trip on a hot day. The sky rail was much better.
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DUTsales
Thank you JennyM, Down Under Tours operates our Kuranda tours in conjunction with both the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Queensland Rail. Both partners, as well as ourselves operate under Industry approved Covid Safe Plans, Queensland Rail operates the rail component, they actually are able to now operate at 100% capacity. Please understand safety is of the utmost priority. Queensland Rail allocate all the seating, which is why we are unable to advise at the time of booking. We have passed on your feedback to Queensland Rail for consideration.
Written June 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rerp
Kibworth Beauchamp, UK322 contributions
Avoid the tour parties
Feb 2020
Don't miss this trip if you are in the area. Furthermore, pay the extra to avoid the tours and travel '1st Class'. It is worth it if you can afford it.When we made the journey the '2nd Class' carriages were virtually full yet just four of us shared a whole 1st class carriage. We had our own stewardesses who, included in the price, served us various warm cakes, biscuits and other nibbles. We were offered our choice of drinks (including sparkling wines if we wanted them) and had sights personally pointed out to us. Expensive, but well worth the cost.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DUT_Marketing
Hi rerp, Thank you for your review – we are glad to hear you had a great day visiting Kuranda, and enjoyed the Gold Class upgrade experience on the Kuranda Scenic Rail! We definitely agree that it is well worth the upgrade if you can! Be sure to book in advance though as Gold Class is only available on the 9:50am & 3:30pm trains, and there is only limited seating availability for this. Thank you again, and we hope that you enjoyed the remainder of your holiday! Safe travels, The DUT Team #downundertours
Written October 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sue S
3 contributions
A great day to experience
Feb 2021
What a great day. The bus was on time to collect us and the driver Neil was extremely informative on the way to drop us at the train. Full of knowledge about the area. With his information it made the rest of the day easy. All staff on the train and sky rail were lovely. A must do while in NQ.
Written February 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DUTsales
Hi SuesV7, Neil has been with us for over 20yrs and is one of the many experienced driver/guides working across the company. Glad you enjoyed his insights.
Written March 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Graham S
18 contributions
A bit rude
The train allocates carriages to tourist operators these days. So you get crammed in to the allocated carriages even though other carriages were not occupied. Even though we were allowed to move to a spare seat QR were a bit rude about it. Still a nice informative ride in the train. Funny thing was they perched COVID distancing but were happy to sit unrelated people in the same back to back seats
Written November 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leslie M
Queensland Rail operates the Kuranda Scenic Railway and they adhere to a strict COVID safe plan. There is a process for allocations and I am pleased that you were able to move to a spare seat on the day you travelled.
Written November 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lauren M
Powell River, Canada3 contributions
Great day on the Kuranda Railway Tour
Nov 2022 • Friends
We had a wonderful day on the Kuranda Tour. Sufficient time to explore once we reached the top.
One thing to note is that the train moves slow and the air doesn’t circulate well so dress accordingly. We loved coming down via the Sky Rail. Overall, highly recommend!
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leslie M
Great to hear you had a fabulous day in Kuranda and on your journey to and from the little village. Thank you for Down Under Tour's 5 star rating.
Written November 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma N
Sydney, Australia72 contributions
Great experience of Cairns history
We went up via the train and down by skyrail. We were picked up in a coach from our hotel before picking up others from around Cairns. We dropped travellers off at the skyrail before heading out to freshwater train station. The train had get history and throughout the journey we were told the story of how it was built etc. The train stopped at Barron Falls where everyone was able to get off for 10 minutes to see the waterfall. It was a great view as I wasn’t expecting to see any water in the dry season. Once in Kuranda there wasn’t much to do. We looked around the shops and markets and had some lunch but were happy to just go back down the skyrail where we hopped off at both stops to see the views. Overall a great day with lots of history. Only needed half a day and it was a very relaxing at our own place day
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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