Enjoy the historic 1890s rail line that meanders its way through the mountains and rainforests of the Barron Gorge National Park between Cairns and the small tourist village of Kuranda, taking riders on a lovely two-hour scenic journey past cascading waterfalls, over deep valleys and through lush rainforests.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a 37-kilometre long railway line that snakes its way through stunning Far North Queensland landscapes, making a scenic lookout stop showcasing dramatic views of waterfalls and steep ravines. The historic railway cars are themselves a tourist attraction, as are the quaint train depots along the route which create an idyllic and relaxing journey.
One journey two ways
Return trips from Cairns are available but the most popular method of travel is to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway up the mountain to Kuranda and come back down on the Scenic Railway. This way, visitors can get both a glorious bird’s eye view of the scenic area by gondola and an immersive up-close-and-personal experience by scenic railway.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway journey departs from Cairns twice each morning with two afternoon departures returning from Kuranda. Both return fares and one way fares are available. The train also provides a ‘Gold Class’ service that is usually only available on the last morning departure from Cairns and latest return trip from Kuranda. The main Cairns Railway Station is located in the heart of the city at the Cairns Central shopping centre, between Florence and Spence Streets.
