What is the Kuranda Scenic Railway?
The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a historic train ride from Cairns up through rainforest to the village of Kuranda in Queensland. The line was built between 1882 and 1891.
The railway climbs the Macalister Range through 15 hand-built tunnels and across dozens of bridges. Workers built it using picks and explosives.
Trains stop at Barron Falls, which is spectacular in the wet season. Stoney Creek Falls bridge is a highlight.
Skyrail and Kuranda
Many visitors ride the train one way and return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which opened in 1995 and glides over the canopy for about 7.5 kilometres.
Kuranda village has markets, a butterfly sanctuary and bird aviaries. The Djabugay people are its Traditional Owners.
The journey takes about two hours each way, and some carriages are fitted out in heritage style with timber interiors. Commentary explains the history of the line and the workers who built it, many of whom died from accidents and disease. The route passes through the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, among the oldest rainforests on Earth.
Did You Know?
The railway was first built to supply tin miners on the Atherton Tableland.