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Kuranda Scenic Railway and Day Trip Tours

Kuranda Scenic Train & Skyrail – Self Drive

Kuranda Scenic Railway heritage train station
Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class carriage experience
Kuranda Scenic Railway heritage train station
Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class carriage experience

Kuranda Scenic Train departs Cairns at 8.30am or 9.30am
Return Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 2.30pm or 3.30pm
Not bookable online ☎️07 40283567
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater Station, choose from 8:30 am or 9:30 am train (Gold Class upgrade available). Explore the Kuranda markets and the many attractions in Kuranda. Return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cablewayas you guide over the rainforest canopy.  Includes return transfers from Skyrail to Cairns/Freshwater Railway Stations.

Please note this option is not bookable online, please call Cairns Discovery Tours on (07) 40283567

Make your way to the Cairns or Freshwater Railway Station 30 minutes before your train journey. Experience two of the most popular tourist attractions in Far North Queensland—journey aboard the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway to Kuranda village.

Leisurely explore Kuranda, the famous ‘village in the rainforest’, before returning to Cairns, gliding above the canopy of World Heritage rainforest and learning more about this ancient ecosystem with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Skyrail Rainforest Cable and Kuranda Scenic Train take approx 1.5 hours in each direction. Kuranda Markets open Wednesday to Sunday.

The original Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class carriages offer the old-world charm of travelling in authentic timber carriages, some of which are up to 100 years old. Upgrade to Gold Class on the 9.30am Train service (see below for list of inclusions)

Leisurely explore Kuranda, the village in the rainforest

Travel on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from the Kuranda Terminal at 2.30 pm or 3.30 pm departure
Transfer by shuttle coach from Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Caravonica Terminal to Cairns Railway Station

Shuttle Transfer Times
12.30pm Skyrail departing Kuranda meets the 2.00pm transfer from Skyrail Terminal to Cairns
2.30 pm Skyrail departing Kuranda meets the 4.00 pm bus transfer from Skyrail Caravonica Terminal, Smithfield to Cairns Railway Station
3.30 pm Skyrail departing Kuranda meets the 5.20 pm transfer from Skyrail Caravonica Terminal, Smithfield to Cairns Railway Station

Parking:
Cairns station Parking is at Cairns Central shopping centre – please ensure that you provide your number plate details upon check-in to validate for free parking.

Freshwater station has free parking all around the station.

 

  • Kuranda village famous ‘village in the rainforest’
  • One‐way journey on historic Kuranda Scenic Railway
  • One‐way journey on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  • Coach transfer back from Skyrail to Cairns or Freshwater station

Gold Class inclusions: – 9.30am service only

  • Dedicated attendant service
  • Individual seating, lounge-style chairs
  • Ambient, historical carriage décor
  • Kuranda Scenic Railway gift pack including badge, pen and postcard
  • Souvenir trip guide
  • Stop and disembark at Din Din (Barron Falls) station, with stunning views of Din Din (Barron Falls)
  • Morning tea featuring a selection of Queensland and local Tablelands produce such as Gallo Dairyland Cheese, Skybury Coffee, Wondaree Macadamias, Tropical Sorbets, freshly-baked muffins, quality Australian white and red wines and Great Northern Brewing Company Super Crisp Lager.
  • Welcome tropical mocktails served in the pavilion area, 20 minutes before the arrival of the train when boarding at Freshwater Station in the morning

Please Note: Gold Class service is not offered on the 15-minute journey between Cairns and Freshwater Station. 

  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Extra cash or credit card for additional purchases

Kuranda Scenic Train not operating
Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May 2026
Wednesday 17 June to Friday 19 June 2026
Wednesday 4 November to Friday 6 November 2026
25th December 2026

Skyrail not operating
25th May–3rd June  2026 (Inclusive)

Skyrail closed for Upgrade Project 26th July – 25th October 2026 
As Skyrail reaches 30 years of operation, they are embarking on a $85 Million upgrade project. The project aims to replace the existing cableway infrastructure and all Gondolas, improving the accessibility as well as providing a quieter, smoother enhanced rainforest experience

 

Explore related tours

Kuranda Scenic Railway heritage train station

Kuranda Scenic Train departs Cairns at 8.30am or 9.30am
Return Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 2.30pm or 3.30pm
Not bookable online ☎️07 40283567
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater Station, choose from 8:30 am or 9:30 am train (Gold Class upgrade available). Explore the Kuranda markets and the many attractions in Kuranda. Return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cablewayas you guide over the rainforest canopy.  Includes return transfers from Skyrail to Cairns/Freshwater Railway Stations.

Adult $155.50 | Child $85.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-14yrs $399.00 | Gold class option 9.30 train only $60.00 per person

Helicopter scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

30 minutes $487 per person includes Fuel Levy
45 minutes $676 per person includes Fuel Levy

Departs daily from Cairns Heli pad -The Pier Cairns City

The most popular scenic flight combines 30-minute Great Barrier Reef scenic with an additional 15 minute bird’s eye view of the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on earth. Commencing over the reef, we cross back over the coast near Double Island and the resort township of Palm Cove before ascending the coastal rainforest-clad mountains into the heart of the Barron Gorge National Park.

 

30 minutes $487.00 | 45 minutes $676.00 Per Person

Daintree Tours from Port Douglas

Adult from $259 Child (7-14yrs) $229 not suitable for under 7yrs
Depart daily from Port Douglas only at 7.30am –  4.30pm

Discover the ancient Daintree Rainforest in style. Enjoy guided interpretive walks, a gourmet lunch and a wildlife cruise on Cooper Creek to spot crocodiles and birdlife. Friendly local guides who will share the stories, culture and ecology that make this World Heritage-listed rainforest so extraordinary.

More Info

Adult from $259.00 | Child $229.00 Child 7yrs-14

7:30 am
4:30 pm
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River drift Daintree Tours

This unique Daintree Rainforest experience will have you discovering Mossman Gorge in depth. Start the day with a secret location to commence your ‘River drift’ tour,. Enjoy lunch and a traditional smoking ceremony ending the day with a 1.5 hour guided rainforest walk in the Gorge…..

 

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Adult $270.00 | Child $225.00 5 - 15 yrs | Family 2A+2C $910.00 2A+2C

8:30 am
4:30 pm
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Cairns Aquarium marine life experience banner

Adult $179| Child $79
Available Tues to Sat 3pm – 6:15pm

Experience available up until 28th June 2026

Aquarium by twilight gives you an insight into the unique changes of the region’s nocturnal sea creatures as they move about in the shadows. Witness the predators in the Oceanarium with appetiser and drink in hand, before completing your evening at Dundee’s Restaurant with a perfectly matched 3 course dining experience while enjoying a stunning marine life backdrop.

Adult $179.00 | Child $79.00

3:00 pm
6:15 pm
Silversonic diver exploring outer reef coral formations

Adult $315|Child $228
Fuel Levy Adult $10 Child $5 payable on the day of travel
Departs Port Douglas 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Silversonic from Port Douglas takes you to explore three stunning and exclusive outer edge locations at the renowned Agincourt ribbon reefs in superb style and comfort. Spend 5 hours at the reef enjoying unlimited snorkelling and some of the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Includes Port Douglas hotel transfers, hot and cold Tropical Buffet Lunch & all snorkelling and dive equipment included.

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Adult $328.00 | Child $238.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel levy payable on the day of travel

8:30 am
4:30 pm
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A full-day reef fishing charter offers an incredible adventure on the stunning waters of the Great Barrier Reef, targeting iconic species such as Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Large Mouth Nannygai, and Spanish Mackerel.

More Info

$340.00 Per Person | $60.00 Fuel levy

6:00 am
4:00 pm
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Aerial shot of Nautilus Helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef

$1189.00 per person
Departs Daily from Port Douglas
11.10am – 3.30pm

Short on time or want to experience the Great Barrier Reef on a return scenic flight. Takes in the highlights of the inner reef. There is simply no better way to appreciate the sheer size and scale of the Great Barrier Reef than from the air. Expect picture-postcard views of the reef and an abundance of wildlife – sharks, turtles, rays and even whales (July to Nov).

Spend 2 hours – 15 minutes at the Quicksilver pontoon to enjoy snorkelling, semi submersible coral viewing tour, underwater observatory and a delicious buffet lunch.

 

Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.

🗓️ Flexible Cancellations

Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.

💳 Book Now, Pay Later

Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure.  Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.

🌴 Local Since 1995

For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.

👩‍🏫 Expert Local Guides

Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.

Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
12 days ago
Maryanne was so fabulous. Directed us to all the best suited tours for our family answered all my crazy questions with attention and enthusiasm. Highly recommend her.
Monica Wang
Monica Wang
1 month ago
Thank you Maryanne for helping me to plan the trip what I called the 'must see trip before someone dies trip'. My family and I really enjoyed the trip, especially when it comes to picking which activity is suitable for elders , which reef/island is the must see, and also since this is an Australian Owned Business, it made me feel like my money also goes to supporting the locals instead of sending it overseas. I highly recommend anyone that wants to save time and keen to book an unforgettable trip from a knowledgeable Cairns local
Rena Keeney
Rena Keeney
2 months ago
We had such a fun time on a half day tour of Fitzroy island with Cairns Discovery Tours! We managed to do an everything we wanted (Nudey beach, long snorkel and lunch) within the time period we had and we even got to swim with turtles 🐢 an unforgettable experience! This would not have been possible without the fantastic help of Maryanne who booked us in for the tour. She went above and beyond to help us find somewhere to leave our bags during our tour and we wouldn’t have been able to go without her help. We enjoyed the experience so much and we are very grateful to Maryanne for her help and her exceptional customer service! I would definitely recommend booking local for these kind of experiences because that kind of customer care just doesn’t come when you book through third party sites. 10/10 experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seka Mrkonja
Seka Mrkonja
2 months ago
Highly recommended!
karen McArthur
karen McArthur
1 month ago
We went on a tour with Discovery Tours today, doing the Mossman Gorge, Daintree / Daintree River Cruise, finishing of visiting Cape Tribulation… Our driver was James, who was exceptional. Giving running commentary along the trip. Guiding his group of people through all the different areas. Thanks James, top job.
Rachael E
Rachael E
2 months ago
In June I came to Cairns on holiday from the UK. It was the biggest holiday I've ever taken and because my health limits what I can do took a lot of planning. Maryanne at Cairns Discovery Tours was brilliant. She helped me choose suitable trips, gave me additional information so I could be prepared, advised on the easiest way to get to the departure point for those trips that don't pick up from my accommodation, etc. I booked all my trips except one with Maryanne. Her knowledge of Cairns was invaluable to me. She spoke to me on Whatsapp to answer my questions (we had to arrange call in advance because of the time difference) and when it occurred to me quite close to departure date that I'd need a way of protecting my head and neck from the sun when snorkelling Maryanne got me a suitable headscarf and dropped it off at my accommodation ahead of my arrival. When a friend decided to join me on some of the trips Maryanne was really helpful to her as well. If I am able to come back to Cairns I'll book as much as I can with Maryanne and Cairns Discovery Tours. The service couldn't be bettered.
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