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Kuranda Scenic Railway and Day Trip Tours

Kuranda Scenic Train with Army Duck & Coach Transfer

Adult $167.00 | Child $92.00 | Family 2A+2C $449.00 2AD+2CH
8:00 am
5:30 pm
Kuranda Scenic Train
Kuranda Scenic Train over Barron Gorge
Rainforestation Army Duck rainforest tour experience Kuranda
Army Duck Kuranda
Kuranda Scenic Train
Kuranda Scenic Train over Barron Gorge
Rainforestation Army Duck rainforest tour experience Kuranda
Army Duck Kuranda

Adult $167.00 Child 4-14yrs $92.00
Family 2A+2C $499.00

Kuranda Scenic Railway journey, Army Duck rainforest ride and native wildlife encounters in one great value 9 hour Cairns day tour, with electric coach transfer included.

Duration: 9 hours | Includes: Hotel pickup (Cairns CBD) by electric coach to Kuranda, Army Duck ride, Rainforestation wildlife park entry,  free time at Kuranda Markets, Return Kuranda Scenic Railway, hotel drop off

The Kuranda Scenic Train with Army Duck and Coach Transfer tour packs a classic rail journey, adventure and wildlife into a single great value day trip from Cairns. Highlights include the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the amphibious Army Duck ride, native Australian animal encounters and free time at Kuranda Markets, with electric coach transfer included for hotel pickup and the return to Cairns.

The Army Duck Rainforest Ride
Departing by coach, guests head to Rainforestation Nature Park, where a converted ex-military amphibious vehicle — the Army Duck — carries them through living tropical rainforest and directly into the waterways. It’s the kind of unexpected, splash-and-all experience that kids and adults both talk about for years afterward.

Native Wildlife Encounters at Rainforestation
Rainforestation is also home to a genuine wildlife park experience, with opportunities to meet koalas, kangaroos and a wide range of native Australian animals in an immersive rainforest setting — ideal for anyone wanting real animal interaction rather than a quick drive-by look.

Kuranda Village & Markets
Guests get free time in Kuranda village to explore the famous markets and tropical shops at their own pace before the return journey. Original Heritage Markets open Wednesday to Sunday

Return by Kuranda Scenic Railway
The tour returns to Cairns aboard the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through World Heritage rainforest, mountain gorges and hand-carved tunnels — one of the great train journeys in Australia, and included as standard on this tour (not the Skyrail cableway).

Who This Tour Suits
This is a standout choice for families, adventure seekers and animal lovers who want the thrill of the Army Duck and meaningful wildlife time, without the higher price tag of premium Kuranda packages. It’s best suited to visitors who want a strong focus on nature and adventure rather than cultural programming.

At a price point that makes quality Kuranda experiences genuinely accessible, this is one of the best value day tours available from Cairns.

  • Cairns CBD Hotel return transfers
  • Electric Coach transfer to Kuranda
  • Army Duck Rainforest Tour
  • Koala & Wildlife Park
  • Kuranda Scenic Train
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Extra cash or credit card for additional purchases

Monday 2nd November to Friday 6th November 2026
25th December 2026

Does this Kuranda tour use the Skyrail cableway or the train? This tour returns to Cairns via the Kuranda Scenic Railway train, not the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which is undergoing a major upgrade from 20th July to 25th October 2026

What is the Army Duck? The Army Duck is a converted ex-military amphibious vehicle that drives through Rainforestation’s rainforest trails and directly into the waterways, giving guests a ride that covers both land and water.

What wildlife will I see on this tour? At Rainforestation Nature Park, guests can encounter koalas, kangaroos and a range of other native Australian animals in an immersive rainforest setting.

How long is the Kuranda Rainforestation Army Duck and Train tour? The tour runs for approximately 9 hours, including hotel pickup from Cairns CBD, and is a full day out from Cairns.

Is hotel pickup included? Yes, hotel pickup from Cairns CBD is included, so no separate transport arrangements are needed.

Who is this tour best suited to? It suits families, adventure seekers and wildlife lovers who want the Army Duck experience and genuine animal encounters at a more accessible price point than premium Kuranda packages, and who prefer a nature-and-adventure focus over cultural programming.



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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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