A trip aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Cairns, Australia

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From Cairns to Kuranda, let me take You on a trip through the lush rainforest, the throats and the waterfalls aboard the picturesque Kuranda railroad.

A few years ago, our trip attempt around all of Australia found us in Cairns, Queensland; Almost at the end of the 2,500 km trip along the east coast. Cairns is obviously very popular among travelers who have become synonymous with trips to the great barrier of Arrecife. While we could not enjoy a trip to the great barrier barrier, it was not the only most prominent of my time in Cairns: let me present the Kuranda scenic railroad.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway takes him on a two -hour trip from Cairns to the Kuranda mountain town in the Atherton plateaus; One of the most spectacular rail trips throughout Australia. Kuranda is surrounded by the tropical jungle of the humid tropics of world inheritance and is a must for any visitor to the northern end of Queensland.

Kuranda’s scenic railroad

History

While the railroad is now a very popular tourist attraction, it was originally built as a supply route from the gold fields to the coast. The construction began in 1886 and soon became a highly complex rail project.

He took the railroad for five years and, at least at one stage, there were up to 1,500 men working. I have read that these men, these pioneers, moved more than two million cubic meters of land by hand to create this railroad.

Cairns’s track to Kuranda was opened in 1891 and consisted of 33 kilometers of track that amounts to 328 meters above sea level. There are 15 tunnels (the last one is 429 meters long), 55 bridges and 98 curves.

The trip

The trip begins at the Cairns train station, where it addresses the heritage train. The carriages have more than 100 years with outdoor windows and really feels as if you were going back in time aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

I really enjoyed the audio comment that is reproduced in the carriages while heading to Kuranda; You will learn about the history, the points of interest and the culture of the people of Djabugay Bama.

After a stop at the fresh water train station, we are ready to start the climb to Kuranda. While the entire trip is impressive, there were three main aspects for the trip itself:

Jungara loop

Jungara Loop (Horseshoe Bles) is a 180 degree curve that the train is curved slowly and is definitely one of the best opportunities to get a photo of the train while on board.

Stoney Creek Falls

Stoney Creek Falls is probably the most famous characteristic of Kuranda Scenic Railway and probably that he has already seen photos. The train passes to the meters of the waterfall through the curved bridge that I must say that it is a perfect photographic opportunity. This is beautiful.

Barron Falls

The train stops in a point of view about Barron Falls for approximately ten minutes, which allows you to admire the views. We visited at the dry season, so the waterfall was not as powerful as the rains arrive. The total height of Barron Falls is 125 meters, which includes 4 drops, the longest of which is 107 meters!

Kuranda town

Little less than two hours later, you will find yourself entering the Kuranda train station, which goes back to 1915. I would recommend spending some quiet moments here after everyone else has gone. The railway station is beautiful with its buildings on the inheritance list, the surroundings of the tropical jungle between the fresh air of the mountain.

Kuranda Scenic Railway - Kuranda Train Station

There is much to do and do in the town of Kuranda, which is good, since it will be about four hours to explore before returning to the station for the return home.

First, we had a walk through the center of the village to orient. Kuranda is a small peculiar town; Full of works of art, buses, color and many buses. We took the Kuranda heritage market, where there were many independent stores and a Scottish coffee where we had fruit and cheese buns for lunch. Be sure to not miss the ‘air accident’ on the outskirts of the markets: the plane is famous for its role in a 1986 film called ‘Sky Pirates’, although I cannot say that I have ever seen it!

If you like wildlife, you are lucky, since you can visit Birdworld Kuranda, Kuranda Koala Gardens and the Australian butterfly sanctuary. We did not feel that we had enough time, but it is estimated that visiting the three would take approximately 1.5 hours. There is also a cruise in the Kuranda river boat that sails five times a day along the Barron River.

After lunch, we continue to wander the streets before admiring works of art of Australian local artists and aborigines in the many galleries that cover the main street.

I think that four hours is a long time to enjoy Kuranda’s delights and the return trip on Kuranda’s scenic railroad is equally good. Be sure to sit on the other side of the train so you can see the views from a different angle.

Skyrail

Another option, instead of returning at the Kuranda Scenic Railway is to return through the Skyrail Rainforest cables; A cable car that carries it on the canopy of the tropical jungle that really must be a unique experience in life. A coach will transfer it from the terminal to return to the Cairns train station or at the fresh water train station. In the Heritage class (standard), this costs $ 121.00 for an adult from the Cairns train station.

Key information

Times – The heritage class leaves the Cairns train station every day throughout the year (except Christmas day) at 8:30 am and 9:30 AM The gold class is only available at the exit of 9:30 am can return at 2 pm or 3:30 pm again with a gold class only available on the posterior train.

Price – Heritage Class – $ 76 Return entry // gold class $ 174 Return

Automobile parking: You can park on any of the free railways. We had to provide our registration number when we registered at the Cairns train station.

To obtain all the most recent information at the Kuranda Scenic Railway, go directly to the website here.

Where is it?

Ok, let’s be honest, it has taken long enough to find the time to publish guides that cover my time in Australia. Now, however, most of them are linked below, so wherever it is directed, you are likely to find what you need below!

Visit the Peak Hill Gold mine in Nueva Wales del Sur
How to spend 24 hours in Canberra
7 bright things to do in Young, New South Wales
5 incredible things to do in Rainbow Beach, Queensland
6 incredible things to do in Bowen, Queensland
8 best things to do in Kiama, Nueva Wales del Sur
An epic road trip along the waterfall in Nueva Wales del Sur
My incredible 5 -day Gold Coast itinerary
7 great things to do in Magnetic Island, Queensland
7 incredible things to do in Townsville, Queensland
The most impressive things to do in Uluru
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7 things to do in Cowra, New South Wales
A visiting guide for Port Stephens in Nueva Wales del Sur
My guide to explore Mossman Gorge, Queensland
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