Butterfly World

What these guides don't know about butterflies isn't worth knowing! Guided tours offer lots of information and chances to watch nectar feeding. The native Ulysses (bright blue) and Cairns Bird Wing (very large and colourful) butterflies are a treat to see. Here you can also view the caterpillar and chrysalis stages; there is a shop and a museum of butterflies from around the globe.

Venom World

Australia has many venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions and other creepy crawlies. This is the perfect place to learn all about them in a safe environment, as you can view them with glass between you and the animal! Some animals are taken out and handled by experienced handlers. Important research is being done with the toxins milked from the various animals housed here.

Kuranda Scenic Rail

The historic Kuranda train was built in the Gold Rush period to transport gold between Kuranda gold fields and Cairns. It is a remarkable engineering feet incorporating many tunnels and bridges as it winds its way up the Barron Gorge twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. It departs the Cairns Central Station passing through Fresh Water Station and then up the gorge. Facts about the building and history of the train are placed on monitors inside the carriages. It also stops at the Barron Falls allowing people to get out and take photographs. Packages between the train and the Skyrail and the other attractions mentioned on this page can be organized. The train journey takes 1 ½ hrs.

Skyrail

This is a cable car which travels over the rainforest canopy. You can descend twice onto the forest floor, once at Red Peak Station were a free guide departs every twenty minutes and once at the Barron Falls were there are photo opportunities of the falls and an interpretive centre. The Skyrail terminal is 15km north of Cairns and the Kuranda terminal is located conveniently right next to the train station. The journey takes 1 ½ hrs. It starts operating around 9am and the last passengers can travel around 3.30pm. You can travel up or down or do a circular trip. Transfers can be added in for slightly extra.

Rainforestation

This fun tourist attraction offers an Indigenous Dance Theatre, spear and boomerang throwing, an animal enclosure (including koalas that can be held for photos), a café, a native fruit orchard and an army duck. An army duck is an amphibious vehicle built by women in the Second World War. The tour takes you through rainforest and swamps with the main attraction being views of the endemic Boyd's Water Dragon.

Anna Skeer