Feeding a wallaby at Kuranda Koala Gardens
What do you think of when you think of Tropical North Queensland? The beach, or the Great Barrier Reef? I think about the rainforest. Tropical North Queensland’s village of Kuranda sits within World Heritage listed rainforest and offers families all manner of opportunity to explore and discover the Wet Tropics together.
Getting to Kuranda is part of the fun. Located a forty minute drive from Cairns, families with road transport can traverse the range via the Kennedy Highway. Other families may chose to ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway – a historic train journey from Cairns to Kuranda, or to ride the Skyrail Cableway with stunning views of the coast and rainforest canopy.
Climbing the range. Kuranda Scenic Railway
Markets
Many of the residents of Kuranda are free spirits and this is evident at Kuranda’s Original markets that display the work of artisans and crafts-people. The Heritage Markets (accessible via shuttle from the Skyrail and Railroad terminals) sell souvenirs and toys, as well as housing exciting wildlife attractions and a restaurant.
Kuranda’s Original Markets. Photo courtesy of Tourism Kuranda.
Barron Falls.
Just 3 short kilometres from the village of Kuranda is the Barron Falls lookout. The elevated walkway to access the lookout is easily managed with small children (although we use a carrier rather than a stroller). Families that chose to ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail cable car will also have the opportunity to access the falls.
The Barron Falls in flood. Photo courtesy of Tourism Kuranda
Kuranda Birdworld
One of my favourite attractions in tropical north Queensland is this wildlife immersion experience that allowed us to feed multi-coloured tropical birds. Don’t be surprised if the birds perch on your head – they seemed to think my own noggin’ was a particularly nice place to sit. Kuranda Birdworld is located within the Heritage Markets.
A Macaw at Birdworld Kuranda
Kuranda Koala Gardens
Ever wanted to cuddle a koala? The Kuranda Koala Gardens are the perfect place to do so, to pat a wallaby, or to check out their walk through snake enclosure.
One of the residents of Kuranda Koala Gardens
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
What’s not to love about butterflies? They are a truly miraculous example of nature as well as providing me with an outstanding metaphor for new life and transformation to use with my kids. Walking through the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary we were surrounded by the beautiful creatures. The breeding area and optional guided tour reiterates underpin the educational component of a visit to the sanctuary.
The Australian butterfly sanctuary.
Rainforestation Nature Park
This park links Indigenous culture with rainforest ecology and Australian wildlife. The Army Duck rainforest tour is superb. A great all day option for families.
One of Rainforestation Nature Park’s Army Duck amphibious vehicles.
Honey House Kuranda
I already knew that Honey was delicious however I didn’t realise that honey tastes distinctly different depending on the plant life around the hive. Honey House Kuranda offers a retail experience with a difference. Free honey tasting revealed the variety in honey to my tastebuds and my boys learnt about bee hives through observing a live hive behind perspex in the shop.
Honey House Kuranda
Emu Ridge Gallery Fossil and Gemstone Museum
Open from 9.30 am-3.00pm my boys loved the life size dinosaur skeleton that guards the entrance to this museum. The Emu Ridge Gallery Fossil and Gemstone Museum is free to the public (although a donation is appreciated) and is located near the Original Markets in Therwine Street. It houses some really impressive fossils and gems and is very much worth adding to your itinerary when visiting Kuranda.
Emu Ridge Gallery Fossil and Gemstone Museum
Dining tip – The best meal we have eaten in Kuranda was served at the family friendly Kuranda Village Café Bar & Grill located at 17 Therwine Street.
Accommodation – We stayed at Kuranda Rainforest Retreat which has a beautiful pool.
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Thanks to Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld Kuranda, The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Kuranda Village Café Bar and Grill for hosting us during our most recent visit to Kuranda.
This post is linked to Friday Daydreamin’ at R We There Yet Mom?
whenever I see photos of NZ’s outdoors I’m amazed. It’s at the top of my bucket list. What a great trip.
We really enjoyed our time in Kuranda. Taking the scenic railway up and the skyrail down made even the journey there lots of fun for the kids. If we lived close by, I could see ourselves returning a few times so we could take our time exploring everything. As it was, we just had a couple hours in Kuranda before we had to return to Cairns.
There’s never enough time to do everything we’d like! It sounds to me though that you made the most of your time in Cairns Michelle.
This would be a great family day at Kuranda. The Tablelands are a favourite place of ours. We have spent many holidays camping at Fong On Bay at Tinaroo – waterskiing, and visiting the markets that shift around, but especially at Yungaburra. I love buying artisan sausages and exploring the craters. You are so lucky living close by.
I love Kuranda! The Barron Falls in flood look breathtaking!
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