Rainforest
Cairns is surrounded by the worlds oldest rainforest, which is protected by World Heritage. The entire area is surrounded by mountains and touches the calm warm sea by beaches and mangroves.
Rainforest Tours.
Kuranda is great for families. Combine the Skyrail and Scenic Train for a day tour departing Cairns
by bus. The pickup is from your accommodation and then a 15 minute drive to the Skyrail Terminal. The Skyrail ride takes 40 minutes but allow about 1 hour and 15 minutes as there are 2 stops where you can get off and see the beautiful Rainforest. You can relax and enjoy up to 3 hours in the Kuranda shopping village. See some attractions like, the Koala Gardens Bird World and Butterfly World. From Butterfly World there are regular buses to Rainforestation. There they have an aboriginal dance show, Koala Gardens and Army Duck ride. About 1 hour is needed to see all the attractions at Rainforestation.
At 3.30 pm the last train will depart Kuranda Village to Cairns. The ride time is 1 hour and 45 minutes. You will arrive at the Cairns Station which is part of the Cairns Central Shopping Centre at 5.15pm. The reverse option is also available; train up and then the Skyrail down with a bus drive back to your accommodation.
The Atherton Tablelands is great for everyone. It takes about 3 hours to drive around the Tablelands. Great if you only have 1 day and want to see a lot of Rainforest. Most small tour buses will pickup from your accommodation about 7.30am and will return about 6pm. You tour can stop at many wonderful places.
There are lakes, like Lake Barrine, (volcanic crater) where you can walk around and spot platypus, turtles, Tree Kangaroos, maybe snakes, butterflies and birds.
Then to the 50metre Giant Curtain Fig Tree which is 600 years old and home to many small animals. Great for photos!
Then on to the famous Millaa Millaa Falls. Stop for a refreshing swim.
Visit Paronella Park (a Spanish Castle) which has waterfalls, beautiful gardens and has an amazing love story. Miyazaki Hayayo, who wrote the animation Sky Castle, got his idea from Paronella Park.
Another stop can be the Babinda Boulders. It is shrouded with aboriginal myth. Amazing day tours go to the Tablelands which is part of the Wooroonooran National Park.
