In partnership with our friends at Mareeba Shire Council

If you are planning a holiday in Tropical North Queensland, be sure to visit Kuranda. 

A short drive from Cairns, Kuranda is a unique, colourful and welcoming tourist village with so much to explore. Visitors will find a delightful mix of quirky surprises, colourful characters and natural beauty.

Getting to Kuranda is truly a breathtaking experience through World Heritage–listed rainforest. Whether you drive up the mountain range, skim above the canopy on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or wind through the Barron Gorge on the world-famous Kuranda Scenic Railway, the sights are picturesque. 

Kuranda’s rainforest setting is an inspiration for artists, authors, and artisans whose work can be found in shops and street art throughout the village. The markets and shops offer fashions and handcrafts, as well as locally made Aboriginal arts and crafts. Kuranda has many restaurants and cafes, where outdoor dining is one of the joys of the cooler mountain climate. 

For tens of thousands of years, the rainforest Aboriginal Bama (people) have made use of the permanent water and abundance of bush foods in the rainforest. They welcome visitors to their country and ask that you ‘walk one track’ – take only photographs and leave only footprints.

Well-maintained walking tracks allows visitors to take a relaxed rainforest walk, including a network of historical trails through the Barron Gorge National Park, close to the Barron Falls, one of the most visited and spectacular waterfalls in Tropical North Queensland. A selection of self-guided walking maps is available from the Visitor Information Centre.  

There are many attractions to keep the whole family entertained, including wildlife encounters with Australian native animals at the various parks. 

Visitors are encouraged to slow down, breathe in the fresh rainforest air and immerse themselves in this unique rainforest village.

Pictured: Exploring the historic smelters in Chillagoe