Every once in a while, a dragon gets tired of flying and prefers to explore the rainforest canopy with a little added help from something classy and exciting. Like a spaceship. Or a wizard’s broom. Or maybe even a skyrail. At Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, you can soar high amongst the treetops without batting a wing. Perfect for lazy dragons and humans who love a good adventure.
Highlights
- Experience the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on earth from above the canopy as well as from the forest floor
- Enjoy aerial views of the Barron Falls
- Includes multiple stops at scenic lookouts
- Optional glass bottom cable cars for optimal views
- Complimentary guided tours
- Opportunity to explore a village in the rainforest — Kuranda Village
- Connection to Kuranda Scenic Railway
The Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Experience
Your skyrail adventure will span 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) and require approximately one and a half hours to reach your final destination, but before your journey begins, you’ll be tasked with completing your first quest – choosing your cable car!
Diamond View Gondola
Two options await you – standard and Diamond View. A standard ticket marks the cheaper selection (currently AUS $51.00 adults / $25.50 kids), but, for just a $15.00 upgrade fee, Diamond View provides the far greater view.
Since dragons are fancy folk who keep a stash of treasure next to them at all times, we opted for the Diamond View. It seats up to 5 people and includes a see-through floor constructed of glass –perfect for strutting your stuff and striking edgy poses across when not entranced by views of waterfalls and other rainforest treasures below. But mostly we’re guessing your eyes will be glued below. Seeing the rainforest from atop the canopy is a rare treat. Unless you’re a bird. Or a dragon, of course.
Red Peak Station
After gliding high above the treetops, your gondola will slowly descend through the rainforest canopy and enter Red Peak Station, the first stop on your skyrail journey. The terminal sits 545m above sea level and offers a 175m boardwalk for exploration. You can adventure on your own or partake in a complimentary ranger-guided tour.
Barron Falls Station
At Barron Falls Station, three separate lookout spots await to delight you with stunning views of Barron Gorge and Falls. We visited in late July, but if you’re able to make the trip between December and March, you’ll arrive during prime wet season for even bigger, better, and brighter views of the falls.
Read More: Barron Falls – Stunning Waterfall Deep in the Australian Rainforest
Kuranda Terminal
Kuranda Station lies just ten minutes down the line from Barron Falls and acts as a portal to Kuranda Village — Australia’s famous village in the rainforest. As your last stop and ultimate destination, we recommend staying to explore the village at your leisure before making your return voyage back to Cairns. In Kuranda you can explore a butterfly sanctuary, watch an aboriginal cultural performance, peruse art galleries, see spectacular wildlife, try adventurous foods, and fulfill all sorts of other fantasies fit for pleasing dragons.
Read more: Kuranda Village in a Rainforest – Top 10 Things to do in Kuranda Australia
Kuranda Scenic Railway
As all good adventures do, sooner or later your quest will end, and it will be time to flutter back home. The Kuranda Scenic Railway lies adjacent to the skyrail station, so instead of heading back the way you came via skyrail, we suggest that you alternatively hitch a ride on the scenic rail to get up close views of the falls and a pampered experience you’ll never forget. Or you can flip flop that and do what we did — take the train on the initial journey into Kuranda village and then hop on the Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the return trip. Whichever direction, we promise the Kuranda Scenic Railway is an experience you won’t want to miss. You can read about our time aboard the vintage train here (coming soon).
Read More: Kuranda Scenic Railway – Riding the Rainforest Waterfall Train
Where to Stay
While in Cairns, we stayed at Silky Oaks Lodge — a luxury treehouse hotel. You can check out Dragon’s adventures in a treehouse here (coming soon).
Related: treehouse article (coming soon).
For more Australia travel inspiration, check out some of our other adventures here:
- 20 Photos of the Most Amazingly Beautiful Places in Australia
- The Sydney Opera House is Not White – 10 Sydney Secrets known only by Locals ( plus a One Day Travel Itinerary )
- Top 10 Things to Do in Cairns Australia
- Kuranda Scenic Railway – Riding the Rainforest Waterfall Train
- Daintree River Cruises – Bruce Belcher’s Crocodile Cruise through Australian Rainforest
- Kuranda Village in a Rainforest – Top 10 Things to do in Kuranda Australia
- Barron Falls – Stunning Waterfall Deep in the Australian Rainforest
- Quirky Hotels in Australia – 10 Unique Stays in a Castle, Treehouse, Prison, Underground City, and More
- 12 Best Beaches and Swimming Holes in Cairns
Or view all our Australia Travel Articles here.
You can also find more Waterfall Articles Here.
We owe a huge thanks to Allison Smith from Flights to Fancy for inviting Adventure Dragon to Cairns and teaching him the ways of the rainforest. All photos of Dragon in this Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway article are courtesy of her amazing photography skills, and you can read more about her own skyrail adventure here.
Please do not copy or reproduce any of the photos or content on this page without permission. It makes dragons sad. And nobody likes a sad dragon. Except for maybe sad people. Away with you, you poopy pirate.
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