By rail · SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEYS IN AUSTRALIA
The 9 best scenic train journeys in Australia you can book today, with the fare, the running time and who each one suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Travel from Cairns to Kuranda by one-way historic railway and Skyrail cableway, with hotel pickup included. Choose extra time at Butterfly Sanctuary, Birdworld, Kuranda Koala Gardens, or Rainforestation. Expect a mostly self-guided day, not a fully escorted tour.
“The communication was very poor did not get documented items on time and left getting a taxi from one place to another”
Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, visit Barron Falls and Kuranda Village, then see butterflies, wildlife, and rainforest by Army Duck. A barbecue lunch, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, and Skyrail return are included. Guides such as Steve, Dom, and Nick may assist during the day.
“Pick up available from multiple hotels by comfortable coach. Historic train ride. World War II army DUKW ride in rainforest, butterfly Avery, aboriginal show with spear and boomerang tossing. Buffet lunch is included, which was good.. cable car ride… Definitely a must and was the highlight of my trip to Cairns,”
Travel from Cairns or Port Douglas to Kuranda by two classic routes: the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. You get several hours in the village for markets, cafés, butterflies, birds, koalas, or Aboriginal culture. Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered.
“I am seeking confirmation we will get $110 refund pp because the Skytrain was cancelled and we had to return by bus. Passenger Selvay. 2pax. Tour code KSQ+GXC on 13th August 2025.”
From Port Douglas or the Northern Beaches, ride Skyrail above World Heritage rainforest, explore Kuranda Village, and return by the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Your English-speaking guide, often Chris, Brett, Andrea, Glen, or Bridget, handles tickets, timings, and transport.
“We had the best time on this tour with the wonderful guide Chris and his dog Bo! 10 out of 10 would recommend for beaut beautbeautiful views of the rainforest from another perspective!”
Spend 8 to 9 hours traveling from Port Douglas or the Northern Beaches to Kuranda by historic train and Skyrail, with two hours for markets and lunch. Guides such as Chris, Brett, and Towie add local stories, practical help, and plenty of humor. Palm Cove provides a relaxed finish.
“Our guide Chris is really entertaining and helpful. It’s a great day trip for everyone and we are able to use the shuttle to move from Port Douglas hotel to Cairns at the end of the trip to avoid the Ironman road closure the following day. Providers also very responsive via WhatsApp and email. Great time. Thanks guys.”
From Port Douglas or Palm Cove, ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, browse Kuranda’s markets, and glide above World Heritage rainforest on Skyrail. Guides such as Chris, Brett, and Andrea add local stories and easy hotel transfers. The day lasts about nine hours and includes both major rides.
“Our guide Andrea who is the owner was fantastic and very informative The train ride was amazing. However we stopped in the village Kuranda for 90 mins and it’s an awful place! The food choices were disappointing and we honesty didn’t expect that our tour would include a 90 minute stop in this village. But everything else was great”
Travel from Cairns with a guide such as Man or Chris in a small group of up to 10. Ride Skyrail over the rainforest, stop at Red Peak and Barron Falls, explore Kuranda Village, then return by the historic Scenic Railway. Hotel, port, airport, and northern beach pickup is included.
“Great experience, great tour guide. Only the weather was an issue, it was really hot, so better to come in winters”
Travel from Cairns into the Kuranda rainforest by Skyrail and heritage railway, with a BBQ buffet, Army Duck tour, wildlife encounters, Aboriginal cultural activities, and free time in Kuranda. Guides such as Tony and Victor may lead parts of the day. Expect a full, tightly timed outing.
“An exposure to the rainforest area including the people who live there. The experience included scenic rides on an historic railway and a sky lift, a barbecue lunch and a tour of the rainforest in a WWII-era vintage Army duck amphibious vehicle.”
Travel from Port Douglas by minibus with guides such as Dale, Peter, or Tony to Kuranda, where you can ride Skyrail above the rainforest, take the Scenic Railway, browse markets, and add wildlife attractions. The day ends at Palm Cove, with hotel pickup and groups advertised at up to 12, or 20 guests.
“It was the best day of our trip. Would recommend the first class upgrade on the train too. Kuranda was so interesting with lots of markets and shops and things to do that i rented a car the next day and spent the day there. Just remember though they close about 3pm.”
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