Monday morning we drove into Redlynch, just north of Cairns, to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway to Kuranda, about 1h40m up the track. It turned out to be a fantastic trip! We were amazed by the beautiful scenery of the Barron Gorge, through which runs the Barron River. Along the way, we learned about the local Djabugay people's Dreamtime legend of Buda-dji, the carpet snake who carved the gorge from the tablelands to the coast. From the coastal plains where sugar cane is a main crop (1st photo), the line climbs 327m with 93 turns, 15 tunnels, and dozens of bridges, including the Stone Creek Falls Bridge pictured in the third & 5th photos.We were also treated to wonderful views from the train, back through the gorge to the coast.
Upon arriving in Kuranda, we spent a few hours wandering through town, having a bite to eat (check out Rowan's page!), and checking out the shops. Kuranda, while clearly heavily reliant on tourists, also has an artsy feel to it, and we loved the many murals we encountered - the 8th photo is a good example.
After a few hours, it was time to start back down. The 9th photo is of the girls at the Kuranda Station, a listed heritage property. The last two shots are of the Barron Falls, which plummet 265m to the river below. In rainy season (summer), the volume is much heavier, but it was still a remarkable sight.
It was a great day, and the girls appreciated the charm of the old train slowly climbing, then descending the track. We would definitely recommend this activity to anyone (but especially families) visiting the Cairns area. For the guy who does the driving, it was a very pleasant break as he got the opportunity to look left and right more than straight ahead!
Upon arriving in Kuranda, we spent a few hours wandering through town, having a bite to eat (check out Rowan's page!), and checking out the shops. Kuranda, while clearly heavily reliant on tourists, also has an artsy feel to it, and we loved the many murals we encountered - the 8th photo is a good example.
After a few hours, it was time to start back down. The 9th photo is of the girls at the Kuranda Station, a listed heritage property. The last two shots are of the Barron Falls, which plummet 265m to the river below. In rainy season (summer), the volume is much heavier, but it was still a remarkable sight.
It was a great day, and the girls appreciated the charm of the old train slowly climbing, then descending the track. We would definitely recommend this activity to anyone (but especially families) visiting the Cairns area. For the guy who does the driving, it was a very pleasant break as he got the opportunity to look left and right more than straight ahead!