Wetlands, Waterfalls & Scenic Kuranda Railway Day Trip, Cairns

Explore the natural wonders and Indigenous culture surrounding Kuranda on a full-day trip from Cairns. With a local guide, you'll check out the palm forests of the Cattana Wetlands before pausing to appreciate the tiered cascades of an important waterfall, where a Djabugay Aboriginal guide shares stories and traditions tied to the land. Carry on to a coffee plantation for lunch and a coffee tasting, followed by a stop to satisfy your sweet tooth at a popular ice creamery. End the day aboard the historic (and charming) Kuranda Scenic Railway for a ride through rainforest-covered mountains and tunnels.

Your adventure begins with a pickup from your Cairns accommodation, where you'll meet your friendly driver-guide and head north toward the Cattana Wetlands. Here, you'll enjoy a guided walk through a remnant feather palm forest, soaking in the tranquil atmosphere as you stroll past glassy Jabiru Lake and listen to the calls of native birdlife. Along the way, your guide will share insights into the region's unique flora, fauna, and wetland ecosystems.

Next, travel to Barron Falls, known to the local Djabugay Aboriginal people as Din Din. Here, you'll be welcomed by a Djabugay cultural guide who'll invite you to participate in a traditional "calling to country" experience—a meaningful moment that connects you to the land and its ancestral stories. After admiring the waterfalls and gaining a deeper understanding of their cultural and spiritual significance, you're off to Skybury Coffee Plantation, Australia's oldest coffee plantation and largest papaya grower.

Enjoy a delicious lunch infused with Skybury's signature flavors, followed by a tasting of locally roasted coffee and coffee liqueur. Relax on the terrace with sweeping views of the Atherton Tablelands before heading to your next stop. Once at the Emerald Creek Ice Creamery, you'll sample four handcrafted flavors of locally made ice cream, each produced on-site with farm-fresh ingredients. It's the perfect treat before the day's grand finale—the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Step aboard this historic train, built in the late 1800s, for a picturesque journey from the mountain village of Kuranda down to Freshwater Station. Traveling through 15 tunnels and over 37 bridges, you'll hear stories of the early pioneers who carved the line through the rainforest. Look out the window for views of waterfalls, deep gorges, and dense tropical canopy before your return to Cairns from Freshwater Station.