My few days in Cairns were jam packed with trips, and I was a little worried that I’d be exhausted before I arrived in Sydney. The first day involved a lovely ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway that runs from Cairns, over the Great Dividing Range, and into the mountain village of Kuranda. The scenery was beautiful, and it was a really relaxing way to head out to the mountains and experience everything the village had to offer. Kuranda is approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Cairns and is surrounded by World Heritage rainforest.
Kuranda village is a haven for those who love shopping for something a little bit different and a souvenir of time spent in Queensland. There are numerous handcrafted goods, Aboriginal arts and crafts, and galleries. There is also a range of local produce available, including honey, ice cream, coffee, and the famous Aussie meat pie – don’t forget the kangaroo, emu, and crocodile options on offer! I didn’t try these, but I believe they are popular.
As well, as shopping, eating, and drinking, Kuranda is a great place to experience nature. You can discover beautiful butterflies, exotic birds, reptiles, and take some walks through the rainforest to the Barron Falls. My favourite part of this trip, however, had to be the Koala Gardens where you could see all Australia’s most famous animals, including koalas, wallabies, and wombats. You can cuddle a Koala here, too, which I just had to do! Most of the Koalas at the centre are rescue animals. You can also hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos. I did try to get a “selfie” with a wallaby, but he wouldn’t face the camera properly. This part of the trip was such a magical experience for me.
My return back from Kuranda village to Cairns was done above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This was a completely different view than on the way up and was a wonderful way to see the vast rainforest. It was then time to return to my hotel to get a good night’s sleep before my trip to the Great Barrier Reef the following day!
