KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY

Acknowledgement to Country

As we prepare to set out on this virtual journey, we acknowledge the Djabugay Bama – First Nations people whose culture is entwined with the land you travel on with Kuranda Scenic Railway. The waterways were created by Gudju Gudju, the rainbow serpent, who took the form of Buda-dji, the carpet snake, in his travels trading nautilus shells for half-moon bicornual baskets on the tableland, creating the Barron River and its waterways. The strength and identity of the Djabugay Bama lives and breathes through these creation stories and Bulurru the spirit. We pay our respect to Djabugay Elders past, present and emerging.

Journey Through Tropical Paradise 

All aboard Kuranda Scenic Railway for an unforgettable journey through the natural splendour of Tropical North Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest.

Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of Australia’s most acclaimed short rail journeys. Climbing a picturesque path from the thriving tourist mecca of Cairns to the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda, this vintage rail experience winds its way through a landscape of deep ravines, dramatic gorges and thundering waterfalls of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Steeped in history and traversing some of the most ancient and pristine rainforest on Earth, the Kuranda Scenic Railway has firmly established itself as a regional icon, capturing the hearts of visitors and locals alike for generations. 

Climb aboard and feel the rhythmic rattle and thrum as the train passes over bridges suspended high above forested ravines. Listen for the echo as the locomotive passes through a series of short, hand-carved tunnels blasted through solid rock, and delight in the thunderous rapture of water cascading down breathtaking Barron Falls. Or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the nostalgic charm of train travel. Informative audio commentary is available in all carriages, offering descriptive narration and intriguing insights into the cultural significance, history and points of interest along the way. This fascinating journey takes approximately two hours one-way, including a ten-minute stop at the magnificent Barron Falls, known as Din Din in Djabugay language. 

Kuranda Scenic Railway offers two return services daily in either direction between Cairns and Kuranda via Freshwater Station, with one-way or return travel options available. Kuranda has lots to explore including memorable wildlife and rainforest experiences. There are also a range of day tours on offer, or you can book a return journey with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to complete your tropical rainforest adventure. For the latest travel deals and timetable, please visit ksr.com.au. 

Kuranda Scenic Railway is far more than a train ride – it’s an unforgettable journey into an unspoilt tropical paradise! 

An Unforgettable Experience

Experience the old-world charm of travelling aboard the vintage wooden carriages hauled by the sturdy strength of the diesel locomotive. The Kuranda Scenic Railway typically comprises 11 to 15 carriages, with two travel class options, including a carriage with accessible facilities on all services. 

Whether you choose to ride in the quaint Heritage Class or premium Gold Class, you’re sure to enjoy a captivating journey. All guests receive a souvenir trip guide, which is also a fan. All carriages feature audio commentary and large viewing windows. Almost every second carriage has a toilet and there are drink fountains throughout the train. Gold Class is offered on the 9.55am departure from Freshwater station to Kuranda and the 3.30pm departure from Kuranda to Freshwater. 

The red timber Heritage Class carriages provide an authentic travel experience of the line’s early days, with some carriages more than one hundred years old. They feature a classic design with wooden panelling, and an arched ceiling with decorative panels. Red leather bench-style seating is arranged in bays facing each other, with each bench accommodating up to three guests. A corridor runs down one side of the carriage, and large sliding windows provide a panoramic view and immersive experience of the passing landscape. Historical images of Kuranda Scenic Railway adorn the carriage walls.

If you enjoy the exclusive comforts and personalised onboard service of Gold Class you can bypass the queue and enjoy a tropical welcome drink before departing (when you join the train at Freshwater railway station). Spacious Gold Class carriages feature Victorian-inspired décor, individual lounge-style seating and morning or afternoon tea served by dedicated attendants. With a menu featuring locally sourced appetisers and Queensland made beverages, Gold Class ensures your trip is truly a feast for the senses. Dietary requirements can be accommodated upon request when booking. Slide open the large windows and inhale the warm, earthy scent of the rainforest and feel the refreshingly cool mist of a passing waterfall during the warmer months. Gold Class guests also receive a souvenir gift pack.

The carriage with accessible facilities will be described in more detail later in this audio guide.

History and Fun Facts 

Kuranda Scenic Railway ascends 327 metres from the coastal plains of Cairns to the rainforest village of Kuranda. The historic rail line along which you’ll travel is a truly magnificent engineering feat, comprising 15 hand-dug tunnels, 55 bridges and 98 curves. It travels through the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest – Country with Aboriginal cultural significance and a landscape rich in globally significant biodiversity. Believed to be over 130 million years old, this living museum is home to the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest, as well as the world’s oldest culture. The Country you’ll travel on has been home to Djabugay people for many thousands of years. Djabugay spiritual history and stories live among the gullies and gorges of the Barron, flowing down Din Din falls and into the valleys below.

This Wet Tropics World Heritage Area provides refuge to a plethora of plant and animal life, including many species that are unique to the region. While its abundant and dramatic natural features such as raging rivers, carved gorges, dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain are awe-inspiring, they certainly provided many challenges to the brave pioneers who built the track over a century ago. 

Construction began on the first section of the Cairns-Kuranda Railway on May 10, 1886. While the first and final stages of the rail line were comparatively easy to construct, the middle section which includes the ascent you’ll travel on proved extremely arduous, costing many lives throughout its construction. Armed with courage, fortitude and determination, these pioneers forged ahead, carving tunnels and building bridges with hand tools, dynamite, buckets and bare hands. The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was first opened for goods traffic only on June 15, 1891, with passenger travel commencing just ten days later. 

For over one hundred years Kuranda has been attracting tourists in search of exotic scenery and fresh mountain air. Much of this early tourism growth was attributed to passengers arriving from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to the Port of Cairns via steamship. 

Over a century since it’s opening, Kuranda Scenic Railway continues to astound travellers with its rich history, ingenious engineering and jaw-dropping vistas.

Accessibility Overview 

Kuranda Scenic Railway is operated by Queensland Rail, a government body that is committed to providing a safe, accessible and enjoyable rail service for all customers. Our team have received accessibility awareness training and are willing and able to assist customers with a range of access requirements. Please advise at the time of booking if you or someone in your travel party requires accessible seating, additional assistance, or will be travelling with a guide, hearing or assistance animal. This will allow our team to arrange suitable seating and accommodate access requirements.

Please note that due to the heritage nature of this experience, the ease of access to stations and carriages may vary. For example, the platform at Barron Falls is only accessible via steps with a significant height difference between the station platform and the train. Customers using mobility devices to join and leave the service will not be able to use them at the Barron Falls stop. In these circumstances, these customers will need to remain onboard during this 10-minute stop and will not be able to see the falls from the train. There is also no wheelchair access to the viewing platform.

The train’s standard Heritage Class and Gold Class carriages are accessed by steep ladder-style steps with a grab rail at the top of the steps. Customers who may have difficulty using the steps or negotiating the gap between the train and the platform are encouraged to book into our carriage with accessible facilities, which is offered on every service. This carriage accommodates those wishing to book either the Gold Class or Heritage Class experience. 

Most types of wheelchairs or mobility scooters can be accommodated aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway services; however, size restrictions do apply. In general, these dimension limits are 750 millimetres wide by 1100 millimetres long. Mobility devices can be stored in the carriage with accessible facilities only.

Kuranda Scenic Railway accepts Companion Cards (for Australian residents) or equivalent companion/carer cards from international visitors to access free carer’s fares when they are accompanying people with disabilities who require their assistance. If you or a member of your travel party wishes to book free carer travel, please contact our reservations team on 1800 577 245 or email ksrres@qr.com.au. 

On the day of travel, please let our station team members know of your arrival if you’d like support from our team. 

Please keep listening to learn more about the accessible amenities of our stations and the train, and the types of assistance offered onboard our Kuranda Scenic Railway service. For a comprehensive outline of all accessibility features, including measurements and photographs, please refer to the dedicated and informative Accessible travel webpage at ksr.com.au. 

Accessibility – On Board the Train 

The warm and welcoming team at Kuranda Scenic Railway are trained to provide an inclusive onboard experience for all guests.

The dedicated carriage with accessible facilities is for anyone who may require additional assistance joining or leaving the train, needs accessible spaces and seats, or requires accessible onboard amenities. This carriage provides four accessible spaces for customers to travel in or store mobility devices such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Customers have the option to remain in their mobility device or transfer to a seat. Seating provided here is a club style lounge chair with a height of 430 millimetres and a length and width of 450 millimetres. Please note that armrests cannot be lifted or adjusted, and you may require assistance from a carer or companion to transfer into this seating. The onboard team are unable to assist with lifting customers in any way for transferring to seats due to workplace health and safety restrictions. 

If you are remaining in your mobility device, for safety reasons, it is recommended that your mobility device is secured using the tie down straps because the incline can be steep during the journey. Customers can choose to have their mobility device secured into position by tie down straps or use their device's braking mechanism. You can inform us of your preference when booking or on the day of travel. However, please note that our team can only secure or release tie down straps when the train is stationary. 

Inside the carriage with accessible facilities there are grabrails and contrasting surface colours. This carriage features an accessible unisex toilet with a button-operated large sliding door, grab rails and an emergency call button. Toilet signage features raised text and Braille for easy identification. A bright red light illuminates when the toilet is in use. 

Our team has received specialised training, equipping them with skills to assist customers who are blind or have low vision. They are able to guide customers to or from their seat, accessible space, or the toilet facility entrance. They can also assist with carrying small hand-held luggage or small mobility aids such as walking frames and canes (up to 7 kilograms in weight). 

Please note there are no hearing loops provided with the audio system on this train. Audio commentary can be provided in written format on request from our onboard team. The Kuranda Scenic Railway app also provides audio commentary and written transcripts. We recommend downloading it prior to travel.

For those with sensory sensitivities, the carriage with accessible facilities may also offer a quieter environment than Heritage Class as there are fewer people. 

Onboard Orientation 

Kuranda Scenic Railway offers Heritage Class carriages, Gold Class carriages, and a carriage with accessible facilities which caters to customers in both travel classes. The train typically consists of 11 to 15 carriages arranged in numerical order in the direction of travel from Cairns, and in the opposite order from Kuranda. The carriage with accessible facilities is always located towards the centre of the train. All directions provided here are based on facing in the direction of travel. Please ask one of our friendly team if you require assistance locating your allocated seat or would like directions or guidance to the nearest onboard toilet. 

As you board the standard Heritage Class Carriages, a corridor provides access to the bays of bench-style seating which are arranged facing each other on the right side of the carriage. Seat numbers are located on the back of each seat, on the wooden beam that runs across the top of the bench. Day packs or small carry-on luggage may be stored beneath the bench seats, and safety cards are available in the pocket on the wall in the middle of each seating bay. Safety procedures are also announced audibly throughout all carriages. Sliding panoramic windows line both sides of all carriage types. Drink fountains are provided in each carriage on the corridor side and will be located at one end of the carriage or the other. 

On entering the standard Gold Class carriages, there is an Onboard team work area, followed by rows of lounge style seats, with two on one side and one on the other. A corridor runs down the centre. Gold Class customers enjoy tub style seating, with a ‘u’ shaped back and arm rests. Seat numbers are located on the wall under the window frame. The ledge under the window can be used to rest your drink and morning or afternoon tea, which is served to customers with Gold Class experience tickets. 

The carriage with accessible facilities also features a staff work area and tub-style seating arranged in a similar manner to the standard Gold Class carriages. In addition to the standard stepped entrance and exit doors, this carriage features large double doors midway along its length to provide ease of access to customers joining or leaving the train with the aid of a ramp or hydraulic lift. There are four accessible spaces near the boarding assistance doors. The accessible unisex toilet is located at the front right side of this carriage. 

Orientation/Accessibility – Cairns Railway Station

Kuranda Scenic Railway commences its two morning services from the centrally located Cairns Railway Station, with an additional stop at Freshwater Railway Station in a picturesque leafy suburb of Cairns. The morning service destination and afternoon departure point is the photogenic Kuranda Railway Station, nestled amidst the rainforest on the tropical Atherton Tablelands. 

Accessible facilities, station access and platform heights vary at each station along the line. The following information is intended to give you a brief orientation and overview of accessibility at each of our stations enroute. Assistance is available at each of our stations, including the setting up of access ramps or operation of hydraulic lifts to assist with joining or leaving the train, guiding customers who are blind or have low vision to carriage entrances, and assistance with carrying small, hand-held luggage or mobility aids up to seven kilograms. 

For those staying in the heart of the city, Cairns Railway Station provides convenient access to the Kuranda Scenic Railway service, which departs from Platform 2. The station is located next to the Cairns Central Shopping Centre, just a short walk from the CBD and city accommodation. Free parking is available at Cairns Central Shopping Centre carpark for Kuranda Scenic Railway customers. Please advise our reservations team of your registration number when purchasing your rail ticket to receive free parking. The accessible carparks are on the Platform 1 side of the station and can be accessed by a separate road adjacent to the entry to the shopping centre carpark. 

Kuranda Scenic Railway departs from Platform 2. This is where you will find the ticket office. This side of the station has an accessible curb side drop-off point on Bunda street. Or if you are approaching via the shopping centre you will move through the carpark to reach Cairns railway station and Platform 1. Lifts provide access between the platforms at both sides of the station. A ramp is available to assist customers to board from the platform to the carriage with accessible facilities. Our team are on-hand to assist with ramp set-up if required. An accessible toilet is available on Platform 1 and Platform 2, towards the middle of the platforms. Tactile Ground Surface Indicators clearly identify the edge of the platform. 

Cairns Railway Station also offers free Wi-Fi to keep you connected.

Orientation/Accessibility – Freshwater Railway Station

The picturesque Freshwater Railway Station is a popular departure point, particularly for self-drive customers, those staying out of town or eager explorers coming straight from the airport. Free parking is available in front of the station, including two accessible long-term parking spaces and one space for drop-off only. These spaces and the main coach park all offer curb accessibility. 

Nestled on the northern side of town and surrounded by mountain vistas, this idyllic station was built in 1984 as a tribute to the visionaries and pioneers who built the Kuranda Scenic Railway between 1887 and 1891.​ As you approach the station via a flat undercover walkway, you’ll pass Red Lynch’s Cottage on your right, surrounded by lush gardens. This original railway workers cottage is thought to date from the late 19th or early 20th century. It features weatherboard cladding with exposed studs, a building style common in many North Queensland homes. Its pressed metal ceiling is somewhat like those used in Queensland Railways carriages built during this time.

A ramp with tactile ground surface indicators provides easy access to the platform from the coach set down area at the right-hand end of the station as you enter from the street. The Gold Class check-in is this end of the station; it’s set in an open-air pavilion with polished wooden floors and surrounded by lush gardens and trees, adding to the relaxed tropical ambience. 

The ticket office is at the left-hand end of the station as you enter from the street. Alongside the ticket office you’ll find a small gift shop and bathroom facilities (including accessible toilets). In the centre of the station buildings there is a refreshment stand and undercover seating area. There are plenty of grassy areas surrounding the station which are suitable for toileting your assistance animal if required.  

A hydraulic lift boarding device offers ease of access from the platform to the carriage with accessible facilities.

Orientation/Accessibility – Kuranda Railway Station

Kuranda Railway Station is renowned for its lush tropical gardens and historical significance. Its heritage-listed buildings harmoniously blend with the surrounding environment, providing the perfect destination or departure point for your Kuranda Scenic Railway adventure. 

The station itself, built in 1913, was designed to be a showpiece, reflecting the style of a Swiss chalet. This quaint complex is one of the earliest stations to be built in Australia using standard concrete units and is the oldest remaining example of its type in Queensland. The station is nestled just below street level, amidst prize-winning tropical gardens and ornamental plantings lovingly tended by the station staff. The station itself is accessed via an overpass bridge with stairs or a lift leading to the station platforms. A hydraulic lift is available to assist customers with joining and leaving the train at this station.

Trains arriving from Cairns disembark at Platform 1. Here you are invited to sit and soak in the relaxed atmosphere and experience a true taste of the tropics at the Kuranda Railway Tea Rooms, housed within the original station refreshment rooms. The Tea Room is open daily, offering a great range of freshly prepared hot and cold food and drinks, as well as a selection of quality souvenirs. 

Customers boarding the train at Kuranda Station will arrive to a warm welcome from team members positioned at the station’s entrance at the base of the stairs. Here you’ll also find the ticketing office, with helpful attendants who can assist with ticket sales and enquiries. 

There is one accessible parking bay near the street entrance, leading to the overpass bridge and accessible lift. A hearing loop is also available at this station. Unisex accessible toilets are located in the last building at the Cairns end of the platform. There is a nearby grassy area that can be accessed via the overbridge for toileting assistance dogs.  

Orientation/Accessibility – Kuranda Village

The quirky and colourful rainforest village of Kuranda beckons you to explore with all your senses. 

Please note that Kuranda Village itself is perched atop a mountain and there are some hills. Take a 10-minute uphill walk via a sloping ramp or stairs from the station to the village centre, where you’ll discover an eclectic mix of experiences on offer. Meander through the village’s famous art and craft markets, boutiques and galleries, where you’ll find everything from locally made clothing and jewellery to ceramics, gemstones and Indigenous art. Sample some of the fresh local produce, such as coffee, macadamias and exotic tropical fruit wines. The village has a fun and festive atmosphere, with the music of talented buskers and the aroma of handcrafted candles lingering in the fresh mountain air. Settle in at one of the alfresco eateries to enjoy a delicious lunch or a refreshing beverage served with warm hospitality. 

Take a walk on the wild side and enjoy up-close encounters with some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife at Kuranda’s animal attractions. Experience the enchanting wonder and ticklish delight of butterflies alighting on your skin at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Cuddle a koala at the Kuranda Koala Gardens, or surround yourself in the serenade of birdsong at Birdworld. At nearby Rainforestation Nature Park, enjoy close encounters with unique Australian native animals such as crocodiles, dingoes and the endangered Tasmanian devil. Most of these attractions can be added to your Kuranda Scenic Railway experience with our day tour packages.

The sidewalks of Kuranda village are wide and relatively flat with many shops offering wide level access. An accessible toilet is available next to the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre, at the far end of the village. This centre is also a great place to access local insights on the best things to experience during your Kuranda visit. 

Nostalgic and naturally spectacular, Kuranda Scenic Railway is an unforgettable immersive journey into the ancient and unspoilt heart of Tropical North Queensland.