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Kuranda - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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If you’re after adventure, shopping, magnificent rainforests, views, culture,
historic train journeys, giant butterflies, art or just a great coffee then
Kuranda is just the right place for you.
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Nestled amongst the rainforest, this location is
an inspiration to artists from around the world. The Kuranda Arts Co-operative
displays and sells Kuranda art. The Kuranda Festival takes place each year and
is like a mini Mardi Gras with vibrant costumes and activities. The Kuranda Railway would have to be one of the most scenic in Australia,
running through hand carved tunnels on the side of the massive Barron Gorge,
then passes a magnificent waterfall (Stony Creek Falls) all the time surrounded
by rainforest and with occasional views out across the Coral Sea. The train line
was built by a Mr John Robb between 1886 and 1891. The station at Kuranda was
completed in 1951. The entire line from Cairns to Kuranda is considered a
masterpiece of rail engineering.
There’s always something going on in Kuranda,
this village is a must see for all ages. If wildlife is your passion, then check
out The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda Bird
Sanctuary, all located at the Heritage Markets and connected by walkways. You
can purchase the Kuranda Wild Life Experience (KWE) ticket to all three
attractions. Check out our listing of
Kuranda
accommodation and
Tropical North Queensland accommodation. In addition to our listed online travel guide information,
contact the local tourism visitor centre for your destination for more
attractions, tours, local maps and other information. |
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Kuranda Visitor Information
Centre
Centenary Park
Coondoo Street
KURANDA QLD 4872
Ph: 07 4093 9311
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| Open |
| Open 7 days a week |
10 am - 4 pm |
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Closed Christmas Day |
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Hours may vary, contact visitor centre |
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Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
• 8 Rob Veivers Drv, KURANDA
QLD 4872 • 07 4093 7575
• Details:
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary's 3666 cubic metre aviary is home to over
1500 magnificent tropical butterflies, all local to the area, including the
electric blue Ulysses butterfly and the largest butterfly in Australia, the
Cairns or Australian Birdwing.
The aviary was opened in 1987 and has been visited by over a million people
since.
The butterfly's beguiling aerial dances and their tendency to land on brightly
coloured clothing, has inspired and delighted young and old alike.
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Australian Venom Zoo
• 8 Coondoo St, KURANDA QLD 4881 • Ph: +61 7 4093 8905 •
• Details: The
zoo is an attraction for the public, but we also captive breed our animals,
primarily for the extraction of their venom, and also captive breed for the pet
trade. We have a great collection of animals here from the world’s most venomous
spider, to Australia’s 5 most venomous snakes, to a variety of scorpions,
centipedes, reptiles and insects. And of course a great variety of our beloved
tarantulas! We run daily personalised, educational tours of our display of
Australian tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, lizards and snakes. We also do
LIVE venom extraction, which the public can actually watch.
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Barron Gorge National Park
• Details:
North Queensland’s most popular park with over 1,500 000
visitors each year, fantastic scenery, waterfalls, lush
rainforests, volcanic craters, native wildlife, massive
trees, aboriginal heritage, varied pioneer history and
several unusual ways to explore this 2820ha park situated
between Cairns and Kuranda.
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Birdworld Kuranda
Bird Sanctuary
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Rob Vievers Drv, Heritage Markets, KURANDA QLD 4872 • Ph/Fax: +61 7 4093 9188 •
• Details:
Home to the largest single collection of free flying birds in Australia (some
500 of them!), Birdworld Kuranda in the Australian highlands of the Atherton
Tablelands displays no less than 75 species of the most spectacular birds from
all corners of the planet - as well as from the earth’s fast diminishing
rainforests.
Visitors are free to wander through the lush, tropically landscaped bird
sanctuary to observe the birds in their own specific - yet natural - habitats.
Two lakes connected by a tumbling waterfall for example are home to waterbirds
such as stilts, herons and Australia’s own unique Black Swan. In Birdworld’s
rainforest canopy overhead, blue, gold and scarlet Macaws dazzle with colourful
brilliance as they soar above the tree tops.
One outstanding Birdworld denizen not to be missed is that rare avian giant, the
Cassowary - an Australian bird now officially enlisted as endangered. Birdworld
Kuranda can provide guided tours for all group bookings.
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Carrowong Fauna Sanctuary
• Black Mountain Rd, KURANDA QLD 4872 • Ph: 07 4093 7287
• Details:
Carrowong’s Wildlife Mountain Safari
concentrates on the rare and endangered mammals of the night
and A Night in the Rainforest, our nocturnal spotlighting
walk, reveals the great biodiversity of these ancient
rainforests.
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Kuranda Amphitheatre
• Details:
In 1979 the Kuranda
Amphitheatre was carved out of the hills by a dedicated
group of local musicians, performers and eccentric
individuals. This 3,500 seat tropical outdoor venue has,
over the years, attracted some of Australia and the World’s
finest performers, for some truly memorable concerts. Check
local papers for current events.
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Kuranda Heritage Markets
• Details:
Wander through the
beautiful rainforest setting and watch artists at work.
Ninety stalls provide an innovative range of handmade local
crafts plus Australian opals, gemstones, crocodile and
kangaroo leather goods.
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Kuranda Koala Gardens
• Heritage Markets, KURANDA QLD 4872 • Ph: +61 7 4093 9953 •
• Details:
Get your photo taken cuddling a koala (extra charge), see freshwater
crocodiles, wombats and a variety of wallabies. Experience
Australia’s first walk-through snake house - it’s amazing! Australia is home to
an amazing selection of reptiles and there are lots on display. See Dragons and
Monitors with their long forked tongues, and much more.
Purchase the Kuranda Wildlife Experience Pass combining the 3 outstanding
attractions of the Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld Kuranda Bird Sanctuary, and
the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
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Kuranda Nature Park
• Ph: 07 4031 2588 •
• Details:
Amaze at the local wildlife
of Kangaroos, Wallabies, Brush Turkeys, Monitor lizards,
Cockatoos, Kookaburras, and other birdlife in their natural
surroundings. Our open air bush restaurant by the lake
overlooks wilderness cabin accommodation for that truly
Australian bush experience.
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Kuranda Scenic Railway
• Details:
For one and a half fabulous
hours, you’ll travel on board historical carriages through
some of the lushest rainforest, pass deep gorges, rugged
mountains and the spectacular waterfalls. It’s a view that
was originally captured 100 years ago by teams of railway
men armed only with picks and shovels. Today, that 34km
track still winds its way through 15 hand made tunnels up to
Kuranda Station - a Station which looks more like a
beautiful botanical garden.
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Kuranda Skyrail
• Ph: 07 4038 1555 •
• Web: www.skyrail.com.au
• Details:
Skyrail has received numerous
awards and accolades since opening, including being voted
Australia’s best major tourist attraction at the 1997
Australian Tourism Awards, and for three consecutive years
(1997-99) at the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Check out VIATOR and book online for
Kuranda
Skyrail and Rail Tour
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Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance & Cultural Display
• Kennedy Hwy, KURANDA
QLD 4872 • 07 4093 9033
• Details:
They open a door of
understanding to this ancient culture by sharing their
stories and spirits, depicting the Dreamtime, the animals,
traditional hunting and food gathering. Performances are in
the traditional and authentic manner of the old corroboree
and in a majestic natural setting.
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Rain
Forest Station Nature Park
• Ph: 07 4093 9033 •
• Details:
A 40 hectare tourist attraction
in the midst of World Heritage rainforest. Situated on the
Kennedy Highway, Rainforestation is five minutes from the
Kuranda Village or half an hour by coach from Cairns in
Australia’s Tropical North Queensland, home of the Great
Barrier Reef.
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