Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Ariana Svenson
I remember when I was a little girl, a little girl very fond of climbing trees. There was a big tree in my parents back yard and my father had made a rope in the tree so we could climb it. One day I was up high in the tree, gazing over the rooftops and noticed a man walking to our front door. He rang the doorbell and informed my mother there was a little girl very high up in a tree. Was she aware of this? “Oh yes,” said my mom: “That’s my daughter, she likes climbing trees…”
Flash forward more than 20 years and deep down I am still that little girl who likes climbing trees. Unfortunately, I am no longer as fearless (and bendy) as I was when I was younger, but I still love a birds eye view. Which is why I absolutely loved our Skyrail Rainforest Experience! The Kuranda Skyrail is an experience unlike any other.
We flew over the treetops, explored the jungle, learned about the vulnerable rainforest ecosystem, admired the Barron Falls and visited Kuranda village. Read more about our Skyrail Rainforest Cableway experience below.
This post may contain affiliate links, from which we would earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More info in my disclaimer.
Facts and Figures about the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- This 7.5-kilometer-long long cableway was built in 1995.
- There are 32 towers in total, the tallest one is over 40 meters high!
- The towers were lifted into place by helicopter, to avoid disturbance of the rainforest.
- At 545-meter, Red Peak Station is the highest point on the cableway. Red Peak is the first station you’ll reach after entering the gondola at Skyrail Smithfield Terminal.
- The cableway can reach speeds up to 18 kilometers per hour, but it usually goes much slower so you can enjoy the beautiful rainforest longer.
If you are also wanting to explore the Daintree Rainforest more, a visit to Mossman Gorge is a must. Explore Mossman Gorge Walks & Mossman Gorge Swimming Holes is a great resource.
Getting Started – Skyrail Smithfield Terminal
Where is the Smithfield Skyrail Located?
The Skyrail Smithfield Terminal is located at 6 Skyrail Drive in Smithfield. The Skyrail Smithfield terminal is approximately 15 north of Cairns city center. This also means that it is about 50 minutes south of Port Douglas.
Speaking of Cairns and Port Douglas:
If you are staying in Cairns make sure to read our Where To Stay In Cairns With Kids: The 13 BEST Cairns Family Accommodation. Likewise, if you are based in or visiting Port Douglas check out 19 AMAZING Things To Do In Port Douglas.
How Can I Get to the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal?
If you are driving there is free parking. This includes oversized parking spaces for busses and caravans as well as two electric vehicle charging stations. There is also a bus transfers to the terminal from most Cairns city center hotels and cruise ship terminals.
If you are combining the Kuranda Skyrail with the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the Skyrail Smithfield Terminal and the Freshwater Railway Station are located approximately 7km (4 miles) apart. There is also a bus transfer between stations.
If you are not wanting to adventure out on your own, perhaps one of the guided tours below would suite you?
Cairns to Kuranda Skyrail Station Stops
The First Stop: Red Peak Station
At Red Peak station we learned about the rainforest from friendly ranger Cameron. He showed us around the boardwalk and pointed out interesting plants and trees. For example, there was a plant which berries made you go blind for 2 hours if you ate them! Birds could eat them safely, because they don’t actually digest them and the pit stays intact. But if a human (or mammal) chews on them, the seed releases a toxin which temporarily makes you loose your vision. Scary stuff!
The ranger also showed us a friendlier plant with big leaves that were super soft on the backside. He told us that if we ever got stuck in the jungle we should seek out this plant and make a mattress from its leaves. He assured us we would be very comfortable.
Cameron the Ranger also told us that over 80% of the plants in the forest have leaves with ‘driptips’. This lets the rainwater glide off easily. If water stays on leaves too long lichen and algae begin to grow and damage the leaves. Nature is so inventive!
Okay, last but not least. He showed us a couple of trees with huge birds nest ferns and told us pythons occasionally make their home in those. Right, let’s stay away from those just to be sure.
Note: The ranger guided walks start every 20 minutes and I highly recommend you join one. It’s very interesting and you learn a lot about the beautiful rainforest!
The Second Stop: Barron Falls Station
At the Barron Falls Station there is a short walk as well, with 3 viewpoints offering gorgeous views over… the Barron Falls. The falls are at their peak during the wet season (December-March). However, they were still beautiful when we visited (November).
At this station there is also an Interpretative Center with interesting displays about the rainforest. Be sure to check this out as well! And ,if you are really lucky, you may be able to spot one of the shy cassowaries who live in the jungle. A couple of years ago there were only 500 of these unique creatures left. Luckily, thanks to the efforts of UNESCO and several other organizations, including the Cairns Skyrail, there are now over 2500.
Nevertheless, the species is still endangered and needs to be well protected in order not to become extinct. To learn more about these fascinating creatures, read our Fascinating Australian Cassowary Facts for Kids.
Fun Fact: Did you know cassowaries communicate on a 23-32 Hz frequency? We can hear their sounds, but only just, as humans are only capable of perceiving sounds of at least 20 Hz.
The Final Stop: Kuranda Station
The last station of the cableway is Kuranda, a quant village in the middle of the rainforest. It’s actually a rather old village and has been visited by tourists as early as 1888.
We walked around for about an hour and explored the small town, got a delicious ice cream and walked down to the river. We didn’t spot any crocodiles, I’m not sure if I’m happy or disappointed by that.
Note: It’s possible to combine the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway with the Kuranda Scenic Railway. For prices and bookings, check this site.
If you are looking to explore Barron Gorge, the Cairns Skyrail, or the Daintree Rainforest more, below are some great guided adventures.
How Long Does the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Take?
We did the Return Skyrail Experience and departed Skyrail Smithfield Terminal (the starting point of the cableway) at 12 o’clock. The ride to the Red Peak Station took about 10 minutes and we spend approximately 45 minutes at that station.
From the Red Peak Station it took another 10 minutes to the Barron Falls station. We then spent 45 minutes there as well (give or take).
The last part of the cableway also took 10 minutes and we spent one hour in Kuranda. It was a little after 3 o’clock when we took the cablecar down from Kuranda. We arrived back at our car just after 3.30pm. The ride back down can take up to one hour, because you do need to get off at Red Peak Station and change gondolas. If it’s busy you may have to wait a couple of minutes before you can board the next one.
Altogether our Kuranda Skyrail rainforest experience took 3.5 hours but if you are short on time you can do it in 2,5. Nevertheless, I don’t recommend rushing through the rainforest, it’s so relaxing, lush and green!
How Much does the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Cost?
What is the Cairns Skyrail price you ask? Well, the Cairns Skyrail prices vary depending on your selection. However, a return ticket on the Skyrail from the Skyrail Smithfield Terminal costs $88.50 Australian Dollar per person. Don’t forget that you can also upgrade your ticket to the Skyrail Diamond View or the Canopy Glider. You can read more about the differences of each one below.
Detailed information about prices can be found here.
Special Carriages on the Skyrail Kuranda
Besides the normal gondola carriage, there are also two different upgrade options for your Kuranda Sky Rail ride. Both of these upgrades do cost extra in addition to your normal fare.
The Diamond View
The Skyrail Diamond View Gondola upgrade is much like the normal gondola carriage with the exception that it has a glass floor. The glass floor allows you to have a unique (maybe scary) view through the bottom of the gondolas glass floor. This unique perspective allows you to have a view straight down into the rainforest canopy.
The Skyrail Diamond View Gondola seats 5 people (including infants) as opposed to the normal gondola which seats 6. It costs an additional $25 one-way per adult, and $12.50 per child.
The Canopy Glider
Think open air cage, gliding over the canopy of the rainforest. Quite literally, the Canopy Glider is an open-air gondola. You experience the rainforest in a unique way. Plus, the coolest thing about this experience is that a Skyrail Ranger goes with you to provide personalized interpretation on your Kuranda Skyrail adventure.
Advanced bookings are required. There is a minimum of two people per booking and a maximum of three per party. There is also an additional $110 per person one-way fee in addition to the normal fare.
Kuranda Skyrail Timetable
The first departure from the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal is at 8:30am and the last one-way or roundtrip departure is at 1:00pm. In between those times, gondolas leave every 15-minutes from the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal.
On the other end, the latest one-way Kuranda to the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal leaves Kuranda at 3:15pm. The latest round-trip experience from Kuranda boards at 12:00pm.
Make sure you double-check out the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway website for the most up-to-date Kuranda Skyrail timetable information.
The Verdict – A Great Guide to Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – Cairns
The Kuranda Skyrail (also referred to as the Cairns Skyrail alternatively) is an epic adventure. The cool thing is, you can do it in conjunction with the not-to-miss Kuranda Scenic Railway. These two experiences offer an amazing and unique perspective of Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Sites meet, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef.
The Skyrail has won multiple awards and it’s easy to understand why. If you are in the Cairns, Kuranda, or Port Douglas areas make sure to book this skyrail rainforest cableway experience. Also, if you are visit is part of a roadtrip, make sure to read our Cairns to Cape Tribulation: Road Trip Along the Great Barrier Reef Drive.
Like It> Pin It> A Great Guide to Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – Cairns
Add comment