Kuranda & Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: Scenic Rail & Wildlife

Rail through the gorge, cable above the canopy, then face the crocodiles

This full-day tour from Cairns combines three distinct experiences: a historic train ride through Barron Gorge National Park on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a gondola journey across the rainforest canopy on Skyrail with two stops to explore from within, and admission to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures wildlife park near Cairns. The itinerary includes coach transport between each stop, time to wander the mountaintop village of Kuranda, a wetlands boat cruise, live crocodile and snake shows, and access to see koalas, wallabies and cassowaries. Pickup and drop-off from Cairns hotels are included; the full day runs about eight hours with up to two hours in transit between attractions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kuranda Scenic Rail, Skyrail and Crocodiles

• Take Kuranda Scenic Rail through rainforest
• See Barron Falls from rail stop
• Explore Kuranda mountaintop village
• Ride Skyrail Rainforest Cableway gondola
• Stop and explore rainforest from gondola
• See Barron Falls from Skyrail lookout
• Visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures park
• Take Wetlands Cruise at Hartley’s
• Watch Crocodile Attack and Snake Shows
• Explore wildlife park with koalas and wallabies

The Experience

The day starts with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a historic train that climbs through Barron Gorge National Park along the mountainside, giving you views of the rainforest and Barron Falls from the carriage. From there, you transfer by coach to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you board a gondola that glides above and through the ancient rainforest canopy. Two stops along the cable route let you step out and walk through the forest itself before continuing overhead. You'll see Barron Falls again from the Edge Lookout, this time from above.

After Skyrail, there's free time to explore Kuranda village, a mountaintop settlement known for its markets and local character. The coach then takes you to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, where you have ample time to move through the wildlife park at your own pace. A guided wetlands cruise takes you through the Melaleuca wetlands by boat, the domain of saltwater crocodiles. The park also runs a Crocodile Attack Show and a Snake Show during the day, and you can see koalas, wallabies and Queensland's Southern Cassowaries in the park grounds.

Cairns hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, and all entry fees to Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Hartley's are included. A written trip guide is provided in multiple languages. The main constraint is travel time between stops — up to two hours of the eight-hour day is spent in the coach, so this suits anyone comfortable with a structured itinerary and willing to move between three separate attractions.

What’s included

• Cairns hotel pickup and drop-off.
• one-way passage on the Kuranda Scenic Railway through Barron Gorge.
• one-way journey on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway with two stops to explore the rainforest on foot.
• free time in Kuranda village.
• admission to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.
• guided wetlands boat cruise.
• Crocodile Attack Show and Snake Show.
• access to the wildlife park.
• written trip guide in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Down Under Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to combine three different experiences—rail, cableway, and wildlife park—in one day with coach transfers between each, rather than booking them separately.

Traveler reviews

4.21★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★25

4 ★6

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★5

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway like, and can I get out and walk?

Skyrail is a gondola that carries you above the rainforest canopy on a scenic route with two stops built in. At each stop you can leave the cable car and walk through the rainforest itself before boarding again to continue the journey overhead — you're not locked in the cabin the whole time.

Do I need to book the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail separately, or are they both on this tour?

Both are included in this tour. You ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway first through Barron Gorge, then transfer to Skyrail for the canopy crossing. The coach handles the movement between them.

What can I actually do at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures?

Hartley's is a wildlife park where you explore at your own pace. It includes a guided boat cruise through the Melaleuca wetlands where saltwater crocodiles live, a Crocodile Attack Show and a Snake Show, plus access to see koalas, wallabies and cassowaries in the park grounds.

How much time do I spend in the coach versus at the attractions?

Coach travel between pickups, attractions and drop-offs can total up to two hours across the full eight-hour day. The rest of the time is split between the train, Skyrail, Kuranda village and Hartley's.

Is lunch included, and where do I eat?

Food and drinks are not included in this tour. Kuranda village has cafes and food options during your free time there, and Hartley's has facilities on-site, but you'll need to budget for meals separately.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair?

All areas and surfaces at the attractions are wheelchair accessible, and the coach is wheelchair accessible. The Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Hartley's can all accommodate wheelchair users, though some parts of the rainforest walks may have uneven terrain.