From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kuranda, as a noun, may refer to one of the following:

• Kuranda, Queensland, a town in North Queensland, Australia.
• Kuranda Range Highway
• Kuranda Skyrail

Last names

• Ignaz Kuranda
• Richard Kuranda, actor and theatrical director

Koranda

Koranda is a variant of Kuranda family:

• USAHS Ernestine Koranda (after Ernestine Koranda), List of United States Army hospital ships

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

From Wikitravel

Kuranda [1] is a small town in Far North Queensland adjoining the Barron Gorge National Park. As it is located very close to Cairns and the journey is scenic, it is an extremely popular day trip: the village is overflowing with visitors during the middle of each day.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

• Drive from Cairns via the Captain Cook and Kennedy Highways. The trip takes approximately 40 minutes.
• Hop on the Kuranda Scenic Railway [2] for a (very) leisurely one- and a half hour trip 329 meters up and 34 kilometers out from Cairns. Two services daily in each direction. One-way $39, return $56, reservations recommended. Child and family rates do apply.
• Catch the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway [3] from just outside Cairns for great views of the rainforest canopy. One-way is $39 adults and $19.50 children, return is $56 adults and $28 children. Transfers from both Cairns, Cairns Beaches and Port Douglas are available. www.skyrail.com.au or mail@skyrail.com.au
• Catch the the shuttle bus [4] between Cairns and Kuranda ($4 one way). Information about the shuttles is available from the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre [5]. E-mail: info@kuranda.org. Tel.: 07 4093 9311 .

Many visitors combine the Kuranda Scenic railway and the skyrail, travelling to Kuranda on one and returning on the other. From the scenery point of view, take the railway first in the morning and after that make the skyrail trip - take your time to stop and look around in the Rainforestation [6] on the way back to the coast. After arriving at the coast side (great views), you have the opportunity to visit the Tjapukai village to learn something about the Aborigine culture. You can to book both directions through either service, but if you are booking late, it is easier to book separately: they allocate each other a very small number of guaranteed seats. As you need transport to get to either end often a trip to Kuranda is easiest booked with a tour company such as Tropic Wings [7] or DownUnder Tours to help you get there. The base station of the skyrail is also a bus stop point for the busses which connect Cairns with the Northern Beaches.

Get around

Kuranda is a small village, although somewhat hilly. Walking about 1km will take you from one end of town to the other. Don't count on being able to walk quickly, as the streets tend to be packed with people.

A one-way courtesy bus between the skyrail and scenic railway stations at the south end of town and the wildlife attractions at the north of town. The bus departs every twenty minutes.

• Birdworld [8], Heritage Markets, Rob Vievers Drive. tel 07 4093 9188. email sales@birdworldkuranda.com. Birdworld is a large mesh canopy, open to natural light in which you can wander among free flying birds armed with an identification sheet to pick them out. The birds are divided evenly between colourful parrots and drab quails and doves with the addition of some cassowaries fenced away from people wandering around the circuit. Entry is $14 for adults, $5 children and $29 for families with two adults and 2 children. A combined pass with the butterfly sanctuary and the Koala Gardens is $33 adults and $16 children.

• Kuranda Koala Gardens [9], Heritage Markets, Rob Vievers Drive. tel 07 4093 9953. email info@cairnstropicalzoo.com. The Koala Gardens is a small wildlife zoo housing Australian native animals. In addition to koalas there are kangaroos, crocodiles, snakes and lizards. Visitors can hold a koala and have their picture taken. Entry is $14 for adults, $7 for children. Photo holding a koala will be an extra $15. The kangaroos and wallabies are tame and friendly and you can grab a free handful or two of feed at the entrance to their lawn.

• Australian Butterfly Sanctuary [10], 8 Rob Vievers Drive. tel 07 4093 7575. fax 07 4093 8923. email ulysses@australianbutterflies.com. The butterfly sanctuary is an aviary containing rainforest butterflies - Birdwings Ulysees and more, its great for Kids. Open 9:45AM to 4:30PM, with guided tours from 10:00 to 3:15PM. Wear bright colored clothing to get the butterflies to land on you.

• Rainforestation Nature Park, Kennedy Highway, ☎ +617 4085 5008, [11]. This award-winning attraction is situated five minutes from Kuranda Village. Experience the tropical rainforest on both land and water aboard an amphibious World War II Army Duck. Learn about aboriginal culture with the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, including a traditional dance performance and boomerang throwing, spear throwing and didgeridoo playing. See native Australian animals including kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, wombats, dingoes and the cassowary.  edit
• Barron Gorge. Amazing waterfall-carved gorge 3 km from town. The waterfall is a trickle in the dry season jumping to a torrent in the floods. The road makes a good bushwalk for those with time. Oddly missing from many guidebooks, or understated.  edit

Buy

Kuranda is famous for its markets. They run everyday and have a wide range of crafts and locally made products. It's just a short walk from the Skyrail or the Kuranda Scenic Railway station to the village. The shops and markets open from 9.00AM and many close when the last train leaves at 3.30PM The Original Rainforest Markets are located in Thewine Street behind the famous Honey House.

Drink

Try the "Bottom Pub" just near Skyrail for a bit of local atmosphere - not bad