Grand Kuranda including Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway

Not quite as expected

The score on the review does not relate to the actual activities, which were fantastic and I would highly recommend. The Rainforestation Centre was great with the Aboriginal dancing, music playing, spear throwing and boomerang throwing, but in particular the WW2 Duck Vehicle trip was great! The Kuranda Skyrail was also great allowing for some really good pictures and views. The scenic train was good although better if you get a window seat. No comment on the village or butterfly sanctuary as due to some issues with the train (1 HR late) I couldn't see these. The main issue was I believe it oversold a tour with a guide. The reality was a bus to the train station, with a driver who offered some entertaining narrative and then you are own your own. The activities themselves are narrated but I kind of expected a tour guide who would give a bit of history about the place beyond the specific activities. Feel like I could have booked each bit individually and had exactly the same experience, which is not what I expect from a guided tour

Fantastic Day

Loved everything about the attraction particularly the train trip, the Barron Falls and the Skyrail.

An enjoyable day

Generally a wonderful way to see the rainforest. Fantastic views from above on the skyline and wonderful views on the way down on the train I went with my sister and we are pretty savvy but we needed more direction on where to meet our guide. For the first part of our trip we were on our own and unsure how long to spend at each stop on the skyline part of the tour. If I had to do it over I would have given myself more time to explore the markets along the way. There is a wonderful marketplace right next to the butterfly sanctuary that we could only spare 10 mins to see. Beyond that we enjoyed learning about the culture and the demonstrations of spear throwing didgeridoo playing and got to throw a boomerang! Food provided was good and what I would expect at a place feeding many people

Worth every cent! Highly recommend

Great day and activities! The bus driver was super friendly and shared lots of interesting facts along the drive. The train was clean and informative, as well, which we both enjoyed. The market was cute. Tiny. More shops than a flea market type atmosphere. We decided to skip the butterfly and shop during the allotted time. We appreciated the flexibility of schedule and they pointed out at the start of the day the critical times when we had to convene again. The foreststation place was great with animals (even kangaroos you can pet - acting more like pets!) and we stopped immediately upon arrival to not miss out, to get a koala meet and greet time which was awesome! You do actually hold the koala for a few moments while they snap a picture. Skyrail down had beautiful views. Overall a great day!

A fun filled day!

We experienced so much in this full day of adventures! The sky rail was great as was the train ride and the rain forest. The highlight was finally seeing a kangaroo and koala for our first time!

What a great trip

OMG, what a great excursion. The train ride was scenic and the Skyrail was awesome. I felt very special. I got to see koalas, kangaroos, and more. Would recommend to everyone.

A view of a lifetime.

Really enjoyed most of our outing. The train ride up was very scenic. Loved the waterfall. Once there in Kuranda , we did a quick walkabout of the butterfly sanctuary. Interesting . The buffet was okay... nothing memorable. The ride on the duck boat was fun. Our driver was entertaining and had lots of interesting facts to share about the flora and fauna. We did get to try to throw a boomerang. As well, we learned a bit about traditional methods of hunting . The skyride over the rainforest provided excellent vistas.

Exciting

Loved the day out, great experience. Thank you!! Well organised, good aount of time at each stop. Would recommend.

Great day out!

Very well organised, no rushing fantastic all round experience not only for overseas visitors. Guides were great

Fun from Train to Rainforest

The trip was great from start to finish. Train ride was awesome, enjoyed the butterfly sanctuary, the rainforestation was fun and the gondola ride was awesome gliding over the rain forest. Didn't do very well throwing the boomerang, maybe next time. Drivers and guides were extremely helpful. Tour was well organized!

Lovely relaxing day

Seeing a cassowary wander past us. So many highlights to the day. From the slow train trip up and stopping to see the amazing Falls, to the aboriginal demonstrations. My children have been practising the dance manoeuvre

Great day out

Fabulous day with so much to see. Staff very friendly and well planned. Loved everything about the trip.

The first stop after...

The first stop after train ride was very confusing. The driver gave us so much info, that we could not process. A simple handout during train ride with tour details would have been very helpful.

Great day in Kuranda

Great trip. Stunning scenery and loved the railway. The onboard staff made sure everyone got good seats next to the windows for the best views. The waterfalls are amazing. The Butterfly sanctuary was magical and would recommend listening to one of their guided tours; really interesting. Rainforestation exceeded my expectations. Our guide on the army duck boat was very entertaining but also knowledgeable, pointing out lots including a red bellied black snake and huge golden orb spiders. Also particularly enjoyed the Pamagirri demonstration especially having a go at boomerang throwing. Cable car descent also very special. Great day and thanks to our drivers Steve and Ben who made the day very easy.

Brilliant trip

Really enjoyed everything about this trip. The views from the train were wonderful. There was lots to see and do everywhere we went. The whole day was really well organised.

An Absolute Highlight

This was a highlight of our holiday. Extraordinary train trip to Karunda in restored c1908 carriages with spectacular views along the way. Karunda very touristy but lots of fun. The return trip by cable car over the rain forest was the best experience. We were lucky that the Barron Falls were raging after all the rain and I believe better than Niagra Falls in Canada. To look down into the rain forrest was awe inspiring and a little humbling

Kuranda Train and Skyrail

This was a good day out, the train ride was a fun great experience, the history of the making of the train line and landmarks were explained well and given plenty of time for photo opportunities. The walk around idyllic Kuranda village was nice and relaxing, there was a good selection of food shops as well as a different variety of shops, including art, clothing and gift stores, definitely stop in at the village market situated amongst the trees as well try a round of mini golf. The ride back in the skyrail, was also worth the ride over the treetops giving a different perspective from above, great day out overall.

A wonderful and varied experience

A wonderful and varied experience, from the railway and Skyrail travel with the scenery and waterfalls, to the butterfly and Rainforestation experiences. Many of the Rainforestation experiences were not new to me, but I learned and enjoyed far more there than I had elsewhere! The lunch is OK, but it's cheap and cheerful rather than gourmet. Strangely, the lunch includes tea and cold water but not coffee.

Amazing

The view of the falls from the gondola and the stopping point were absolutely stunning. We enjoyed the whole experience of the day

The best experience we had in Cairns

My wife and I used the skyrail both ways and what a great experience it was, we were picked up outside the night market on time. It only took us a few minutes and we were in the cable car and how amazing that was up and down and we were lucky as the baron falls was flowing with so much water. The town itself was OK for a few hours we did eat at one of the cafes that advertised Mahi Mahi fish and chips but when I received it, it was one of those frozen battered fillets like you get from the supermarket which was yuk. We got to the cable car to go back which was as much fun going up when we were back down I asked if we can get the earlier bus back to Cairns which they did do, The staff are brilliant all smiling and very professional I highly recommend this trip

Our side trip to Cairns with the Kuranda tour

This tour was fabulous from start to finish never a dull moment and so much beauty and excitement. We had several different guides and bus drivers all very knowledgeable

A lot to see in a day!

I loved the Scenic Railway ride up to Kuranda and well as the Skyrail ride down, an amazing way to see the rainforest. The Cultural experience was also fascinating and fun. Seeing some native animals up close was also a bonus. We had a very informative Tropic Wings bus driver, he told us many stories about what we were driving past on our way to and from the hotels.

An AMAZING Experience!

Don't miss this experience! We took an airconditioned coach from Cairns 15 minutes north to Smithfield Platform where we boarded the skyrail that took us above the rainforest with the end goal of Kuranda. On the way, we stopped at 2 platforms for viewing, a short park ranger guided tour and an interactive station. Once in Kuranda we shopped, and refreshed with an ice cold drink before viewing the Koala's. Then we boarded the 1900's-built train for a stunningly beautiful return to Smithfield Platform.

Fantastic one day trip.

The sky rail was fabulous and the railway was very scenic. The rain forests are quite dense. Lunch was very goof even for vegetarians like us. One request is to keep the veg and non- veg items separate as people use the same spoons to pick the food from veg and non veg counters.

Excellent Trip

We had an excellent trip and enjoyed every moment. The journey on Kuranda railway was very scenic. Our visit to the butterfly sanctuary was enjoyable, the butterflies were so beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed all the activities in the rainforest and the Bbq lunch was excellent. The skyrail journey back to Cairns was amazing. We would do it all again

Exceeded expectations!

Everything was great! The train ride in was fantastic and far exceeded my expectations. The activities at Kuranda (butterfly sanctuary, animal sanctuary, demos, lunch buffet, etc.) were fun and well planned/executed. The skyrail back was almost better than the train ride in. Guides were fun and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

This is a must see tour!

Beautiful place to visit a must see for sure. We didn’t have time to visit bird world just butterflies which was amazing. So I was disappointed in that. I would do bird world first then butterflies. Great buffet lunch was way more than expected too.

Very comfortable and...

Very comfortable and relaxing itinerary, easy for everybody including elders and people with disabilities.

The most reliable tour company for trips to Kuranda. Fact!

Tropic Wings are a reliable, professional and great value tour operator. We booked the classic Kuranda trip, as I’m not keen on butterflies, and it was fabulous! Trip highlights were most definitely the sky rail which we took into the village; the army duck tour with a truly hilarious driver/guide and the fantastic BBQ lunch. Interesting show and demonstrations of indigenous dances and traditions such as the didgeridoo and throwing a boomerang. Kuranda rail trip to Cairns was also very pleasant with some incredible views. Coach driver was always in the right place at the right time which was very much appreciated. Highly recommend this tour company.

Lovely experience

The rainforest was a great experience despite the rain. Most of it was covered and so the rain did not have much of an impact. The train journey was lovely and the Barron Falls was amazing. The sky rail was an incredible experience.

Must go attractions

Very good experience! my kids love it! The view is extraordinary totally worth it! Highly recommended!

A brilliant day

A really great day despite the fact that scenic railway wasn’t running due to weather damage. Scenic link was very impressive and Barron falls really awesome. Army duck tour interesting and informative and good fun. Really impressed by the Dreamtime show and talk. A good mix of informative and entertaining , enjoyed by ourselves and our kids. Wildlife park was great and kids thrilled to be able to pet and feed the kangaroos.

Greatvtrip

The gondola ride was terrific. The time allowed in town was too short as there had been a large line to go up the gondola which chewed up our town time. Very disappointed the train ride was cancelled but understand the reason that repairs from the cyclone weren’t finished.

the Rainforest views were amazing the Naturepark had a lot to be desired, in terms of the animals enclosures

Rainforest views were amazing on the ride up. Big let down was that the train was not running adn that was a major reason we booked. We were to receive a partial refund, but it was less than the price of the posted train ride, so feel ripped off. Felt rushed through Karunda to catch our next tour to Naturepark which was a let down. Animals in cages with cement floors. Good tropical forest Duck ride for botanists lots of plant info. Aboriginal dance was interesting and educational. The animals looks terrible. Koala photos weren't available after our otherevents that were timed so missed that. Would liek more of a refund. Especially since we found out from another tour operator that when rainy season hits the train doesn't run. so they probably new it ahead of time. Beware, "When it rains, no train."

Great trip

We loved the skyrail and the rainforeststation area. The pick up was great coming to the hotel. The buffet lunch was awesome and lots of food. Plenty of entertainment throughout the day. Did not feel rush as it was laid out with plenty of time to spend at each area.

To rushed!

We did so much today. We needed more time at each place. You cannot do all this in one day and enjoy it. Need 2 days to see everything. The butterfly sanctuary was wonderful but again not enough time to enjoy it. The Aboriginal Dancers were excellent. Wildlife Park was good too. If you have very little time do this tour. Otherwise spread it over 2 days

It was very nice.

We had good time, except because the rain we me missed the train part of the tour. This tour is a must do.

Fabulous experience

This trip was wonderful!! Unfortunately the train was cancelled because of the rain, but the rest was great. The Butterfly Sanctuary was beautiful, the Duck boat was fun, the Pamagirri presentations were very special, and the Koala photo was a highlight for me. Then came the gondola ride! Stunning views and soooo high up. The whole day was a fabulous experience.

A full complete day!

The excellent use of our time was especially appreciated/we never felt rushed but took part in all the events

Worth the money.

We did this tour in place of a similar tour offered through our tour group. This one adds lunch and the aqua duck boats through the rainforest. Entire trip excellent.

Trip to Kuranda

Great trip to Kuranda via train…wonderful lunch…time to shop… saw dances by aboriginals… threw a boomerang…petted kangaroos… back down the mountain via sky rail

Packed schedule but not overwhelming

Due to the tropical storm, the Scenic Railway was closed, so we opted for a bus return. Not quite as exciting, but everything else was great. The Skyrail was beautiful, and it was nice having the included admissions for the butterfly garden and Rainforestation. We also had time to take a picture with a koala, which was a highlight for us. Overall, it was a full day and seemed daunting with the schedule provided but we felt we had enough time for everything and got to do everything we wanted. Lunch was decent and the visit to Kuranda was okay. It was a bit rainy out, so we didn’t explore as much as we would have if it were drier out, but we got to see plenty still.

Amazing experience a Must visit at Cairns

The Sky Rail was an outstanding experience. The Butterfly Conservatory was very informative and enjoyable. The cutest and adorable part of the day was holding a Kaola and petting kangaroos. Sadly due to un-foreseen circumstances, the train journey was cancelled.

Not ok

Buses weren't on time, no tour guides, nothing explained properly train ride was made to sit with random people while there was an empty carriage

Amazing trip

It was a fantastic experience to embrace the creature in the creation and the First Nation culture. The team was excellent in guiding us occasionally to make our trip memorable. Thanks to all. God bless

The train was out of...

The train was out of service but the tram was excellent. Overall it was a very good experience. We enjoyed all aspects of the trip

Good execution -- but marketing department unethical

The tour was well-executed, with buses clean, drivers courteous, etc. I give the operations staff 5 stars. The problem I had with them was that they use 3rd party sites to advertise their tours and offer discounts if you use the discount codes that they offer there, BUT they do an inadequate job of actually letting you book with the codes. (!) In other words, they say that the code can be used on "some" of their tours but when you go to book, all of the tours are presented without discriminating between the eligible and ineligible tours. And if you try to apply the code, nothing happens: no discount, no error message. In my case, I spoke to a phone rep and trusted them to retroactively apply the credit. But no. This sort of "baiting the customer" is poor form, and I do hope others out there will be vigilant.

Superb experience

The scenery and the quality of guides and organizational staff. The entire day went as advertised despite a weather related issue with the train. All considered a well worth experience

Great day out

Great day out. The Skyrail up to Kuranda was mindblowing. The guides were knowledgeable. The local tribespeople were welcoming and gave us a great insight into their history, hunting, music and dance

SkyRail Feb24

Such good service. A great relaxed ride over the rain forest canopy. Don't go if you can't watch the beauty. You can stroll around at the top or visit the attractions