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In September 2017, our family of four spent 5 nights in Cairns, and on one of those days we joined a tour to Kuranda. Our son was 4 and our daughter was 1.
We went up on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and came down on the Skyrail (gondola). In between was the Army Duck at Rainforestation, and hotel transfers were included. Kuranda was great.
A tour that bundled the transport and bookings
The tour set the railway and Skyrail times and the hotel pickup. Lining up the railway and Skyrail times and booking them yourself with kids would be hard, I think.
We were able to ride the Skyrail gondola with our stroller. We also got to hold a koala.
| When we went | September 2017 (day 4 of 5 nights in Cairns) |
|---|---|
| Party | 2 adults, son 4, daughter 1 |
| Tour | Hot Holiday’s “Budget Kuranda with Army Duck” |
| What was included | Kuranda Scenic Railway (up), Rainforestation (Army Duck), Skyrail (down), and transfers to and from hotels in Cairns city |
| Price | A$370 for 2 adults (A$185×2). Our 4-year-old and 1-year-old were free |
Today, a tour with the same combination of rides (with the up and down directions reversed) can be booked on KKday (the guide speaks English; the company we booked with was a different one).
See the Kuranda day tour (Army Duck, Skyrail, Scenic Railway) on KKday
Kuranda Tour with Kids: Our Day with a 1-Year-Old and a 4-Year-Old
Kuranda is a village surrounded by rainforest, up in the mountains northwest of Cairns. From Cairns, you can go up and come back down on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Skyrail.
I cover the whole trip’s itinerary and costs in Cairns with Kids: Our Family Trip Report. Kuranda was day 4 of our 5 nights. Because of the early start the next morning, we went to bed early the night before.
Our Kuranda Tour: Railway + Army Duck + Skyrail
We booked Hot Holiday’s “Budget Kuranda with Army Duck | Skyrail + Kuranda Train + Rainforestation.” We booked it about a week before departure.
No guide came with us, and information was given in English.
We had no particular trouble with the heat, bugs, or diaper changes.
Our 2017 booking and child fares
The price breakdown showed only A$370 for the 2 adults. Our 4-year-old and 1-year-old were free.
The payment information said that Amex and JCB carried a 3% fee.
Child fares now start at age 4
According to the current official Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway information, ages 0–3 are free and ages 4–14 pay the child fare. Please treat the fact that our kids were free on the 2017 tour separately from the current official age categories.
Kuranda Tour Day Schedule: From the 7:20 Pickup to the 17:20 Bus
The times for the day were printed on the tour ticket.
From hotel pickup to the bus back
- 7:20
Bus pickup at our hotel in Cairns - 8:50
Kuranda Scenic Railway from Freshwater Station - Kuranda Station and Kuranda Village
- 12:15
Rainforestation - 15:15
Skyrail down from Kuranda - 17:20
Bus from the base station to Cairns - Around 18:00
Arrive at the hotel
With a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old, it was an almost full-day tour. Our kids love trains and rides, and they had a great time.
Kuranda Scenic Railway with Kids: Freshwater Station to Kuranda Station
On the way up, we took the Kuranda Scenic Railway. A bus took us from the hotel to Freshwater Station in the suburbs, and we boarded the 8:50 train.
The carriages and the view
The carriages had wooden interiors, and out the window we could see the Cairns suburbs and the forest. The train wasn’t very crowded, so we put the stroller on the seat next to us.
A Stop at Barron Falls Station
The train stopped partway at Barron Falls Station, and we looked out over the gorge and the falls from the viewing deck.
Kuranda Station and Kuranda Village
The last stop, Kuranda Station, is a small station building with a red roof.
Shops in Kuranda Village
Rainforestation: The Army Duck and Holding a Koala
From 12:15, we were at Rainforestation, a nature park outside Kuranda Village.
Army Duck Rainforest Tour
The tour included the Army Duck, an amphibious vehicle. It takes you around the rainforest both on land and on the water.
All four of us rode the Army Duck. We enjoyed the moment it splashed into the water, and we also got to see some wildlife.
In Kuranda, we also saw koalas and kangaroos.
Holding a Koala in Kuranda: Photo Prices and Booking a Time
In Kuranda, my wife and I each held a koala. I think it was an experience you don’t often get. We still have the souvenir photo the staff took for us. As I remember, the photo cost about JPY 2,000 (a rough figure from memory).
Booking and conditions for koala photos
Rainforestation’s official site says photos are taken at set times every day. It recommends booking your photo time at the gift shop when you arrive.
Photos now start at A$28 each (Rainforestation official site, price seen on October 10, 2026). A family photo is based on 2 adults and 2 children. The time a koala can be held is set by Queensland law, and depending on the situation, children may not be able to hold one (Rainforestation official site, checked October 2026).
Depending on the tour, you may not have enough time at the park to get a photo. Hot Holiday says that until November 1, 2026, plans that go up by train don’t leave enough time for the koala-holding photo (Hot Holiday product page, checked October 2026).
Aboriginal Culture in Kuranda: Boomerangs, Didgeridoo, and a Show
At Pamagirri in Rainforestation, we learned about Indigenous culture through a boomerang lesson, trying the didgeridoo, and an Aboriginal show.
Rainforestation now offers these as the “Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience” (about 1 hour). It has two parts, a dance show in the amphitheater and a walk with spear throwing, didgeridoo, and boomerang throwing, and costs A$34 for adults, A$21 for children (ages 4–14), and A$89 for families (Rainforestation official site, prices seen on October 10, 2026).
Closed October 26–29, 2026
According to an official notice, the Pamagirri experience will not run for the 4 days from October 26 to 29, 2026, and resumes as normal from October 30 (Rainforestation official site, checked October 10, 2026).
Skyrail with a Pram: Riding the Gondola Down with Our Stroller
On the way back at 15:15, we rode the Skyrail from Kuranda down over the rainforest. We got into the gondola with our stroller.
Current stroller information
Skyrail’s official site also says that foldable strollers can be taken into the gondola with you, and that large or non-folding ones are sent ahead to the next station in the gondola in front (Skyrail official FAQ, checked October 2026).
Down over the rainforest
The gondola ride back had beautiful views, and I recommend it. From the base station we took the 17:20 bus and got back to the hotel around 18:00.
Choosing a Kuranda Tour with Kids: Renovations, Child Fares, and Transfers
When you book, check which sections the Skyrail is running, the age categories for children, and the area covered by hotel transfers.
Skyrail Renovations: Partial Operation until November 1, 2026
- August 19 – November 1, 2026: operating only as a round trip between Kuranda and Barron Falls (Wednesday–Sunday only; you cannot board from the Cairns side)
- July–November 2027: the Kuranda line is also scheduled to be closed (dates may change)
- The Kuranda Scenic Railway normally runs 2 trains a day in each direction, except at Christmas. It will be closed for maintenance November 2–6, 2026
Sources: Skyrail official notices and Kuranda Scenic Railway official site (checked October 2026).
Replacement transport and cancellation terms during renovations
KKday’s Kuranda day tour page says that on days when the railway or Skyrail can’t be used because of maintenance, you’ll be taken by bus instead, and in that case no refunds or cancellations are possible. If you’re booking during the renovation period, read the notes on the product page before you book.
Kuranda Scenic Railway vs. Skyrail: About 1.5 Hours Each Way
| Kuranda Scenic Railway | Skyrail | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Train (Cairns Station / Freshwater Station – Kuranda Station) | Gondola (Smithfield station at the base – Kuranda station) |
| One-way time | About 1.5 hours | About 1.5 hours (including time to get off at the 2 stations along the way) |
| Departures / operation | 2 a day. Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure | Partial operation until November 1, 2026 |
| Strollers | Could not find information on the official site | Foldable ones go in the gondola with you. Large ones are carried in the gondola ahead |
Skyrail’s official site recommends allowing 2–3 hours in Kuranda Village. The rides alone take about 3 hours round trip, and with the village it’s almost a full day. On the Skyrail, children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult (Skyrail official FAQ, Kuranda Scenic Railway official site).
What to Wear and Bring on a Kuranda Tour
Hot Holiday’s Kuranda tour page lists a hat, sunscreen, and drinks as things to bring on the day (checked October 2026). KKday’s Kuranda day tour does not include lunch in the tour price.
Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Child Fares Start at Age 4
| Age at the time of our trip | 2017 tour | Current official category for the same age |
|---|---|---|
| Daughter (1) | Free | Free (ages 0–3) |
| Son (4) | Free | Child fare (ages 4–14) |
On the Skyrail, ages 0–3 are free, but you still need to book an infant ticket (Skyrail official FAQ). On tours, too, enter the number of infants on the booking screen.
Kuranda Tour Prices and Transfers: KKday’s Current Tour and Our 2017 Tour
On October 10, 2026, I looked at KKday’s page for a tour that includes “railway + Skyrail + Army Duck.” We have not used this current tour. Our family’s 2017 tour is listed alongside it.
| Tour | Hotel transfers / drop-off point | Up / down | Price (1 adult / 1 child) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKday Kuranda day tour | Hotel round trip (English-speaking guide) | Skyrail / railway | Varies by date (check the current price on KKday) |
| Our family in 2017 (Hot Holiday) | Hotel round trip (no guide) | Railway / Skyrail | A$185 / free (ages 1 and 4) |
About the price
KKday’s price changes with the date and the currency shown, so check the current price on the product page before booking.
Back to the hotel, or drop-off at the station
KKday’s product page says the tour includes round-trip hotel transfers.
Direction and cancellation
KKday’s tour goes up on the Skyrail and comes back on the railway (the product page says this changed for bookings from October 1, 2023 onward). That’s the opposite direction from what we did.
Cancellation is free up to 3 days before the date of use.
Buying Your Own Tickets: Railway and Skyrail Family Set
If you don’t need the Army Duck, there’s also a set of one-way tickets for the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Skyrail. With this KKday product, you go up on the Skyrail (with hotel pickup) and come back on the railway, ending at Cairns Station. No guide is included. There’s a family set for 2 adults + 2 children.
See Kuranda Scenic Railway + Skyrail tickets on KKday
Kuranda Tour with Kids Summary: Set Times and Transfers
- In September 2017, we took a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old to Kuranda on a railway, Army Duck, and Skyrail tour
- From the 7:20 pickup to the 17:20 bus, the railway and Skyrail times and the transfers were all set
- We could ride the Skyrail gondola with our stroller. We also got to hold a koala
- Now, watch out for the Skyrail renovations (until November 1, 2026, and July–November 2027) and child fares starting at age 4
Kuranda was great. Without kids, it seemed like we could have gone on our own, but we chose a tour for peace of mind. I wrote about the hotel we stayed at in Cairns in our Pullman Cairns International review, and about the whole trip in Cairns with Kids: Our Family Trip Report. For traveling abroad with a baby, there’s also our Guam family trip (in Japanese).
See the Kuranda tour
Railway, Skyrail, Army Duck, and round-trip hotel transfers in one package
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Our Cairns family trip articles